The Pen Addict

Review: Pentel Hybrid Technica 0.5mm Black

I wrote this review many months ago, and somehow it got lost in the shuffle of my Flickr page (by the way, for new readers of The Pen Addict, you can find all of my photos right here).  The Pentel Hybrid Technica is what I like to classify unscientifically as a basic pen.  No fancy features, no Super Ink, nothing other than a good working pen that you can break out and just go to town with.  The Pilot G-2 falls into this category for example, as does the Pilot VBall RT.  What I look for in a pen like this is really just ease of use.  Can it get the job done without annoying me in some way?  The Hybrid Technica comes thisclose, but there is one minor issue I can't overlook - the grip.

The issue here is that the grip is not attached to the pen, via adhesive, or any other way.  I know other pens do this as well, but this one seems especially slick, so much so that the grip actually rotates as I write.  It is like I am at one of those rotating restaurants at the top of a fancy downtown hotel or office building.  Here comes the pen clip...and there it goes again.  Big Ben, Parliament.  It is a really odd felling.  I'm sure I could add some super glue myself if I were so inclined, but I have enough other pens to choose from thank you very much.  It's too bad really, because this pen writes very nicely and I would love to use it more.

Click here for the XL review.

Review: Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip DX Craft Pen 1.0mm Metallic Red

The Pentel Hybrid Gel Metallic is not a pen I would normally purchase or use frequently, but after recently reviewing the Pentel Slicci Metallic Gel Ink pen, I figured what the heck.  I really didn't spend much time with it prior to doing the written review, nor have I spent that much time with it after, but even during that short time I could tell this is a nice pen.

The metallic pens are definitely a niche item, targeted at scrapbookers and other crafty types, so I'm definitely not the target market for this pen.  What I can tell you is that this is a well made pen that performs exactly as it should.  The barrel design is very solid - quite similar to the Pentel Energel.  In fact, this pen is just like a more glittery Energel, and that is a big compliment.

While I may not get a lot of use out of this pen, my wife will be all over it, especially come Christmas this year.

Click here for the XL review.

Product Links:
Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip DX Craft Pen 1.0mm Metallic Red from JetPens
Doane Paper Writing Pad from Doane Paper

Review: Pentel Rolly C4 0.7mm Ballpoint Multi Pen

The Pentel Rolly C4 multi pen was a purchase from a recent visit to Staples.  Reminiscent of the famous Bic 4-Color ballpoint multi pen, the C4 sports the same four basic colors - black, blue, red, green - but in a much upgraded barrel.  Unfortunately, the barrel is the highlight of the show.

Pentel did a nice job with the overall look and design of the pen, and that is actually what lead me to grab it off the shelf in the first place.  I normally wouldn't have a place in my arsenal for a basic ballpoint multi pen, but this one looked cool, and was reasonably priced around $5.  One of the other things that caught my attention was that the ink cartridges were 0.7mm as opposed to the 1.0mm you would usually find in a pen like this.  The rubber grip is a nice added touch, and the silver barrel color looks great against the clear blue plastic.

When you get right down to it though, the writing experience is nothing special.  It writes cleanly enough, but the ballpoint cartridges are pretty basic.  The black and blue ink do a nice job, but the red and green are too light for my tastes.  The pen does write very cleanly, so if you are a ballpoint pen fan you might like this.  For me, this is another pen where I am going to see what other types of ink cartridges I can fit into this nice barrel.

Click here for the XL review.

Updated Top 5 Pens List

It is time to make a few updates to my Top 5 Pens list that I keep on the sidebar.  The Zebra Sharbo X remains strong at the top, but an old standby - the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto - has come charging back into the number two spot.  I ordered two limited edition Coleto barrels off of eBay which renewed my interest in that pen, and I have been using them a ton recently.

The Sharpie Pen RT, formerly at #5, no longer makes the cut.  I have had a bunch of trouble with the tip of the pen drying out, which the original never did.  I think I was a little too quick to rank that one, but I did just pick up the Sharpie Pen Grip, and it looks like an improvement.  Taking the final spot is a pen that keeps growing on me, and I find myself reaching for all of the time - the Uni-Ball Jetstream Basic Series 0.5mm Blue.  I love how fine and clean this pen writes, and is a great value for the price.

The full list:

1. Zebra Sharbo X

2. Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto

3. Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.38mm

4. Pentel Slicci 0.3mm

5. Uni-Ball Jetstream 0.5mm

Top 10 Pen Reviews of 2009

Since this post was such a hit last year, I want to make this an end of year tradition here at The Pen Addict.  The rankings below consist of the top 10 pen review posts for the 2009 calendar year as determined by Google Analytics.  This list isn't my top 10 favorite pens, but rather a snapshot of what was popular over the last 12 months.

Zebra Sharbo X - Pen of the year?

1. Zebra Sharbo X
I had no idea I would like this pen so much.  The price tag is a barrier to entry, but I'm glad I finally broke down and bought one (and then two).  This is a very well made pen, fun to use, and fun to look at.  If you want to strut your cool Japanese pen stuff, then the Zebra Sharbo X is definitely the way to go.

