[Pen/Pencil Review] BIC 3 Color Pen Plus Pencil
I’ve been quite vocal about my love of fine point pens and pencil. I’m still NOT a fan of the default 1.0mm ballpoints and 0.7mm pencils are okay but… However… sometimes you gotta try stuff when it looks interesting. This 
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. Last year I talked about the one with the touchscreen stylus (which I still use quite a bit with the fine point refills put into them)>
Well, they did another design change. This one has a 0.7mm retractable mechanical pencil in place of the green ink. So this one is red, blue, black and pencil. Where the others have the stylus or the white nubs, this one has a white eraser under a clear cap The points have gotten bigger but the barrel doesn’t seem that much wider, so yay? This one has a cool white barrel with a gray grip and a translucent mid-barrel and tip. 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. The eraser and cap seem secure. The ink is typical ballpoint – there’s a bit of smearing with the darker colors if it doesn’t sit for a second. The pencil works well. I’m sure it’s easy to put more lead into the mechanism, but I haven’t had to do that yet.
The Numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 It works. It wrote right out of the package in all three colors and the pencil works well.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – It’s a, plastic, no frills pen. It’s hard plastic. The gray grip is more decorative than ergonomic. But it is smooth with no ridges to dig in. It’s got a few nods.
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 -You know, I like this design for the fact I use the pencil option a lot more than I ever do green ballpoint ink. The classic three colors are solid and useful. Having kind of an all-in-one office pen is kind of nice..
5. Price Point – 0.5 – It’s $4.99 at Target which may seem expensive at first glance, but it will go on sale occasionally and that’s really just $1.25 per color/pencil – which isn’t bad when you take it all in. But in all in one go – you might think twice. If you know where to look online, you can get refills.
4 out of 5 Bronze Pencils
