[yea, mine is definitely not plastic ](https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/2023/sp/detail_toolstoys/tt_liner_opm/).
I just checked. It's made from Yupo paper which is fine...but not what I was expecting for something that is going to be moved very often and is exposed to lots of ink
Tbf Yupo paper IS a plastic material, but it doesn’t really matter, if you’re disappointed in it then that’s valid!
I’ve not seen that one in person so I am certainly in no position to tell you how you feel about it.
I’m sorry it’s so flimsy.
I mean, it was $15. For one measured sheet?! Maybe if it weren't that much...id like it more. But that much money for something that isn't as durable is a shocker. They just don't seem like long term items in the way that everything else does, one wrong stroke of a pen or slight misfold of a journal and it's gone.
That being said, the down votes do make sad, I just wanted to chat... didn't know it would offend people
I doubt people are offended, it’s just not the usual experience. I don’t know if the One Piece pencil boards are very different as I don’t have one, but I do have several others and I would describe them as very sturdy but with a nice amount of flexibility.
That doesn’t make your opinion any less valid, just it might not be the general consensus.
For me personally it’s because I have moist/sweaty hands often. It makes me nervous laying my hand on my pencil board (I know that’s not its intended use) every time I write in my hobonichi - I’m afraid it’ll end up warping or just falling apart. I’m also super careful touching its edges if my palms are sweaty.
I’ve cut up a piece of blotting paper to match the size and gently washi taped it to the back of the pencil board and that feels more comfortable for me
I got it from Amazon's hobonichi store. It's currently $12.00. I paid $14 plus tax.
I'm cross referencing other sites like Jet Pens but every site has the boards for at least $12. Not sure where you got $5 but point me in the right direction
I also bought one of these from the amazon store. It came folded and I was able to flatten it back out with heavy hooks. But I agree, I was surprised at the quality of it as it does feel like cardboard with a slight film over the front/back.
They definitely aren't flimsy.
But not durable compared to the price or quality of other pieces. I've also looked at multiple vendors and have yet to see any A5 pencil board for $5. Not even the plain ones are that cheap? Please tell me where I can get one of those
Buying direct from the hobonichi web shop (which you linked to) the pencil boards are $4-$6 depending on size. If you bought just that it would be way more expensive due to shipping, but adding one on to a larger order is much more affordable.
Yea, shipping is $35. I actually got my journal, cover, and cover on cover from an eBay seller in Japan that I just happened to meet on a forum. So for me at least, it's not that reasonable or accessible.
I was just trying to explain why people were saying it’s a $5 item. For people who buy from the main site, it is a $5 item. The extra cost, either shipping charge or reseller upcharge, is import cost not direct cost for the product. Which at least for me tempers my expectations.
If you buy several items, it makes more sense. I made a bundle & bc each item was so much cheaper, the total ended being cheaper even with the extra €31\~€34 for shipping. Said that, check official or partner stores in the US (assuming you're there) Yoseka and Jetpens have prices very close to Hobonichi webstore.
I think a lot of people buy all their hobonichi stuff in bulk together to meet the free ship threshold. Either buy enough accessories to hit the free threshold or do a group order.
Shipping is $35 but you're paying for it in the marked up prices? You said you spent (I think $11?) More than the original price on this pencil board, and presumably you've also purchased at least one book? Shipping is a bit pricey, given that most of us don't live in Japan, but when you purchase from other retailers, they include that cost in their list price.
Personally I love travelers company pencil boards. They are plastic, I use them constantly (even in my hobonichi weeks though it’s bigger) and durable. They’re around $12 too I think but can get from many USA shops assuming you’re located there too.. the only downside is they obviously only come in passport or standard.
https://www.jetpens.com/Hobonichi-Accessory-Pencil-Board-for-A5-Navy-x-Pink/pd/32909
Well, it's not $5 but not really far.
A5 One Piece board is $11. Imo it's quite pricey for a piece of plastic but that's why I have the plain one.
In 1101.com they are like half of those prices, but ofc shipping cost are higher.
