Ti2 Pen Hands-On

I mentioned in last week’s Kickstarter post that I had a Ti2 sample on the way, and now that it has arrived I wanted to share my first impressions. I do apologize for the poor lighting in the photos. Time constraints!

The very first thing that stood out when I unpackaged the Ti2 is how perfect the weight and balance felt. You feel like you are holding a strong and durable pen but it is not as heavy as you think it might be. With the cap posted it is a touch long and has a different balance point but is still very comfortable to write with. I have found myself using it mostly unposted so far.

I was curious to see how the o-rings would work on the barrel and they do surprisingly well. The ones in the grip area provide that little extra without getting in the way and both ends do a great job of holding the cap firmly in place. There is no play on the cap at all when it is on either end. We will see how they handle wear and tear over time but at least they are easily replaceable.

Kickstarter Family Photo: Render-K, P1, Ti2, Pen Type-A, PHX-1

Overall, I think the Ti2 is a great barrel option for the Pilot Hi-Tec-C refill. At $50 it is not cheap, but it is in line with other Kickstarter options. If you really want to step your game up take a look at the recently added Ti2 Black Edition. It is out of my budget at $125 but wow is it good looking.

Big thanks to the Ti2 team for sending me this sample!

New at Kickstarter: Ti2 Pen and EiMIM Pen

The Pilot Hi-Tec-C refill has taken on a life of its own on Kickstarter, and I have to say I am thrilled. I have been asked for years about upgrades to the very simple plastic barrel the Hi-Tec-C uses and now I can point readers to at least a half-dozen different options to house their favorite pen.

The Ti2 Pen:

With the Ti2, titanium is the name of the game. The super strong metal is extremely durable and will last you a lifetime. Like they mention in one of their product videos, how many people do you know with a titanium pen?

Another interesting aspect of the Ti2 are the color-coded o-rings. Not only can they match the color of ink refill you are using, they also provide the tension needed to hold the pen cap on both ends of the pen.

Read more about the Ti2 Pen on Kickstarter

The EiMIM Pen:

The EiMIM pen is a sleek aluminum barrel for the Pilot Hi-Tec-C with and added bonus: Neodymium magnets. This allows the pen to not only be portable with a threaded-cap design, but also a desk pen by just standing the pen up vertically in the provided base.

Three different finishes are available on the EiMIM: machined, glass bead blasted, and powder coated. My explanations of all three won’t do it justice, so head over to the project page to see the options. The black powder coated model looks especially slick.

Read more about the EiMIM Pen on Kickstarter

I am working with both of these manufacturers on getting samples to review. Once I have them in hand I will post my thoughts asap. In the meantime, be sure to check out both projects if you are looking to upgrade your basic Pilot Hi-Tec-C barrel.

New at Kickstarter: The Ultimate Clicky Pen Project

Kickstarter has become a hotbed for cool and unique pen design. The most recent is The Ultimate Clicky Pen Project by designer Jack Roman. Jack sent me an email when the project launched, and as it turns out, Jack designs pens for Tuff-Writer as well (you can read my Tuff-Writer Frontline Series Tactical Pen Review here).

I haven’t had the opportunity to test drive The Ultimate Clicky Pen but if the pictures and video are any indication it looks like a fantastic pen. There are not many (any?) high quality tactical pens that are retractable so if that is something on your wish list you should take a look at The Ultimate Clicky Pen.