This will be an overview of their products and I will create more product reviews for additional items from the Erin Condren store.
My first planner love, as you guys know, is Erin Condren. So, it is only fitting that my first Product Review is for Erin Condren products. Note that what is below is solely based on my opinion and nothing else. I have zero endorsements from the company.
I've used many different types of planners over the years, but my starting point in this world was Erin Condren. I was very dedicated to the ECLP (Erin Condren Life Planners) for years and was absolutely in love with everything that the company had to offer for someone like me. This blog's focus will be on the planners themselves; I'll review their accessories and writing tools at a later point.
Want to jump ahead? Find the categories here!
My First Impressions
Erin Condren was my first love - it really is the Planner that skyrocketed my love for creative planning beyond the flimsy, free planners from high school days. It really elevated the way planning worked in my mind. The journey into this started with a single Pinterest search on planners - the add for Erin Condren popped up and I immediately clicked.
From that moment on, I was hooked.
The way in which people have used their planners opened my eyes to a world that explored style I never thought could exist: journaling, memory planning, decorating - it wasn't just a list on a page to cross off. It was so much more. By this point, it was really hard to not just dive in fully and so I did. My first purchase of an Erin Condren Planner was the ECLP, Vertical Layout. And, that was my baby for years to come.
If you're new to planning, Erin Condren is such a great way to start. Begin with a Quiz that will guide you into the proper layout for you based on a series of really well crafted questions or just explore the site till you find something you like (and use this Comparison Guide to help guide you).
Accessories on this site for your planner are endless and are a great companion to the planner. But, every planner has pros and cons. Let's dive into my opinions on specific products and where I land on Erin Condren as a whole!
My Favorite Products and Opinions
I will admit, the number of options presented on the website can be overwhelming. When starting out, I highly recommend the Quiz mentioned above. But, I want to focus on very specific items.
Different Layout Styles
As most of you know, Erin Condren offers various types of layouts. This is great news, really. Everyone really loves options and the ability to change things up. I want to focus on the layouts I've tried in the past and what my honest opinion is of them.
Vertical Layout - my one true love.
What I love so most about this layout is how each vertical box is almost categorized for you. Some of the category options I've used in the past to accommodate this layout are: Parts of the Day (Morning, Afternoon, Evening), Health (Workouts, Food Tracking, Mood Tracking), Financing (To-Do List, Appointments, Bills & Spending) and All Over (To-Do Lists & Appointments, Workouts, Journaling). As you can see, the options really are endless and the layout really caters to so much more.
The sticker options are my favorite under the Vertical Layout; finding the right sticker box that takes a whole box really does make the overall layout pop.
Hourly Layout - my second favorite.
This is a fabulous layout - sometimes. If you work a typical 9-5 job, or your schedule is pretty standard, it makes using the Hourly Layout a little difficult. One way to get around this is to use this layout to help time block. This method really help me see how much time I need per item on my to-do list and forgive myself when I couldn't do everything.
I absolutely love using this layout to also combine with my Work Planner which makes writing up my timesheets a lot easier. On the flip side, however, I truly prefer having my Work Planner and my Day-to-Day Planner to be separate.
Additionally, I really wish the hours went beyond to where they show. There aren't enough hours within the schedule. My biggest request on this layout is to allow for the hours listed to be customizable. I would skip the hours I spend on work and add more time slots until the typical end of my day which is roughly 10:00pm.
Horizontal Layout - my least favorite.
My brain refuses to accept this layout for some reason; I feel like it takes a certain type of thought process to use this layout well and I cannot. I've seen some beautiful spreads within this layout - it's just not for me. I struggle to compartmentalize categories here, or find the right flow within this. The stickers aren't my favorite either; I feel like they don't utilize the space well and it takes far too much customization and editing for the stickers to make them fit properly.
For those of who you do use the Horizontal Layout, I would love to hear some tips and tricks from you in the comments!
Daily Duo - the love child of the other layouts in my opinion.
