For Starters:
.....I will admit that I'm not the kind of person to use pencils when possible not to. I have favored pens for a while and tend to use them even when instructed not to. But what do I do when it comes time to do a long test in AP Biology, a class in which we do tests on those bubble Scantron sheets? Well, I can't choose to use a pen this time. One day I went to the school store to see if I could purchase some type of mechanical pencil to use as opposed to the wooden ones that were free. As it turns out, all they had were the Bicmatic Grip Pencils available. They were only fifty cents, so I bought one. This is double than what you'd pay for ones at Wal-Mart or Staples, but it's school and they can rip you off.
.....I do not like wooden pencils at all, for many reasons. This is why I choose mechanical pencils when I have a choice. Wooden pencils have to be sharpened periodically and make a lot of noise during a test when sharpening it, not to mention the mess. Over time, also, the get shorter. When you have a wooden pencil, you get the nag to chew it, whereas, with the BicMatic, you don't. And the overall reason for me not liking them is because of that nails-on-the-chalkboard-feeling you sometimes get when the lead isn't sharpened right. (Just imagine scraping your nails on a chalkboard)

From Head To Toe:
…..For the most part, it looks like most any other mechanical pencil of the sort. The body and tip are one piece with a tube down the center that pops out at the top. This whole part is black on all the colors. At the top, the eraser sits in its nest, protecting the lead inside from falling out. The color of the pencil is determined by the grip part. Then there is the pocket clip, something that is never used for its purpose but has to be there anyway for looks. The pocket clip and the grip are the only parts that aren't black, but are both the same color.
…..The pencil itself is not much wider than an average wooden pencil.

The 'raser:
…..If there just possibly, by some odd chance, had to be a con to this product, it would most definitely have to be that darn eraser. My only problem with this pencil is that the eraser is too small and sits far to deep in its well. More of the eraser is down in the hole and cannot be used once it comes flush with the pencil. Also, you need that little hole in which to add lead when you're out. Even though these pencils are cheap and meant to be disposable, I am an even more cheap person and I hang onto these little items as long as humanly possible (I'd keep it even if it were mostly covered in duct tape after five years). Therefore, it is necessary to be able to get the eraser out of the hole when the time comes to refill the unit. When the eraser is gone to that point, you can't get it out without some type of tool. In other, non-disposable pencils, you can pull the eraser out with its cartridge to change it. But I guess that’s why they're disposable.
…..One problem I find with mechanical pencils of this sort is that when you go to erase something, you tend to pump more lead out by clicking it. Some mechanical pencils, more expensive models, have the clicker on the side of the pencil. This keeps you from pushing out lead when erasing. But those pencils also have their flaws: I have the tendency to click them more while writing, which is more of a hassle. So I like these pencils the way they are.

Colors:
…..The Bic Grip Pencils come in several colors. I'm not sure of all the colors, but I do know that there are at least six: red, yellow, green, blue, purple, and black. These are the colors I have witnessed and am not sure as to any others. The color of the pencil is shown on the pencil grip as well as the pocket clip, already mentioned.

On The Paper:
…..I was starting to forget the part about how it writes, the most important part. Lol. I just need to stop dragging these things out.
…..Writing is what separates the mechanical from the not-so-mechanical wooden things. With the comfort grip you get a comfortable hold for writing notes during Dr. Deshpande's 90-minute sessions on science stuff. You don't want to stop with a hand cramp halfway through it (not with her tests anyway). When you need more lead, simply click the eraser and you're ready to go while there's a line of people at the pencil sharpener. Writing with it is nice and smooth, regardless the size lead used. There is almost no feel whatsoever when using it, making it feel as if you're holding nothing (sometimes I'd look down to see if there's anything in my hand after a while). They also do very well on those fill-in-the-bubble sheets that we do tests on. With a constant fine tip, the bubbles are simple to fill in.

The Final Factor:
…..In the end, the Bicmatic Grip pencils pull through in first place. They are easy to use, come in a suitable array of colors, are refillable, and just straight-out beat the wooden sticks. They are cheap enough to fit anyone's budget, even us Pennsylvanians that live on duct tape for a living. At about a quarter per unit, you can't put them by without even trying them. You may even like them enough to throw those expensive ones away. Well, all's well that ends well.


Recommended: Yes