Posts filed under Pen Reviews

Writech Clictek Liner Pen Review

I’m always on the lookout for new fineliners, especially ones that offer something different, so you can bet I was looking forward to trying out the retractable Writech Clictek Liner Pen.

Retractable fineliners aren’t normally a thing, with the last one I can remember reviewing being the Sharpie Pen RT all the way back in 2009. I’m sure there have been other models that have hit the shelves in the interim, but nothing that has broken through into the mainstream of fineliner usage.

Why aren’t retractable fineliners more of a thing? I have no definitive answer, but my guess is that the tip does not seal as well, or for as long, as with a traditional cap. These tips are more prone to drying out than a ballpoint or gel ink, and need good closure.

The second issue is likely the added requirements of the mechanism. That bit of complexity isn’t necessary for a product that doesn’t need to be quickly deployed. Fineliners are more of a sit and draw product, not run and write. One good thing is that the click mechanism does allow the pen to be refilled, which is not a normal option for these types of pens (the tip often fails before a new refill is needed.)

From a sealing perspective, the Writech Clictek uses a trap door system, as seen in retractable fountain pens like the Pilot Vanishing Point or Platinum Curidas. Notice I didn’t say the Writech Clictek Fountain Pen, because that design in an abomination. Luckily, Writech keeps it internal on this one.

The knock is rock-solid, with a loud click when deploying the tip, which is a classic needle fineliner tip. This is the 03 model - which has an 0.35 mm line - and uses Black ink, which is the only option. The cylindrical barrel is a nice overall diameter at 10.2 mm, compared to the classic Sakura Pigma Micron, which is 10.4 mm in the barrel, dropping to 8.1 mm in the grip.

Writech Clictek Liner Pen Comparison — *L to R: Writech Clictek Liner Pen 03, Tombow Mono Drawing Pen 02, Sakura Pigma Micron 03.*

Comparison, as far as the writing experience, is where the Clictek Liner Pen falls short.

Writech Clictek Liner Pen Writing — It is difficult to see in the image, but I switched pens each three lines in this order: Writech Clictek, Tombow Mono, Sakura Pigma Micron. The Clictek is more of a Grey tone when compared to the other two. It’s also a drier writer. The blocks on the left show the difference well.

From the first click, I could tell the Black ink wasn’t as black as most other fineliners. This is a pen type I use almost daily, so it was noticeable to me from the jump. On it’s own it may seem fine, but side-by-side with my other two testing pens - the Sakura Pigma Micron 03 and the Tombow Mono Drawing Pen 02 - the Clictek has a Grey/Brown tint. On top of that, it is drier than the other two. So it’s lighter in color, and more difficult to put that color down on the page. That type of performance isn’t going to cut it.

As I mentioned earlier, the one saving grace of the Clictek Liner Pen is that it is refillable. But $1.65 for a sponge-filled ink stick for a $2.45 pen is not compelling. That does not include a tip replacement, which, again, is the larger durability issue for fineliners.

For the price, it was worth the test, but there is no reason to use it over any other name brand Black ink fineliner on the market.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on February 23, 2026 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Writech, Fineliner, Pen Reviews.

Esterbrook Estie Fountain Pen - Back to the Land Button Fill Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

Esterbrook's popularity continues to grow in the pen community, and this series, Back to the Land, gives 110% energy on its retro theme. I honestly don't know how something can be this loud and still be classy at the same time. But it is.

The pen comes in a box with the series name in giant gold foil letters, and the back of the box tells you everything you could ever want to know about the inspiration for the three colors in the set. A pull ribbon opens the box like a drawer.

Inside are a few small extras. Each color comes with a different gift, and this one, Incredible Rock, comes with a car air freshener shaped like the US. That might seem like a super strange thing to receive inside a pen box, if you skipped the novel printed on the outside of the box describing its road trip inspiration.

The pen is held in place with a fuzzy faux-suede magnetic loop that can be removed from the ruler-marked backing and used as a pen clip in your notebook. The magnet clip is quite strong, so it holds securely to most notebook covers, and it holds the pen well without a risk of scratches. It is a bit thick, though, and creates a big lump in the notebook. I do like this concept, though, and it's nice to have useful, functional packaging.

Esterbrook Estie Back to the Land Barrel

The pen itself is made from smooth resin with gold-colored accents. This Incredible Rock version is an earthy clay brown with a turquoise cap band. It screams southwest 70s retro. But it screams it in a dignified, understated way. The pen is cigar shaped with a nice springy clip. The cap has Esterbrook's delightful spring-seal Cushion Closure, which keeps the pen from drying out. The grip section is smooth and slightly tapered, with a flair at the end to keep your fingers from slipping onto the nib. There is a clear ink window behind the grip section so you can see your ink level.

