Three Questions With Ian From Pens! Paper! Pencils!

Ian Hedley is part of the ever-growing British contingent of stationery bloggers, bringing us wonderful reviews and artwork via Pens! Paper! Pencils! and Pennaquod, the pen blog searcher. My thanks to Ian for answering Three Questions.

1. What role do analog tools such as pens, pencils, and paper play in your day to day life?

I have a busy job with lots of meetings which, if I'm honest, I sometimes have trouble staying focused in. Taking notes with a nice pen and ink, on good paper, gives me something to do. It helps me concentrate and remember what was discussed.

I also keep a diary (journal in American) which I write in every day. Often I'm writing about pens because that's the kind of person I am. As well as the diary, every morning I write down three plus one good things from the previous day.

Recently I decided I needed to watch every episode of Star Trek in order. I write a couple of sentences about each episode after I've watched it. Another excuse to use a pen.

The most useful tool I've ever found isn't a pen or a pencil, though, it's a homemade set of 43 folders called a Tickler File. I can't understand why everyone doesn't use one.

2. What are your favorite products you are currently using?

I've settled on my favourite paper – Calepino and Rhodia. I've also settled on a favourite ink – Sailor Jentle Apricot – so I felt very sad when it was discontinued. I can't get enough new inks though. My favourite pencils for sketching are Tombow Mono 100s.

With pens, though, my favourites change week to week. My Platinum #3776 Sai, Twiss Marmalade, Franklin-Christoph M02 and Kaweco Liliput are usually in there somewhere but ask me again next week and it might be different.

3. What post are you the most proud of on your blog?

My most favourite pen review would have to be the Twiss Marmalade but to be honest it would be impossible to write a bad post about such a beautiful pen. The sketch I'm most proud of to date is Going for a Walk. But I try to make each post better than the rest so, while I don't always manage this, some of the posts coming up over the next few weeks I'm really quite pleased with.

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Pentel Hybrid Technica Gel Ink Pen Review

So did the Pentel Hybrid Technica vanish from JetPens, or is it such an average pen that it never really went away and I only noticed it again when the 0.4 mm tip sizes popped into the new products feed? Knowing myself the way I do, my money is on the latter.

Average is ok in my book though, as that places it ahead of most pens that you find in the office or out and about. To put it into perspective, I consider the Pilot G2 an average pen. The barrel is strong and sturdy and the ink flows well. What keeps it from being in the top tier with pens like the Uni-ball Signo DX is that the line is not quite as sharp and the grip is slighty waxy. These are things I can feel when writing and are noticeable when compared to its peers.

As an option, I added the 0.3 mm refill to my order and that refill is superior to the 0.4 mm for me. It's cleaner and sharper, which stand to reason being a small size. Regardless, it was better to write with and going with the 0.3 mm barrel from the get go would have been the better choice.

One bonus if you are considering the Pentel Hybrid Technica is that they fit the Pentel Slicci perfectly, as in it is the exact same refill size an shape. An excellent option for those who want a wider Slicci barrel.

Overall, this is a solid pen, and if you are a fan of Pentel pens and inks you won't be disappointed.

(JetPens is a sponsor of The Pen Addict and this product was received at no charge.)