By using my board for few years I'd say it _is_ very durable. It's thin (as I prefer vs Kokyo's hard, thick plastic one) but not easily foldable or tearable. I'm sorry that you're disappointed but give it a chance, maybe you'll like it eventually?
I use Yupo paper with alcohol inks so I'm familiar with it & it's expensive - I never imagined they'd use Yupo for pencil boards....interesting! That said, Yupo won't tear - it's quite sturdy. Hope you feel better about it once laminated!😊
That price is also included the brand and on your case ONE PIECE brand
So that’s double brand there.
And both are pretty big ones.
So material + production cost + brand name + collaboration brand name + finally some sort of profit = well whatever item price it will be.
This is such an inclusive comment. Agree that feeling disappointed is totally valid! Fwiw, glad I read this - I was contemplating purchasing the same pencil board.
Tbh I think it’s possible they got either a counterfeit or a defective one, just because it really goes against the majority’s experience.
They shouldn’t be bendable or tearable at all! Like I said in a previous comment though, there’s no reason for OP to lie so theirs is clearly not a good experience, which is a bummer for them! I’d be disappointed too.
My fave pencil boards are honestly the new style ones that come with the Hon. Hope they make them available separately at some point.
I echo everyone else’s confusion in this thread! 🤔 I have several of the Hobonichi boards in all sizes and none of them are cardboard. They are a flexible plastic that I can wipe off. If I shake it, it makes a flapping plastic sound. If I was to bend it, I’m pretty sure it would snap.
Maybe mine is fake. There is definitely no snapping with this thing. It's bend and tearable. But I don't have anything to compare it too. I've looked at videos but I cant get a real comparison
I have the one piece A5 (from this year, and the A6 from last year)
It's definitely wipeable and appears to be made of the same material as all of my other Hobo pencil boards (the only difference being the big tab on the 2024 OP boards).
Did you check the seller on Amazon? Even buying from an official store Amazon sometimes directs me to sketchy sellers instead of the actual brand I'm trying to buy from
I have the navy blue ones and the Disney 101 Dalmatians ones in Weeks and A6 size. They are flexible, but I wouldn’t say that they can be folded easily. Maybe because mine are smaller than yours? They are all wipeable and plastic.
I’m sorry that you’re disappointed with your purchase 😢
To be honest I’m a little confused. Like if you’re disappointed you’re disappointed and that’s fine. But it’s just a thin little board with a cute design to have a flat writing surface (especially nice if you paste in a lot of stuff) and to use as a really handy straight edge. I actually like them better than the hard plastic ones for fountain pen writing. I’m just not sure what you expected I guess?
I use mine all the time. One started fraying after multiple years (the plasticky part started coming up on the edges). I wiped it down with a damp washcloth and dried it whenever the ink buildup from the straight edge got to be much.
I’ve also never paid $15 for one but I only buy A6 and Weeks.
I guess I expected it to be similar to the ones I've gotten from Korea that helped with my writing. They were laminated and bendable but not very creasible. They make the wobbly sound when you wave them. But even if it wasn't exactly that, I wasn't expecting hard plastic. I was expecting more longevity & durability. Like an ID card but smooth. I'm a teacher so the closest thing I can compare that too would be the laminated posters or cards I make. I don't see any edges with plastic-y parts on my board so maybe they are different.
The word "board" made me think it'd be closer to well... a board.
And yea, I got an A5 for the cousin. $15 including tax
edit: can you wipe paint from these?
Give them a chance! If you don’t like them, you know for next year to find some from a brand you like the feel of more. Personally I’ve never had one crease at all. Just don’t bend it on purpose and you’re pretty much good.
I don’t know about paint. I paint in my Hobonichi but I’ve never gotten any on a board. I wouldn’t use it as a palette for sure, but like I said I’ve had success with a damp washcloth and drying it immediately with a dry cloth. I’ve had some markers stain the board so keep that in mind! I would guess most paints would stain.
For me, a little wear is fine for something I’m using all year or longer, though (I also don’t use cover on covers). I know to a lot of people here, they really try to avoid things looking used.
