HenryAZ
MEMBER EMERITUS
For "tactical" pens, Rick Hinderer Knives has a great selection.
EDC pen recomendation from owners
- Thread starter mrborohachi
- Start date
Dave455
Well-known member
I think this question comes up for a lot of folks!
I used to be a draughtsman, so love my pens, and nothing can replace the feel or line quality of a decent fountain pen! I do tend to use a Pelikan M400 most days, but I wouldn’t pretend it’s right in the workshop, or the cockpit either!
If you like the Fisher, why not go for one of the retractable models. I was given a ‘shuttle’ retractable (the slimline version of the astronaut pen) years back and love it. Don’t carry it everyday now due to sentimental value. It’s a durable pen too!
If you get a decent conventional ballpoint I find I don’t actually need the pressurised refills of the Fisher. The two best I’ve found are the Pilot and the Caran d’ache. The latter are probably the best quality refills out there, and work superbly in the dry environment of a pressurised aeroplane cabin!
There are all manner of variations on the ballpoint theme now. Loads of folks love gel pens, and I’m one of them! Pilot G2 is probably the most famous, although I’ve found the new Pentel Energel’ maybe even a frac nicer to use. None of these are costly. I have the upmarket Pilot G2 with metal body and cap which provides further insurance against drying out in aircraft!
My other favourites are the Uni Ball Jetstream. These look like a regular ballpoint, but the ink is totally unlike anything else. It’s almost dry in the refill, but turns to gel as you write. They are really good, and again, no drying up problems!
Pictures show the Caran d’ache, Pilot G2/Pentel Energel and Uni Ball Jetstream!
I used to be a draughtsman, so love my pens, and nothing can replace the feel or line quality of a decent fountain pen! I do tend to use a Pelikan M400 most days, but I wouldn’t pretend it’s right in the workshop, or the cockpit either!
If you like the Fisher, why not go for one of the retractable models. I was given a ‘shuttle’ retractable (the slimline version of the astronaut pen) years back and love it. Don’t carry it everyday now due to sentimental value. It’s a durable pen too!
If you get a decent conventional ballpoint I find I don’t actually need the pressurised refills of the Fisher. The two best I’ve found are the Pilot and the Caran d’ache. The latter are probably the best quality refills out there, and work superbly in the dry environment of a pressurised aeroplane cabin!
There are all manner of variations on the ballpoint theme now. Loads of folks love gel pens, and I’m one of them! Pilot G2 is probably the most famous, although I’ve found the new Pentel Energel’ maybe even a frac nicer to use. None of these are costly. I have the upmarket Pilot G2 with metal body and cap which provides further insurance against drying out in aircraft!
My other favourites are the Uni Ball Jetstream. These look like a regular ballpoint, but the ink is totally unlike anything else. It’s almost dry in the refill, but turns to gel as you write. They are really good, and again, no drying up problems!
Pictures show the Caran d’ache, Pilot G2/Pentel Energel and Uni Ball Jetstream!
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vette-kid
Well-known member
Not sure where the aircraft pilot got thrown in here, but I'll put my. 02 in on that. I'm not concerned about drying out in the cockpit. More an issue of writing at odd angles and in the rain or wet from said rain. Durability is the other concern. It will get knocked around. That's why I go for the fishers with pressurized refills.
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rlitman
Well-known member
I picked up a few packs of these for my left handed children based on internet recommendations. They write as smoothly as a gel pen (smoother than a ball point), but the ink dries so much faster, so that lefties don't smudge with them. I'll agree that they live up to the hype.
rlitman
Well-known member
Odd angles requires pressurized ink. That limits you to a Fisher refill (where the refill is pressurized internally), or a Tombow Airpress (where the pen has a piston that pressurizes the refill when you extend the point), or a capillary feeding system such as a razor tip (these are fragile as heck though). As you know, gravity doesn't feed ink by itself upwards.
But I haven't had luck with ball points writing on wet (particularly if it's oily) paper. There, gel seems to work better for me, or a felt tip marker.
Its all a compromise. Here's an outside of the box option. What about a retracting tip mechanical pencil? Like a Rotring 800 (though I don't know of any pencils with really good clips).
JJ13
Well-known member
You should have mistyped on purpose like this. "What are you doing with your pen!s." At least that's how my mind translated it as I read far too quickly.
Dave455
Well-known member
Only because I am, and in my experience it’s about the toughest environment for any pen, due to the combination of pressure changes and the dry environment.
If a pen works well in this environment, it’s usually a good choice for ‘e.d.c’ in the workshop!
I agree there’s a lot to be said for pencils too - a durable .7 or .9 automatic pencil with a softish B or 2B lead is probably used as much as a pen in my workshop!
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kctyphoon
Banned
I still haven’t lost my fisher space pen yet.. i do carry it a lot, but I’ve gotten more use to typing info into the notepad app on my phone... Pen has held up very well, clip is still perfect, and it hasn’t fallen out of my pocket once. I have to say its so thin that you dont even know its in there. Great for the price.
I know i just totally jinxed myself by typing this.. it’ll be gone by the end of the week now.
I know i just totally jinxed myself by typing this.. it’ll be gone by the end of the week now.
rlitman
Well-known member
B or 2B, that is the question.
I keep 0.3 (2H), 0.5 (HB), 0.7 (B) and 0.9mm (2B) pencils in my sketching clipboard, but actually prefer my clutch pencils for drawing, though clutch pencils are too inconvenient for EDC. The 0.5 I really only keep around because it is a perfect fit in my Incra rulers.
My workshop is littered with carpenter's pencils, sharpened to a straight edge with a knife.
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bczygan
Well-known member
Wow! $10 pens!
I use whatever cheap pens I can forget to give back to people.
Bill
I use whatever cheap pens I can forget to give back to people.
Bill
decableguy2000
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2012
- Messages
- 651
Thanks for helping me part with more money. For the record I like using Zebra G301, but end up breaking them. I ended up with the "Rite in the rain" OR97. Like the OP I have to wear a class 3 vest everyday(very thin). Hopefully this will hold up for the price I paid. Being blaze orange it should be able to keep up with better as well.
https://www.riteintherain.com/orange-metal-clicker-pen
https://www.riteintherain.com/orange-metal-clicker-pen
trpearcy
Well-known member
Microtech Siphon II. Love mine, takes Fisher Space pen refills, and has a lifetime warranty. Slightly expensive.
kctyphoon
Banned
I had to look that up.. this is just my humble opinion, but thats the most ridiculous looking pen I’ve ever seen.. lol.. i didnt even look to see how much it cost, but if its using the fisher space pen refills, then its really just a Fisher space pen ain’t it??
Edit - ok wait. $150 for that thing? Some places have it listed for $250 but discontinued.. Is that a ******* joke?
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It's "tactical"?
kctyphoon
Banned
doublearon98
Well-known member
kctyphoon
Banned
Listen - if it was $50 - OK - its different, its interesting, its a “look what i have” toy..
$150 - $250 for that, no way.. absolutely not, not in a million years.. its a $10 Fisher Space Pen, which is not spectacular btw.. its a good pen though.
doublearon98
Well-known member
I mean it's so much because it's a microtech and its has a lot of machining in it. I'd buy it for 50....maybe.
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