Love writing on paper and on tablet computers?  Then Just Mobile’s AluPen Pro is just what you need.  This aluminum stylus/pen hybrid has a retractable ballpoint pen on one end and a soft rubber nib on the other.  It’s the best of both worlds if you jot notes on classic paper and a modern tablet.  It’s priced at $39.95 direct from Just Mobile.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News, Pocket Gear

Tagged: Pen, Stylus

Just Mobile AluPen Pro is at home on paper or tablet originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 6, 2012 at 3:30 pm.

If you haven’t gone fully digital and still takes notes with a pen, you might be interested in the new A4 Digital pen from APEN. Full press release after the jump. It’s a digitizing pen that does not require a special pad of paper. Just clip the receiver to the top of your notepad and then take your notes, draw sketches, etc with the included ball point pen. The A4 can store up to 100 pages of info. When you’re ready, just plugin the 30 pin connector into your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad and the stored documents will transfer to your device. You can then share the images to Facebook, Flickr and other social media sites. The A4 will also allow you to do real time annotation via a Mac or PC. The APEN A4 is available now for $129.99

E FUN Introduces Apple-Compatible APEN A4 Digital Pen for iPhone and iPad

Note Taking Has Never Been Easier for iPhone and iPad Owners

WEST COVINA, CA, – October 6, 2011 — E FUN, a consumer electronics marketer of fun, lifestyle products, announced the latest APEN Digital Pen – the A4 for iPad and iPhone users. An app-based accessory, the APEN allows users to write freely on any paper or notebook, and have their notes simultaneously sent to their Apple product via 30-pin cable. Valuable notes or drawings are a finger swipe away, safely stored on your iPad or iPhone.

With the A4 Digital Pen, instant digitization of notes with or without a computer saves time and leads to increased productivity for both students and professionals. It is a great solution for anyone looking to quickly complete assignments and collaborate with others.

“Today, more and more students and professionals are on-the-go with an iPad or iPhone. The A4 allows those users to save even more time by instantly digitizing handwritten notes and displaying them on their screens,” said Jason Liszewski, managing director for E FUN. “Within seconds, images are digitized and synced to your iPad or iPhone where they can be shared with friends, family, or coworkers.”

The APEN A4 digital pen’s key features are:
•       Compatible with Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch
•       Digitizes and records handwriting while the unit is not connected to a computer
•       Works on regular paper
•       Records up to 100 pages in the receivers’ memory
•       Photo sketcher for annotating written words or drawings on computer images
•       Share photos on Facebook, Flickr and other social media sites
•       Share handwritten documents and photos via email

The APEN is simple and user-friendly, enabling any user to use as they would a traditional pen. Via a 30-pin cable, you can transfer data to your iPad or iPhone in real time. Handwritten notes and images may then be saved for future use or immediately shared via email or uploaded to social networking sites.

When connected to a computer, APEN allows users to perform real-time computer annotation such as eSignatures within MS Office applications and on digital photos. The APEN A4 Digital Pen supports Microsoft® Windows XP, Microsoft® Vista, Microsoft® 7 and Mac 10.5 above.

For more information on the APEN A4, and a tutorial video, please visit: http://apenusa.com/productdetail.asp?product_id=4

Availability
E FUN APEN’s A4 Digital Pen is available at national retailers in Canada and the U.S.

About APEN Technology
Technology for the APEN product line was developed by Yifang Digital (Shenzhen, China) in cooperation with Pegasus Technologies Ltd from Israel, a fully owned subsidiary of Yifang Digital. Yifang and Pegasus hold together a wide portfolio of patents, which include 27 worldwide granted patents and more than 40 others pending.

About E FUN
As its name implies, E FUN is a designer and marketer of fun, lifestyle e-products that are easily accessible. While appreciated by techies, E FUN products are primarily designed for consumers who desire the latest technological products, but are more concerned with what they do, not how they do it. E FUN’s ongoing product innovation focuses on making electronics and computing more fun! Initial product offerings from E FUN include the APEN digital pen and Nextbook Android tablets. E FUN is headquartered in West Covina, California.

