Writing in Black – A Pen I Did Not Expect to Like
Written: Oct 19 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: rubberized grip, ergonomic, smooth flowing dark ink, pocket clip that grasps well
Cons: advertised as having a triangular grip – yet this pen rolls
The Bottom Line: An above average pen that exceeded my expectations. Even the Bottom Line is surprised at this pens performance.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Paper Mate Comfortmate Pens Comfortmate Ball Pen M... |
When I pulled the PaperMate ComfortMate black pen out of the supply closet at work, I had my doubts. It felt like an ordinary stick pen and looked plain ... utilitarian. Who knew this ugly duckling would become a swan?
Description
This pen measures 5 3/4" long. The entire pen (barrel and cap) are the color of the ink. In this case a nice rich black color. Looking at the pen, the surface looks like it would be hard plastic. Yet touching the pen, the barrel has a rubberized grip. It is not a squishy cushioned grip, but a hard rubberized grip that is surprisingly comfortable to hold.
Constructed of hard plastic (not rubberized), the pen cap has a nice shape with a rounded end. The black color of the pen cap and the barrel match so well that they appear constructed of the same material. The cap measures 1 3/4" long and has a stiff plastic pocket clip. When not in use, the cap is designed to fit snugly on the end of the pen.
The tip of the pen is gold with a nice point. The pen is not refillable and comes in medium and fine ink. If black is not your color, this pen is also available in blue and red.
My Experiences
I have used stick pens with varying results, so I didn’t hold out much hope for the PaperMate ComfortMate pen. It’s great being surprised. The more I use this pen, the more I like it.
Though the barrel has no noticeable “give”, the rubberized grip offers a comfortable hold. Fingers stay in place on the barrel. I can use this pen for long periods of writing and my hand is happy. This pen has been advertised as having a triangular barrel for an ergonomic grip. While the barrel is not completely round, I would not describe it as triangular. No way does this barrel resemble a triangle. As a test, I removed the pen cap ... and sure enough, the pen rolled across the desk. Unless basic geometry fails me, triangles do not roll.
This pen has a barrel width of just over a 1/4". I prefer a slightly wider barrel for a truly comfortable grip. However, the more I use this pen, the more comfortable it feels. This is a unique experience for me. Either I like a pen, or I don’t – it’s unusual to find a pen that I like the more I use it. I tend to grip a pen with force, too, and this pen is easy on my hand. Not 100% perfect for my personal comfort zone, but it is a very nice pen.
The PaperMate ComfortMate also writes well. The medium-point black ink is dark and flows easily from the pen. The ink is PaperMate’s Lubriglide formula, and like their promise, the ink does not blotch or smear. On the rare occasion, there might a spot where the ink skipped in writing ... but this has not happened often. I have also used the blue-ink ComfortMate pen with the same results.
Another nice feature is that the cap is a snug fit on the end of the pen so that it does not pop off during writing. Also, the pocket clasp is constructed of sturdy plastic. When pulled away from the pen cap, the clip retains its shape and snaps back into position. This pen will clip to a single piece of 20-pound copier paper and hold its position.
Purchasing
Staples sells a dozen of the PaperMate ComfortMate pens for $4.29. OfficeDepot offers a dozen pens for $4.08. I have also seen these pens for sale online in either 5-packs of solid colors (either all black or all blue pens) or for sale individually. Buying the pens individually costs twice as much than buying them by the dozen.
Summary
I like using the PaperMate ComfortMate stick pens and am still surprised that I do. Looks can be deceiving! Right now, this is the pen of choice on my desk. If we had RSVP pens at work, that would be my first preference ... but this pen writes well and feels good in my hand. Whatever helps me plow through the paperwork on my desk, works for me!
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Sanford (USA)
Toll-free Phone # 800-323-0749
Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CST
Sanford (CANADA)
Toll-free Phone # 800-668-4575 x242
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST
Please read my other reviews.
Pentel RSVP Pens
PaperMate FlexGrip Ultra Ballpoint Retractable Pens
EraserMate Pen
Bic Round Stic Grip Pens
Sharpie Permanent Marker
Sanford Twin-Tip Permanent Marker
Avery Marks-A-Lot Permanent Marker
Flair Felt-tip Marker
Avery Pen-Style Highlighters
Sanford Peel-Off China Markers
Tombow White Correction Tape
Liquid Paper Dryline Grip Correction Tape
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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