What to pack this summer? - Writer’s Edition

The ultimate guide to packing a suitcase with a literary soul: fountain pens, notebooks, inks and small objects of desire to turn any journey into a story worth writing.

There are two types of people on a trip: those who pack their suitcase thinking about outfits, and those who also save a little space for a fountain pen, a beautiful notebook and that ink that looks as if it had been chosen by the art director of a French film. Spoiler: the latter always have better stories to tell.

Because travelling with the soul of a writer is not just about carrying “something to jot things down”. It is about turning an airport café into a scene, a hotel room into an improvised study and a napkin with a hurriedly written phrase into the beginning of a novel you may never finish… but that, for one second, made you feel absolutely brilliant.

So yes: we are going to pack the writer’s edition suitcase. But not just any suitcase. One with that practical, aspirational and slightly cinematic touch that makes writing while travelling feel less like “I need to write this down” and more like “I am documenting my most interesting era”.

1. The leading fountain pen

Every writer’s edition suitcase needs a leading character. And no, we are not talking about that extra emergency outfit or the fashionable sunglasses. We are talking about a fountain pen. That small, elegant and dangerously addictive object that turns any simple sentence into something with more intention.

For travelling, the ideal choice is a pen that is comfortable, reliable and easy to carry. If you want something practical, a cartridge fountain pen may become your best friend: clean, simple and with no risk of turning your toiletry bag into a blue-ink crime scene. Brands such as Lamy, Esterbrook, Pilot, Pelikan, Sailor or Platinum are perfect for those who want to write a lot without complications.

However, if your trip calls for a little more editorial drama —the good kind—, a Visconti, an Aurora or a Montegrappa can elevate the moment. Because writing “I arrived safely” with just any pen is not the same as doing it with a piece that seems to have a story of its own before it even touches the paper.

2. A notebook that looks like a movie diary

The notebook is one of those objects that, when well chosen, makes you want to write even when you have nothing urgent to say. And that, writer friend, is exactly what we are looking for. A good notebook does not judge, does not demand and does not ask whether that dramatic sentence about the sunset was really necessary. It simply receives it.

For travelling, it is best to choose a comfortable format: not so large that it looks like an office folder, and not so small that you can only write three and a half words. The perfect balance is usually an A5 notebook —that medium size of around 14.5 x 21 cm— because it offers enough space to write a long idea, stick in a train ticket or improvise a list of “things to remember from this trip”, while still fitting in your handbag, backpack or that side pocket of the suitcase where old receipts and potentially sentimental keepsakes also live.

If you travel light, a smaller format, such as A6, can also work very well for quick notes, phrases caught on the fly or airport thoughts. But if we are talking about a true writer’s edition suitcase, A5 has that perfect balance between practical and aspirational: light enough to accompany you and spacious enough so you do not feel as though you are writing your great summer scene in the margin of a receipt.

That said: if you are going to use a fountain pen, the paper matters. A lot. There is no need to get overly technical, but it is worth looking for paper that is neither too thin nor too absorbent. As an easy rule: choose notebooks with paper of around 80 g/m² or more and, if possible, with a smooth or slightly satin finish. This kind of paper helps prevent the ink from bleeding through, feathering on the page, and allows the nib to glide with pleasure, as it should.

Because one thing is taking notes, and quite another is writing on good paper: that quiet little luxury that makes any sentence feel more considered, more beautiful and more yours. In the end, the ideal travel notebook is not the biggest or the most perfect one; it is the one you feel like opening even when you only have five minutes, a half-finished coffee and an idea that has just appeared as if it too were on holiday.

3. Ink: the mood of the trip in one colour

Choosing ink for travelling is like choosing a perfume: it says a lot about the person you are that weekend. A classic blue says “I am practical, but elegant”. A deep black says “I have important matters to attend to”. A forest green says “I am probably writing from a country house with a fireplace”. A burgundy says “I am not exaggerating, I am living intensely”.