For additional information please visit E FUN at www.E-FUNusa.com, APEN at www.APENusa.com, and Nextbook at www.Nextbookusa.com

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iOS, iPad, iPhone, Pen

E FUN Launches APEN A4 Digital Pen for iPhone and iPad originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 10, 2011 at 10:00 am.

Sherpa Pen Shells are thin covers for popular disposable pens like Sharpie, Uni-Ball, Pilot pen and Accent highlighters. They are available in a variety of styles from online retailers such as Paradise Pen for around $30. The main question that comes to mind is why? Would you buy one of these for your favorite cheap pen, or would you rather spend the $30 on more cheap pens?

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: Pen

Are you embarrassed by your Sharpie? Cover it up with a Sherpa Pen Shell originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 24, 2011 at 4:47 pm.

We’ve seen multi-tools before, but how about a multi-tool that happens to be in the form of a pen? The Smith & Wesson Tactical Survival Pen not only writes like a normal ink pen, but it can break glass and start fires. It’s made of Aircraft Aluminum with a screw off top that exposes a fire striker. You can even replace the cap with a smaller ringed cap, to convert the pen into a keychain sized writing instrument. The Smith & Wesson Tactical Survival Pen is available in several colors and costs less than $29 at Amazon.

Filed in categories: Gear, News, Outdoor Gear

Tagged: Pen

Smith & Wesson Tactical Survival Pen can do more than write originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 24, 2011 at 3:54 pm.

Many of you have commented on my pen reviews, as to who would pay $100+ for a ‘ballpoint’ pen. I still believe in many of these cases that you get what you pay for: a finely machined, ultra-durable writing instrument designed to last a lifetime. That said, I was dancing the Net this morning and came across an announcement regarding Dunhill of London releasing a limited addition pen/pencil: the Sidecar Sketch Pen…..with a staggering price tag of $2350. Even I find that crazy. But if Dunhill would like to send me one to review to let folks know if it is worth that hefty cost, I would be more than willing to .

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: Pen

Ok, who would pay $2k+ for a pen?!?!? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 5, 2011 at 1:05 pm.

Several years ago, I reviewed SureFire’s Pen I & II and still use them today. I typically have one of these pens with me daily. Due to its size and form factor, the SureFire Pen II is my pen of choice to have with me on my travels. They are both rock solid and have aged well, hardly showing any signs of wear or use. SureFire recently sent me one of their new additions, the Pen III. I am looking forward to seeing if the Pen III has what it takes to be my new favorite writing instrument.

Like its siblings, SureFire’s Pen III is constructed of military grade aluminum and stainless steel, coated with a Mil-Spec Type III hard anodized finish, finely machined, and seems to be nearly indestructible. SureFire pens are built to the same (very high) standards as SureFire flashlights and meant to withstand the test of time. All of the Surefire products I have used/reviewed are of made of excellent materials, superb quality and built to last a lifetime.

Specifications

Casing:       Aerospace-grade aluminum body
Colors:        Black or tan
Length:       5.80 inches (14.7 cm)
Weight:       1.70 ounces (48 grams)
Cartridge:   SCHMIDT easyFLOW 9000
Warranty:   Lifetime

Features

• Rugged aerospace aluminum body with Mil-Spec hard-anodized finish
• Heavy-duty stainless steel pocket clip
• Schmidt easyFLOW ink cartridge flows flawlessly
• Ink tip retracts into body, no cap to lose
• Assembled in the U.S.A. with imported ink cartridge

The SureFire Pen III has a stainless steel clip and tip. The pocket clip is extremely strong and rigid. In my original review of the SureFire I & II I state ‘I doubt it could be easily bent without a lot of force‘.

