Pen & Pencil Reviews

Our in-depth pen and pencil reviews will give you an insight into how they perform allowing you to make more informed choices when you come to buy.

Staedtler Lumocolor 318 Permanent Marker – Review

By Tony Bridges Leave a Comment | Last Updated March 22, 2020

Markers have come a long way since New Yorker Sidney Rosenthal’s invention in the 50’s. With a wide range now available for use on just about anything in the home, office or studio, from something as simple as labelling a few CD’s to art & graphic work there’s a marker for everyone.

The Staedtler Lumocolor 318 Permanent Marker is available in a choice of 8 colours including bright yellow, orange & violet along with a black & brown which are lightfast so no need to worry about your favourite sketch fading if left by the window. Should you need a marker for outdoor use the black ink is also weatherproof. [Read more…]

Uni-Ball Signo UM-120 Gel Ink Pen 0.7mm – Review

By Midnight Indigo Leave a Comment | Last Updated March 22, 2020

Since uni-ball engineers designed the first metal tipped rollerball in 1979 they have continued to produce high quality writing instruments to meet all requirements.

I usually opt for a retractable pen, as much for the clickability factor as convenience, but the Uni-ball Signo UM120 Gel Ink Pen is awaiting a review so I’ll see how it fares. [Read more…]

Staedtler Tradition Pencil Rubber-Tip – Review

By Midnight Indigo Leave a Comment | Last Updated November 16, 2020

In today’s world, it seems some people think that nothing is worth doing manually, armed with their smartphones & the like that perform with speed, electronic gadgets are their preference. Where creativity & brainstorming are required however there will always be those that turn to a pen or pencil.
There is also the case for looking after the environment, when it comes to the many gizmos we hold dear that are upgraded at a rate of notts, what about all that plastic that has to be disposed of? This leads some to conclude “a wooden pencil has to be much more eco-friendly” doesn’t it? [Read more…]

Pentel Energel BL60 Liquid Gel Ink Pen – Review

By Midnight Indigo Leave a Comment | Last Updated May 14, 2020

Many rollerballs have liquid ink & because this soaks quickly into the paper it can bleed & cause feathering. Due to Pentel’s innovative high-performance ink technology, the Energel XM has the best of both worlds going for it. Containing a hybrid of liquid & gel ink this pen is a smooth writer with the added benefit of being very quick-drying, so good for left-handers. [Read more…]

Pentel Energel XM BL77 Retractable Pen Review

By Tony Bridges 1 Comment | Last Updated May 14, 2020

I think it’s safe to say that not all predictions come true. The most obvious are the various prophecies of the end of the world. Then there’s the paperless office, whilst George Pake was proved right when he had an inkling that we’d be able to “call up documents from files on the screen” & be getting mail from a “TV display terminal with a keyboard” we still seem attached to the good old pen & paper. If my recent experience with a Pentel gel is anything to go by I for one won’t be giving up on handwriting anytime soon.

Here is my review of the Pentel XM BL77 retractable gel pen.

[Read more…]