Nomadic PE-09 Pencil Case Review - A Comparison

Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 April 2010 20:02 Written by Atticus Wednesday, 07 April 2010 00:00

The Nomadic PE-09 has been in my school bag for a couple of weeks now.  In that time I have come to think of it as an allrounder.  Versatile and practical, I can't think how anyone could be disappointed with it.  Jack of all trades, master of none, the Nomadic PE-09 is the Mr Reliable of the Nomadic pencil case range.

The case presents well and gives a great first impression.  Its smart appearance and design will impress users who like a large compartment with a few extra pockets for their odds and ends.

I was happy with my purchase as soon as I started to use it and felt right at home storing my gear within it.  Normally it takes me a couple of days to get used to a new pencil case and its idiosyncrasies.  Not so with this case and it was on my third day of using it that I realised why.  I really knew this pencil case well because I had used it before albiet under a different guise.

Below is a picture of another pencil case I own made by Smiggle.  It no longer features on the Smiggle website but it is still in stock at my local Smiggle store.  Curiously it is identical to the Nomadic PE-09 except for the placement of the brand label, the colour and some now errant threads here and there.

Seriously, this is the same pencil case as the Nomadic PE-09.  The black Smiggle appears 'rounder' only because I used it for a year or so and as a result its initial 'stiffness' has been replaced with 'middle aged spread'.

My question then is, 'Is this normal?'.  Is it common place to see identical designs (not just similar) produced by different companies?  Are all of our favourite pencil cases coming out of the same factory?  Food for stationery thought.

The Nomadic PE-09 has one main compartment secured by a zip.  You can see my Faber Castell Perfect Pencil and Rotring poking their cute little heads out of it below.  You can fit a fair amount of pens in this compartment.  I am talking at least 20.  The inner lining is also bright orange - a nice, bright background that helps you to see and select your pens with (great idea from this blog).  You can also see the mesh of an inside pocket.  This pocket is only big enough for a usb stick or eraser but nonetheless saves you some rummage time.

The outer pocket is good for about 5-10 pens and this is where I keep my most commonly used implements.  You can see my Staedtler eraser pen and Pentel Twist Erase mechanical pencil in there.

Below are a couple of side-on shots showing the mesh pocket inside the main compartment and the side pocket.  Note again the similarities between the two pencil cases.

Pictured below are the mesh compartments found beneath the outside pouch.  The outer pouch attaches via some large velcro patches.  They are large enough to ensure the pouch won't be released unless you tear it lose yourself.  The mesh pockets are only for narrow goods like spare leads or post-it notes.  I use mine for hall passes.  Between the pockets there is more room for pens.  If you have filled your secondary pouch with pens though you will find it hard to fit more in here.

The Nomadic PE-09 made from sturdy materials.

Seriously, it is the same pencil case!

I don't know why but I border on fanatical about pen security.  Below is a gaping flaw, I mean gap, in the compartment of the Nomadic PE-09.  I don't know why the case is designed this way.  What purpose could this space serve?  I know the odds of losing a pen out of here is minimal but it is possible.  Throw your case in a bag and, rested upside down or on its side, you are risking a jettisoned pen.

Now on the other end of the pencil case Nomadic have gone out of their way to avoid this scenario by providing a button to secure the protruding zip.  Why only on one end?

Finally as with all Nomadic pencil cases we have a diagram explaining how each aspect of the case can be used.

So how did the Nomadic PE-09 fare at school?  Very well.  It can take all the gear I need and more.  I could even take scissors and glue around with me.  The case fit easily into my bag with my computer and other goodies so it wasn't too big.  My students really liked it although some thought the grey colour I chose was a little non-descript.  They were amazed at how much I could pack away into it and I think a few were actually considering getting one for themselves.

Summary

Dimensions - 21 (l) x 12 (h) x 7 (w) cm

Positives - Tough, stylish, versatile

Concerns - Security of items with gap at end of case.

Negatives - None.

Users - Anyone and everyone.

Price - Medium (15-30 AUD)

Other reviews - None

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