Pilot

Review: Pilot Hi-Tec-C Maica, Gel Ink, 0.4mm

by Andrew

Pilot_HiTecC_Maica-3First and foremost, the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Maica looks pretty darn slick. The fancy logo, the jewel-like moulding on the cap, and the smoothness of the barrel combine to create a very beautiful pen. Somewhere along the line in the design process, however, they decided to replace the clip of the pen with a small loop, which I suppose is meant to attach to a lanyard or bracelet. In practice this loop really only acts to prevent the pen from rolling off tables, and I personally would just prefer a clip stuck to the side.

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While I’m usually a bit wary of 0.4mm tips (or anything  smaller), as they can sometimes feel like I’m about to cut through my paper, this Hi-Tec-C gel refill writes very smooth. In fact, I’d even consider going to the 0.3mm tip, a size I typically avoid. And though I’ve had issues with the ink skipping temporarily, necessitating a few scribbles on scrap paper to get it flowing properly, it hasn’t happened enough to become an annoyance.

It’s a pretty good pen overall, and I think minor improvements could make it a great pen: a slightly thicker barrel, a slightly more comfortable grip area, or – what the hell – I’d love a retractable retooling of this pen design while they’re at it. Regardless, the Hi-Tec-C Maica looks cool and writes well, and it’s a pen I plan to keep handy.

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Review: Pilot Frixion Erasable Pen, Gel Ink, 0.5mm

by Andrew

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My first thought after coming across the Pilot Frixion was, “Why have I never heard of this before?!” My second thought: “I need to tell EVERYBODY!” As far back as I can remember, erasable pens were nothing but garbage. Not only did the eraser leave detritus all over the paper, but it also left a big ink smudge. The Frixion, on the other hand, leaves no eraser debris and erases better than even most pencils I’ve used. It’s almost something you have to see to believe.

It not only works well, it has a nice design too. There’s something about the white eraser on the black 0.5 mm version that looks especially cool to me. And I like that the clicking mechanism is on the clip, which works better with the end of the pen reserved for erasing. The Frixion is also refillable for a little over $1 per ink cartridge, which isn’t an amazing deal but still cheaper than buying the pens brand new. I’ve tried the 0.7mm version, but prefer the 0.5mm, though it can be a bit scratchy sometimes.

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It’s definitely not a pen for all uses. You wouldn’t want to sign a check with it, for example, or use it in a journal you plan to save. But quickly taking notes, sketching something out, or anything you might have done with a pencil, the Frixion does a great job. I’ve been using mine almost every day at work, and I’m sure I’ll be using and recommending this pen for years to come.

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Review: Pilot Precise V5 RT, Rolling Ball, 0.5mm

by Andrew

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When I first laid eyes on the Pilot Precise V5 RT Retractable pen, it was at a convenience store (a national chain found all over the U.S.). Of course I had to buy it – I love fine-point pens, and how often do you come across a 0.5mm pen at a convenience store? I began using it in my journal, and I was impressed immediately.

The lines are fine but vivid, and it writes smoothly without skipping. For being a relatively inexpensive pen – it was about $4 for a two-pack – it also looks pretty good. It has a rubber grip and metal clip, and the barrel is a grey that looks almost like metal from a distance. It’s also fairly comfortable to hold, and I have to admit that I prefer the click-top pens over anything else.

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It’s a great pen overall, but I can’t say it comes without any issues. First, the rolling ball style ink can smear a bit with a heavy hand; a problem particularly for left-handed writers. Second, although it’s a reusable pen, it is hard to find the ink refills out at the store. The convenience store I originally bought the pens at certainly doesn’t carry any refills. And looking online, the refills are each about the same price as an entirely new V5 pen, which pretty well defeats the purpose of it being reusable.

These issues aside, the Pilot Precise V5 RT is a pretty great retractable pen. If you’re someone who likes a finer-point pen, you’ll definitely enjoy writing with it.

PilotPreciseV5RT-1Extra Links: