[Pen/Pencil Review] BIC 4-Color Pen + Stylus
I know I’ve complained loudly about pen manufactures (BIC and Papermate, I’m looking at you) defaulting to larger and larger ballpoint sizes. I’ve been quite vocal about my love of fine points. I’m still NOT a fan of the default 1.0mm ballpoints. However… sometimes you gotta try stuff when it looks interesting. This looked interesting.
Yesterday I picked up a BIC 4 Color + Stylus pen. The BIC 4 color pens have been around for DECADES. I remember getting them mumblety mumblety years ago in school. Little has changed in the BIC 4 color pens. The basic ones all come with red, black, blue, and green ink – the “fashion†ones in some combo of pastels. The barrels might have some different colors, but you knew what you were getting all those years.
Well, they did another design change. This one now has a stylus on the top instead of the typical plastic nub. This is a value add to this pen that hasn’t seen much of a value add in those mumblety mumblety years. The points have gotten bigger but the barrel doesn’t seem that much wider, so yay? This one has a cool black barrel with a lime green grip. There’s seems to be an attempt at ergonomics but that’s all.
Everything about the pen is functional. It’s not so wide that it’s uncomfortable. The length is good at about 6†long (a touch longer with the point extended). The clip is molded plastic but solid and the stylus works on both my phone and iPad. The ink is typical ballpoint – there’s a bit of smearing with the darker colors if it doesn’t sit for a second. The green ink is still the weakest link, but it’s hard to find a green ballpoint ink that is dark and rich like the other primary colors.
The Numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 It works. It wrote right out of the package in all four colors and the stylus is functional
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – It’s a, plastic, no frills pen. It’s hard plastic. The green grip is more decorative than ergonomic. But it is smooth with no ridges to dig in.
3. Material – 1 For an inexpensive plastic pen, it’s solidly built. The cap and barrel are secure. The logo doesn’t wear off easily.
4. Overall Design – 1 -It’s a classic BIC4-color pen that hasn’t changed in decades. Except for the stylus. The stylus is a value add, even if you have to flip it to use it, running the risk of marking on yourself if a tip is extended. Something needs to give in green ink.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – I’ve only seen this at Staples – and down with the specialty pens. It’s running $6 there – which isn’t BAD for four colors and a stylus, but it’s also not the world’s most economical pen. But it’s still worth checking out – especially for economy of space.
4 out of 5 Bronze Pencils