This layout is still relatively new (among others), but I remember the launch of this layout. I was giddy, excited, thrilled - I could not wait to get my hands on this one. This layout combines my favorite elements of the other three into one happy space with enough room to write daily. I also wish the hourly section was customizable here, as well.
The Pros: Each day has its own dedicated page, lots of room to dedicate to anything you want and help cateogorize options.
The Cons: Empty pages on days it's not used and can't see a whole week at a glance.
What is Your Favorite Layout?
0%Vertical Layout
0%Hourly Layout
0%Horizontal Layout
0%Daily Duo
You can vote for more than one answer.
Interchangeable Planner Covers
Literally my favorite part of Erin Condren Coiled Planners are the interchangeable covers. Instead of feeling like I need to buy a new planner as often as I change my nail colors, I can use the interchangeable covers to represent holidays and events or just to change the cover because I can.
It's so easy to change, too!
The covers come in different styles and options and all are customizable. Any coiled planner has that option to change out the covers, and I think this is really what make Erin Condren Planners a game changer. Knowing I can go from my HAPPY NEW YEAR cover straight into a cute VALENTINE'S DAY one within minutes is a true highlight.
Different Journals / Books
Not sure if you want a full planner and would rather dedicate your book and journal to something specific? Well, don't fear. Erin Condren has you covered with various options for Budgeting, Health & Wellness and Guided Journals.
Not all scream the same vibe as me and I wish that most had different layouts or different categories, but as a whole, I think it's a great tool to guide you through what you want to focus on. For me, I've tried a few and it just doesn't click as well for me as the Life Planners do so I tend to stay away from them - though I love the concept and think they're a great launching point.
Bundles
Who doesn't love a good bundle? Except when the items in the bundle aren't all your cup of tea. Sometimes, the packages are a fantastic starting point when you're new to the planner world and would like a little bit of everything - just enough to get started. But, when you have half the supplies already to the level you want, the Bundles aren't the best even if the cost seems more reasonable.
I don't discount the Bundles, though; they're a wonderful package of goodies! Some are winners, but more often than not, there's always one or two items that just aren't meant for me. Those are easy to deal with. And, sometimes, the items you do want only come in a Bundle and you're out of luck.
Again, this is just my opinion on them and is not fact.
Pros and Cons
Pros for Erin Condren Planner
Amazing paper quality! Hardly any bleeding or ghosting and great pen grip on the fibers
The website is really easy to use and navigate
Customer Service is fantastic and the live chat is really helpful with orders
Fantastic shipping times (great for people who are very impatient like me!)
Great Rewards program once you sign up
Easy to find stickers from Etsy and other planner stores to fit the planner layout
One stop shop for all planning needs and easy to stick to the same company / have everything matching
Seeing the Monthly Spread with the Weekly Spreads of the current month
Cons of Erin Condren Planners
Price is a little high (but they have great discounts / sales throughout the year)
Too few stickers at the back of the planner (consider them more like a sampler)
Layouts are not customizable to fit specific needs
The layouts can feel a little "too girly" and hard to recommend for men in professional settings (I know they have a Focused line, but it's not the same format)
The A5 Agenda/Ring Binder does not have all the layouts (yet)
Pages are not removable and rearrangeable in the Coiled Planner
Dashboard after the months are not super useful / I have difficulty trying to find items to put there and it often goes unused
I would prefer a dot grid as the back of the monthly spread instead of the lined
The Final Score
I have not yet used the A5 Agenda that launched last year, but the temptation to return back to Erin Condren is real. The A5 Ring Binder is such a revolution in the Erin Condren game, in my opinion, and one of these days, I would love to try it out. I might be holding out for when they release it in a Vertical Layout.
My final thoughts on Erin Condren?
It's simple.
Great planning tools and organization styles for someone who is new to planning or likes the colorful quality of the products. I would recommend Erin Condren night and day depending on what someone's planning style is.
Find more about Erin Condren on my Instagram!
Let me know your thoughts, comments and ideas for Erin Condren Planners in the comments below! I would love to hear them!
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