[Pen/Pencil Review] The rOtring Skynn Ballpoint Pen in Red

My first blog post on the new computer. Yay! I’m liking the feel of the computer, which segues into this week’s pen review. The rOtring Skynn ball point pen. I’ve used some of the rOtring pencils before – they’re a favorite of Jimmy’s, but this one was different – and I was looking for an inexpensive and different pen to add to an Amazon order. This one popped up.

Since I can only find it online through Amazon and a handful of other retailers like Overstock – I think it’s been discontinued item. This one has an ergonomic design with a wider, squishy rubber grip. I picked up the red barrel pen with silver accents. The barrel has the Skynn name etched into the plastic. The heavy plastic grip wraps the whole barrel and seems very sturdy. The emblem is pressed into the edges of the clip. The signature rOtring ring blends into the red of the barrel. The clip wrap also hides the break in the barrel that lets you replace the ink, to give the design a clean, fluid design.

The Skynn is 5.25” long with the tip retracted and just over 5.5” long with the tip extended. The pen comes with a rOtring Jumbo Mine Giant blue ball point refill. This is Parker-style refill that can be replaced. This is a medium point – which is somewhere around a 1.0mm. Not my favorite – I do see myself writing larger with it, but it doesn’t feel as bulky as some 1.0mm (so it might be closer to a 0.8mm – but doubt it’s thicker than a 0.7mm). The ink is solid and smooth with a good line.

The grip is… different. It’s more bulbous than most ergonomic grips. The squishy rubber takes a bit of getting used to. It’s wider than I’m used to but not necessarily uncomfortably so. I have noticed the rubber collects dirt and grunge. That could be an issue.

The price points are good. The retraction mechanism is solid. The metal cone from the grip to the point is solid and clean. It’s an overall good pen, especially for the economical price – while you can get them if they’re really a discontinued line. Which is what it looks like.

The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 It’s decent. Has a good length and solid mechanism with good ink.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – The extra squishy ergonomic grip is a bit wider than I like, and the feel of the grip takes a little bit to get used to – and it collects dirt. But it’s a solid pen with a decent feel beyond that.
3. Material – 1 It’s solid. A well-made metal and plastic mix with a huge nod to ergonomics. Nothing feels cheap or easily breakable.
4. Overall Design – 0.5 – Plastic and metal retractable pen is what it is. It’s a solid pen, but the ability for the grip to attract dirt and grit – as well as the squishy feel isn’t for everyone. A friend called it ‘sticky’. That’s going to be a personal determination.
5. Price Point – 1 – It does appear to be a close out. According to Amazon the original retail was $25, but they’re selling them between $4 and $7 depending on what website and color you order – for some reason the blue ones are more expensive.

4.0 out of 5 Bronze Pencils

Tags: ball point pen, Ballpoint, Blue Ink, ergonomic grip, review, Rotring