Sharpie Pen RT Purple - New Barrel Style Review

The original Sharpie Pen has always been one of my favorite pens, so when the first Sharpie Pen Retractable model came out I was very anxious try try it. That anxiousness turned into disappointment very quickly with the various issues that the original RT had, such as the tip drying out (or running out of ink) at a very fast rate. So has the new version of the RT corrected all of the originals flaws? Not quite, but it is an improvement.

The visual differences between the original and new RT are obvious and a nice change on the new model. The plunger has changed from chrome to black, the grip has been streamlined, and Sharpie has added a color ring around the middle of the pen to match the ink color. Every one of those things is an improvement over the original, especially the grip. It is slightly thinner and more comfortable to write with.

From an ink perspective, the jury is still out. I jumped to conclusions with the original RT before they started bricking out on me at an alarming rate. I haven't seen the same issue with the new RT yet, but I haven't been using them as frequently either. One thing I have noticed with the purple ink in the review is that the RT is a shade or two darker than the regular Sharpie Pen purple ink. Of course I couldn't find my original Sharpie Pen to compare it to directly, but it just seems that way.

Overall, the new Sharpie RT is a noticeable improvement over the original. Some of the rattling issues are still present, but the total package is better and if the ink holds up it is a clear winner.

If you want even more details on the Sharpie Pen RT, including a dissection of the barrel, check out Office Supply Geeks great posts on the subject.

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.

Click here for the XL review.

Staples DuraPoint Review

My Big Staples Haul was an unmitigated success, and included in that big batch of pens and paper was a new (to me anyway) Staples brand pen called the DuraPoint. I'm certain that the popularity of the Sharpie Pen led Staples to bring this store brand to the shelf, so how does it stack up with the category leader? Not too well at all.

The first thing I noticed about the DuraPoint is that as soon as I took of the cap I could smell the ink of the pen. I made a quick double check of the package thinking that this might be a permanent ink pen that I just bought, but it is not. It just happens to smell like one. Getting past that and putting the line down on the page, it actually does a decent job. The line is a little bit wide for my tastes, and that brings me to my second issue. The tip of the DuraPoint is too soft. If you have used the Sharpie Pen for any length of time, you know what a study, firm tip feels like. The DuraPoint has more give to it, and I actually felt it breaking down at a fast rate. While the initial cost might be cheap, the overall value probably isn't there due to the short time these pens will last.

Like I mentioned in the written review, this isn't a bad pen to have around the house to pick up for a quick note or two, but I don't see any long term viability with the DuraPoint.

Click here for the XL review.