A true enough comment; but sadly while clipped to a side pocket in a pair of Carhartt pants, the pen caught on my seat while I was getting out of my truck. The clip was bent 45 degrees out from its normal position…..I was bummed to say the least. I tried but was not able to bend the clip back to its normal position.  I called SureFire and asked them what it would take to get it repaired (the operator did not know I was reviewing the pen). Without hesitation the operator said they would repair it under warranty. He gave me a RMA number and off it went to be fixed. Approximately three weeks later, I received the pen back good as new. Definitely great customer service experience – living up to their ‘no hassle, lifetime guarantee‘.

SureFire’s Pen III is available in tan/black and the black/silver version you see above. (I grant you this is a personal preference) While the the tan and black looks nice, the black and silver Pen III appears much more professional and business like (who knows, I might have to order SureFire’s new all black Pen IV just for its  stealthy looks ).

Color scheme not withstanding, the Pen III is well sized and weighted…..a great writing instrument. Its contoured shape has a great grip and is nice to hold. I am partial to retractable ink tips as I hate losing pen caps. Schmidt easyFLOW 9000 ink cartridge writes as well as any pen I have ever used.

Bottom line, I love the Pen III’s weight, balance and feel while writing. Like the Pen I & II, its quality and durability are second to none. The overall writing experience is very enjoyable as well. Priced at $115, SureFire’s Pen III is not inexpensive but in this case you are definitely getting what you pay for…..a pen that will last you a lifetime.

Filed in categories: Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Pen

SureFire Pen III Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 25, 2011 at 12:04 pm.

There’s a shared obsession with unique writing instruments here at The Gadgeteer, so it’s sort of a big deal if I can beat my fellow Gadgeteers to posting about a new and different gadgety pen.  Turtle, a new company based out of the UK, has just released their first two contributions to the world of unique pens, the Turtle Work and Turtle Play.

Both pens feature Turtle’s patent-pending SNAPback mechanism, which pulls the entire nub of the pen (or in Turtle’s parlance, the “turtle head”) back into the stainless-steel body simply by pulling the two sections of the body apart.  This same action snaps the nub back into position for writing.

The Turtle Work features professional-looking all-stainless-steel body and your choice of black or white accents, while the Turtle Play adds a rubberized grip and substitutes accents in green or orange.  These pens run roughly $47-$54 depending on the model, and include a storage canister and one of their proprietary ballpoint refills.

I’ll be honest, no matter how cool or unique it is, I don’t know how I feel about dropping $50 on a pen that requires special refills that you can only get from a company that has been around for less than a year.  But maybe that’s just me.

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Pen, Spotlight Gadgets, Writing Instruments

Would you shell out the cash for these Turtle pens? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 31, 2011 at 3:00 pm.

Do you carry a full sized pen in your pocket or gear bag, or do you keep a mini pen on your keychain? If you’re looking for a new mini pen, check out these great looking offerings from Sunshine Products USA. They are available in Titanium, Brass, Aluminum or Stainless Steel with your choice of a Brass, Copper or Aluminum cap that can be attached to a keychain clip. These mini pens use Lamy Pico M22 Refills and are 2 15/16 Inches with the cap and 3 9/16 Inches when extended. The Titanium version will set you back a whopping $225, but the other versions are only $60-$65 depending on the cap type and style.

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: Keychain, Pen

Sunshine Products have Mini Pens back in stock originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 27, 2011 at 11:00 am.

Several years ago, I reviewed the stainless steel BenchMade 1100 pen that I love and continue to use to this day. It is half medieval dagger, half fine writing instrument. The 1100 looks so weapon-like, I am afraid to take it with me through airport security screening; worried that some overeager TSA agent would confiscate it due to its appearance. The BenchMade 1210 pen series looks nothing like a weapon, is made of lightweight aluminum, and is an equally fine writing instrument.

BenchMade is widely known for their high-end knives but have branched out over the years to creating safety products, clothing line, and various types of pens.