2. Pentel Slicci 0.25mm
As long as I write this blog, the Pentel Slicci will have a prominent place in these pages.  For my money, this is one of the best micro point gel ink pens around.  The 0.25mm model may be a stretch for some, but it is very easy to write with, and the colors really pop off the page.

3. Sharpie Pen RT
One of the two new Sharpie Pen models this year, the Sharpie Pen RT really changed things up from the original.  The barrel is much better, and the rubber grip is a great addition.  I have been running into an issue of late where the pen tip firms up more than the original, so that is something I am going to dig into more soon.

4. Lamy Safari Charcoal/Black EF Nib
Any and every Lamy Safari post is always a huge hit, and this one was no different.  One of these years I am going to get off my butt, buy a converter, and start testing out other fountain pen inks.  Maybe.

5. Uni-Ball Signo 207 0.7mm Needle Tip
It took me FOREVER to come up with one of these pens.  A reader actually sent my my first one, then I finally came across some on the shelf at an Office Max on a trip to Florida.  This is a really cool variation on the Uni-Ball 207, but I wish it was more accessible.  You hear me Uni-Ball?  :)

6. Uni-Ball Jetstream 3 Multi Pen
Jetstream + Multi Pen = win.  I am a big multi-pen fan, and find myself using the Jetstream more and more, so this pen is a no-brainer for me.  Black, blue, and red are the three ink colors, and with some nice barrel colors available and at just $6.00, this pen is a great value.

7. Uni-Ball Kuru Toga High Grade 0.5mm
Along with the Zebra Sharbo X, this is one of my favorites.  This is the only pencil I carry with me on a daily basis, and I have yet to find a reason to carry any other.  Plus, I just like saying Kuru Toga.  And Mount Wannahockaloogie.

8. Zebra F-701
This is a hugely popular pen with the Every Day Carry crowd, and one I was missing out on for the longest time.  The construction of this pen is awesome, with a sleek stainless steel body and knurled metal grip.  If the ballpoint ink cartridge was a little bit nicer this pen could crack my top 5.

9. Bic Triumph 730R
Bic has always been a second tier pen company to me, ranking behind the big boys like Uni-Ball, Pilot, Pentel, Zebra, and others.  But this year, Bic brought a couple of nicer pens to market, including this 730R.  It is a refillable needle tip liquid ink pen, very similar to the Pilot Precise V5.  Good job by Bic on this one.

10. Pentel Energel Multi-Function Pen
This is an interesting pen to round out the top 10.  The Energel is one of the best writing gel inks around, and is nice to have available in in a multi pen version.  I also appreciate the fact that the cartridges are 0.5mm instead of 0.7mm, which is more common in the American market.

Review: Pentel Hybrid Gel 0.7mm

There is a huge group of pens that fall into the "similar to the Pilot G-2" category, and the Pentel Hybrid Gel is one of them.  It looks like the G-2 and feels like the G-2, but there is just something about the performance of the pen that makes it fall short of the category leading G-2.

The barrel design of the two pens is very similar, with only the grip and translucent plastic clip (instead of solid) being the immediately noticeable differences.  The Hybrid is comfortable enough to write with, but the line sharpness and cleanliness doesn't stack up as well against it's peers.  There is also a bit of a rattle in the tip when writing - one of my major pet peeves.  This pen is good, but it doesn't differentiate itself from the crowd enough to warrant consideration for everyday use.

Click here for the XL review.

Pentel Slicci Metallic Gel Ink Pen - 0.8 mm - Blue

The Pentel Slicci Metallic gel ink pen is not a pen I was super anxious to try, but color me impressed, in a crafty, glittery kind of way.

I'm generally a fan of all things Slicci as it is, and the metallic Slicci's are built just like the regular ones.  The barrel is the same shape, size, and weight, with the only difference being a few additional graphics around the label and the end of the pen.  My one concern prior to using this model was the 0.8mm tip size.  I reviewed a regular 0.7mm orange Slicci earlier this year, and didn't like the bluntness of the pen and how the ink transferred to the paper.  I felt I couldn't get as sharp of a line as I wanted.  The metallic gel ink Slicci does a better job when writing, and I wonder if the tip is slightly different.  I'll need to break out the magnifying glass one day to check them out.

The blue glittery gel ink wouldn't play too well in my office, but it is a really fun color and I am surprised at how much I like it.  The line is solid, almost like you would get from a felt tip pen.  I was worried that the color would be washed out and watery, but it is not in the least.  The gel ink also doesn't bleed through the page, so it would be perfect for scrap booking and craft projects.  My good pen friend Alberto at Lung Sketching Scrolls did a great review of all the available colors on his blog, so be sure to check it out.

Click here for the XL review.

Review: Pentel Tradio EnerGel Combo Pen

When I first saw this pen posted on Scription, I knew I had to have it.  I have used and reviewed a traditional Pentel Tradio in the past, but I didn't totally fall in love with it like many hardcore Tradio users have.  But this EnerGel model has changed the game for the better in my case.

