Posts filed under Slicci

Pentel Slicci Techo Mini Review

The Pentel Slicci Techo Mini is one of those pens that doesn't look like much at first glance. But once you pick it up and start using it, you realize it was made to do a specific job. And it's pretty good at doing that job.

What job is that specifically? The Slicci's job is to be a dependable, well-built, portable gel pen with a super fine, smooth point. It's perfect for those of us that want a tiny gel pen that writes well. To boot, it's also really affordable.

One of the first things I noticed upon first picking the pen up is how well-built it feels. The body is aluminum and the tip is also metal. It feels really solid for such a small pen.

Clicking the knock also feels more solid than it should for such a small, portable pen. It takes a bit of pressure and locks into place securely. The clip is also decently strong and has a soft, rubber-like material on the clip end to provide some extra grip. Once this pen is clipped to something, it isn't going to shake loose.

Personally, I love the orange body, but that's just me. It's a great color and it's easy to find in a dark bag.

On the writing end of things, the Techo Mini is actually really nice. The body is incredibly slim, and that takes a while to get used to if you normally write with "normal" pens. Even though it's slim, it's easy to control and get used to. The length is also a good fit for me. The part of the body just below the clip attachment point is where the pen falls on my hand to rest. It feels good, but you never really forget about the pen. It doesn't blend into the writing experience, but that's not really the purpose. It's tiny, and it writes great for this category.

The gel refill is smooth and dependable. I've never had a problem with skipping or starting. At 0.3 mm, it's a really fine line. It's not as smooth as writing with a Signo DX, but it's still a great refill.

I'm not sure if you can swap in other refills, but JetPens only lists the proprietary Pentel Slicci refill on their site. It looks unique, so you might stuck with these refills if you buy the pen. Also, it only comes with black ink. Bummer. If anyone has tried another refill for this pen, let us know.

Overall, for an $8 mini pen, the Slicci Techo Mini is fantastic. I've taken it with me on trips and always enjoy using it. With six colors to choose from, there's something for everyone. Like I said, I think orange is the right choice, but there's also copper, purple, green, pink, and navy.

If you're in the mood for a delightful pocket/travel pen that has a great gel refill, this is a great start.

(You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution, Twitter, and App.net.)

Posted on July 4, 2014 and filed under Pentel, Pen Reviews, Slicci.

Pentel Slicci Techo Mini Gel Ink Pen Review

Pentel Slicci Techo Mini Gel Ink Pen

Mini pens are a tough category. Some of the best designed pens come in small packages, but using those small packages often comes at a price. Most of the time the cost is comfort at the expense of barrel diameter. A thin barrel often leads to faster writing fatigue, and therefore limits how long you can write with a pen.

A few mini pens try to shorten the length while keeping the same barrel diameter (the now discontinued Pilot Pockel comes to mind), but most shrink the barrel diameter to almost uncomfortable dimensions. I haven’t found the sweet spot for the perfect mini pen size, but the Pentel Slicci Techo is at least in the conversation.

What I like about the Techo is that barrel diameter isn’t as extreme as other mini pens. Sure it is small, but if you are already a fan of the Pentel Slicci you are used to a narrower than normal diameter to begin with. And if you aren’t but already use mini pens you will enjoy the feel of the Techo in comparison to other pens in this category.

From a writing standpoint it is the same as the Pentel Slicci, and that is good. The Slicci tip has always been a favorite of mine and having it available in a portable, EDC-type package is great. I am seeing a little bit of skipping in my first experience with it but hopefully that will work itself out. Copper also isn’t my first choice in barrel color, but I’ll make do.

There are many boxes I need to check off on the perfect mini-pen checklist and the Pentel Slicci Techo ticks nearly all of them.

Posted on July 2, 2012 and filed under Mini, Pen Reviews, Pentel, Slicci.

#OnePenOneDay Pentel Slicci 0.25mm Black

Pentel Slicci 0 25mm


Another one of my all-time favorite pens, the Pentel Slicci 0.25mm still lives up to the hype. You don't hear much Slicci talk these days, but this is a pen you should keep handy in your arsenal. Some people are not fans of the thin barrel diameter - which is understandable - but the line is one of the sharpest, cleanest, and most consistent around. It passed the #OnePenOneDay experiment with flying colors.

Posted on July 13, 2011 and filed under #onepenoneday, Pentel, Slicci.