Crayola once again breaks new ground with their Superfine Writing Markers. So why is this product ‘so great’? Well, the colors are exceptional, the tips last forever and they are washable. If those features weren’t enough to get you curious – how about the fact that they are great for adults as well as kids, don’t bleed though the paper and have snap on lids that make it almost impossible for the ink to dry out. I think it’s safe to say that these are as close to perfect as a fine line marker can get.

Basics

Crayola took their basic marker and made it better. While regular markers of all shapes and sizes are great for kids to color with – this set gives them more control. The ability to make more detailed drawings, add color to outlines or presentations and are the perfect size for backpacks or long road trips. When I saw these at Wal-mart before Christmas I almost immediately knew that they would be a huge hit with my boys. They aren’t the regular ‘coloring books’ kids and prefer to draw their own things – most of them detailed and intricate. Things you just can’t draw with regular markers.

The tips on these are extremely strong – so strong that I wrote out over 100 Christmas cards, envelopes and notes – and they are still going strong. I do think the term ‘super fine’ is a bit of a stretch – especially when you compare them to Sharpie’s super fine markers. But you have to remember, the Crayola super fine are washable and the Sharpie super fine are permanent markers that to tend to bleed on some types of paper.

The colors included in this set are red, blue, black, purple and orange. To date I have not seen a larger set of these with more colors – but Crayola is always expanding and releasing new products. I do not suggest trying to blend these colors since the tip will pick up the other color and essentially ruin the hue of the marker. I learned this the hard way :]

The markers are packaged in a thick yet soft plastic case. I haven't had any trouble with the sides splitting from opening and closing them but I can see how kids could destroy the case in about a month.

I really can’t say enough about the tips on these – they must be made of some foreign material. My kids are rough on school supplies. If they find something they like they will literally use it until it is dead. They have had these since Christmas and use them often. The tips are still sharp – not a single sign of denting, and the colors are still as vibrant as the day they started using them.

Perfect Size & Shape

One of the first things you will notice about these markers is the shape. They are a little fatter than the regular Crayola markers, but much thinner than the chunky style. As I said, I wrote out a tremendous amount of cards this past holiday season and this was the perfect size to avoid hand cramps. My boys love this size marker as well – it’s perfect for their hands and when they want to do school work in something other than a pen or pencil – this is what they choose.

The cap is nice as well – beside the fact that it snaps closed – there is a clip on it. This helps to keep them in the soft plastic case for storage. It’s also nice for the boys to have this cap when we are traveling, they can clip them on their notebooks so they won’t get lost. When the marker is in use, the cap fits snuggly on the back end of the marker – almost ensuring that it won’t get lost.

Is It Really Washable?

I managed to get the purple and blue on a white cotton t-shirt a few weeks ago. Besides red, I think these are two of the hardest colors to get out of clothing. I followed the instruction on the package and after two washes my shirt was completely clean. For those interested – Crayola states on the package “Wash promptly in hot wash cycle. Do not use pre-wash or chlorine bleach. Repeat laundering may be required.” I think that two wash cycles is more than fair – so yes – the Superfine Writing Markers are indeed washable.

If you are having trouble getting these markers – or any Crayola product for that matter – off of a surface – you may want to go to the website for their suggestions. They have almost every product listed and you can choose from a variety of different surfaces to choose from. http://www.crayola.com/canwehelp/staintips/stain.cfm

The Smart Marker

All in all, these are awesome markers. I have used them for scrap booking, writing notes and letters, general doodling and for drawing borders on pictures. My kids have taken this to a whole never level. They used the green and black markers to draw on Lego bricks to make a camouflage design – I thought the ink would rub off but they used my old trick [clean nail polish] to preserve the design. They had tried this in the past with Sharpie markers but the ink wouldn’t hold.

These would be a great gift for any child over the age of five. Younger kids seem to really like the chunky markers and it might take them forever to draw a picture or color one in with these. These are also great for adults that do scrap booking, arts and crafts or any type of design work.

Another great things about the Superfine Writing Markers is that they are non-toxic. Some of you may remember a review I wrote a while back on skin allergies and how my son broke out from a laundry detergent and almost landed me in a mental facility. Ever since then I have had to be careful about the art supplies [markers, paints etc] that he comes in contact with – especially if it will be something that might be on his skin for a while. After having this on his skin for about 90 minutes while drawing he showed no signs of breaking out or a rash when it was washed off.

So for less than $2.00 [$1.97 to be exact] you can be the proud new owner of one of the best set of advanced markers. I have been using this set for over a month now and they are still working perfectly, the ink is still flowing and the tips show no signs of wear. Try that with any other fine line or super fine marker and see how long it lasts!

Bottom Line

I am more than pleased with the Superfine Writing Markers. When compared to others markers like this – it stands out and gets my highest award – two, big, freaky, monstrous thumbs up. If your child is ready to move out of the chunky or regular marker realm I highly suggest that this be the first product you introduce to them. The Crayola name and seal of quality is something I have grown to trust with my childs creativity as well as their safety. Give these a try and I am sure you won’t be disappointed!


As always, thanks for the visit …

~^V^~ Freak ~^V^~

© 2004 Freak369


Other Crayola product reviews …

• Big MiniStampers • Doodle Pad • Watercolor Pencils • Art & Craft Brushes – 8 Count • Create-A-Kid • Collecting Keepsakes • Halloween Treat Pack • Halloween Boo Bucket • Washable Water Colors – 8 Color • Pencil Pouch • Crayola Crayons – 24 Count • Metallic Crayons • Superfine Markers – 5 Count • Gel FX Washable Markers • Tub of Fun • Crayola Sketch Pad • Point Tip Scissors • Sidewalk Chalk – Chicks & Eggs • Art & Craft Brushes – 4 Count • Twistables – 16 Count • Stack-N-Store Art Tower • Washable Water Colors – 24 Color • Sidewalk Chalk – Animal Assortment • Crayola Lap Desk • Click ‘Em On Washable Markers • Washable Markers – 16 Count • Alphabet & Number Pad • Blunt Tip Scissors • Spinning Desk Top Organizer • Crayola Online Store •








Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): $1.97
Type of Toy: Arts and Crafts
Age Range of Child: Whole Family