Ink Links

-- Pens for Lefties; the Uniball Signo 207, Pilot G2, and Fisher Space Pen  (Grandiloquent Musings)

-- Review:  Field Notes Mackinaw Autumn  (Miscellany & Cacophony)

-- The TUL .5 needle point pen - ROCKS ! ! !  (Zuzu's Thoughts)

-- I went a little mad at Blick Madness......  (Spiritual Evolution of the Bean)

-- Slicci - You Can Be Slim And Rich Too  (Scription)

-- Sakura Pigma Micron 05 Pen  (Pocket Blonde)

-- Featured Pen - Libelle Nature Cocoa Mosaic  (Whatever)

-- Uniball Signo .5mm Brown Black  (Office Supply Geek)

-- The Suspects: Pilot Frixion Erasable Gel-Ink 0.7mm Pen & Erasable Yellow Highlighter  (The School Supplies Sleuth)

-- J. Herbin Rouge Caroubier (Inkyjournal)

-- Sharpie Pen in Orange and Purple  (Office Supply Geek)

-- Something new every day  (Richard Binder)

-- Review : Taccia Merit Fountain Pen  (Goldspot Pens)

-- What's Your Favorite Writing Utensil?  (Lifehacker)

-- Pentel Sign Pen  (Oucie)

-- Scripto P970s  (My Supply Room)

-- Exacompta Sketch Book Review and Field Tests  (Lung Sketching Scrolls)

-- Felissimo 500 Color Pencils – 1st set  (Pencil Talk)

-- Ink Review: Private Reserve Arabian Rose  (All My Hues)

-- Diamine Ink: Jet Black  (La Plume Etoile)

-- Uniball Kuru Toga 0.5 mm mechanical pencil - first impression  (Lung Sketching Scrolls)

-- Back from Life  (Unposted)

Review: TUL 0.7mm Retractable Gel Blue

If you have an Office Max in your area, and you haven't stopped in to give their TUL brand a try, you are really missing out.  When I bought my TUL 0.5mm Needle Point pens many months ago, my wife grabbed a pack of the standard tip 0.7mm blue, which is her preferred pen setup.  I of course squirreled one away for myself, and coming as no surprise whatsoever, it performs great.

Could the TUL have been a Top 5 contender?  Definitely, and it would probably be right in the #6 or #7 range if I were to extend the list out a bit.  The blue is a really nice shade, and the gel ink is as clean and tight as any other top gel ink pen like the Pilot G-2.  It gives an effortless writing experience, and if they would just improve the grip are a bit I don't think I would have any issues with this pen.

I need to take another road trip to my closest Office Max when I get a chance to try out some of the colored gel ink TULs.  I'm sure they would be just as good as this.

Click here for the XL version.

Top 5 Pens - Fall Update

It has been many moons and many pen reviews since I posted an update to my top 5 pens list.  There is a newcomer in the top spot, and some fresh takes on some old standbys, so there is a little bit of everything in this list.  For those who haven't seen this list before, here is what it is, and what it isn't:

The top 5 list is:  A snapshot of my current favorite pens.  This is not an end-all be-all list, but rather these are the pens I am using the most day in, and day out for the past weeks and months.  At home, at work - pretty much in any situation.  I like the variety that multi pens represent, so they will always have a place on my list, right along side of the finer point single cartridge pens.  This list is always in some state of flux.

The top 5 list isn't:  A one stop shopping list for what pens you should buy.  As anyone who reads this blog knows, pens are a very individual thing.  What is great for me may be terrible for you, and vice-versa.  If you ever have any question about what the best pen is for your situation, please shoot me an email and I can make some suggestions.

The Zebra Sharbo X - Top notch Danny!

1. Zebra Sharbo X

Number one with a bullet.  I have been very pleased with my first Sharbo X purchase.  So pleased that I have already purchased another one, this time with a white barrel.  I love the feel of the pen in my hands.  It is perfectly balanced, and a wonderful writer.  My one wish list item for this pen is to have three ink cartridges instead of two plus a pencil, but I bought some blue lead for each of my barrels and I am much happier with that than the standard pencil lead.  Customization FTW!

2. Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.38mm

The old standby, and I don't see this pen moving out of the top 5 anytime soon.  It is very durable, and has some of the sharpest, cleanest lines around.  The wide range of colors this pen comes in makes it a huge winner in my book.

3. Pentel Slicci 0.3mm

Take what I wrote about the Signo DX above, copy it down here, and that pretty much sums up my feelings on the Pentel Slicci.  One thing about the Slicci that I like better than the DX is that I can use all tips sizes (0.25, 0.3, and 0.4) with ease, while I have a tough time with the DX 0.28 on occasion.  I think the DX barrel is far superior though, so that is what keeps it one spot ahead.

4. Pilot Hi-Tec-C Cavalier

It seems that I always have one Pilot Hi-Tec-C pen on my list, but this time the single cartridge Cavalier replaces the multi pen Coleto model.  I find myself reaching more and move for the black 0.4mm Cavalier because I like the feel of the barrel.  It may be too thin for some, but the weight offsets that nicely.

5. Sharpie Pen RT

The Sharpie Pen always has a place in my arsenal, and the new RT model has taken over for the original.  I really like the new barrel design, and Sharpie was able to keep the performance of the tip intact from vesion one.  Improving the ink colors for the red and blue pens didn't hurt either.