The Pen Addict

Review: Schneider Tops 505 M Ballpoint

I was introduced to the Schneider brand by a few readers of this blog, and being the fortunate blogger that I am, I had a few of them sent my way as well.  This particular Schneider Tops 505 M was sent to me by my good pen friend Carmen, who bought this and several other pens I have reviewed in the past on a trip to Europe last year.  Sorry it has taken so long for me to post some of these Carmen!

Based on the previous Schneider pens I have reviewed, they make a good, consistent product.  The inks are nice, and they do a nice job with their barrel design.  This particular Tops 505 model appears to be on the lower end of their ballpoint spectrum, but it does an admirable job.  One thing I have noticed about Schneider pens is that all the ones I have tried have a longer barrel than normal.  I didn't take an exact measurement, nor did a photo comparison (genius - that's me!), but I bet this pen is at least an inch longer than a standard Bic ballpoint.  The Scheinder Sliders I have reviewed are in the same ballpark as well.

Like I mentioned in the written review, I imagine this pen is the mass produced workhorse of the Schneider line, filling up office supply cabinets, bank counters, and anywhere else you would find a disposable pen.  It is a bit of a scratchy writer, but the line is clean and the tip stays generally mess free.  You can't say that about every entry level ballpoint.

Click here for the XL review.

See also:
Review: Schneider Slider Medium Blue Ballpoint
Review: Schneider Gelion

Review: Schneider Gelion

As impressive as the Schneider Slider is compared to other ballpoint pens, I don't get the same warm fuzzy feeling with the Schneider Gelion in relation to similar gel ink pens.  It is an ok pen, but has no real outstanding qualities that make me want to go out and buy a bunch of them.

Looking at the writing sample, the line is clean, but the ink is a little bit more on the liquid side than a Pilot G-2 or Pentel Energel.  It doesn't have that crisp gel ink feel that I am used to, although that is something pretty hard to describe.  Also, I don't care for the barrel design at all.  It is a torpedo shaped barrel, which gives the pen a good bit of taper going towards the tip.  The Slider pens do the same thing, but not to this degree.  Like I said, this is not a bad pen, it is just not one I am going to use very frequently with all of the other choices out there.

Review: Schneider Slider Medium Blue Ballpoint

I had never heard of or used a Schneider pen prior to receiving this one that Carmen sent to me from her travels across Europe.  Not a week later, I was sent another one by frequent Pen Addict commentor (and Zebra Sharbo X enabler) Der Bingle, so there must be something good going on with the Schneider Slider, right?

If comparisons to the Uni-Ball Jetstream and the Pilot Acroball don't tell you almost everything you need to know about this pen, then I will just come right out and say it - this is a very good ballpoint.  I'm not even sure the Jetstream can match how solid this line is.  No ballpoint (or hybrid) that I have used has performed like this.  My standard expectation of all ballpoints is to have a little white streaking in the line, but this pen writes as clean as a liquid ink pen, which is saying something.

Comfort wise, the barrel has a very nice feel in the hand.  It is long like the Pentel R.S.V.P., and has a solid rubber grip.  I could do without the slight taper in the grip area, but that is just picking nits at this point.  The only real issue with this pen is trying to round one up to buy.  You probably aren't going to find these for sale on store shelves in the U.S. (Schneider is a German company), so the internet will be your friend in trying to track these down.  If you are a ballpoint pen fan it may be worth your time and effort.

Sam from Future; Nostalgic has an excellent review of the similar Schneider Slider XB ballpoint.

Click here for the XL review.