Tactile Turn Groove Side Click Pen Review

You don’t have to be a record collector to appreciate what Tactile Turn has done with their latest seasonal release, Groove.

As a massive music fan, this pen is right up my alley - and I don’t even own a record player! But as a nerdy collector of things, I have bought a few vinyl releases over the years from my favorite artists. You know, for when I get my turntable. And speakers. And amp. Ok, maybe just a Bluetooth all-in-one kit. One day.

Until then, Groove is going to have to scratch that itch - but not the vinyl, of course.

I opted for the Standard version for this release. Over the years, Tactile Turn has been gracious enough to send me every size in the lineup to review, and since it had been a while since I used the largest in the lineup, it was time for another look.

Compared to the Stealth Bolt Action I reviewed back in 2021, I noticed that the Groove felt lighter. Looking at the specs of both pens, I was right - Stealth checks in at 1.3 oz., and Groove is a mere 1.2 oz.. It’s always funny to me how stationery obsessives like myself can pick up on these things immediately, even after a large time gap between uses.

With Tactile Turn’s seasonal releases, pen size determines refill size. This Standard model ships with the Pilot G2 refill, and can be swapped with other compatible refills. The Short model takes Parker-style refills, and the Mini uses the appropriately named Pilot G2 Mini. They are all good choices depending on your needs.

As the name alludes to, Groove takes the grooves seen on a vinyl record, and mimics them on the pen barrel - track markers and all. And no, you can’t “play” this pen, but you can write with it … something it does very well. It’s a long pen at 5.8”, which works well with the 0.7 mm Black G2 refill. If you want to match the Groove up with a finer refill and some funky colors, I highly recommend the Pilot Juice.

I highly recommend the Tactile Turn Groove, as well. There’s even a Lava Lamp edition of this model if you really want to grab your headphones and turn on the black lights and write to the … music. This edition runs $149, with the Lava Lamp version running $179. Tactile Turn keeps climbing up the charts with hits, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

(Tactile Turn provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Tactile Turn Buccaneer Mini Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

I've purchased several Tactile Turn pens over the years--one for my father and two for my husband. MY TURN.

I've drooled over a number of their seasonal and limited releases, but I caved and bought the Buccaneer the moment their newsletter hit my inbox. Because pirates.

This pirate-themed pen comes in three sizes: Standard, Short, and Mini. I opted for the Mini, because I love a good pocket pen. Regardless of size, the pen is made of titanium with a Cerakote finish that makes it look like wood. It looks very realistic and even fooled one of my coworkers. On the finial, there is a Jolly Roger and the clip is laser engraved and aged to look like an old treasure map. Aesthetics are ten out of ten. Everything is machined with precision and works smoothly, with the nosecap fit so seamlessly that I couldn't even find it at first.

The pen operates with a bolt-action knob, which is 24kt gold-plated stainless steel. The liner of the bolt mechanism is a perfect pirate red.

The Standard length takes a standard Pilot G2 refill, the Mini takes the mini G2 refill, and the Short length takes the Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 refill--all fantastic writers, so you can't go wrong. Mine has been my primary writer since it arrived (which admittedly was only a few days ago) and it has been a delight to use. And that fidgety knob has gotten me through some stressful hours.

The pen came in a sturdy foam coffin inside of a special cardboard sleeve, and it came with a cool postcard, a sticker, and temporary tattoos! Delightful.

Overall, Tactile Turn makes excellent pens, which is why they've been a go-to for my gift purchases in the past. I've enjoyed watching the evolution of their designs, and I know I'll continue picking up their limited releases because they're just too much fun.

The Buccaneer sells for $149, which I obviously thought was absolutely worth it. For the quality, Tactile Turn's prices are very fair. I say this knowing that a non-pen person would think I'm insane. But in da clurb, we all fam.

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Tactile Turn Vice Side Click Pen Review

Nearly four years into their quarterly Limited Edition release cycle, Tactile Turn is showing no signs of letting up. In fact, with their latest release “Vice,” they are showing that they are having more fun than ever creating these fantastic pens.

As you could imagine with the name Vice, these pens take on the bright and colorful synth wave vibes from South Florida in the 1980’s, aka the Miami Vice era. And notice I say “pens,” because there is more than one with this release. “Night” gives off a nightclub vibe with neon popping across the dance floor, and “Day” gives off that blinding beach look when exiting the club at 7:00 a.m. - you know who you are.

Deciding which pen to choose is always the challenge with Tactile Turn, even with single pen releases. With two exterior designs, and three barrel length (and refill compatibility,) options, you are sure to find a model to your liking.

Design was easy for me this go-round. I considered Day for a minute because I don’t think there are enough great light color pen barrels on the market. That said, the bright Pinks and Blues of Night - set off perfectly with the splattered black barrel - is one of my all-time favorite color combinations.

With color out of the way, what barrel would I choose? For Vice, I think Standard might be the right choice for most people. You want a fun, bright, gel ink refill for this pen, and its Pilot G2 compatibility gives you the most options. That said, I had ulterior motives with my choice.

I ordered a few Schmidt Standard P900 refills last year when I saw they released fun colors such as Magenta, Purple, and Turquoise. These refills had been sitting in my review bin just waiting for their opportunity to be used, and I’m happy to say that now is their time. The Short model of the Vice Side Click is compatible with Parker-style, or International G2, ink cartridges, and I was stoked to ink it up with Magenta as soon as it arrived.

In comparison to the Standard (5.8 in., 1.2 oz.) barrel, I prefer the Short (5.3 in., 1.1 oz.) simply from a weight and length perspective. I have to be in the mood to use Tactile Turn’s Standard model, and when I do, it’s usually sitting at my desk. The Short works well at the desk, and better as carry pen for my needs. You could drop all the way down to the Mini model (4.6 in., 0.9 oz.) for size purposes, but refill compatibility is the most restricted with the Pilot G2 Mini refill. I have one each of the Standard and Mini pens that I use sparingly, but my choice is primarily the Short.

The Tactile Turn Vice Side Click pen runs $149 in any barrel size and color combination. Maybe you need one of each so you have a daytime pen, and a nighttime pen. You know, to go along with your daytime phone, and nighttime phone. Y’all do that too, right? 🤣

Regardless of which pen design or size you choose, you will be happy with the quality that Tactile Turn provides in each of their products. And even is the Vice isn’t for you, you are sure to find something else interesting in their full lineup of products.

(Tactile Turn provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!