We were doing a special project that required designing with non-washable markers (otherwise these wouldn’t have been considered). We usually get the classic markers however I noticed that the new markers had some features that were very appealing to me. So I guess you could say I bought these for me, not the kids.

We don’t need a lot of markers because we don’t use them very often. Eight markers in the basic primary colors cover any holiday or occasion. More importantly an eight count is easy to manage. I have to keep a careful count of the markers so my 2-year-old doesn’t use them for graffiti.

The eight colors in this pack include: Hang Ten Red, Blue Wave, Pipeline Green, Sun Ray Yellow, Coral Orange, Gnarly Purple, Sandy Brown, and Black Shades.

I am a fool for marketing and I chose this over others simply because it came with a free storage container. The container is actually a flimsy disposable box with an attached lid but it serves its purpose and is better than nothing.

The markers are very attractive in design. There is an extreme grip where the hand grips it which helps younger children know where to hold the marker and also helps when writing with the marker.

The marker tip is similar to any other Crayola marker and has a rechargeable tip. To recharge the pen, press the tip gently on paper to recharge. Since our markers are new they don’t need much recharging but the ability to re-ink the tips is great especially for large products. We tried coloring a big area with the same color and recharged the tip successfully. We were able to recharge directly on the paper that we were coloring on without getting a blob of ink.

The name Color Wave seems very appropriate for the markers. It seems like more ink comes out with this markers than the classic markers so the colors are more vibrant. It is easy to write large words with the markers and it seems natural especially with the easy grip sides. The words look like they’re in bold. It is more difficult to write small.

There is an ink level gauge in back that is see-through. This gives the pen a new look and also helps the user know if there is enough ink left for their project. The markers are advertised to have twice the amount of ink as the classic Crayola markers.

These are NOT washable markers. They do however come off without much effort. This came off of my kitchen table with all-purpose spray without scrubbing and actually came off easier than crayon does. It washed off of the kid’s skin with hand soap and a little work. Of course both of my daughters got marks on their shirt. I washed them when we were done playing and it came out the first time without treatment. Even with careful supervision the marker did get on the wood kitchen chair and was fairly difficult to get off of.

Stain Advisement: “Keep away from wallpaper, painted walls, finished and unfinished wood, vinyl, carpeting and other materials that cannot be laundered.”

Everyone in our family enjoyed using these markers. My youngest was able to put the lids on and off by herself. My oldest favored the grips and said that it helped him write neater. I also enjoyed playing with them. They didn't seem like kids markers. Really they're just markers but the presentation seems so creative they just scream for you to pick them up and design something great.

If you have kids that are burnt out on markers or a child that has outgrown the typical washable markers then maybe they would be more interested in the design of this marker.

One of the reasons I always hated using markers is because the color would run out before I was finished with my picture however that does not happen with this set of markers thanks to the re-inking tip. The markers also don't fade or leak through to the next page like some markers do.

I would definitely recommend these markers. Everyone in our family loved these markers and we prefer them over classic Crayola markers. They are easy to hold and control therefore make for better masterpieces. The caps are easier to deal with, re-inking works, and the colors are more vibrant. I love using these markers just as much as my kids do. These are about $2 more than classic markers however have twice the amount of ink so should last much longer. I don’t think that you’ll need these in addition to classic markers, but if you’re in the market for a new set Color Wave would be an excellent choice.

General Information
Website: www.crayola.com
Phone: 1-800-CRAYOLA (9AM-4PM EST)
Binney & Smith A Hallmark Company



Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 5.00
Type of Toy: Arts and Crafts
Age Range of Child: 6 to 8 Years