Uni-Ball Power Tank Ink Samples

A Pen Addict reader mentioned that the new Power Tank Smart Series writes better than the original Power Tank, and the new High Grade model.  Well, since I just happen to have all three handy, I did a quick little test to see if I could notice anything.

From this short one sentence test, I could tell a difference between all three pens.  First off, the original Power Tank is easily the worst performer of the three.  The line skips more (more white streaks) than the other two - by a lot.  It isn't terrible on its own, but when put up directly against the other two, I could tell pretty quickly.

Secondly, the reader may be right - the regular Smart Series model laid down a smoother, darker line than the High Grade cartridge.  If you expand the picture, you can see the middle line is a little thicker and darker than the bottom line.  That is the difference between the two.  They are both very clean writers, and while they are both superior in performance to the original, I could clearly tell a difference between them.

Review: Uni-Ball Power Tank Smart Series High Grade Ballpoint Pen - 0.7 mm

The Uni-Ball Power Tank High Grade is big step forward in design from the original Power Tank.  The barrel is made out of aluminum, and the grip is essentially built into the barrel with a micro spiral design that runs from the brass tip to the knock.  This is truly a beautiful looking pen.

Looks alone do not make for a great pen though, but the Power Tank does a nice job on the performance end of the spectrum as well.  If you used the previous version, or one the newly released polycarbonate models, then you will know how this pen takes to the page.  The line is super clean, and the black ink is not too light.  It is not quite as smooth as a similarly sized Jetstream, but the special writing abilities of the Power Tank more than make up for any difference.

The pressurized ink cartridge technology of this pen is a huge plus, allowing you to write in extreme heat and cold, wet surfaces, or even upside down.  This model comes with a refillable metallic cased cartridge, and the barrel is available in six different colors in the 0.7mm tip size.  There is also a 1.0mm tip size that is available in the silver barrel.  Be sure to check out the product page on JetPens to see some great close-up photographs.

The list of uses for this pen is a long one - let me grab my Power Tank High Grade to start writing them down.

Click here for the XL review.

Review: Clairefontaine Basics Notebook

Like the recently reviewed Twin Book, the Clairefontaine Basics is a notebook I received compliments of Exaclair, Inc.  This 5 3/4 x 8 1/4, 96 page, staple bound beauty looks to be another great addition to the Clairefontaine product line.  The 90g lined paper has a smooth satin finish, and while I didn't find it to be as smooth of a page as the Twin Book, the paper is still some of the best around.

I ran an array of inks across the first page of the journal, from fountain pen, to ballpoint, liquid ink, gel ink, and even highlighter, and not a single one of them feathered or bled through the page.  I didn't even bother take a picture of the backside of the page because there wasn't so much as a dot of ink to see.  It was stark white from top to bottom.

One thing I did notice about this paper was that I felt it had a little more tooth than the Twin Book paper (which has the same specs), and even the Rhodia pad that I use frequently.  Now let me be clear - this is still top-notch paper.  Comparing it to other similar items in its product line is like saying I prefer the black Mercedes over the silver one.  I am obviously a fan of micro tip pens, and that is where I noticed it.  Anything 0.5mm in width or greater I didn't.

The cover of this notebook is made out of cardboard, but it is thick enough to where I think it will be very durable.  I like this style of cover more so than hardbound notebooks or journals.  It is sturdy enough to write on your lap with, but it still retains some flex for when you might need it.

There are only few companies out there who just get it, and Clairefontaine is one of them.