Review: Zebra Regal Roller 0.5mm Pink

Ever since my first review of the Zebra Regal Roller back in February of this year, people have been wondering when and where they were going to be able to buy them.  Spring came and went, then summer, but availability was sporadic at best, and non-existant at worst.  JetPens came through though - as they always seem to do - and now stock a nice assortment of the 0.5mm needle tip and the 0.7mm arrow tip Regal Rollers.  Hooray for JetPens!

I gave away several of the Zebras I recieved from the company back in the winter, so I was glad to pick up a few more to have on hand, and this pink needle tip was one of them.  I love a nice dark pink, and this one comes out great on the page.  If you have been fortunate enough to try out a Regal Roller since my last review, you will also know how nice of a pen they really are.  The barrel design is a nice update by Zebra.  It looks and feels great.  The grip area could be a little better in my opinion (I would prefer a smooth plastic as opposed the the raised ridges).

In my original review I compared the Regal Roller to the Pilot Precise V5, and that comparison still holds true.  In fact, is is darn near a 1-to-1 relationship.  They are that close in feel and performance.  The V5 is one of the smoothest liquid ink pens around, and the Regal Roller is its equal.  Do yourself a favor and give one a try when you get the chance.

Click here for the XL review.

Products used:
Zebra Regal Liquid Ink Needle Point Roller Ball Pen - 0.5 mm Pink from JetPens
Writing Pad from Doane Paper

Review: Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.4mm Gray

So are you as disappointed with the Sharpie Liquid Pencil as I am, but still wouldn't mind trying out a lead coloered gel ink pen?  Well, the Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.4mm Gray may be something for you to check out.

I have reviewed a plethora of the Zebra Sarasa Clip pens already, but I keep coming back for more since they are such good pens (try the Viridian Green).  They feel just right in the hand, have a great grip, and have a crisp, clean line from start to finish.  I personally have zero complaints - especially at $1.50 each - but some people do find them to be a bit scratchy.  Unless it is absolutely terrible, that is something that doesn't phase me on sub-0.5mm pens.

The gray ink color is a little light for me, but as I mentioned in the written review, this is one pen that would probably work better on a plain white page as opposed to the grid+lines of my Doane Paper.  It does have a pencil lead quality to the color, so if the Sharpie Liquid Pencil left you high and dry you may want to give this a look.  Just don't attepmt to erase it or take a Scantron test with it.

Click here for the XL review.

Products used:

Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.4mm Cool Grey from JetPens

Writing Pad from Doane Paper

Review: Zebra Tect 2way 1000 Mechanical Pencil

Since I started my recent drafting pencil kick, I couldn't wait to try out the Zebra Tect 2Way 1000 because I thought it was one of the coolest looking pencils on the market.  While the looks are what sold me, the feel and functionality of the pencil are what keep me coming back for more.  This is a really good pencil, but there are a few too many little things that prevent me from getting more use out of it.

One of the big selling points of the Zebra Tect 2way is the 2way-ness of it.  No, there is not an additional pen cartridge making this a multi pen, but rather there are two ways to advance the lead:  the traditional click advance, or the updated shaker mechanism.  I think I would actually like this pencil more if it was one or the other, because I am not really digging the ring around the barrel that locks the pencil into the type of lead advancement you want.  It just seems extraneous to me, or a case of trying to hard.  It does its job, but is it neccessary?  Plus, you have to shake the heck out of it to advance the lead.

Secondly, I didn't really consider that the grip would be an issue by the looks of it, but it kind of is.  The orange plastic rings encircling the grip are very firm, and they rise above the underlying metal grip higher than it appears.  That's ok for short bursts, but I could see that getting tiresome over long writing or drafting sessions.

Finally, I wish the barrel of the entire pencil was metal.  The silver grip area is, but the upper body is resin based (essentially plastic).  It does have a nice balance in the hand while writing, and as nice as it feels, it is just a little but off.  It could be mental on my part though.

That is a lot of small marks on what is otherwise a good pencil.  Unfortunately for me, those things add up, and push this one to the back of the drawer.

Click here for the XL review.