Review: Caran D'Ache Frosty Ballpoint

Have I mentioned how good Carmen was to me on her trip to Europe yet?  If I haven't, the multitude of pens that I have already reviewed should show you how much she hooked me up.  And the best part is that there are even more pens to review, like this Caran D'Ache Frosty ballpoint pen.

I have heard of the Caran D'Ache brand before, and I have had requests from emailers and commenters to review some of their offerings before, but this is the first one I have actually used.  I like the design of this pen a lot, especially the weight of it.  It's funny how I can like a featherweight pen like the Muji Gel I reviewed on Monday, and then still like a pen like this Caran D'Ache, which has substantial weight behind it.  It guess it all comes down to the feel and balance in my hand on whether the weight of the pen is a good or bad thing.

While the looks were nice, the performance didn't really meet my expectations.  I'm a little more strict on ballpoints in general, but this one was scratchier than most, which normally isn't a problem with ballpoints.  It is almost like the ball is set too far in the tip of the pen, causing the sides to scratch a little.  I have a very upright writing form, so it isn't the angle that I am writing at.  Chalk up another in the good, not great category.

Click here for the XL review.

Giveaway: Doane Paper Mini Idea Journal

Another great giveaway courtesy of Doane Paper?  What are the odds!

This time around, I have three Doane Paper Mini Idea Journals to hand out to three lucky readers.  The full size Idea Journal is my pen reviewing notebook of choice, and the mini Idea Journal looks like a great companion to its big brother.

I'm a simple man, so I like to keep the giveaway rules simple as well.  Regular readers know the drill by now, but here they are in all of their glory for any newcomers:

1. Leave one comment on this post anytime between now, and Thursday night at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.  You are limited to one entry.  Feel free to link this giveaway on your blog, or share it with anyone you feel is a true pen addict.  If you have a blog, I would love a link back, but it is certainly not required for entry into the contest.

2. For this contest, I will pick three winners at random from the comments section of this post.  The comments will be numbered in the order they are received, i.e. the first comment is #1, the second #2, and so on.  The Random Integer Generator at random.org will be used to pick the number of the winner.

3. The contest winner will be posted on Friday, November 13th.  The winners will have one week to email me at the address posted in the right sidebar.

4. I will ship internationally.  I know there are many international readers and fans of The Pen Addict, and I will gladly ship to you at my expense.

Thanks and good luck!

Review: Muji Gel Ink Pen 0.38mm Blue

Muji Gel ink pens are a minimalists dream.  The clean, unmarked barrel is fantastic looking, and the performance of the pen is very impressive for what amounts to an inexpensive ($1.25 a pop) pen.  The only trouble is - and I have mentioned it a couple of times before - they are only available at Muji (in person or now online), or via eBay.  Being the good Netizens that we are, ordering online is no big deal, but I imagine many of you would like to get the pen in your hands prior to making a purchase.  At this price, I don't think you would be disappointed in trying a few of these out.

My favorite thing about the Muji Gel ink pen is how sharp the point is.  That makes for a really crisp line, and the ink flow is great enough that it is not scratchy at all.  I really love this pen, and one day I am going to make it a point to order the remaining colors available.

Click here for the XL review.