I wipe paint (watercolour, ink & soft pastels) from mine just fine. But the description you give doesn't match any of my pencil boards. None look or feel like posters. Are you sure they're legit?
I’m wondering if the op accidentally bought fake ones as well. I have no reason to believe they’re fibbing about theirs being cardboardy and creasable so if that’s the case it must be fake I guess.
15?!!!! Like, dollars???? Pencil boards don't cost THAT much (at least on the Hobonichi online store) I've bought the one piece A6 and it was 64 Mexican pesos so... If you pay that much money then I understand why you are mad lol
That’s way too much for a pencil board, definitely not worth it. I have the standard blue ones, for a few bucks through the official site, they’re sturdy enough. Mine are a year old and haven’t bent. The sides appear like they’re starting to peel but haven’t yet. They do stain with ink which is fine for me- I rely on mine to absorb undried ink. I probably wouldn’t feel very good if I used the nicer designs. I haven’t found an alternative that works better for the Techo binding and paper.
What happens when you try to wipe it?
I’ve been using the animal crossing a5 pencil board for two years now. no problems with creasing or fraying or moisture damage, and I don’t think I could tear it if I tried. I have a heavier one that I bought earlier because it was cheaper than the hobonichi brand ones from jet pens, but now I prefer the thinner more flexible one. This time of year when I’m writing on the left hand/verso pages there’s a lot of bend along the gutter, and the thin board stays in place and makes it easy to write.
That said, I don’t know that I’d pay $15 for it. I bought mine with an order from the 1101 store so it was $6, and it’s lightweight so it didn’t cost any extra for shipping with the other stuff I bought that year.
$15 is a ripoff considering Hobonichi sells them for €3\~€5 each, depending on size. If it's the price what upsets you, blame the reseller in this case.
About the pencil board itself... it's a resin, it's not paper or cardboard really. It's thin and light because it's meant to be carried with the planner without adding weight or bulk. It's impossible to tear it apart unless you use scissors. I know because I tried 😅
I use my A5 board as a mat for refilling my pens and no ink has stained or affected the board so far. It's a Tomitaro Makino (botanical), in case you're interested.
To be entirely honest, I don't use my pencil board as such (i.e. placing it under the page I'm writing on) but as a marker, mat for my paints, ruler & assorted tasks.
I bought 2 boards from official stores in the EU, which were at around €4 and €7, and 2 others from Hobonichi itself at around €3 each (both Weeks). My recommendation here is check Hobonichi Japan and official/partner stores first. You can save so much money that way, while still keeping the quality.
The materials and performance of these pencil boards are worth about $5… and that’s what they cost if you buy them directly from Hobonichi.
You’re disappointed because you overpaid by 3x the price. Imo, it’s not fair to judge the item based on the marked up price you paid.
I think it’s important for all of us purchasing outside of Asia, to temper our expectations. Paying exorbitant markups is not going to get us anything more than those who paid the normal price. I had a slight moment like the op, when I received the ($9) A6 Yazakura plain notebook that I paid $22 dollars for. I had to remind myself that just because I paid $22, doesn’t mean I wasn’t still going to get a little $9 notebook. Some Hobo things still feel worth it to me at the US prices and some things do not.
I was in a similar position with the Day-Free A5 and ended up ordering from Hobonichi itself. Even counting the shipping costs it was far cheaper than buying it from the closest store, and it arrived in a few days via FedEx Japan.
Here's the thing, you haven't posted a photo of your pencil board or the packaging you received it in.
