Bag Dump: What's in My Rickshaw Banzai Bag?

March 8, 2023

So the people have asked, and I have answered. I teased a photo of my Rickshaw “Banzai” Bag - designed specifically for pen people - and which makes a great carry-all for pen shows and meetups. Despite it’s relatively small size, the Banzai Bag holds an astounding number of pens, in addition to notebooks and tablets up to A5 size. Enjoy the unpacking!

The thing that I love about this bag is its versatility. This was a “Pen Club Saturday” loadout, with three separate pen cases, my Plotter A5, plus some highlighters and my Kindle Scribe for some Saturday afternoon reading.

Rickshaw Banzai Bag Interior Pockets — The Banzai Bag is slightly larger than A5 length-wise, and is capable of holding several notebooks and similarly sized tablets in the center, plus accessories in the three interior pockets: two pockets on one side, a single pocket on the other.

Four pen cases that I regularly carry, clockwise from top: Rickshaw six pen roll/wrap, three-pen coozy in tweed, Lochby Quattro in Brown, and a Rickshaw x Nock Co. Sinclair Model R. You can check out the full selection of Rickshaw cases and sleeves here, and see below for some options on how I arrange the different pen cases.

A5 Notebooks for Banzai Bag — In addition to the pen cases show, I’m able to fit two A5 notebooks (my William Hannah A5 and Plotter A5), as well as a Kindle Scribe.

Banzai Notebooks + Pen Cases — Everything fits! I put one of the notebooks (the Plotter A5) in the single side slot and the rest in the center.

All packed up and ready to go to the Baltimore Pen Show!

Come See This Bag in Person at the Baltimore Pen Show!

As I mentioned yesterday, we will be at the 2023 Baltimore Pen Show in-person! I’ll have this bag (not for sale) and many other items (for sale) at the T.G.S. Table! Since we will be traveling, shipment of shop orders may be slightly delayed until early next week, though as always any orders placed will receive some extra T.G.S. Swag as an apology for any inconvenience. Many thanks for your support, and I hope to meet many of you soon!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not include paid advertisements or third-party affiliate links.

First Impressions: Nock Co. x Rickshaw Bagworks Sinclair "Model R" Pen Case

September 7, 2022

Compared to most pen addicts, I don’t have all that many bags and pen cases. (Sure, I have more than the average “civilian”, but let’s check our comparisons, shall we?) I’ve often asked myself why I’ve never been able to bring myself to sample cases and bags the same way I do writing instruments and paper, and it comes down to two things: attachment, and to a lesser degree, the storage space these things take up.

Nock Co. x Rickshaw Bagworks Sinclair Model R in Saffron

Most people - myself included - can only truly carry one bag and maybe a couple of cases at a time while really using them. Since that’s the case for me (pun intended), I get accustomed to two, maybe three pen cases as part of my own personal carry, and become attached to them. Among those in regular rotation is a single original Nock Co. Sinclair in black waxed canvas with burgundy interior, which I acquired at a past Atlanta Pen Show as a pen-show exclusive design. While none of the other original Nock Co. cases stuck with me, the Sinclair did, and for this reason I called it “The Most Practical Pen Case.” Because it is. Given that this Sinclair has been a near-constant daily companion for going on seven years, I was overjoyed to hear that Nock Co. is collaborating with San Francisco-based Rickshaw Bagworks to create the Sinclair Model R - a slightly modified, or perhaps more accurately, “evolved” - version of the Sinclair.

The original Sinclair holds three pens in separate interior slots, opposite a single larger pocket intended to hold notecards or a pocket notebook. (I use the word “intended” loosely - many people who don’t care about their pens touching have crammed upwards of 20+ pens and other accessories into this case, or stuffed it with multiple pocket notebooks, post-its, and other paper products. Hence “the most versatile pen case.”) The Model R keeps this same configuration.

Just how much can the Sinclair Model R hold? See below to find out!

