I like to write using analog tools. They are a shelter from some forms of distraction. Though you’re reading this review online, it was made largely with tools held in the hand.

Reaching for the final edits of this post, which were penciled on a paper-printed copy, I chuckled. Where were they? Tucked away in this elegant portfolio, which is itself the topic in question.

So my review in a nutshell—

This portfolio is in daily use as the container I reach for first.

Oh, the Choices

Galen Leather, whose handmade goods have been delighting the fountain pen world since 2012, invited me to use and review one of their products. I chose this from among their many delights as something I could see aiding daily creativity as I live it.

Perhaps a deciding factor was that Australian watercolorist Jane Blundell had purchased this size as her sketching go-to. (Her review is on Galen's product page, linked at the end.)

But having tried it, I like it for my own reasons.

The Frictionless Ease of a Creative Container

This B5-sized zippered portfolio—in Crazy Horse Blue!—is large enough to hold your thoughts, yet its constraints require you to choose your tools. The act of filling it is one form of beginning.

Above all, it works. It functions beautifully—a further invitation to create.

Filled on purpose with the core of your chosen analog project, the portfolio becomes a continuous invitation to start.

Galen

Galen Leather is based in Istanbul, Turkey. When I heard the news of the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquakes on the Turkish-Syrian border, I hoped they were okay. The packaged portfolio arrived that morning—a shock to receive from their hands in the midst of such news.

Galen is a small, family-run operation; a generous company I am happy to support. And I was thankful to learn they were not directly impacted by the quakes.

Arrival

I am not a fan of lengthy, ‘Look what I got in the mail!’ unboxing videos. Most products are exciting to receive. How they fare with actual use I find more helpful.

However, the portfolio was impressive on arrival.

Inside the FedEx bag, the portfolio came in a form-fitting cardboard sleeve. This was slightly bent along one edge but it had done its job and the leather product was unharmed.

The portfolio came packaged in this protective box, along with a fabric pouch of extra goodies. (Slightly damaged box edge out of view.)

An abundance of extras! Stickers, Turkish tea and coffee, a citrus wipe, a keychain, postcards, a leather single pen pouch, a coupon for further purchases, leather care instructions, and a letter.

Keychain and single pen sleeve, included in the order as a freebie.

Superlative Construction & a Great Zipper!

The first thing I noticed, and what I continue to enjoy is the superlative construction of this portfolio. It simply works perfectly every time.

It accommodates a generous thickness of paper matter and pens, all held together without strain by the sturdy, reliable zipper.

The zipper releases without a hitch and makes the practical functioning of this tool a pleasure. It shows no sign of any problem after several months of daily use and promises functionality for years to come.

The Interior

The portfolio has generous and useful sections.

These include:

seven business card-sized openings
a removable four-pen holder with large elastic slots
four slots plus two wider ones, each topped with leather, with elastic sides
behind these, a large sleeve

A keyfob hangs in the center. I decided to use this to hold scissors. I reversed how the keyfob is attached, securing the keychain end to the sewn-in loop. Now the scissors can be released from the clip that holds them.

The interior on the right has a lovely suede finish. A large flap holds the back cover of a B5, or smaller, notebook.

If you’re using thin notebooks like those pictured, more than one easily fits in the space, though only the back one will be tucked behind the suede flap.

Flexible Uses

I’ve put the portfolio to several uses since it arrived.

The first was for sketching. Stillman & Birns B5 softcover sketchbooks fit perfectly. As does any Moleskine or Leuchtturm1917 B5. I like to use colored pencils and kept a bundle of warm colors in one of the wider slots, and cool colors in the other. This worked well. Three Rosemary & Co. travel brushes fit snugly together in one of the leather-topped smaller slots. The tiny Demi Palette from Art Toolkit even fits in one of the credit card slots.

I keep a B5 sketchbook for specific uses that recur annually and this portfolio is what I will use when that time comes around again.

Now, it’s filled with tools to write, take notes, ponder, or plan.

Also, for letter writing. Postage stamps are a nice addition to the credit card holder section.

I tend to work in different parts of the home, work in the car when out and about, or at the library. The portfolio has come with me as an easy grab-and-go, even if I’m simply changing rooms in my house.

Wondering what is actually pictured in those slots, and how those pens are inked?

Contents of the portfolio, as pictured

Any Negatives? And a Few Solutions

In general, I like Galen’s ‘Crazy Horse’ color line of leather with its rich variation of shading. It’s like the 'shading ink' of leatherwork. But the leather does scuff surprisingly easily. The Crazy Horse line of colors seems more susceptible to this.

This could be a philosophical plus: get over the perfect sheen of new and use the thing.

The marks can be lessened with leather milk or by treating the leather with a small amount of olive oil.

Another possible negative depending on what you want to carry: the elastic pen slots are quite large. The slender red Platinum desk pen pictured above is not very securely held though it does stay put.

I have three pencils in one leather-topped slot. I found that if you wrap the pencils with a small elastic band, the band keeps them in place, and they are still easily slid out for use.

(This method also works with a bundle of ink cartridges. Eight or so cartridges, not pictured, wrapped with an elastic band can ride securely in one of the wider slots.)

Finally, some notebooks, such as the Leuchtturm1917, come with an interior ribbon or two. Ribbons might get caught in the zipper unless you’re careful to tuck them away or trim them a little.

I find I gravitate to the Apica CD notebooks and others without ribbons.

On Value

Could I use something less expensive to corral my creative tools? Of course.

But the hand-sewn, lifelong quality of Galen’s workmanship is exceptional and I will be using this portfolio long after many of my digital tools have been replaced.

THE TAKEAWAY

This portfolio seems set to last a lifetime.
The leather surface does scuff surprisingly easily but can be lessened with treatment. Scuffs don’t impact its impeccable workmanship.
The B5 is comfortable to carry and holds larger notebooks along with magazines and plenty of writerly tools.
The natural limits of a portfolio mean you have to choose and that is a good thing.
To me, its true value lies in its invitation to seamlessly start.
But one final warning: owning this beautiful product may inspire you, as it did me, to invest in more expensive pens to fill it with appropriate beauty. Uh-oh!

Video from Galen Leather

Disclosure: I received this portfolio from Galen for the purpose of writing an honest review.

Where to Buy

You can buy products directly from Galen, in which case you'll receive the extra goodies. Handmade by this small company, items are sometimes sold out but will get restocked eventually. It’s not the instant process to which Amazon has conditioned us.

Check local suppliers at the second link below though none offer the full line.