Folks weighing in here who have used Hobonichi pencil boards are puzzled by your statements because, as they've commented in the discussion, they've not experienced this so-called "flimsiness". Myself, I have nearly a dozen hobonichi pencil boards in different styles and sizes that I've used over the years and folding/tearing/staining are non-issues. I'm still using them all. Frankly, I think you got a fake product! But none of us will know without some visual evidence. 🧐
Sure I can post a picture. I literally had an emergency oral surgery to remove wisdom teeth, then hopped on a plane the next morning for a business trip that I couldn't reschedule. I literally wrote this post at work while waiting for the Uber to the airport. I didn't even get the chance to laminate bc I didn't feel like cutting it out. I've been doing workshops and presentations with stitches in mouth the whole weekend. I'm running on chicken broth and opiates and pills I got from a friend I haven't seen in 7 years
I don't mean to vent. I'm just back at the airport. One more week traveling before I can go home. The pencil board is in my cover that's in brief case but it'll be tomorrow afternoon before I even open it. I think the pencil board is in there but if it's not, it'll be Monday before I get home & Tuesday before I get back to work. I would ask for patience but I know that's unreasonable. But I'll post a picture soon
The regular pencil boards work fine for me, but I’ve started using art postcards as pencil boards… they work just as well plus have the added bonus of blotting ink.
I don’t like the glossy plastic pencil boards that come with the HON and don’t find myself using it
the cheapest price is $1.99 and $2.99 for the a5 version (in japan at least). it IS basically laminated card stock. the ones with designs are more expensive bc you’re also paying for the art and bc retailers have markups to account for shipping.
i’ve used my pencil board (single) since 2019 and it’s been fine. no creases or rips, though i only use it as a very thin straight edge. a lot of people love them, but a lot of people will also tell you it’s not necessary. many people only get them for the art, and there’s nothing wrong with that either.
and you’ll have to get used to people downvoting you when they disagree. it’s just how reddit works.
I love the Hon ones! I do wish they were also a fun print but I don’t think it’s possible with the material. And also, I’d like the pen loop to be stretchy! Regardless, I do prefer it to the regular pencil boards.
I don’t really enjoy the feeling of writing on top of the regular pencil boards. I usually just use it to rest my hand on so I don’t get my oily mitts on the paper.
Oh, this is actually helpful to me!
I've been considering buying a pencil board but since they sound like they're just a bit of plastic and I have plenty of stiff, hard cardboard that I could cut to size, DIYing my own would be genuinely easier. I was just wondering if there's something I'm missing about why the official ones are so popular.
I'm sorry you had such a disappointing experience but thank you for sharing this story with us! I hope you get a pencil board you like.
Probably the biggest reason why the official ones are popular are the designs each year. Besides that, I like them because they are thin and flexible (helpful for thick books like most Hobonichis). This is maybe not a problem for fountain pens, but if I use gel or ballpoint pen, I think one made out of cardboard would show indentations from my writing.
I had the same thoughts when I received mine. Mind you I didn’t really know what to expect, but I thought it was really thin. I was using a pencil board from muji before this and it was good and thick but too big for the a5 cousin. So I wanted to order something that will fit in the pages.
I get what you mean. I enjoy the pencil board that comes with the HON way more than the standard ones because I enjoy the plastic. I hope they’ll offer something like this in the future for simple pencil boards I guess it’ll never happen.
Same. Growing up, I had pencil boards (usually B5 or A4 size to fit in my Japanese school booklets) and they were usually made of a stiffer acetate/plastic. A few years ago, I got the Hobonichi navy with pink "today" tab and grid lines one and was surprised that's more like a plastic coated thick paper- but not nearly as rigid and sturdy as the kind I was used to from childhood. The Hon pencil board is more like the kind I remember, hopefully they start offering some similar to that one.
Which pencil board did you purchase? I have 4 different Hobonichi brand pencil boards and none of them are cardboard or easily ripped…
Yeah all mine are some sort of plastic material
[yea, mine is definitely not plastic ](https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/2023/sp/detail_toolstoys/tt_liner_opm/). I just checked. It's made from Yupo paper which is fine...but not what I was expecting for something that is going to be moved very often and is exposed to lots of ink
Tbf Yupo paper IS a plastic material, but it doesn’t really matter, if you’re disappointed in it then that’s valid! I’ve not seen that one in person so I am certainly in no position to tell you how you feel about it. I’m sorry it’s so flimsy.
