Posts filed under Pen Reviews

Pilot Birdy Switch Multi Pen(cil) Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Over the past few months, I've been trying out a collection of extremely small mechanical pencils. Earlier this year, I started this experiment with the adorable Zebra Techo TS-3, and was mostly happy with it as long as I threw in a couple of (pretty large) caveats:

Ultimately, I still like the Zebra Techo TS-3 strictly as a backup utilitarian option. It's not the first thing you reach for, and possibly not the second. But when all other options have failed or aren't nearby, it gets the job done.

When I started using the Pilot Birdy Switch, my opinion was almost identical, but the added length of the Pilot, along with the additional hidden ballpoint pen, push it further down the line of utility. The Pilot Birdy is about the same diameter as the Zebra, which means it's not comfortable for long writing stints. This is certainly still in the "backup/last resort" category of writing instrument, but it's marginally more comfortable to use given the extra length.

But, the slim profile and relative short length still give it some major advantages in terms of where you can store it. Sliding this pen into between two pages of a notebook is easy and allows the notebook to still close without much of a bump or gap. And, the aluminum construction make it resilient enough to be stuffed and crammed into tight spaces that may exert a lot of pressure on the pencil. It handles these situations with ease. Like the Fisher Bullet, it just takes whatever you throw at it. Unlike the Fisher, the Pilot can definitely get a little stabby in your pocket if it is oriented the wrong way, so beware.

The main function of the Pilot Birdy Switch is a 0.5mm mechanical pencil. The pencil works great, and I haven't had any issues with it. I'm guessing it's the same mechanism that Pilot uses in their other multi pens, and I've always been happy with those. This one is just wrapped in a thin aluminum shell that makes it seem like you're writing with a long, bare multi pen refill instead of a real pen. But, that's what affords it the transport and utility points. To extend lead, click the cap. To retract it, hold down the cap and push the lead back into the tip. Unlike a lot of mechanical pencils, this one does not sport a tiny eraser or lead clog remover.

Instead, removing the cap reveals a tiny ballpoint pen. Honestly, I picked this pencil up in a JetPens order without fully reading the description. I just bought it because I was on a mini mechanical pencil kick, and all I needed to know was that it was a mechanical pencil. It wasn't until I got the pen, used it for a while, and then became curious how much lead was in the reservoir that I actually removed the cap. I was stunned to find the ballpoint tip! What a pleasant surprise. Of course, I tried writing with it and discovered that it's pretty smooth. I don't know for sure if it uses the same ink formula, but it feels a lot like the Pilot Acroball 0.7mm refill. This thing is tiny! Unfortunately, it only comes in black, but you can at least pick up refills.

Even more, I realized that the cap can post on top of the mechanical pencil component. When using the pen, the only thing that looks odd is the clip on the wrong end. This is such a simple and clever design. If you've ever written with a Vanishing Point, then you know whether or not you can comfortably use a pen with a clip next to your fingers, but the Birdy is obviously less comfortable given the size.

Still, having a pen of this size with both a pencil and a ballpoint pen is a great tool to have when you're in a pinch. The size makes it great for squeezing into a checkbook, wallet, purse, bag, notebook, and other small spaces. Like I said in the Zebra Techo TS-3 review, it's definitely not a workhorse writing instrument, but it's a great backup option. And at just $8.25, the Pilot Birdy Switch won't break the bank either.

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

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Posted on October 2, 2019 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Pilot, Ballpoint, Mechanical Pencil, Pen Reviews.

Montegrappa Tulip for Team Fox Fountain Pen Review

One of the guiding principles of my adult life is to give back. I am very fortunate to do what I do for a living, and I make it a point to shine the light on others and give back as much as possible. Whether that is as simple as doing a giveaway for readers, linking to a blog post within the community, or supporting a charity - I'm all for it. So, when Ron from Pen Chalet asked me to share the Montegrappa Tulip for Team Fox and the message behind it, I couldn't say yes fast enough.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research is has funded over $800 million in research since 2000. As many of you know, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's decades ago, and has been at the forefront of the work to find a cure. In collaboration with Montegrappa, Team Fox helped design a pen whose proceeds support the ongoing research of this debilitating disease.

There are two featured design elements of the Montegrappa Tulip that help tell its story: The color, and the clip. The red and orange barrel are the foundation colors of Team Fox, and paired together in this pen, well, let's just say it is right up my alley. The red is deep, almost brick-like, and the orange is bright, but not overwhelming, making for a wonderful combination.

The star of the show is the Tulip clip. Designed by artist Timothy Johns, a Parkinson's fighter himself, the Red Tulip has long been associated with Parkinson’s awareness. It looks amazing on the red cap and I can’t help but have my eyes drawn to it every time I use this pen.

While this pen has a story to tell, it is also a fantastic writing instrument. I've become a big fan of Montegrappa’s steel nibs since their switch to JoWo, and this extra fine is no exception. It is exactly what I look for: Firm and fine, with clean, crisp lines. The Montegrappa etching on the nib looks great too.

