Mightier than the Sword
Welcome to the fascinating world of pens and writing instruments. North American writing instrument design has traditionally been much more restricted when compared to the connoisseur-like tastes of students and residents in Asia. In recent years, more and more Asian pens have begun to enter a North American market dominated by low-quality pens. Over the next few issues of the Roar, I will be exploring the world of writing utensils in order to bring you the best reviews possible to help you decide what your next learning weapon will be.
I first saw this pen on a teacher’s desk, and it is a very stable pen. The Pilot V5 series is fairly old, and well known for its needlepoint tip. The RT is a very nice pen to have and use, despite its slightly higher price tag.
The first thing I’d like to point out about the V5 RT is that its clicker is one of the best I have ever used. The clicker is very solid and durable, and makes a very confident click. Although the grip on the front looks slightly cheap and low-quality, it should be noted that the rest of the pen looks quite good. When I first used the pen, after removing the wax seal, the ink did not flow properly. After a few scribbles, the ink began to flow smoothly. The pen uses liquid ink, which means that the ink can potentially merge between letters, especially if your writing is small. The ink is advertised to be acid-free, and the colour is strong and bold. Finally, the packaging for the pen states that the ink formula is designed to be airplane safe – I have not tested this.
As with all ink pens, the thickness of the line will vary depending on how hard you press down with the pen. The V5 is available in black, red, blue, and green, although only black was tested. While the ink flows very smoothly onto the paper, it is slightly noticeable through the back of the page. The ink does not bleed through, but the boldness of the colour means that it can still be seen through double-sided notes. I would not recommend this pen for routine note-taking. However, the Hi-Tecpoint V5 RT is still a high quality pen which can be used on a regular basis.
A two pack of Hi-Tecpoint V5 RT pens runs at $5.36 for two pens, which is actually quite cheap for the quality of these pens. While I would not recommend the V5s for heavy note taking, they are extremely nice pens to have and will find their way into your daily use. However, these pens are ideal for a person with larger writing, as the colour is bold, the ink flows smoothly, and the clicker feels great.
Bottom Line: A great pen for people with larger handwriting, the ink flows smoothly and comes out in a strong, bold colour. I would not recommend this pen for heavy note taking, but it is excellent for every other application in daily life. ABSOLUTELY recommend this pen for anyone who has small handwriting like me, as well as anyone who feels like adding an amazing and unique pen to their collection.
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The Pentel RSVP Fine is one of the best pens I have ever used, in terms of price, construction, and writing ability. The difference between medium and fine point pens is somewhat noticeable, and should be left up to personal preference. However, I prefer a thinner pen because it appears much cleaner to the reader.
The first thing you’ll notice about the RSVP is that its design is extremely durable. Unlike the cheaper Bic pens, the RSVP is made of a very solid plastic which feels quite tough. It is extremely difficult to break, but not impossible. The grip is somewhat small, but it serves its purpose of providing grip for the user. The cap and body design are one of the most simplistic and beautiful designs on the market. It should be said that the easiest part of the RSVP to break is the clip on the cap. It is extremely likely to break if you are prone to playing with the clip.
The RSVP is also extremely good at what it was made to do. The ink generally comes out very smoothly, and the lines are very fine and consistent (a must for a person like me with microscopic writing). However, one of the pluses of having the RSVP is that there are 7 colours to use! My personal favourite colours to use are pink and sky-blue, but black, purple, green, dark blue, and red are also available. The majority of ink colours are bright and noticeable (particularly pink and sky-blue). However, the brightness of the ink does not deter from one’s ability to read the paper – though I wouldn’t recommend using pink for your in-class essays. The RSVP is the best pen I would recommend for taking double-sided notes. The ink is barely noticeable on the back of the page, and the indent will depend on how hard you press.
Finally, a colour pack of RSVPs (blue, black, red, green, purple) sells for $4.99 at Staples, for just a little over a dollar a pen. With each of these pens lasting you well over a year’s worth of note-taking, they are excellent for the most basic student’s needs.
Bottom Line: The best pens you can get for their value. These pens should be an absolute staple in your pencil case, and come in a variety of bright colours. The ink flows smoothly and comes out in fine lines. You’ll use this pen to the end of the inktube!
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A re-branded version of the extremely popular Hi-Tec-C pen from Japan, the North American version has finally made its debut. The Hi-Tec-C became popular in Japan and Asia because of its extremely fine tip, and the clarity of its writing. The G-Tec-C4 is slated to have similar success. Running with a 0.4mm tip, the G-Tec-C4 is the thinnest pen you will find in North America. This is extremely good news to writers like me who will prefer a thin-point pen.
The G-Tec-C4 has an octagonal body, which is made of clear plastic and feels extremely hard (if not brittle). The barrel is also slightly shorter than most pens, but attaching the cap to the back makes up for it. The cap is also of an interesting design. Although awkward at first, I soon fell in love with the shape of the G-Tec-C4. Unfortunately, the pen lacks a rubber grip, which makes holding the C4 slightly uncomfortable. However, the lack of a grip does not interfere with one’s ability to write for short periods of time. The G-Tec-C4 also feels slightly heavier than most other pens. The tip is an extremely thin needlepoint, and the pen feels extremely high quality.
The G-Tec-C4 writes like a dream. While the lines do not appear to be any thinner than other pens, it becomes extremely noticeable when you begin to write. Lines will not cross, the ink will not feather or bleed, and writing with the C4 is an amazing experience. However, pens with a thickness below 0.5mm are known to be slightly hard on the paper when writing. This was not especially noticeable when I was using the pen, though caution should be taken since the tip is so thin. It is definitely easier to pierce the paper with the G-Tec-C4, compared to the Hi-Tecpoint V5 RT.
In conclusion, the G-Tec-C4 is one of the best pens I have ever used, and has lived up to its reputation. Although the pen is slightly costlier than the other two (6.96 for two pens), this pen is definitely worth buying if you are someone who appreciates thin pens, or pens in general.
Bottom Line: This is the best pen I have ever used and is perfect for me! I ABSOLUTELY recommend this pen for anyone who has small handwriting like me, as well as anyone who feels like adding an amazing and unique pen to their collection