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Two Fountain Pens, One Journal: My Daily Conklin Setup
I run two Conklin fountain pens in one Traveler's Company notebook for daily journaling, with no app and no template. Here's why two pens beat one, and which ink goes with which.
My daily journaling setup is two fountain pens and one notebook, with no app and no template. I write in a Traveler's Company notebook, standard size, and switch between a Conklin Endura Deco Crest and a Conklin Hippocrates depending on what I'm putting on the page.
That's the whole system. I've tested a lot of pens lately, and these two have kept their place in my journal the entire time. Yafa Brands, the parent company of Conklin, sent me both pens to review.
Why two pens instead of one
The honest reason is color and separation. Sometimes I want to write in a different color just because I feel like it. Other times I want to separate one kind of entry from another on the same page: a reflection from a task, a prayer from a plan.
Two pens loaded with two different inks do that without any extra system on top. I don't need a highlighter or a second notebook. I just pick up the other pen.
Conklin Endura Deco Crest, best for daily pages
This is the pen I reach for first. The "Deco" in the name comes from Art Deco, the design language of the 1920s. The crest on the cap and the geometric lines on the blue barrel are drawn from that era's actual design, so this is not a modern pen with a vintage look stuck on.
It twists open, posts if you want the extra length, and has enough weight in the hand that it doesn't feel like a toy.
I've paired it with Private Reserve Shoreline Gold, a warm gold ink that is muted rather than bright, which is exactly how I like my inks. It writes smoothly, and it has become the pen for my regular daily pages.
Conklin Hippocrates, best for a change of pace
The Hippocrates is named for the father of medicine, and the theme goes beyond the name. A coin depicting Hippocrates tops the cap, and medicine iconography is worked into the design in a way most people miss at a glance.
I paired it with Private Reserve Copper Burst, a red-brown ink that picks up the pen's rose gold accents, and the pairing works. This combination writes a little drier than the Deco Crest with Shoreline Gold, and you can feel the difference within the first few lines.
I use the Hippocrates when I'm inspired to write somewhere other than my main daily pages, such as a different notebook or a different kind of entry.
| Pen | Ink | Feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conklin Endura Deco Crest | Private Reserve Shoreline Gold | Smooth, Fine nib | Daily journal pages |
| Conklin Hippocrates | Private Reserve Copper Burst | Slightly drier, Fine nib | Switching it up, other notebooks |
On price
These pens list at about $125 to $145, and they often sell for closer to $100. That's not cheap, but it's not premium-collector money either, and the build quality holds up at that price.
I've said this before about my carry setup: a higher price doesn't automatically make a pen better. These two pens prove that point again.
What the two-pen system replaces
I don't use an app or a template for journaling. The full setup is the notebook, the two pens, and a list of ten journaling prompts I've collected over time from videos and other sources.
The prompts include questions like "Is what I'm about to do today helping me stand in the gap for someone else?" and "Where have I been choosing quantity over quality?" I pull from that list only on the days I feel stuck, not every day.
That small detail is the difference between a system that survives a busy week and one that quietly dies the first time I don't feel inspired.
Why this isn't about productivity
I don't journal to produce anything. My journal is the place where I unload whatever is sitting in my head, so I can be more present with my family and think more clearly everywhere else.
That idea is close to morning pages, a journaling practice built around quieting a busy mind rather than generating output. I first heard about it years ago in a video from Tim Ferriss, who uses morning pages to calm what he calls his "monkey mind."
My version is these two pens, this one notebook, and ten prompts I reach for only when I need them.
If you want to see the rest of the gear these pens travel with, my full carry has it, and the full video shows both pens and both inks on paper.
The gear worth a look
- Conklin Endura Deco Crest: My daily-pages pen, with Art Deco styling on the cap and barrel and enough weight to feel substantial in the hand.
- Traveler's Company Brass Ballpoint Pen: Not part of this journaling setup. It's the compact metal ballpoint from my everyday carry, for quick notes when a fountain pen isn't the right tool.
- Private Reserve Shoreline Gold: The warm amber ink in the Deco Crest, muted rather than bright, which is the tone I want for pages I write every day.
- Conklin Hippocrates: My second pen, named for the father of medicine, with a coin depicting him on the cap. I reach for it when I want a different notebook or a change of pace.
- Private Reserve Copper Burst: The red-brown ink in the Hippocrates. It picks up the pen's rose gold accents and writes a bit drier than Shoreline Gold does in the Deco Crest.
- Traveler's Company Notebook (Regular): The one journal both pens write in, standard size, with no template, just daily pages.
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Related reading
- Fountain Pen Paper, Tested
- The 10 Pens I Actually Reach for Every Day (Ranked by Use)
- How to Set Up a Ring Planner Without Overbuying
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the Conklin Endura Deco Crest and the Conklin Hippocrates?
The Conklin Endura Deco Crest is styled after 1920s Art Deco design and pairs with Private Reserve Shoreline Gold for my daily pages. The Conklin Hippocrates carries medicine iconography and a coin depicting Hippocrates on the cap, and pairs with Private Reserve Copper Burst, which writes a touch drier.
Do these Conklin pens have fine or medium nibs?
Both of my Conklin pens have fine nibs, but they write closer to a medium. Keep that in mind if you're used to the finer lines of Japanese fine nibs.
Why use two fountain pens for one journal instead of one?
Two fountain pens loaded with two different inks let me separate different kinds of journal entries, or simply switch colors, without adding a highlighter or a second notebook.
What notebook do you use with these Conklin pens?
I use a Traveler's Company notebook in the standard size with my two Conklin pens, with no app or template involved.