iPenBox is a monthly box for the 'pen, paper and ink enthusiast'. Each box contains 5–10 items curated around a theme.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: iPenBox
The Cost: $30 a month for the US or $40 a month for Canada/International, both with free shipping
The Products: Each box will contain a fountain pen, an ink sample, paper and at least two more items.
Ships to: USA & International
Check out all of our iPenBox reviews and the Paper & Stationery Subscription Box Directory for more writing subscription boxes!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add iPenBox to your subscription list or wishlist!
The theme for August was Eclipse, celebrating the eclipse that will take place later this month. A 10% coupon code for the iPenstore shop was included.
Retro 51 Tornado Tribute Series Apollo Rollerball Pen – Value $45 (on sale for $36)
This special pen was designed in honor of the Apollo mission. Each pen has its own serial number! The special packaging is beautiful and makes this pen perfect for gifting. The pen has a nice weight to it and feels well made. It creates bold strokes, but like all other rollerball pens I've ever tried, it's not suitable for lefties – there was a lot of skipping and I had to retrace some letters several times.
Schneider Voyage Fountain Pen – Value $5.97
This fountain pen is made in Germany and came with a blue ink cartridge. I found it to be a little rough against the paper, but I wouldn't expect perfection from a pen at this price point. I really love the retro style, and it fits the eclipse theme perfectly.
Diamine Eclipse Ink Sample, about 3ml – Value $0.75 ($7.49 for 30ml)
Diamine ink is non-toxic and pH neutral; it's made in the UK. This is a blue-black ink and quite dark. It looks black when writing with it, but when painted with a brush you can see that it has some blue. It's a little darker in real life than it looks in the photo. It flowed nicely but did smudge easily.
Starburst Fruit Chews – Value $0.10 (buy a 5 lb. bag for $21.95)
I like that iPenBox always includes a little treat! And 'starburst' even fits the space theme.
Stickerology Moon Phase Stickers – Value $0.99
These little moon stickers are meant to be added to a planner or calendar. They're a cute addition to this month's theme.
Rosetta Notes Pocket Notebook, Black – Value $2.66 ($7.99 for three)
This notebook has smooth acid-free, archival paper that's perfect for use with fountain pens. According to the website, 'Rosetta Notes are milled, manufactured, and printed in Michigan.' This is an iPenStore exclusive! I really like the quality of the paper and the subtle design on the front.
Verdict: My estimated value is $46.47, which is above the $30 cost. The most expensive item – the rollerball pen – isn't a good fit for me, so this isn't my favorite month for iPenBox. I do love that every item fits the eclipse/space theme, and the Rosetta notebook was a particularly nice discovery. I recommend this box for people who want to try out new pens for a reasonable price, as any pen you can't use is easily giftable and the variety of items means there's always something to like.
What do you think of August's iPenBox? Are you going to watch the eclipse?
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