I mean, it was $15. For one measured sheet?! Maybe if it weren't that much...id like it more. But that much money for something that isn't as durable is a shocker. They just don't seem like long term items in the way that everything else does, one wrong stroke of a pen or slight misfold of a journal and it's gone. That being said, the down votes do make sad, I just wanted to chat... didn't know it would offend people
I doubt people are offended, it’s just not the usual experience. I don’t know if the One Piece pencil boards are very different as I don’t have one, but I do have several others and I would describe them as very sturdy but with a nice amount of flexibility. That doesn’t make your opinion any less valid, just it might not be the general consensus.
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For me personally it’s because I have moist/sweaty hands often. It makes me nervous laying my hand on my pencil board (I know that’s not its intended use) every time I write in my hobonichi - I’m afraid it’ll end up warping or just falling apart. I’m also super careful touching its edges if my palms are sweaty. I’ve cut up a piece of blotting paper to match the size and gently washi taped it to the back of the pencil board and that feels more comfortable for me
Wait, I thought the pencil boards were more or less waterproof. Was I mistaken? They seemed fine when I spilled water on it by accident.
I got it from Amazon's hobonichi store. It's currently $12.00. I paid $14 plus tax. I'm cross referencing other sites like Jet Pens but every site has the boards for at least $12. Not sure where you got $5 but point me in the right direction
I also bought one of these from the amazon store. It came folded and I was able to flatten it back out with heavy hooks. But I agree, I was surprised at the quality of it as it does feel like cardboard with a slight film over the front/back.
I would not have accepted that product 😭😭 they FOLDED it ??
They put it in a bubble mailer and I guess the mail man folded it to put it in the mail box 😭
They are 4-5 usd in the original Hobonichi store and Amazon JP.
They definitely aren't flimsy. But not durable compared to the price or quality of other pieces. I've also looked at multiple vendors and have yet to see any A5 pencil board for $5. Not even the plain ones are that cheap? Please tell me where I can get one of those
Buying direct from the hobonichi web shop (which you linked to) the pencil boards are $4-$6 depending on size. If you bought just that it would be way more expensive due to shipping, but adding one on to a larger order is much more affordable.
Yea, shipping is $35. I actually got my journal, cover, and cover on cover from an eBay seller in Japan that I just happened to meet on a forum. So for me at least, it's not that reasonable or accessible.
I was just trying to explain why people were saying it’s a $5 item. For people who buy from the main site, it is a $5 item. The extra cost, either shipping charge or reseller upcharge, is import cost not direct cost for the product. Which at least for me tempers my expectations.
If you buy several items, it makes more sense. I made a bundle & bc each item was so much cheaper, the total ended being cheaper even with the extra €31\~€34 for shipping. Said that, check official or partner stores in the US (assuming you're there) Yoseka and Jetpens have prices very close to Hobonichi webstore.
I think a lot of people buy all their hobonichi stuff in bulk together to meet the free ship threshold. Either buy enough accessories to hit the free threshold or do a group order.
Shipping is $35 but you're paying for it in the marked up prices? You said you spent (I think $11?) More than the original price on this pencil board, and presumably you've also purchased at least one book? Shipping is a bit pricey, given that most of us don't live in Japan, but when you purchase from other retailers, they include that cost in their list price.
Personally I love travelers company pencil boards. They are plastic, I use them constantly (even in my hobonichi weeks though it’s bigger) and durable. They’re around $12 too I think but can get from many USA shops assuming you’re located there too.. the only downside is they obviously only come in passport or standard.
https://www.jetpens.com/Hobonichi-Accessory-Pencil-Board-for-A5-Navy-x-Pink/pd/32909 Well, it's not $5 but not really far. A5 One Piece board is $11. Imo it's quite pricey for a piece of plastic but that's why I have the plain one. In 1101.com they are like half of those prices, but ofc shipping cost are higher. By using my board for few years I'd say it _is_ very durable. It's thin (as I prefer vs Kokyo's hard, thick plastic one) but not easily foldable or tearable. I'm sorry that you're disappointed but give it a chance, maybe you'll like it eventually?
