(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
The world of custom machined pens is so fascinating to me, largely due to the constant innovation and release of new products. There's always something new around the corner to satiate any obscure pen refill or aesthetic needs you may have. At a higher level, they all perform a simple duty: they're all writing instruments in the same way a Bic is a writing instrument. But the individual design, craftsmanship, and vision is what sets these bespoke objects apart from anything you can find that's mass-produced.
The latest machined pen to cross my desk is from RIIND. After a successful Kickstarter run, the Compact and Slim ballpoint pens are being manufactured to fulfill the rewards. At some point, they'll also be available to purchase from RIIND in the event you missed out on the initial fundraiser. The RIIND Compact is what I'm using here, and it's their smaller body that uses a Parker refill. The pen comes with a Parker Quink 1.0mm black refill, and it writes beautifully for a ballpoint. The ink flow is smooth, and it starts writing immediately. While it isn't as crisp as gel ink, it's still a great writing experience and maintains a small package. Since it's a Parker style refill, you have a lot of options if you don't like the Quink refills.
The RIIND is machined from aluminum, and my review unit is actually anodized in a lovely dark blue. This wasn't available in the original Kickstarter campaign, but I hope it's available as an option to purchase because it's a great color.
The grip features an aggressive knurling texture that feels really good when writing. There's no feeling of slipping when using this pen due to the tactile grip. Even though the knurling feels intense, it's not overly sharp or unpleasant. It provides excellent grip while being pleasant to hold and use.
The twist cap uses the same knurling to great effect. You can twist the cap either way to open/close the pen. It takes a little bit of force to turn it, but once you get used to the effort needed to operate, it's a piece of cake to operate with one hand. Since the pen is fairly short, using it with one hand is pretty easy. Not sure if the same can be said for the longer G2 refill sibling.
The twist mechanism is really fun to use and very tactile. The resistance from the spring grows stronger right until the moment the nock clicks over to either extend or retract the refill. The click is crisp and clean, and there's a satisfying sound to go along with it. It's safe to say this can fill in for your favorite fidget toy.
The clip is unique and is one of my favorite aspects of the pen's aesthetics. How many different ways can you shape a tube that holds a refill? That's why the clip design is so important with these machined pens — that's where you can really set the pen apart from all the others. RIIND does that exceptionally well here with a robust clip that acts like a carabiner clip. The attachment points are staggered, giving the clip torsion when you pull it away from the pen body. It works really well! Despite being smooth and not using a clip shape at the end to grab onto things, it has no problem securing the pen to whatever you clip it to. The staggered attachment points add visual interest to the pen due to the lack of symmetry. I love looking at it, and it's also a joy to use.
Since this model is made of aluminum, it's not very heavy. It weighs more than other aluminum pens I own, but not by much. I think most of the additional weight is due to the unique retraction mechanism and possibly a thicker than normal pen body wall. This thing feels indestructible.
Writing with this pen has been a fantastic experience. The Parker Quink refill has never been my favorite, but I've found myself picking this pen up more often than not despite the "sub-par" refill. I've enjoyed using it, and I think most of that comes down to how it feels in my hand and it handles when I'm writing. It's balanced perfectly and offers a fantastic level of control.
When it comes to machined pens, our options are plentiful. It's a fun space to explore, and when you find the right one for your style and taste, it's easy to pull the trigger. If the tubular and gnarly knurling juxtaposition of the RIIND meets your fancy, you'll love using it. At $99 (shipping included for US customers), it's also a fair deal. You can get aluminum machined pens for less (and more), but I think the quality, fit and finish, and writing experience are well-worth the cost of admission here.
Pre-orders are open now for both the Compact, as featured in this review, and Slim models.
(RIIND provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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