Unpopular opinion incoming: The Soolla bag and pouch aren’t well-suited to the fountain pen world.
Now, set aside your pitchforks and torches. I do like Soolla products. I own the 80’s Windbreaker version of both the studio bag and studio pouch, and they’re fabulous. Both are sturdy and well-made, and the range of colors, already large, keeps expanding. I also 100% acknowledge that the Soolla bags weren’t created for the pen world, so I don’t hold it against the creators or the bags that they aren’t perfect for us.
That said, they’d be more useful if they were inside out, with the pen/tool pockets on the inside. 37.5% of my active use pen collection is over $100, and 38.6% is over $300. If I’m out and about, I DO NOT want those pens on the outside of my bag. Even using the pouch would leave quite a bit of the cap, and possibly some of the body, visible and unprotected. I’d need a pouch for my pouch to keep my precious pens safe. Even with my less expensive pens, I’d be concerned about a “snatch and run” if I had them in the outer pockets of the bag, or about scuffs if they were in the pouch.
If you want a DIY project, adding a flap that velcro’s or zips closed above the pockets would handle the problems. It would be nice if that could be added as an option from Soolla at some point. If the pockets were moved to the inside of the bag and pouch, a basic fabric flap to cover them would work well. And either solution would work for more than just the pen world. There are some seriously expensive crochet hooks out there, for example.
Since I do really, like the Soolla products, I want to end on a high note. The bag is amazingly capacious. Like, TARDIS levels. I’m always amazed at how much I can fit in it. I’ve used the pouch less than the bag — I should try to change that — but it’s worked well when I have used it.
So, while I wouldn’t recommend them for pen transportation — at least not fountain pens — they certainly have their place, and make for fantastic work bags (not work as in jobs, work as in what you’re currently working on).
Do you agree or disagree with me? Do you own any Soolla products? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.
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I like using mine to carry postcards, postage, rubber stamps and gel pens or fine markers to write the postcards. I can definitely see the cause for concern with high ticket items.
I want to start doing more postcards so I can do postcrossing. I just need to start collecting them so I can send them.
I’ve made a lot of postcards using my own photography and having them printed at a local printer or online.
I bought one for my wife and her small collection of Fountain Pens and other stationery goods. It’s perfect for her needs … but it never leaves the house. So I completely understand your hesitation because the pens are exposed, but there are circumstances in which it’s perfect!
That sounds like a excellent use case. As a highly clumsy ADHDer, I still wouldn’t trust myself with it. 🤣🤣
I actually agree. I don’t *just* use mine for pen transportation. I use mine as an overall journaling/crafting tote. I don’t have the pouch because I have so many others that work quite well for that including a Galen Leather folio and then I will take that and put it in my Soolla bag when I go to my local indie bookstore cafe for journaling sessions.
I could see that working well. Do you put anything in the outside pockets for that, or leave them empty?
It really depends on the craft I’m bringing along. I will keep gel pens. The ones I use are generally inexpensive and easy to replace or my pair of scissors in one of the longer slots. I’ll also put Mildliners that I use a lot there. My fountain pens go in a separate sleeve and in one of the inner pockets or in the Galen folio.
I understand the hesitancy for the Soolla cases and expensive pens. It definitely a bag-in-a-bag case. I keep all my other writing tools in this pouch – the highlighters, pencils, felt tips and markers that I use in the outside pockets. I keep a 3-pen case with my fountain pens separate from the Soolla. Other than the pen pocket issues, I love having a place to keep stamps, stickers, washi and other bits where everything has its place instead of a larger, open case where it tends to just be a cluttered mess.
It’s worked really well as a crochet bag for me, the capacity is insane!