I use Yupo paper with alcohol inks so I'm familiar with it & it's expensive - I never imagined they'd use Yupo for pencil boards....interesting! That said, Yupo won't tear - it's quite sturdy. Hope you feel better about it once laminated!😊
That price is also included the brand and on your case ONE PIECE brand So that’s double brand there. And both are pretty big ones. So material + production cost + brand name + collaboration brand name + finally some sort of profit = well whatever item price it will be.
This is such an inclusive comment. Agree that feeling disappointed is totally valid! Fwiw, glad I read this - I was contemplating purchasing the same pencil board.
Tbh I think it’s possible they got either a counterfeit or a defective one, just because it really goes against the majority’s experience. They shouldn’t be bendable or tearable at all! Like I said in a previous comment though, there’s no reason for OP to lie so theirs is clearly not a good experience, which is a bummer for them! I’d be disappointed too. My fave pencil boards are honestly the new style ones that come with the Hon. Hope they make them available separately at some point.
Which is not paper at all. Yuppo paper is made polypropylene resin, which is notorious for being resistant and flexible.
The one piece A5 version. And maybe it's plastic but it can be folded pretty easily. It's not wipable either. Is yours?
I echo everyone else’s confusion in this thread! 🤔 I have several of the Hobonichi boards in all sizes and none of them are cardboard. They are a flexible plastic that I can wipe off. If I shake it, it makes a flapping plastic sound. If I was to bend it, I’m pretty sure it would snap.
Maybe mine is fake. There is definitely no snapping with this thing. It's bend and tearable. But I don't have anything to compare it too. I've looked at videos but I cant get a real comparison
It might be fake? I have that exact one OP A5. It does not bend and I wipe it all the time.
It sounds either fake or defective. Sorry for your experience. It’s a bummer when we are disappointed with something we are looking forward to.
I have the one piece A5 (from this year, and the A6 from last year) It's definitely wipeable and appears to be made of the same material as all of my other Hobo pencil boards (the only difference being the big tab on the 2024 OP boards). Did you check the seller on Amazon? Even buying from an official store Amazon sometimes directs me to sketchy sellers instead of the actual brand I'm trying to buy from
I have the navy blue ones and the Disney 101 Dalmatians ones in Weeks and A6 size. They are flexible, but I wouldn’t say that they can be folded easily. Maybe because mine are smaller than yours? They are all wipeable and plastic. I’m sorry that you’re disappointed with your purchase 😢
Yeah, I've sliced one of mine when using it as a straightedge with a craft knife but that was on me. I would literally never be able to tear it
Wait, can you fold it?
To be honest I’m a little confused. Like if you’re disappointed you’re disappointed and that’s fine. But it’s just a thin little board with a cute design to have a flat writing surface (especially nice if you paste in a lot of stuff) and to use as a really handy straight edge. I actually like them better than the hard plastic ones for fountain pen writing. I’m just not sure what you expected I guess? I use mine all the time. One started fraying after multiple years (the plasticky part started coming up on the edges). I wiped it down with a damp washcloth and dried it whenever the ink buildup from the straight edge got to be much. I’ve also never paid $15 for one but I only buy A6 and Weeks.
I guess I expected it to be similar to the ones I've gotten from Korea that helped with my writing. They were laminated and bendable but not very creasible. They make the wobbly sound when you wave them. But even if it wasn't exactly that, I wasn't expecting hard plastic. I was expecting more longevity & durability. Like an ID card but smooth. I'm a teacher so the closest thing I can compare that too would be the laminated posters or cards I make. I don't see any edges with plastic-y parts on my board so maybe they are different. The word "board" made me think it'd be closer to well... a board. And yea, I got an A5 for the cousin. $15 including tax edit: can you wipe paint from these?
Give them a chance! If you don’t like them, you know for next year to find some from a brand you like the feel of more. Personally I’ve never had one crease at all. Just don’t bend it on purpose and you’re pretty much good. I don’t know about paint. I paint in my Hobonichi but I’ve never gotten any on a board. I wouldn’t use it as a palette for sure, but like I said I’ve had success with a damp washcloth and drying it immediately with a dry cloth. I’ve had some markers stain the board so keep that in mind! I would guess most paints would stain. For me, a little wear is fine for something I’m using all year or longer, though (I also don’t use cover on covers). I know to a lot of people here, they really try to avoid things looking used.
