Well I've done a bit of quick research this morning with my own collection of organisers.
My new Finsbury (Personal) would take an 8.5 mm diameter pen, or 9 mm at a push. Where as my used (2-3 years) A5 and Pocket size organisers would both easily take a 10.5 mm diameter pen. I used the shank of a selection of twist drills to measure the size each would take accurately.
In terms of actual pens I'm using Parker pens in my larger organisers and a Filofax 'Barley Twist' Mini pen in my Pocket size Filofax, most other pens are too long. On my A5 I carry a Parker fountain pen and a ball pen.
The Filofax pen is quite heavy for it's size, it has a retractable ball pen refill. One tip, always retract the point on this pen, if you drop it as I did once the pen is so heavy that it will damage the point if it lands on the point as mine did! I did buy a pack of refills from Filofax and the refill is very slim compared to the size of the pen itself!
What pens are you using?
Zebra F-301 and a Model 208 – LAMY logo black Ballpoint pen.
ReplyDeleteI like to have a choice of colours as I find all one colour dull to look at - which means I don't take it in!! So I use a Bic 4 colour pen (the one with black, blue, red and green) it's too thick to put through the loop, so I use the attachment on the lid.
ReplyDeleteI also use the Bic 4 color pen, because I color code things on my weekly pages. I too use the clip on the pen in my pen loop to hold it on. For the majority of my writing in my book, which is in black ink, I use a Papermate ballpoint with Lubriglide refill. This has been my pen of choice since college because the ink is smudgeproof and waterproof, so it doesn't smear around on the page.
ReplyDeleteAh, the Bic 4-Color pen! A classic! Haven't used one in years!
ReplyDeleteFor my pocket planner I use the little Lamy pencil with the adjustable clip 7mm lead which I really like. I use this a great deal and find with me using ink in a planner doesn't work to good because plans change and the need for something erasable is a necessity.
ReplyDeleteIn my personal I use a Uniball Signo in 5mm. I use the fraud proof ink that I use on checks.
For the journal portion I use one of my many fountain pens. I have Mount Blanc, Sailer, Parker, Lamy and Esterbrook, and my favorite always seems to be the one I am using at the time.
Crofter
The pen I keep in my planner is the Zebra Telescopic.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zebrapen.com/products/pen/telescopic-0?c=29
It's small enough around that it fits perfectly into the pen loop, and when retracted, it's short enough that it fits into a mini planner. The website says that it comes in black, blue and red, but I've only ever seen the black. I don't like the way this pen writes, but in a jam, it works fine and it fits the pen loop, which is what I bought it for.
I prefer to use the Uniball Jetstream - I love this pen. Lately, I've taken to carrying this around with me in the planner as well (it sits loose next to the Zebra in the pen loop), defeating the purpose of the Zebra altogether.
I too use color pens for different uses - I carry these in a pencil case in my bag. It's probably overkill, but it works for me. I don't take them with me everywhere though, so if I need a color for a particular event while I don't have them, I write the event on a Post-it note and put it in pen later. Again, probably more work than it should be, but it works for me.
I prefer using pencils, for the same reason as Crofter, and wish that there was a really attractive propelling pencil that fitted a Filofax loop in my price-range.
ReplyDeleteRight now I'm making do with a pound-shop find that fits the loop, but isn't much to look at.
I really like chubby barrels on my pens and pencils, my handwriting's dreadful and they make it somehow easier to write legibly! But of course they never fit the pen loops... c'est la vie...
Hi, I carry both a Pilot v5 Hi-tecpoint 0.5 in purple, and a pentel mechanical pencil for my pocket Finsbury. When at home I will sometimes use other coloured pens to write things that are important.
ReplyDeleteI never use ballpens since I really don't like the way they write.
I use Pentel Forte .5mm mechanical pencils with 2B leads. They have nice erasers and they are slim enough to fit in the pen loops.
ReplyDeleteI would like colors but plans change too frequently.
I think I've always used a pencil with my various Filofaxes, and as such I go with a mechanical penicl - there's only one choice in my mind and it's the classic Pentel P205 (eg here, although this is a 12 pack!). It fits nicely in the pen loop on my battered/trusty Kensington Personal, and the pocket clip keeps it secure.
ReplyDeleteI used to use a fountain pen to write in my Personal Filofax. But since I've switched to Pocket size and started carrying it around with me all the time I use "Mitsubishi uni-ball eye micro" in blue:
ReplyDeleteuni-ball eye micro
Since I prefer fountain pen to ballpoint pens the uni-ball is a perfect substitute. :-)
I'll second the recommendation for Zebra F-301 but go for the gel refill. It's small, durable, light and with good grip. I prefer it to Pilot Birdie; both ballpoint and fountain pen.
ReplyDeleteAnother small size favourite is Uniball Signo Bit.
I carry normal size pens separetely in shirt/coat pocket. The organizer loops are just for emergency use. I'm even considering to downsize to a <8mm ring size binder without a loop.
Thanks for the idea for multipens. I think I'll give it a try.
How do you use colours? And how do you make continue when you run out of colour?
I'm using this one with my Filofax:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.manufactum.de/Produkt/172215/761408/KugelschreiberCarandAche.html
(german language)
Recommended.
Ewan, thanks for the link to those Pentels - they look perfect! ;)
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - with my Bic 4 colour pen I *try* to keep the different colours for different types of events.
ReplyDeleteFor work things I use black, for social events green, for my choir/hobbies red and blue for everything else.
I say I try to do this but sometimes I forget or don't bother or have the wrong colour out or whatever. It doesn't worry me too much though - I need the different colours to make things stand out on the page - all one colour means I won't read it/remember it.
So - I don't really worry if a colour runs out cos I'll just use another until I can get a new pen! although, come to think of it, I've never run out of just one colour yet...
I have a million Bic 4 color pens around, so running out of one color isn't a problem for me. Also, sometimes I use Pilot V5 roller balls. I have to be really careful not to get the page damp because they do smudge, but they come in lots of colors and write so nicely.
ReplyDeleteHere is my color code system: black for normal appointments and to-dos; blue for travel (whether I am going somewhere, my husband is traveling for work, or someone is coming here to visit us. I write the destination, flight numbers, etc on my weekly page in blue); red for very important items and bills due; green for health things like medical or exercise record; purple (roller ball) for my own personal things that I want to do.
I find color really helps me prioritize tasks, keeps me from forgetting important things, helps specific items stand out on the page, and as Charlotte said, it helps hold my interest so I'm more likely to look at my weekly page!
i heard that they actually sell bic 4-color pen refills, but i have no idea how to do it....
ReplyDeleteanyone have any ideas?
Hi Mary, I've used the Bic 4-color pen refills before. They are sold as a 4-pack of all 4 colors. You unscrew the barrel of the pen, pluck out the color cartridge that's empty (which is easier if you click it up first) then jam the new refill down in there.
ReplyDeleteMy problem is, of course, I don't use the colors evenly so I wind up with extra refills of some colors. Still, it's cheaper than buying a whole new pen.