Esterbrook Estie Back to the Land Button

Esterbrook Estie Back to the Land Filling

This is the button filler version of this series, so the end of the pen has a gold-ringed end cap that screws off to reveal a push-button piston fill plunger. So if the design itself wasn't retro enough for you, the filling system takes it up a notch. This system is based on the Parker Piston Vacumatic from the 1940s. To fill the pen, you push in the spring-loaded button, dip the nib in your ink, then release the button so the pen draws in ink. The ink fills a tube inside the pen. The tube is visible through the ink window, but it does not fill the whole inside chamber. It's not as much of an ink tank as I thought it would be, but it's a fun filling system to try, and it still holds more than a standard converter.

Esterbrook Estie Back to the Land Needlepoint

My favorite thing about the pen, though, is the nib. I was lucky enough to get this model with a Needlepoint grind, available from Dromgoole’s for an extra $54 (along with other specialty nib grinds like Mini Stub, Journaler, Scribe, Techo, and Fude). If you look closely, you can see the grind to the steel Jowo tip, where some of the gold finish has been removed. It writes very well. It's a nice extra-extra fine line without being too dry or scratchy. It's still not as fine as a Japanese extra fine, but it's dreamy to write with. It's crisp without ever snagging the paper, and the fine lines make the ink supply last longer.

Esterbrook Estie Back to the Land Writing

The Back to the Land standard Estie sells for around $175, with the Button Filler edition selling for $225 (plus extra if you want a fancy nib). In today's pen market, that's a very good price. This is a very well-made pen and nothing about it feels cheap. It's all precise and balanced. Esterbrook is making some of the best pens at their price point, and I've enjoyed all the ones I've tried. If you dig a retro road trip, this series might be a winner for you.

(This product was purchased from Dromgoole’s at regular price.)

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Posted on February 12, 2026 by Sarah Read and filed under Esterbrook, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Caran d'Ache 849 Germanier Ballpoint Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

Having lived in Switzerland, I have a soft spot in my heart for Caran d'Ache. As a Swiss brand, it dominated the stationery store, and I had no complaints about it. I've admired their special editions a lot--they're all gorgeous--so I was very excited to try out this lovely 849 Germanier Ballpoint.

Caran d'Ache 849 Germanier Ballpoint Pen

The pen comes in an aluminum presentation box with the colorful pearl pattern on it. The box has a hinged lid and the pen sits in a cardstock cubby inside. The pen itself is also aluminum. It is an eye-searing neon green color decorated all over with the signature pearl design of Swiss fashion designer Kevin Germanier. The collaboration has a number of exciting designs (designer-bedazzled pencil sharpener, anyone? Um, yes), with this ballpoint as one of the more accessible features.

The lilac pearls on the bright green background highlight the blend of natural and futuristic elements in Germanier's aesthetic. The overall effect, for me, reminds me of eco-horror science fiction like Jeff Vandermeer's Area X series, which is one of my all-time favorite reads. It's like space lichen. I mean that in the most complimentary way.

As an art object, it's fantastic. As a pen, it's decent. The body has the hexagonal shape of all Caran d'Ache pens, with its angular metal clip and silent click-nock. The refill is the medium black Goliath cartridge. It writes like a typical ballpoint. The ink is not a deep black, but the charcoal grey of most ballpoint black inks. It also does that glob-smudge thing when the ball shifts directions. The globs have a tendency to smear. But the ballpoint ink writes on darn near everything and never bleeds, so it's perfect for coated papers like receipts or sticky notes, or on thin or fibrous papers that would be incompatible with liquid inks.

While the writing experience runs more practical than fun, the pen design is way more fun than practical. It's a good balance, in the end. The Caran d'Ache 849 Germanier Ballpoint pen sells for $70 at Dromgoole's, which is more than twice what the standard Caran d'Ache 849 ballpoints cost. That's a pretty steep premium for the limited edition, even if it is a fabulous design. It's definitely eye-catching. I've had it clipped to my shirt collar at work, and it gets lots of comments! It's a great design on a good pen, though it is a bit overpriced. The blinged-out pencil sharpener doesn't even have a price listed on it. It's priceless.

(This product was purchased from Dromgoole’s at regular price.)

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!