Thoughts and ideas are troublesome things, and are apt to pop up at any time. The same goes for interesting conversations, songs you want to look up later, and travel tips from your backpacker friend. Have a mini pen in your gear, poised and ready to shape the noisy input of daily life into usable material for future projects, stories, and journeys.

A good number of these compact pens are extendable, meaning that they start out in a compact pocket-friendly size, but can extend to a comfortable size for writing. Small but solid, these pens will feel right at home in your wallet, keychain, purse, or pocket. Pair one of these miniature pens with a pocket notebook for full coverage, no matter where you go.