Review: Zebra Techno Line 0.4mm + Kokuyo Beetle Tip 3way Highlighter

Kokuyo Beetle Tip

I was very excited that JetPens started stocking the Kokuyo Beetle Tip 3way highlighter.  I had heard about it for a while, but now I finally have one in my grubby little hands.  During the same new products push, JetPens started stocking more colors of the Zebra Techno Line 0.4mm ballpoint, so I thought that would be a great pen to review again with the Beetle Tip highlighter

When I reviewed the Techno Line a while back, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.  The only issue I had at that time - and it is still the case with the new one - is that there is a little bit of spidering with the ink.  What I mean by that is there is sometimes a super-fine strand of ink between letters when I move from letter to letter.  This happens once every few lines or so, and you probably can't even notice it in the picture.  Otherwise, I like how fine and small I can write with it, and it is a pretty clean writer overall.

When I was a student, I was always an underliner, not a highlighter, so I was anxious to give the Beetle Tip a shot.  Before this highlighter, I would just take the sharp tip and line under the sentences in my textbooks or notes.  Now that I have the Beetle Tip, that underlining is made easier, and it works really well.  I was concerned about how fragile the tip might be, but it seems pretty strong and should last a good while.  The other thing I haven't put to a great test is do I really like the double line highlight?  I think yes, but I am so anal that I wonder if large blocks of highlights will bother me with their uneveness.  You can't beat the uniqueness and utility of the Beetle tip though, so I highly reccomend this pen.

One new thing I am going to try with my posts is add direct links to the products I have used (when available).  Those who are frequent readers of the blog know where to track these products down, but I do get a good many questions from new readers on where to buy them.  I'll try to do a better job of posting this information, and lets not kid ourselves, it also helps out the wonderful advertisers on The Pen Addict!

Click here for the XL review.

Products used:

Zebra Technoline 0.4mm

Kokuyo Beetle Tip Highlighter

Doane Paper Idea Journal

Posted on October 5, 2009 .