#PenSwag: Favorite

Showing posts with label Favorite. Show all posts

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Review: Pentel Energel "Euro" .35mm Black

Cody recently reviewed the .5mm Pentel EnerGel, a pen that is in the Top 3 favorite pens for both of us. In my recent order from JetPens I ordered the .35mm version to try something a bit different. I've never used a 0.38mm tip that I had really enjoyed before. I was a bit tentative going into this review, but I was pleasantly surprised.

The 0.35mm wasn't scratchy at all! I really couldn't believe it when I took off the cap and started writing away. The line is a bit narrower than the 0.5mm pen which is to be expected, and is a nice change of pace. For my particularly messy form of handwriting the narrower tip keeps things organized a bit better, which helps the legibility.

The body of the pen is exactly the same as the 0.5mm version. The body of the pen is a shiny metallic blue with a metal looking plastic clip. The overall design is solid, although the blue body and black ink can be a bit off putting. This is the one thing that bothers me about the EnerGel, why can't a black pen ink have a black pen body?. The cap posts on the back with a very satisfying click and stays firmly on the rear of the pen when writing. The grip is unchanged from the 0.5mm version and just as stellar.

I didn't think that a pen could be better than the 0.5mm Energel, but the 0.35mm has surpassed it. I have actually switched to using the 0.35mm as my go to pen. If you are worried about trying a sub 0.5mm pen tip this would be a great pen to start with. The tip is not scratchy and glides across the paper. It is a great introduction to micro tip pens, and a great addition to any writing arsenal.

10 out of 10 mummies

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Review: Pilot Precise V5 and V7

The Pilot Precise V5 and V7 have been two of my favorite pens since I was in the 4th grade. The Precise series of pens are actually one of the reasons I got interested in pens. Before I used this pen I didn't know there were different types of inks. I did a bit of research, trying to figure out why this pen wrote so much better than others, and was awakened to the wonders of high quality pens and office supplies.

Even in the 4th grade I realized that the Pilot Precise was a step above the competition. Everything about this pen, from its design to its writing, screams quality.

First, the writing. The Pilot Precise V5 and V7 are the 0.5mm and 0.7mm versions of the liquid ink Precise brand of pen. The V7 writes very fast and smooth. If you are writing on glossy paper it doesn't even feel like your writing, just gliding along the page. That being said if you have sloppy handwriting, like myself, it can get out of hand. On thinner and or cheaper papers there is show through. I have also heard of bleed through from these pens, although I have never experienced it.

The V5 is also a super smooth writing machine, but is a bit more manageable. The super fine tip allows for a more controlled writing experience that is still just as smooth as the V7. It really is a masterpiece of a pen.

Now onto the design of these pens. The Precise V5 and V7 are, in my opinion, some of the best looking pens out there. They have the name of the pen and the brand on the barrel and not much else. The cap is minimalist and fits snugly on the back, although I would like it if it posted with a satisfying click. The barrel has the name of the pen, the tip width, and is color coordinated with the ink color. My favorite feature of the pen is the ink window on the barrel which lets you see how much ink is left in the pen. As a kid I would always shake the pen until there were bubbles in the ink and then watch the bubbles move around instead of paying attention in class. Everything about this pen blends together perfectly into a great writing instrument that also looks good.

The only possible negative is the needle tip of the pens. They are prone to be bending and damage. Even this happens rarely in my experiences.

Overall the Pilot Precise V5 and V7 are two of the best pens made. They deserve a spot in every person's pen case.

Pilot Precise V5: 10 out of 10 mummies

Pilot Precise V7: 9 out of 10 mummies

Friday, May 18, 2012

Coffee's Top 3 Favorite Pens

First off I would like to apologize for the inconsistent posting schedule of the past two weeks. Things have been a bit hectic since college has ended and we have moved back home for summer break.

Whenever people hear that I review pens on this blog the first question I get is, "Are you serious, why?" the second question is "What's your favorite pen?". For me my top 3 is always changing. Sometimes I hate a pen when I first use it, then a month later I try it and love it. Sometimes I use a pen for months and love it like a child, but then it falls out of favor. So this is not a static list of pens that I enjoy but an ever changing list that will be updated in the future.

1. Pentel EnerGel .5mm Black "European version"

The review of this pen was written by Cody. He gave it a 10. If I wrote the review I would have also given it a 10. This pen is my go to pen for long writing sessions or quick notes. It does everything well, and does not have any flaws in my opinion. It is the bees knees. The European version gets my vote because of the removable cap. I dislike retractable pens.

2. Pilot Precise V5 + V7

Photo from Pilotpen.us

This pen is a living legend, a classic. We haven't reviewed it yet on #penswag, but keep an eye out for it next week. This pen has been on my list of favorites since I was in grade school. It doesn't matter if it is in the .7mm or .5mm version I love it. The simple design of the pen, the window to view ink level, the smooth rolling ball that deliver the ink. Everything is great. Also, the cap is removable another bonus, I'm not a big fan of retractable pens.

3. Kaweco Sport Fine Nib

When I first got this pen I hated it. When I reviewed it I gave it an 8. The only reason it got an 8 was because of the smallness of the body. If the body was just a bit bigger this would be one hell of a power house. Despite the small body I still find myself reaching for this pen over and over. I love writing with it and that's undeniable. It is a great pen, and it can take a beating.

So there it is. My three favorite pens as of right now. Agree, Disagree, have your own list of favorites? Let us know.

-coffee