[Pen and Pencil Review] Zebra PM 701 Stainless Steel Marker
This week’s review is a variation of a previous (and a different manufacturer) post. Several years ago I posted about the Stainless Steel Sharpies. From that post:
A quick note about the Stainless Steel Sharpies – they may cost more initially than regular Sharpies, but they’re worth it. 1. They’re refillable, so you’re only investing in refills. 2. They’re a lot less likely to “wander” because they are quite noticeable. I tell stories about how many Sharpie markers I had go on tour with musicians because they were “permanently borrowed”. That doesn’t happen (yet) with the Stainless Steel ones.
This post is the brand new Zebra PM 701 Stainless Steel permanent marker…They’re porous point – but this one seems pretty durable, for what it is. The refill is one solid piece of work with a seemingly large ink reserve. The ink flows smoothly, doesn’t feather, skip, or bleed (as promised on packaging). The barrel is well constructed and balanced. The ridge where the refill meets the barrel is far enough back on grip to only be occasionally in the way or annoying. The Zebra PM 701s differ from the Sharpies in that they come in four colors – black, blue, red, and green. The color is marked at the base of the refill and a band on the barrel.
The Stainless Steel pens are NOT retractable. They have a cap and are just over 5.5″ capped. They’re about 6.5″ long with the cap posted. And here’s the thing, though the cap posts securely – I was bored and shook it to make sure, it doesn’t fly off – the cap doesn’t “lock” so it can LOOK wobbly and off center when posted. It doesn’t affect balance or feel, but it looks weird. But I LOVE the length and heft. This pen feels good in my hand. The clip is solid and metal. That won’t come off or break any time soon.
I tested the ink – it’s rich, bright, and smooth. There’s little feathering on porous paper and very little bleed through. The ink is alcohol based to dry quickly and certified non-toxic The packaging says you can leave the cap off for five (5) days without the ink drying out. Yeah, I’m not going to test that. These pens run $7.99 on the Zebra website. I haven’t found them in the wild just yet. The refills are $2.85 a 1 pack – I’m not going to risk that kind of money on a test just yet.
The Sharpies are no longer made – which makes me sad because I did like them. I hope these stick around a while. And if you have any of those refills hanging around, they don’t fit the Zebra barrel. The Zebras are a touch longer and have different threading.
Sharpie refill on top.
Zebra on bottom.
Grading:
1. How does it write? – 1 – for a porous point. It performs well. Smooth flow, lives up to promise.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – the only nod to ergonomics is the grip shape. There’s no cushion. Good diameter though. But it’s not bad though. Feels pretty good and solid in the hand.
3. Material – 1 – solid design and craftsmanship. We’ve had the first fine points for a while and the stainless has held up well to purse and bag battering without scratching or tarnish. The refills are a solid piece and don’t leak.
4. Overall Design – .5 – the ridge where the refill meets the barrel does SOMETIMES get in the way and dig into the thumb webbing.
5. Price Point – .5 – the initial outlay can be a bit pricey. The initial cost is $7.99 on the web site, and they’re not in wide release just yet. The refills tend to run about $2.85. It’s not outrageous, but something to consider.
Overall – 4 Bronze Pencils out of 5.
