[Pen/Pencil Review] Zebra SK-Sharbo+1 2 Color Eco Multi-Function Pen

Today’s pen blog is a multi-function pen. I don’t do these often, but this one caught my eye. It’s the Zebra SK Sharbo Eco +1 2 Color Multi-Pen. It’s a mouthful from JetPens. This is one of the Japanese offerings, not necessarily found in the US, except through online portals like JetPens. The “eco” part comes from the materials being marked as “environmentally conscious”.

This Zebra multi-function pen surprised me a little. I’m used to multi-function/color pens being bulky and sometimes hard to handle. This one isn’t. For what it is, it’s quite sleek. It’s 5.5″ long with everything retracted, and about 5.75″ with a point extended. The barrel diameter is obviously wider than a “typical” standard single use pen or pencil, but not more so than some of the ergonomic grip pens. It’s not uncomfortably wide, measuring about 12 mm. It does have a ridged, rubber grip, but that helps with traction and doesn’t get in the way.

The 0.7mm ball point pens are a rich red and black in that flow well. The tips retract and extend by twisting the metal supported clip and cap. The fine points to the ball points give a dark line and help keep the bulk down on the pen. The 0.5mm pencil is a good lead that doesn’t break easily. The lead advances by clicking the cap, which also houses the refillable eraser.

This pen is refillable. JetPens has the ink refills – in other colors than red and black if those aren’t your favorites. The pencil lead was more difficult to figure out. I haven’t run through the lead yet, so it took me a minute. The refills are changed through the barrel and snapping the ink into place. Pencil lead is refilled by removing the writing tip and inserting lead into the barrel. Weird by effective? We’ll see. It’s not cheap, but with the refill capabilities and functionality makes the price point cost-effective over time.

The numbers:

1. How does it work? – 1 – It works well. The rotary function of the points feels secure. You can leave lead advanced while having the point retracted. The lead and ink flow smoothly. The clip is secure.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – For a multi-function, it’s actually comfortable. There’s no taper, but the diameter is comfortable. There’s very little ridge between grip and barrel to be uncomfortable. It’s long enough to fit comfortably in the hand. I’m actually surprised by this.
3. Material – 1 – This is one of the less expensive of the Sharbo line, but it is plastic and base metal…however with the nice inserts, and sturdy feel, it’s decent. The transparent plastic of the barrel lets you see ink levels. Some might think it’s expensive for plastic and base metal, but it’s environmentally conscious and three good quality writing instruments in one.
4. Overall Design – 0.5 – I am going to knock a half point off here just for the pencil refill. It’s not intuitive. I kept looking for the pencil refill to be through the cap, but it’s not. I’ve never had a pencil that refills by removing the point. I get why, but it took me too long to figure that out. It might be on the packaging somewhere, but I don’t have that anymore and the packaging is in Japanese.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – It’s not cheap, but it is useful. This is one of the lower price point Sharbos. It’s $8.25 on JetPens. The barrels do go up in both style, material, and price. And though the price isn’t exorbitant, it’s an investment. However, if you travel or often need the multi-function, this is well worth it. I do find myself going to it when I might need pen/pencil back and forth options.

That’s 4 of 5 bronze pencils.

Tags: ballpoint pen, Fine Point, JetPens, Multi-Function, Pencil, Sharbo, Zebra Pens