If the trip is short or you will be moving around a lot, cartridges are the smartest option. They take up little space, weigh less and do not require setting up a whole logistical operation every time your pen runs out of ink. But if you are settling down for a few days in a peaceful destination, a small ink bottle can be that beautiful indulgence that transforms the hotel desk into the writing table of an established author.

At Iguana you can find inks from brands such as Diamine, Pelikan, Montblanc or Platinum, with colours ranging from essential basics to shades with enough personality to inspire a postcard, a letter or a slightly novel-worthy confession.

4. The case: because a fountain pen does not travel just anywhere

There is something deeply wrong about carrying a fountain pen loose among keys, coins and chargers. It is like carrying a silk dress crumpled in a supermarket bag: technically possible, emotionally devastating.

That is why a case is essential. An individual pen sleeve is perfect if you travel with just one pen and want to protect it without adding bulk. If you are the kind of person who thinks “I’ll only take one” and ends up packing three writing instruments “just in case”, then a larger case will become your new favourite accessory.

At Iguana we offer pen sleeves and cases designed to protect writing pieces with that much-needed balance between functionality and beauty. Because taking care of a fountain pen is not an exaggeration. It is understanding that some objects are not just objects: they are companions in a ritual.

5. A ballpoint or rollerball for when life moves fast

Although the fountain pen has all the glamour, let us be honest: there are moments when the trip does not wait. Forms, addresses, phone numbers, cards, quick notes, changing schedules, ideas that appear just as you are getting into a taxi. That is where the ballpoint or rollerball comes in.

A rollerball is perfect if you want fluidity without giving up comfort. A premium ballpoint, on the other hand, is that faithful friend that always works, never complains and looks good in any situation. Brands such as Montblanc, Caran d’Ache, Graf von Faber-Castell or S.T. Dupont offer pieces that combine presence, precision and that quiet touch of luxury that does not need to raise its voice.

The key is to carry a second writing instrument that does not compete with your fountain pen, but complements it. The fountain pen for the intimate moment. The ballpoint for real life. The rollerball for when you want to feel organised, but still a little literary.

6. A postcard, a letter or something to send

This is not compulsory, but it is highly recommended for those who enjoy doing things with charm. Carrying a postcard, a card or writing paper turns any trip into an opportunity to write something someone can keep. And in the age of instant messages, receiving a few handwritten lines is almost a miracle.

It can be a short note, a long letter, a postcard bought at a museum or a card hidden in someone’s suitcase. It does not need to be perfect. It needs to be genuine. With a fountain pen, a beautiful ink and five calm minutes, even an “I thought of you” can become a small treasure.

7. The attitude: travelling as if searching for a sentence

The writer’s edition suitcase is not completed with objects alone. It also needs an attitude. Looking more closely. Listening better. Keeping apparently useless details: the colour of a façade, a conversation at the next table, the smell of coffee at seven in the morning, a sentence seen on a sign, the strange silence of a city just after it has rained.

Because writing during a trip does not always mean filling pages. Sometimes it means jotting down an idea. An image. A word. Sometimes it means opening the notebook, writing nothing at all and still feeling that something is happening inside. Very editorial. Very main character. Very necessary.

The ultimate list for your writer’s edition suitcase

If we had to sum it up in a list worth saving before packing, it would be this: a comfortable fountain pen, a notebook with good paper, cartridges or well-protected ink, a sleeve or case, a ballpoint or rollerball for elegant emergencies and, if you want to take things up a level, a postcard or writing paper for writing something worth receiving.

You do not need to pack half a stationery shop in your suitcase. You need to choose well. Because writing during a trip is not about carrying more things, but about living and capturing the possibilities. And that is where the magic lies. In knowing that, between a jumper, a toiletry bag and a pair of shoes, there also travels a small promise: that of sitting somewhere beautiful, opening your notebook and writing something that could only have been born there.

In the end, the writer’s edition suitcase is not about appearing interesting. It is about being available for inspiration when it arrives. Even if it arrives dishevelled, in a terminal, with takeaway coffee and five minutes before boarding.

Do you have any questions? Would you like a personalised recommendation? If you need anything, contact us and we will be delighted to help you