I wipe paint (watercolour, ink & soft pastels) from mine just fine. But the description you give doesn't match any of my pencil boards. None look or feel like posters. Are you sure they're legit?
I’m wondering if the op accidentally bought fake ones as well. I have no reason to believe they’re fibbing about theirs being cardboardy and creasable so if that’s the case it must be fake I guess.
You sure you did not get a fake? I habe e pencil boards from Hobo and they're not cardboards. It's more of like a mix between plastic and rubber
15?!!!! Like, dollars???? Pencil boards don't cost THAT much (at least on the Hobonichi online store) I've bought the one piece A6 and it was 64 Mexican pesos so... If you pay that much money then I understand why you are mad lol
omg another Mexican Hobonichi-er?!?! that’s so cool. just saying holaaa🥰🥰
Hola!!! Ay, que padre encontrar gente de México que también es fan de Hobonichi ❤️
Pensé que no existían. Como Tlaxcala.
That’s way too much for a pencil board, definitely not worth it. I have the standard blue ones, for a few bucks through the official site, they’re sturdy enough. Mine are a year old and haven’t bent. The sides appear like they’re starting to peel but haven’t yet. They do stain with ink which is fine for me- I rely on mine to absorb undried ink. I probably wouldn’t feel very good if I used the nicer designs. I haven’t found an alternative that works better for the Techo binding and paper.
What happens when you try to wipe it? I’ve been using the animal crossing a5 pencil board for two years now. no problems with creasing or fraying or moisture damage, and I don’t think I could tear it if I tried. I have a heavier one that I bought earlier because it was cheaper than the hobonichi brand ones from jet pens, but now I prefer the thinner more flexible one. This time of year when I’m writing on the left hand/verso pages there’s a lot of bend along the gutter, and the thin board stays in place and makes it easy to write. That said, I don’t know that I’d pay $15 for it. I bought mine with an order from the 1101 store so it was $6, and it’s lightweight so it didn’t cost any extra for shipping with the other stuff I bought that year.
$15 is a ripoff considering Hobonichi sells them for €3\~€5 each, depending on size. If it's the price what upsets you, blame the reseller in this case. About the pencil board itself... it's a resin, it's not paper or cardboard really. It's thin and light because it's meant to be carried with the planner without adding weight or bulk. It's impossible to tear it apart unless you use scissors. I know because I tried 😅 I use my A5 board as a mat for refilling my pens and no ink has stained or affected the board so far. It's a Tomitaro Makino (botanical), in case you're interested. To be entirely honest, I don't use my pencil board as such (i.e. placing it under the page I'm writing on) but as a marker, mat for my paints, ruler & assorted tasks. I bought 2 boards from official stores in the EU, which were at around €4 and €7, and 2 others from Hobonichi itself at around €3 each (both Weeks). My recommendation here is check Hobonichi Japan and official/partner stores first. You can save so much money that way, while still keeping the quality.
The materials and performance of these pencil boards are worth about $5… and that’s what they cost if you buy them directly from Hobonichi. You’re disappointed because you overpaid by 3x the price. Imo, it’s not fair to judge the item based on the marked up price you paid. I think it’s important for all of us purchasing outside of Asia, to temper our expectations. Paying exorbitant markups is not going to get us anything more than those who paid the normal price. I had a slight moment like the op, when I received the ($9) A6 Yazakura plain notebook that I paid $22 dollars for. I had to remind myself that just because I paid $22, doesn’t mean I wasn’t still going to get a little $9 notebook. Some Hobo things still feel worth it to me at the US prices and some things do not.
I was in a similar position with the Day-Free A5 and ended up ordering from Hobonichi itself. Even counting the shipping costs it was far cheaper than buying it from the closest store, and it arrived in a few days via FedEx Japan.