The key differences between the original Sinclair and the Sinclair Model R are as follows:

Size. The Sinclair Model R is larger, and while it might not appear bulkier, it’s a significantly bigger case. For starters, the case is taller, meaning that there should be more clearance between the top of your pens and the zipper than in the original Sinclair. This was never an issue for me, but for those who carry oversized pens it could be. The Model R is also thicker. How much? You can actually fit the original Sinclair, loaded with three pens, inside the Model R, even if the Model R has pens in the slots. See photos below.
Plush Lining. The Model R includes Rickshaw’s signature soft interior to protect your pens and other accessories from scratches. Again, I never had this issue - or never paid attention to it - with the original Nock Co. cases, but cordura/nylon does have a propensity for “micro scratching” the shiny finishes on some polished pens. Rickshaw cases are known for providing an added layer of protection.
Exterior Pocket. Arguably my favorite addition, the Model R includes an exterior pocket that fits my standard-sized iPhone 12 Pro. Anything that adds to the versatility of a pen case is a plus for me, especially since this particular feature transforms the Model R into a case that I can use for “stand-alone carry” as a mini-bag, not just a pen case or “bag-within-a-bag.”
Paracord Pulls and Optional Pen Loop. You may have noticed that the case I am giving away (check out Monday’s post) features a small loop that you can use to attach the Sinclair Model R to a lanyard, carabiner, pelican clip, etc. The loop currently is not a standard feature, but I understand that it can be added via customization at some point in the future. Personally, I love this detail because the exterior pocket on my twill Filson briefcase has a built-in clip that I would absolutely use to add further security to my pen case. My Rickshaw Model R also has paracord loops on the zippers, a nice touch that may not be necessary but is an added convenience.

With the exception of my eyeglasses, everything in the previous photo fits into the Sinclair Model R: the Plotter Mini-5, three pens, and my iPhone 12 Pro.

Sinclair Inside Sinclair Model R — I’m not sure if I’ll ever actually use the cases in this manner, but maybe for consolidated pen show travel?

I’ve already checked - the Sinclair Model R zips shut in this “configuration” with plenty of zipper clearance.

The paracord loop that can be added to the back of the Sinclair Model R.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Sinclair Model R is a worthy successor - and in many ways arguably an improvement upon - prior iterations of the Nock Co. Sinclair pen case. I’m especially glad to see that Rickshaw plans to make the case available in their full array of colors and patterns, and they certainly had some stunners on display at the San Francisco Pen Show.

You can really see the size difference when the cases are side-by-side. Original Sinclair (right) shown with the Model R (left).

You can currently purchase the Sinclair Model R in certain select colors on the Rickshaw Bags website, for the San Francisco Pen Show promotional price of $40. (Standard pricing will be $59 - still a relative bargain in today’s market.) At some point, you will be able to custom configure the colors and design of the case like most other Rickshaw products (including adding the loop discussed above), and I understand the plan is to also allow retailers to stock this design in their own custom patterns and configurations.

I purchased the Saffron Sinclair Model R and the original Sinclair featured in this post with my own funds, for my own use. The black Sinclair Model R show in the first picture was donated by Nock Co. and Rickshaw for giveaway purposes, and you can enter the giveaway here! This post does not contain affiliate links or paid sponsorships.

Labor Day Giveaway, Courtesy of Rickshaw Bagworks and Nock Co.!

September 5, 2022

Brad was kind enough to send me home from the San Francisco Pen Show with an extra Nock Co. Sinclair “Model R”, in classic black cordura with bright yellow interior. While the case customizer isn’t quite ready over at Rickshaw Bagworks, you can still choose from some of Brad’s favorite color combinations, and comment below on the blog to get this one for free!

Nock Co. Rickshaw Sinclair Model R Black Yellow

I’m keeping the rules for this giveaway simple, with no widgets, third-party apps, etc. You can leave a comment on this blog post, and/or visit the T.G.S. Instagram and like the post there. I’ll number comments and likes and then pick a winner using a random number generator. The giveaway will remain open until 11:59pm Central U.S. time on Sunday, September 11, 2022. While the giveaway is open to everyone (provided it’s possible for me to ship to you), I may request that you chip in for international shipping if it ends up being prohibitively expensive. Also, if you comment anonymously or don’t allow Instagram DMs, I may not be able to contact you to tell you that you won.

Finally, remember that all orders placed in the T.G.S. Curated Shop through today will receive a freebie, such as some washi tape, an ink sample, a pen or pencil, etc. All orders over $75 ship free!

This giveaway is not a paid promotion. Nock Co. and Rickshaw donated this case for promotional purposes, and T.G.S. is not being compensated in any way by either company for running it.

Pen Rolls vs. Pen Cases: A Review of the Rickshaw Bagworks Deluxe 6 Pen Roll

August 31, 2019

Up until this past year, I was firmly in the “pen case” camp. While I had a few fabric pen wraps, most were handmade, small batch products made by friends and acquaintances that I used to transport un-inked pens to local pen meets and pen shows. For casual carry these are fine, but they don’t offer enough protection for the rigors of everyday commuting, especially when the pens are sitting in my bag with a laptop, briefcase, binders, and who-knows-what-else.

The elastic cord (pictured here with lock) ensures that your pen roll remains closed, and allows you to roll your pens as tightly as possible both to prevent the pens from rattling around and to maximize space in your bag.

Pen wraps and rolls, however, have a couple of distinct advantages over pen cases. First, they can take up much less space in a bag. If you’re someone who regular carries five or six pens, a roll is much more compact and can slide easily into the corner of a briefcase, whereas a comparable fabric or leather pen case with hard sides and a zippered or snap closure typically takes up more space. Second, a properly designed pen roll can better protect your pens from dings and scratches, provided the interior uses a soft enough liner and leaves enough space between slots so that the pens don’t touch.

This particular Deluxe Pen Roll holds six pens, which I is Rickshaw’s typical size. On the Rickshaw website, however, you can order a custom Deluxe Pen Roll that holds 6, 8, 10, or even 12 pens, though I expect that would be quite large when closed.… — This particular Deluxe Pen Roll holds six pens, which I is Rickshaw’s typical size. On the Rickshaw website, however, you can order a custom Deluxe Pen Roll that holds 6, 8, 10, or even 12 pens, though I expect that would be quite large when closed. For that many pens, I’m probably still going with a pen case.

San Francisco-based Rickshaw Bagworks makes the best pen roll for my personal needs. Specifically, I’ve been carrying this “Deluxe” six pen roll that I picked up at the Los Angeles Pen Show in February, which is a special edition collaboration with LA-based artist Joey Feldman and retailer Vanness Pens. Rickshaw also has collaborated with Leigh Reyes on a previous edition, also sold through Vanness. These Deluxe Pen Rolls feature a durable Cordura exterior with a plush interior to protect your pens. (The liner is referred to as “Royal Plush” on the Rickshaw website, and it feels like microfleece.) I like how the Deluxe Pen Roll has an interior flap that keeps your pens from sliding out the top, and all Rickshaw pen rolls feature an elastic cord with adjustable “cord lock”, which keeps your pen roll closed much better than fabric or leather ties.

Size comparison: The Rickshaw Bagworks Deluxe Six Pen Roll next to my Galen Leather A5 Zippered Portfolio. The Pen Roll is shown here loaded with six pens.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

This year at work has been quite busy on multiple fronts, meaning that space in my briefcase is a premium. For that reason I’ve found myself carrying my Rickshaw pen roll more frequently, to the point where it’s become a fixture in my bag. I’ve even thrown Joey’s crazy art out into the center of a conference room table at work, but didn’t get any reaction. Apparently I’m no longer a novelty and people now expect these things from me. Sigh.

A shot of Joey Feldman’s artwork on the reverse side.

If you’re interested in the Joey Feldman collaboration, Vanness still has several of these limited edition Deluxe Pen Rolls in stock, along with some standard pen rolls (no interior flap) and utility pouches. Otherwise you can visit the Rickshaw Bagworks website to design your own. Prices start at $50 for the Joey Feldman/Vanness limited edition and $49 on the Rickshaw Bagworks website.

Note: For more information on large-capacity pen storage, including album-style cases and and pen display boxes, check out this post here.

Disclaimer: Vanness Pens is a sponsor of this website, and I received the Deluxe Pen Roll featured in this review at no charge. (Well, not really at “no charge,” since I paid with my own blood, sweat, and tears behind the table at the 2019 LA Pen Show. You can read about that experience here.)