The overall design of the Tradio has not changed much from the original, but there are a few upgrades of note.  First off, the barrel is now coated with a very thin layer of rubber, giving the pen a very nice feel to it compared to a standard smooth plastic barrel.  Secondly, the grip area has changed over to the EnerGel swirl style, and while it is not a rubber grip, it does a good job.  Even with those nice upgrades, the main selling point is the addition of the EnerGel ink cartridge.  Widely regarded as one of the best writing gel pens, this is a great combination that Pentel has formulated.

For all of my fawning, there are a couple of things I want to point out.  One, the cap of the pen does not like to stay posted.  I normally write with the cap on, but as I write my hand bumps it and slides it around.  So it is not really a tight fit, and is prone to falling off.  I did order two more Tradios to see if it is just the green one I have, and it might be.  The other two have a tighter fit, so your mileage may vary.  Another item that may throw some readers is that these pens run $8.50 a pop at JetPens.  For a glorified EnerGel that may seem a little steep, but I didn't think it was too bad for a unique pen.

Overall, if you like how the Pentel EnerGel writes and how the Tradio barrel looks, then this pen is an easy purchase.  I am really enjoying mine so far.

Click here for the XL review.

Product links:
Pentel Tradio EnerGel Combo Pens from JetPens
Idea Journal from Doane Paper

Review: Pentel Wow!

Pentel of America sent me several samples a while back, and the Pentel Wow! is one of the last pens I have yet to review from the lot.  I have had a few readers mention the Wow! to me over the past year, but standard ballpoints really aren't my thing, so I never purchased any.  Far be it from me to turn down a freebie though!

The Pentel Wow! pens I received came in a rainbow pack of 10 colors.  I gave most of them away, but I hung on to a lone purple pen to test out.  The first thing I noticed about the pen was the triangular shaped grip.  I'm not normally a fan of this style, but this one is really comfortable.  The rubber in the grip area has just the right amount of cushion - not too firm and not too soft.  As with the majority of the ballpoints on the market, there is some ink buildup on the tip, but nothing too extreme.  Pretty standard actually.  Standard is a good way to describe how it writes as well.  It lays down a good line, but compared to the Pentel R.S.V.P., it is not as smooth.

Overall, this is a good middle of the road pen, and that is what it seems to be marketed as.  The availability of a wide range of colors is a nice bonus, so if you need to grab some pink ballpoints, the Pentel Wow! may be an option for you.

Click here for the XL review.

Top 5 Pens - Fall Update

It has been many moons and many pen reviews since I posted an update to my top 5 pens list.  There is a newcomer in the top spot, and some fresh takes on some old standbys, so there is a little bit of everything in this list.  For those who haven't seen this list before, here is what it is, and what it isn't:

The top 5 list is:  A snapshot of my current favorite pens.  This is not an end-all be-all list, but rather these are the pens I am using the most day in, and day out for the past weeks and months.  At home, at work - pretty much in any situation.  I like the variety that multi pens represent, so they will always have a place on my list, right along side of the finer point single cartridge pens.  This list is always in some state of flux.

The top 5 list isn't:  A one stop shopping list for what pens you should buy.  As anyone who reads this blog knows, pens are a very individual thing.  What is great for me may be terrible for you, and vice-versa.  If you ever have any question about what the best pen is for your situation, please shoot me an email and I can make some suggestions.

The Zebra Sharbo X - Top notch Danny!

1. Zebra Sharbo X

Number one with a bullet.  I have been very pleased with my first Sharbo X purchase.  So pleased that I have already purchased another one, this time with a white barrel.  I love the feel of the pen in my hands.  It is perfectly balanced, and a wonderful writer.  My one wish list item for this pen is to have three ink cartridges instead of two plus a pencil, but I bought some blue lead for each of my barrels and I am much happier with that than the standard pencil lead.  Customization FTW!

2. Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.38mm

The old standby, and I don't see this pen moving out of the top 5 anytime soon.  It is very durable, and has some of the sharpest, cleanest lines around.  The wide range of colors this pen comes in makes it a huge winner in my book.

3. Pentel Slicci 0.3mm

Take what I wrote about the Signo DX above, copy it down here, and that pretty much sums up my feelings on the Pentel Slicci.  One thing about the Slicci that I like better than the DX is that I can use all tips sizes (0.25, 0.3, and 0.4) with ease, while I have a tough time with the DX 0.28 on occasion.  I think the DX barrel is far superior though, so that is what keeps it one spot ahead.

4. Pilot Hi-Tec-C Cavalier

It seems that I always have one Pilot Hi-Tec-C pen on my list, but this time the single cartridge Cavalier replaces the multi pen Coleto model.  I find myself reaching more and move for the black 0.4mm Cavalier because I like the feel of the barrel.  It may be too thin for some, but the weight offsets that nicely.

5. Sharpie Pen RT

The Sharpie Pen always has a place in my arsenal, and the new RT model has taken over for the original.  I really like the new barrel design, and Sharpie was able to keep the performance of the tip intact from vesion one.  Improving the ink colors for the red and blue pens didn't hurt either.