[Pen/Pencil Review] Staples Tru Red Retractable 0.5mm Assorted Colors
Before FenCon, there was an unexpected trip to Staples – because it was a convenient side trip. I picked up a couple of things on sale. One was a 5-pack of their new line Tru Red ™ retractable gel pens. I had to try them, because I am me.
I bought this package because I was in a colorful mood and the “assorted colors†seemed dark considering there was some “light†ink them. These come in Red, Teal, Purple, Orange, Lime Green. The ink is richly pigmented and flows well from the tip – especially with the lighter colors. The gel ink is quick drying – there will always be a few seconds where you can smear it on slick paper, but that’s almost all gel inks. The point is a sturdy conical. It’s also acid-free, which is kind of the norm now, but still a selling point for those who scrapbook. That’s still a thing, right?
The pen is about 5.75″ long, which is slightly longer than typical, and has a decent retraction mechanism. It’s light but well-balanced. The pen is all plastic, but the plunger and clip don’t feel like they will snap off. The barrel is a simple, rubberized single unit. The rubberized barrel is a decent diameter and comfortable on the fingers. There is an ability to refill it, with it tip being where it detaches and refills, but the joins are smooth and there is nothing to dig in.
This is a good workhorse pen that has a decent price point, so if it’s stolen off a desk, it’s no big loss. It’s refillable so you can use them a good long time. If you can find the colors in a refill, that might be an issue. These run about $6.50 for the 5 pens. There are also blue and black versions as well as stick pen versions. These are Staples new “house brandâ€, so if you need bulk, you can also get them in boxes of a dozen.
The Numbers.
1. How does it work? – 1 – This is a solid working pen. The ink is well-pigmented. The point is a solid conical.
2. Look and feel – 1 – It’s a basic retractable pen. There’s a nod to ergonomics with the rubberized barrel, but no extra grip. The clip is plastic.
3. Material – 1 – It’s all plastic all the time. It is what it is, but the colors are pretty.
4. Overall Design – 1 – It’s functional. It’s a slightly longer than average length retractable pen with a decent point and ink.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – If it becomes refillable it’s a steal. Right now, it’s just a pen. They’re running $1.30-ish. And the 0.7mm are about 50¢ LESS, which is distressing. It’s one of the first times I’ve seen point sizes being different prices.
4.5 out of 5 bronze pencils.
