If you're a regular reader here, you know that I'm a geek for writing instruments. I love to try out the latest and <supposedly> greatest thing. (OK, I'm a little weird - but you already know that if you're a regular.) So today, I'm putting several pens and such to the test. What is their marketing angle and does the product live up to it? Will it earn fame - or shame? I had one other person help me test each of these items. Let's see how they did.
First up is the Z-Grip Flight pen by Zebra Pen. Available in retractable and stick versions.
The Marketing: The Z-Grip Flight delivers on style, performance and value. Chic design, superior ink performance delivers a silky writing experience, comfort grip. Markets itself as a cross between a ballpoint and a gel pen, but classifies it as a ballpoint. Advertises super smooth writing, consistent start every time.
The Reality: This pen impressed both of us. It is an inexpensive, plastic pen, but it looks like so much more. You expect it to be heavier than it is because it does have a higher-end look to it. What really stands out is the smoothness - it glides effortlessly across the paper. Additionally, it doesn't smear much at all. We both tried to smear it and could only manage a teeny bit of feathering once in a while, so it lives up to the "functionality of a ballpoint" claim. Our only complaint was that we both have large hands and prefer a bit larger diameter pen, but that's our preference - I can't hold that against the pen. This was my partner's favorite of all the things we reviewed for this article.
Next up is the PenAgain Twist 'n Write pencils by Baumgarten.
The Marketing: Teaches kids the right way to write. Ergonomically designed to improve your writing ease and distribute pressure on your fingers to reduce pain.
The Reality: These are a little odd when you first look at them. (Kinda looks like a spaceship, don't 'ya think?) For me, they didn't take any time at all to get used to, but my co-reviewer is a lefty who doesn't hold a pen the right way, so it felt awkward to him. But, then again, this product is aimed at people just like him. He said if he used it consistently, he'd get used to it. (I wish I'd had this when my son was learning to write!) You can't do it wrong with this pencil. Also, it did feel good in my hand and I didn't have any pain regardless of how long I wrote with it.
Next on the list is the Sharpie Clear View Highlighter.
The Marketing: You know exactly when to stop highlighting with the help of a clear, see-through tip. Clear tip allows you to highlight neatly and evenly all the way across the page. Smear Guard ink technology resists the smudging of many pen and marker inks (let ink dry before highlighting).
The Reality: We both agreed - this is the biggest marketing ploy we've seen in a long time. Can you see through the tip? Yes. The bigger question is: Does a person need help to see when to stop highlighting? The answer is a resounding NO. We saw no difference in our ability to stop highlighting with a regular highlighter or with this one. We can see the page, the sentence and our hand position with a regular highlighter. This one makes no difference in the task. And the Smear Guard? Not only did it smear the ink we were highlighting, but the pen we wrote with is advertised as a Quick Dry pen (see the next item) and it still smeared that.
Last, but not least, is the BIC Gelocity Quick Dry pen.
The Marketing: Quick-drying formula that prevents the ink from smearing. Super smooth, lays down cleanly, glides effortlessly across the page. Full grip barrel provides all-day comfort.
The Reality: It's a very nice pen. As I already mentioned, we both like thicker diameter pens, so this one was a winner with us from that perspective. The full rubber barrel feels great in your hand and it's very comfortable to write with for extended periods. Quick-drying? Yes, but not totally. It did smear a bit from time to time - mostly at the starting and ending point of the line where the ink tends to pool a bit, but it was only once in a while. Most of the time it didn't smear at all. As for the smoothness, it is smoother than many pens I've used, but my partner said it felt a little scratchy to him. I can see his point when I compare it to the Z-Grip Flight that we reviewed first, but we still like it.
Well, that's the end. I hope our comments were helpful. If you have a topic or product you'd like to see us write about, email me at wizard@oexusa.com. We'd love to hear from you!