The Penwell Traveler Review

Occasionally, a product comes along that really shakes up the pen world. Sometimes they come out of necessity, such as bladders for pens and self-filling mechanisms to replace eyedroppers. Sometimes they come out of the novelty of just being able to do it, such as a fountain pen with a rotating barrel with multiple colors. But occasionally, something comes along that makes you rethink how you use your pens and how you can make your life easier.In 2017, Dan Keller, of Goodmadebetter.com, introduced the Penwell Classic pen stand. Reminiscent of an old-style inkwell, this desktop tool has a foam insert that you push the pen into, which holds it in place, so you can uncap your pen one handed. This allows you to easily access your pen even while working on other projects. The first time I saw the Penwell at a pen show, I thought “Ok cool, it looks vintage, but is this something that really serves a purpose in a fast-paced and digital world?” Then I tried it, and it totally made sense. Yes, this is something that is not only useful in an everyday setting, but really looks beautiful sitting on my desk at work. I can easily reach over and get my pen out while working on something else to jot a note down, and just as easily replace it without needing both hands. I spoke to Dan at the D.C. show this past year and he reached out after and asked if I would like to see a new product they were working on, a travel size version of the Penwell. I was extremely excited to check this out and field-test it at work and in my travels. If you would like to sign up for the Kickstarter, it is now live and can be found here Penwell Traveler Kickstarter.

I put my Traveler to the test going to and from work and using it at home as well. The “set-up” took less than a minute and most of that was spent cleaning and dusting my desk. I work primarily on a computer and having a pen easily at hand and not having to look away from my monitor to find a pen, then uncap and recap it made this an extremely useful tool for jotting down notes or quick thoughts. My co-workers noticed the Traveler on my desk and have each borrowed it and love it. If you travel, have limited desk space, or just want a modern styled pen holder to make your writing life easier, than you need to order a Penwell Traveler for yourself, and maybe get one for a friend.Thank you, Dan, for sending this my way, you knocked it out of the park. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next.