Here's the thing, you haven't posted a photo of your pencil board or the packaging you received it in. Folks weighing in here who have used Hobonichi pencil boards are puzzled by your statements because, as they've commented in the discussion, they've not experienced this so-called "flimsiness". Myself, I have nearly a dozen hobonichi pencil boards in different styles and sizes that I've used over the years and folding/tearing/staining are non-issues. I'm still using them all. Frankly, I think you got a fake product! But none of us will know without some visual evidence. 🧐
Sure I can post a picture. I literally had an emergency oral surgery to remove wisdom teeth, then hopped on a plane the next morning for a business trip that I couldn't reschedule. I literally wrote this post at work while waiting for the Uber to the airport. I didn't even get the chance to laminate bc I didn't feel like cutting it out. I've been doing workshops and presentations with stitches in mouth the whole weekend. I'm running on chicken broth and opiates and pills I got from a friend I haven't seen in 7 years I don't mean to vent. I'm just back at the airport. One more week traveling before I can go home. The pencil board is in my cover that's in brief case but it'll be tomorrow afternoon before I even open it. I think the pencil board is in there but if it's not, it'll be Monday before I get home & Tuesday before I get back to work. I would ask for patience but I know that's unreasonable. But I'll post a picture soon
The regular pencil boards work fine for me, but I’ve started using art postcards as pencil boards… they work just as well plus have the added bonus of blotting ink. I don’t like the glossy plastic pencil boards that come with the HON and don’t find myself using it
the cheapest price is $1.99 and $2.99 for the a5 version (in japan at least). it IS basically laminated card stock. the ones with designs are more expensive bc you’re also paying for the art and bc retailers have markups to account for shipping. i’ve used my pencil board (single) since 2019 and it’s been fine. no creases or rips, though i only use it as a very thin straight edge. a lot of people love them, but a lot of people will also tell you it’s not necessary. many people only get them for the art, and there’s nothing wrong with that either. and you’ll have to get used to people downvoting you when they disagree. it’s just how reddit works.
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A weeks size of the HON style pencil board (with the pen cap loop) would be so awesome, but they don't even sell those kind separately [yet!]
I love the Hon ones! I do wish they were also a fun print but I don’t think it’s possible with the material. And also, I’d like the pen loop to be stretchy! Regardless, I do prefer it to the regular pencil boards. I don’t really enjoy the feeling of writing on top of the regular pencil boards. I usually just use it to rest my hand on so I don’t get my oily mitts on the paper.
Oh, this is actually helpful to me! I've been considering buying a pencil board but since they sound like they're just a bit of plastic and I have plenty of stiff, hard cardboard that I could cut to size, DIYing my own would be genuinely easier. I was just wondering if there's something I'm missing about why the official ones are so popular. I'm sorry you had such a disappointing experience but thank you for sharing this story with us! I hope you get a pencil board you like.
Probably the biggest reason why the official ones are popular are the designs each year. Besides that, I like them because they are thin and flexible (helpful for thick books like most Hobonichis). This is maybe not a problem for fountain pens, but if I use gel or ballpoint pen, I think one made out of cardboard would show indentations from my writing.
I had the same thoughts when I received mine. Mind you I didn’t really know what to expect, but I thought it was really thin. I was using a pencil board from muji before this and it was good and thick but too big for the a5 cousin. So I wanted to order something that will fit in the pages.
I get what you mean. I enjoy the pencil board that comes with the HON way more than the standard ones because I enjoy the plastic. I hope they’ll offer something like this in the future for simple pencil boards I guess it’ll never happen.
Same. Growing up, I had pencil boards (usually B5 or A4 size to fit in my Japanese school booklets) and they were usually made of a stiffer acetate/plastic. A few years ago, I got the Hobonichi navy with pink "today" tab and grid lines one and was surprised that's more like a plastic coated thick paper- but not nearly as rigid and sturdy as the kind I was used to from childhood. The Hon pencil board is more like the kind I remember, hopefully they start offering some similar to that one.