The acrylic barrel has a small added feature that makes a big difference in my mind. The interior of the barrel is fitted with a metal sleeve in the inside back half, giving this pen a more substantial feel in the hand than many other similarly designed pens. In addition, the grip section also has a metal sleeve that the converter screws into. These additions make for a wonderful writing feel.

At $395, this is by no means an inexpensive pen. But what it can provide you in writing experience - along with helping support the fight to end Parkinson’s - is worth it in my mind.

My thanks to Ron at Pen Chalet, Kenro Industries, and Montegrappa for sending this pen to me for review.

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

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Posted on September 30, 2019 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Montegrappa, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Yookers Metis Felt-tip Pen Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Every so often, you come across a product that seems so obvious and you can hardly believe that it hadn't already been done. While a refillable felt-tip pen may have been done before, I doubt it was done with the style and high-quality materials of Yookers.

I've been using the Yookers Metis pen for the past few weeks, and I'm honestly surprised by how well it works. It's a nicely-built pen that will last forever, and you can also use your own ink and swap out the grip section when the plastic tip starts to wear down or split. Even better, you can order several different size tips so you can easily swap them out in the same pen body. It's an ingenious system and one that I can imagine felt-tip aficionados will adore.

The materials used in this pen feel well made and are also quite a statement. The version of the Metis I have is called "black grid," and it's easy to see why. The black grid is separated by a satin chrome finish on the body, and the accents of the pen are a shiny polished chrome that really catches the light. The clip is sturdy and features some intricate scroll work along the edges that adds to the overall Art Deco aesthetic. The cap is hefty and screws/unscrews from the body with ease. You can also post the cap, but I've found that the extra weight throws off the balance of the pen. Given the dense metal materials used in the pen, this isn't surprising.

Under the cap, you're greeted with more of the same shiny chrome on the grip section, but there's also a unique black cone that houses the felt tip. The black cone adds a sense of precision with the bold white lettering that indicates the tip size. In my case, the "1.4" is unmistakable. Similarly with the other tips you can purchase, you'll never have to squint or wonder what size tip you're using.

One of the headline features of this pen is the ability to refill the pen with ink when it runs out. Additionally, you can also use any fountain pen ink, which opens up the color options exponentially. To make it even better, the grip sections accept a standard international cartridge or cartridge converter as long as it will fit in the body. This is a fantastic feature that gives you the ability to use your favorite colors in a felt tip pen. I currently have mine inked using the converter with Callifolio Pacifique. It's a great combination, and it's great to know that I can easily clean it out and swap in another color.

Writing with this pen is also exactly what you'd expect from any felt tip pen. It makes crisp, smooth lines, and moves effortlessly over the page. You have to be careful to only apply light to medium pressure in order to preserve the plastic tip, but that's the case with any felt tip pen. The bonus here is that you can choose a premium body to house your favorite ink colors and tip sizes. It's a complete dream when it comes to customization.

I've really enjoyed writing with the Yookers Metis over the past few weeks. I don't consider myself a felt tip fanboy by any means, but I can certainly appreciate a good writing experience. This is exactly what the Metis affords, and I'm sure you'll love it if you pick one up and use it for a few minutes.

There aren't really any downsides aside from price and longevity. Obviously, felt tips break down and become unusable over time. You can buy replacements, but the new tip is part of a new grip section assembly, which drives up the cost a bit. At $17 per section, you have to be really invested in this pen platform to make the price work. Disposable felt tip pens are very affordable and available in a wide range of colors, so this might be a hard sell for some. Another consideration is that Yookers has to be around in order for you to purchase grip sections from. If they fold or decide to refresh their product lines, you won't be able to buy any replacements, turning your nice pen into a fancy paperweight after your last tip dies.

Another thing to note regarding the converter filling system is that you can't treat this pen like a regular fountain pen when filling! Instead of dipping the tip of the pen into the ink and drawing the ink up by retracting the converter plunger, you have to add the ink directly to the converter. The tip doesn't allow ink to pass through it quickly enough to draw it up through the converter. I've been using a syringe to draw up ink, fill the converter, insert the converter, and then wait for the ink to soak through to the tip. This waiting process only took a few minutes to reach full saturation. The same wait time would apply if you opted to install the included ink cartridge or another cartridge of your choosing.

At just under $50, the Yookers Metis is certainly a luxury item. It's made well, is a joy to use, and offers great customization for felt tip fans. The ability to choose your own ink color and refill the pen is unique in this category, and it will certainly speak volumes to some. If this pen doesn't speak to you, then you're probably better off with the multitude of disposable felt tip pens available today! And hey, if the Metis doesn't fit your aesthetic, Yookers offer several other designs to choose from. I'm personally a big fan of the orange 751 and the red Eros.

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

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