0.3mm

Review: Stabilo Sensor, Porous Point, 0.3mm

by Andrew

Stabilo is an old company that has been working with porous point writing tech as far back as the 1970s (when the Stabilo Boss highlighter sales began to boom). So, with decades of design and manufacturing experience under its belt, Stabilo should have the resources to create a great porous point pen. And, as a fan of porous points, I was eager to try the popular Stabilo Sensor.

The main feature of this pen is its “sensor” tip, which retracts in slightly when pressed on paper. It sounds like an intrusive feature, but it’s hardly noticeable unless you write with a very heavy hand. The product’s webpage mentions that this feature is meant to improve smoothness and comfort, but I suspect that it has more to do with extending the pen’s life.

With porous point pens, the tip is usually the first part to break down. The Sensor adds a little ‘give’ whenever too much pressure is placed on it. As far as I can tell, this feature works as intended, but it comes with a couple drawbacks. First, it’s two to three times more expensive than a cheaper option like the Monami Plus Pen 3000. It also seems to me that the Sensor doesn’t put down a line that’s quite as clean as something like The Sharpie Pen.

For me, this pen isn’t a favorite, but it’s definitely a good choice. It writes well, and it has a dark ink with minimal smear and bleed-through. It has a nice barrel design as well – both aesthetically and functionally. It has a thicker body and longer clip than most other porous points (which, for whatever reason, tend to be thin with small clips). But for anyone with a heavy hand who likes the look and feel of a porous point, the Sensor is definitely worth a try.

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Review: Staedtler Triplus Fineliner, Porous Point, 0.3mm

by Andrew

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The Staedtler Triplus Fineliner is a porous point pen, similar to the Sharpie Pen or the Monami Plus Pen 3000, but the most interesting thing about the Triuplus Fineliner is its shape. Instead of a standard round barrel, the body is more of a rounded-off triangle. According to Staedtler’s website, this shape is meant for “relaxed and easy writing,” which I’m not so sure about, but it definitely prevents the pen from rolling off my desk.

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As with most porous-point pens, the Triplus Fineliner produces those consistent and clean lines that make all handwriting look a little neater. Compared to the Sharpie Pen, one of my top five pens, the ink appears a tiny bit darker and smears a tiny bit less, but those differences are trivial. The big difference comes down to the barrel: which one is more comfortable?

I still prefer the slightly wider barrel of the Sharpie Pen, which I personally find a lot more comfortable to grip. However, I can see how the Triplus Fineliner might be a better fit for others. So if you’re a fan of the Sharpie Pen, it might be worth testing out the Triplus Fineliner to see if it’s right for you.

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Extra Links

  • Steven Combs has a great comparison of Sharpie Pens and Staedtler Triplus Fineliners. He shows that the Triplus Fineliners bleed very slightly, but not enough to be problematic. He also doesn’t like the thin barrel of the Triplus Fineliners.
  • Review at Pen Addict. Apparently, you can leave then pen uncapped for days without it drying out.
  • Review at Journaling Arts. She didn’t like the barrel either, particularly the soft-angled edges.

Review: Pentel Energel Deluxe RTX, Gel Ink, 0.3mm

by Andrew

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I’ve always liked Pentel Energel pens. In fact, red-ink Energels are my go-to red pen at work for their sturdy clip, minimal smear, and comfortable grip.  However, this is the first time I’ve used the extra-fine 0.3mm Deluxe RTX version, and I’m happy to say that my high regards for the Energel have not been let down.

For most people, the Pilot G-2 0.38mm is the gateway to extra-fine-tipped pens, and, while it’s a decent pen, a lot of people are turned off by its scratchiness (or the feeling like the tip of the pen is literally going to tear through the paper). The Energel Deluxe RTX, with its smoother writing experience, does a much better job of avoiding this problem. And it’s a good pen overall, really: it doesn’t bleed, doesn’t skip, and draws consistent lines.

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This Energel even beats out my previous favorite extra-fine-point pen, the 0.28mm uni-ball Signo RT1. While I love the stealth design of the Signo RT1, the Energel Deluxe RTX edges it out in terms of smoothness and richness of ink, and it has a much more durable design overall. So, if you’re looking for a good extra-fine tipped pen, the 0.3mm Energel Deluxe RTX is definitely the way to go.

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