[Pen/Pencil Review] PaperMate InkJoy Gel Pen – 0.5mm Classic Colors
Today’s blog post is an add on to one of the last reviews I did. Today we check out the Paper Mate InkJoy GEL pen in the 0.5mm FINE point (as it should be). The 0.5mm are slightly harder to track down and come in unusual collections. This one package is what I call “the classic colors” – red, blue, black.
The ink is really good. I do give Paper Mate that. I bought the these at Staples. Staples carries more variety of these pens than Target or Office Depot, which makes me happy. Target only carries black in the 0.5mm – Office Depot carries one of the odder 8-packs (no traditional blue in that one). Staples carries pretty much all of them in both tip points.
The Paper Mate InkJoy gel pens are 5.75″ long retracted and extended. The barrels are slightly thicker than your typical retractable stick pen. The barrel is smooth and is mostly rubberized plastic for a comfort grip. There’s a clear-ish hard plastic front panel that lets you see the level of ink in the refill that also includes the clip – which could snap if you mess with it long enough. The tip is conical and metal, and so is the plunger on the retraction mechanism. The tip screws off to refill the ink and sets smoothly to avoid any ridges.
The deal with the InkJoy gel pens is supposed to be really smooth and quick drying – compared to Pilot G2 (which is a lofty goal – G2 is pretty much THE standard). So do they measure up? Actually yes, they do. These pens have good ink reservoirs with rich tints to the ink. The conical tips are smooth and lay down a solid line. The feel is good. The ink does seem to dry quickly – except in my moleskine calendar which has really slick pages. EVERYTHING smears on that.
Finally an InkJoy that DOES bring me joy. I am so glad I’ve spent more money than I probably should on these pens. I actually do love them – a lot. . They’re comparable to other gel pens – running between $5-$6 for the 3-packs – depending on where you get them and if they’re on sale. These are available at most common retailers. I said in my other review that I’ll be getting some more of these. And I have. I’ve bought all the 0.5mm options except the one multi-pack that has the greens in them. But then I have to “justify” the other fashion colors that I don’t really need multiples.
Oh, and I let my Day Job boss use one of the black ones. He fell in instant love with it. We might be buying them for the office in the near future.
To the numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 The ink is decent, and comes in decent point sizes. The retraction mechanism is solid.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – It’s fairly basic retractable pen, but long like a stick pen. The rubberized plastic goes all the way around and up the back of the pen to give a comfortable feel for long-term use.
3. Material – 1 – It’s rubberized and translucent plastic pen. It’s solid for what it is.
4. Overall Design – 1 – It’s an InkJoy that I can get behind. The pen is colorful, comfortable, and solid.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – These run close to $2 a pop which is about on par but seems a touch high. They should be refillable, but I’m not seeing refills for these yet. If they do end up having the refills, then they will be a solid pen for everyday use.
4.5 out of 5 Bronze Pencils
