The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 463 - ABC Generic Pen

Field Notes 50

If a limited edition pen fell in the woods and nobody was around to hear it, did it really drop? Technically, yes. But as I prove in this episode, I don’t feel the need to discuss two new releases this week.

What I did want to discuss were other podcast stalwarts, such as Field Notes 50th edition, and my new Retro 51 daily driver.

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

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Raymay Pencut Two-Tone Scissors Review

I was skeptical of these wee, portable scissors. I thought they looked too cute to be practical. But of course one can be both, and the Raymay Pencut Scissors are pretty great, when it comes to it. They're not for any complex or heavy-duty crafting, but as a compact carry-along for some on-the-go trimming, they're pretty great.

When all folded up, they look like a thick pen or highlighter. There's a plastic body and a cap with a clip. The plastic isn't super strong and the clip is pretty bendy, but it works fine for clipping to a case pocket or notebook cover. Under the cap are the scissor blades. The cap keeps them nice and secure and covered so they can't do any damage to other stationery during transport.

Along the body of the "pen" are small sliding plastic pieces that glide along a track that pushes out two flexible plastic cords (like jelly bracelets--remember those???) that form the handholds. It's a pretty slick transformation, and it's decidedly fidgety in a good way. With those loops pushed out, the scissors work just like any scissors.

On the opposite side of each handgrip is a plastic cover that can be snapped off and placed on the sliding track on the other side to switch the scissors from right-handed to left-handed, so they can work for either handedness. It's a very clever and creative design and it surprised me with its versatility.

The blades are nice and sharp and cut paper cleanly with no smooshing or tearing. They also worked great on yarn and sticker paper. I wouldn't use them on anything like thick cardboard or plastic packaging, but for basic craft needs, they'll do nicely. They come in a variety of colors, including a few premium varieties. This basic variety is priced at $8.25, which is quite reasonable considering the complexity of the design. I suspect it's the materials that are keeping the cost low. I like the design enough that I'd actually be curious about a pair made from stronger stuff.

These would be great for students or anyone who needs to fit a lot of supplies in a case. Its slim profile makes it ideal for travel. They'd even fit in a knitting needle or crochet hook case, for yarn crafters. If you need scissors that can roam, these are definitely worth picking up.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Uni Jetstream Edge 3 Color Multi Pen Review

In the world of multi pens, the Uni-ball Jetstream has long made one of my favorite ballpoint options. The Jetstream is my go-to ballpoint anyway, so the availability and pricing of their many multi pen options is a great combination when you consider the ultra smooth and crisp ink that comes in the refills. I prefer gel refills most of the time, but Jetstream still holds a special place in my stationery heart.

The latest multi pen I've tried from Jetstream is the Edge 3 Color Multi Pen. As the name implies, it features three different colors to choose from — black, blue, and red. Keeping with the Edge brand, the refills in this pen are all of the 0.28mm variety, which is extremely fine. Despite the ultra fine tips, they're still remarkably smooth and crisp. I don't think these feel any different than writing with a 0.38mm gel ink refill, which is quite a compliment to the Jetstream ink formula. Based on the packaging and seeing how small the tip was, I assumed it would be scratchy and unpleasant for regular writing, but I was completely wrong. It's actually quite easy to use, which can't be said for all ultra-fine refills. The black, blue, and red refills are all dark and crisp, and they write beautifully. They're the same size as the other Jetstream multi pen refills, so you could even swap out for a larger tip if you wanted.

The barrel shape is similar to the other Edge pens as well, but it's obviously a little wider to accommodate the extra refill options. The barrel width of any multi pen is usually wider than I prefer, but it's an easy trade-off for the added utility of having multiple ink colors on hand. I get used to writing with the larger barrel pretty quickly, and I hardly notice it unless I'm writing for more than a few minutes. The six-sided barrel looks great and I really adore the turquoise version that I have. The grip section is also nice, with a black metal finish and small grooves to improve the texture and feel. The nose cone is an odd shape, and the marketing material says this is done on purpose to allow you to see more of the paper while writing. That's true, but it took me quite a while to get used to it. I found that holding it so that the cone recess is below my thumb instead of my index finger (for a "standard" grip) works best. I grip pens fairly low and close to the cone, so this was a bit frustrating and difficult to get used to until I found that magic position. It's not so bad now, but I'd be happier if the nose cone was a symmetrical shape. I've never had issues with visibility on other wide multi pens, so I'm not sure why Jetstream decided to use this weird shape for this pen. Small complaint, but a worthy one.

Most Jetstream multi pens use a slide button along the upper body of the pen to control selecting and retracting refills, but this one uses a nifty dial at the top of the pen. Rotate the dial to cycle through the refills! There's a satisfying click when each refill is extended, and it's really easy to operate. If you want to retract the refills, just stop the dial when it's in between refills.

I do struggle to know which color is extended, though. There are color markers on the refill tips, but they're both small and faded, making it difficult to tell what color is extended unless you are in a well-lit area and hold the refill close to your face. It's been a little frustrating at times! There's also some very small color indicators on the top of the dial, but that involves changing your grip on the pen to see the dial properly. The color that lines up with the pocket clip is the color that is currently extended, so as long as you can see the little indicators on the dial, you're all set! The dial is a really nice touch, but I wish it was easier to see the colors — ideally, I'd like it to be obvious on the refill tip, and I think this is doable with darker color rings.

The pocket clip is a sleek wire design and is both strong and lightweight. It matches the other Edge pens in design and really enforces the overall aesthetic. I'm a big fan of the aesthetic of these pens, and really enjoy the smooth refills.

The turquoise version I have here is my favorite, but there are plenty of other options as well — Navy, White/Red, Black, and Red. At just over $32, this isn't a cheap multi pen, but I think it's a good price for the quality of materials and the smooth refills. After all, single refills cost $3 on their own. I'm still surprised by how smooth they are for the size, and the vibrant ink colors are the icing on the cake. Definitely worth checking out if you love ultra-fine ballpoint multi pens!

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!