Platinum Double 3 Action Transparent Body Multi Pen + Pencil Review

I am a sucker for transparent barrels, and this Platinum Double 3 Action multi pen is just fantastic looking. The entire line is new at JetPens, and comes in Aqua, Crystal, Gloss Rouge, Lavender Purple, and the Fresh Leaf body that I picked up. Platinum does a very nice job with the look and feel of their pens, and this one is no different.

While looks are important, it is the writing performance that keeps you coming back to the pen on a daily basis. This model comes with both black and red 0.7mm ballpoint ink cartridges, and I have to say, these are the smoothest traditional ballpoint pens that I have used recently. It takes little to no effort to pull the pen across the page, leaving a nice, consistent line. Both ink colors are dark enough too, which is sometimes an issue with ballpoint pens.

The pencil is your average 0.7mm mechanical pencil, so it writes just fine. What I do like about the added pencil is that the eraser is under a screw cap and is decently wide - both things not always found on +1 multi pens. So its got that going for it, which is nice.

While I personally will still use my gel ink multi pens more than this one, the Platinum Double 3 Action does a lot of things well and will certainly find its way into many ballpoint multi pen fans hands.

Click here for the XL review.

Uni-Ball Multi 5 Multi Pen + Pencil Review

When choosing pens, sometimes superficiality rules the day, and in the case of the Uni-Ball Multi 5, I just had to have the Capri Blue body color, no matter how the pen performs. I haven't seen to many barrels in this shade of blue, and as well as Uni-Ball designs pens, I thought they did a great job with the overall package.

Fortunately from a writing perspective, this pen holds up pretty well. This is no Jetstream ink, but Uni-Balls standard ballpoint ink is pretty nice in its own right. The 0.7mm ink cartridges write neat and cleanly, although they are prone to a small bit of streaking. The black and blue inks are great (I really like how my lettering came out on the page), the red ink is decent, but the green ink is a lost cause. It is far too light for me. The pencil is just that, but at least if you like that option in your multi pens, the Multi 5 comes with an on board eraser, which sometimes isn't present in pens like this.

The overall package won me over, and while this pen isn't going to top any of my personal lists, it gets the job done nicely. The Uni Multi 5 can be found at JetPens for $7.50 in Black, White, Navy, Rose Red, and Capri Blue body colors.

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Pentel Sliccies 2 Color Gel Ink Multi Pen + Pencil Review

Way back when the Pentel Sliccies were first introduced, I couldn't wait to get my hands on one. Converting one of my favorite single cartridge gel ink pens into a multi pen? Yes please! Unfortunately, my excitement was short lived, as the writing performance of the Sliccies multi pen couldn't hold a candle to that of the single cartridge variety.

So why go back to the well again with the Sliccies multi pen plus pencil combo? First of all, I'm a glutton for punishment (not to mention a certified pen addict), but more importantly I really want to like this pen so I was holding out hope that something might have changed with this latest release.

It hasn't.

There are two main issues with the Sliccies S+2 from my perspective, and they are the same as the original Sliccies. One, the ink cartridges come out at an angle. If it were very minor I could live with it, but this is annoyingly noticeable with the Sliccies. It is like the tip of each cartridge is bent it is so obvious. And two, the ink cartridge of the Sliccies writes differently than the single cartridge model. With the normal Slicci pen, the tip is very sharp and produces a crisp, clean line. With the Sliccies refills, the tip feels more rounded, leading to a line that is not as well defined.

At this point, the addition of the pencil cartridge is almost irrelevant to me because I can't use the gel ink cartridges. If and when I try to use it, all I can think about are the crooked tips and messy lines. I guess you could say this pen is in my head.

Click here for the XL review.