Note: Thank you to Markus from Page Anchor for sending me a Page Anchor to test and review.
What is a Page Anchor?
As you can literally gather from the, admittedly, clever name, Page Anchor is a device designed to hold books open. It’s a beautifully crafted pin that you can slide into a book to keep it from closing.
What I love about it is how small and light it is. This makes it so much more portable than those clunky reading stands I used when I was still in school.
The Usefulness of Page Anchor
1. Easier Hold on the Go
If you’re like me, you read a lot on the go. Reading on crowded trains can be difficult when you’re squashed in a tight space. For me, that means contorting my arms in awkward positions to keep books open without poking my neighbours and still be able to see the pages. With a Page Anchor to hold the pages in place, it’s easier to find a more comfortable position to read amidst the crowds.
2. Protect Expensive Smartphones
I used to think I was the only one who did this, then recently I came across a man in a café who used his iPhone to hold open a book. In my case, this has led me to drop my phone. My screen remained intact but I’ve been more cautious ever since but my phone has served as a bookmark more often than I care to admit. With a dedicated pin, there’s no more reason for using smartphones as paperweights.
3. Combat Distractions
Besides trains, home is the place I spend most of my time reading. Home is also where I live with family, who can demand my attention no matter how engrossed I am in a book. I’ve found with the Page Anchor, I stopped losing my place. In the past, I would have to skim through several pages before finding the line I left off. Yes, yes, that’s what bookmarks are for but I tuck mine at the back of my books when reading, so they’re not in the way. The Page Anchor doesn’t cover the text while reading, which is great.
4. Food Preparation with Recipe Books
Sugar, eggs, and flour best go into food rather than between the pages of recipe books. Again, I’ve repurposed all sorts of items I shouldn’t have used as paperweights while baking. Or, I’d repeatedly wash my hands while cooking, so I could flip back to the correct recipe. Page Anchor keeps that page firmly in place for peaceful food preparation.
5. Rest Your Hands
This is basic but still worth mentioning. Holding open thick books, especially hardcovers, with a thumb for extended periods of time can be tiring. While not as strenuous as texting non-stop, the stress adds up. Heavy books can also cause discomfort to wrists, so if you prefer to set them down, Page Anchor is a great companion.
Where to Obtain a Page Anchor
Page Anchor is available to order on their website. There are two colour options: signature gold and winter platinum. Each Page Anchor comes with a cleaning cloth and carrying pouch. You can also follow them on Instagram at @pageanchor.
How hard is it to turn the page with it?
It’s pretty straightforward. Just slide up the anchor, flip the page, and slide the anchor back down. The pins at the back are longer, so they stay in place when flipping pages.