Schneider Slider Memo XB 1.4 mm Ballpoint

It is good to get out of your comfort zone on occasion. My happy place is with 0.4 mm gel ink pens, and when I wander too far to the left or right of that midpoint in my spectrum I increase the chance of being disappointed. So when I say that the Schneider Slider Memo XB 1.4 mm ballpoint is out of my wheelhouse you can see just how far out it really is.

I mention all of this because I often don’t give pens similar to the Memo XB a fair shake. Good pens come in all shapes and sizes and this is a very good pen. I have always been impressed with Schneider’s ballpoint ink and this one continues the trend. It is smooth, dark, skip free, and for a tip this wide, surprisingly clean.

The barrel design is equally as nice. I’m not sure who actually came up with the design first between Schneider and Stabilo (there have some awfully similar designs) but the Memo XB is well done. The slick plastic surrounded by a rubber coating gives it a great feel in the hand.

I picked this up at Office Depot for $3 a couple of months ago and I’m glad I did. While it won’t land on my Top 5 list anytime soon, it is a nice option to have.

What pen out of your comfort zone have you tried and liked?

Pentel Slicci Techo Mini Gel Ink Pen Review

Mini pens are a tough category. Some of the best designed pens come in small packages, but using those small packages often comes at a price. Most of the time the cost is comfort at the expense of barrel diameter. A thin barrel often leads to faster writing fatigue, and therefore limits how long you can write with a pen.

A few mini pens try to shorten the length while keeping the same barrel diameter (the now discontinued Pilot Pockel comes to mind), but most shrink the barrel diameter to almost uncomfortable dimensions. I haven’t found the sweet spot for the perfect mini pen size, but the Pentel Slicci Techo is at least in the conversation.

What I like about the Techo is that barrel diameter isn’t as extreme as other mini pens. Sure it is small, but if you are already a fan of the Pentel Slicci you are used to a narrower than normal diameter to begin with. And if you aren’t but already use mini pens you will enjoy the feel of the Techo in comparison to other pens in this category.

From a writing standpoint it is the same as the Pentel Slicci, and that is good. The Slicci tip has always been a favorite of mine and having it available in a portable, EDC-type package is great. I am seeing a little bit of skipping in my first experience with it but hopefully that will work itself out. Copper also isn’t my first choice in barrel color, but I’ll make do.

There are many boxes I need to check off on the perfect mini-pen checklist and the Pentel Slicci Techo ticks nearly all of them.

Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Mangaka Outline Pen Review

Well surprise, surprise, surprise.

Never one to pass up a new art pen, the Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Mangaka Outline Pen is the latest to hit my desk. I have tried many over the years - most are good, a few not so much - but even fewer are elite. The Sakura Pigma Micron comes to mind at the top of the list and it might now have company.

My test subject was the 02 Violet. Like many pens in this category, the barrel is no great shakes. The most important thing it can do is stay out of the way, and the Zig Cartoonist does just that. It is lightweight and comfortable, and even does a nice job in the grip area by not having any sharp edges like so many of its competitors.

Where this pen really shines is in the tip. It is very firm and performs exceptionally. My lines were tight and look great on the page. I haven’t put it through a true use durability test to see how it holds up over the long term but I am not seeing much breakdown in the tip so far. And have you noticed the color? I am a fan of purple inks, and this is one of the best I have seen.

So what’s next for me and the Kuretake Zig Cartoonist? I am going to try a few other colors and tip sizes and see if I can get a better gauge on its durability. Look out Micron - I’m coming for you!