As I said, the BenchMade 1210 series pen is made of finely crafted anodized aluminum (CNC Machined 6061 T-6 Aluminum) and weighs one half the weight of the stainless steel 1100 series pen. While I find the heft of the 1100 very solid and feels great to write with, it does become heavy with extended use. I would say just the opposite about the 1210, even though it is longer and fatter than the 1100….it is deceptively light.

The main barrel of the pen has a heavy knurl pattern machined into it, giving the 1210 a nice feel and grip-ability. BenchMade engineered the cap to click securely onto either end of the pen. When not in use, the cap is over the pen end and while you are writing, the cap locks into place over the opposite end.

The stainless pen cap/clip is well made and as tough as the rest of the 1210. The clip is rigid and very strong; it will keep the pen where you clip it.

The 1210 series is available in four configurations: silver body with black or blue ink and/or black body with black or blue ink.

Specifications:

Thickness: 0.58″
Open w/Out Cap: 5.78″
Closed w/ Cap: 6.00″
Weight: 1.30 oz

As you can see, the BenchMade 1210 is the second to largest pen pictured. The SureFire Pen I is longer and heavier than the 1210. But with the cap on the other end, they are comparable in length and width. The 1210 is the second lightest of the five pens pictured above (from left; SureFire Pen II/EWP-02 (1.6 oz), SureFire Pen I/EWP-01 (1.8 oz), BenchMade 1210 (1.3 oz), BenchMade 1100 (3.2 oz), and Mont Blanc (0.8 oz)). But it is the lightest of the four more rugged pens made of aluminum.

The BenchMade 1210 is great to write with. It is not too heavy and is sized nicely for a person with larger hands to comfortably use. Due to its size and capped design, I would not call it the most transportable pen (with my hectic coast-to-coast lifestyle. I am sure I would loose the cap in the first few trips) in my collection but is ideal for desk use or to carry in a suit pocket to a meeting.

BenchMade uses Fisher Space Pen (Fisher Pen Company) cartridges available in blue and black. Here is a quote from the Fisher Space Pen website detailing the ink cartridges impressive design features:

The replaceable Fisher Space Pen refill cartridges are pressurized at nearly 50 pounds per square inch. This means that ink is continuously fed to the tungsten carbide ball, allowing the user to write at any angle and under any condition. Because the Fisher Pens use a pressurized cartridge, there was a need to develop special ink. The Fisher Space Pen uses visco-elastic ink, with a consistency similar to that of very thick rubber cement. The Fisher Space Pen ink flows as a result of the shearing action of the rolling ball in its socket. This shearing action liquefies the solid gel thixotropic ink, allowing the Fisher Space Pen to write smoothly and dependably in a vacuum, at any angle, underwater, over grease, in hot and cold temperatures and even under water.

This is the second pen I have used that contained a Fisher Space Pen cartridge; it writes/flows extremely well. That in conjunction with the 1210′s build and material quality, makes the BenchMade 1210 a very nice pen to write with. That said, this pen is expensive….at $150, it is definitely an extravagance in this day and time. Money aside, the Benchmade 1210 is a very nice writing instrument for those who like larger, lightweight pens.

Filed in categories: Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Pen

BenchMade 1210 Pen Series Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 13, 2011 at 1:03 pm.

Do any of you remember the Johnson Smith Company ads that appeared comic books back in the 70′s? They had tons of cool novelty items that I would drool over, wishing I had money to buy them. I think ThinkGeek is the Johnson Smith Company of the 21st century. These guys always have the most unique stuff that you don’t see everyday. Case in point… The Uzi Tactical Pen. This ball point pen is made of aluminum and accepts Parker and Fisher Space Pen refills. Besides functioning as a pen, it can also protect you from bad guys, with the razor sharp crown at the top. It will definitely leave a mark and as an extra bonus, you can send the harvested DNA to wherever one sends DNA… Oh, you can also use it break glass. Want one? Just head over to ThinkGeek and plunk down $14.99

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: Pen, Spotlight Gadgets

Uzi Tactical Pen with Handy DNA Harvester originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 19, 2011 at 11:01 am.

You have a favorite notebook and you have a favorite pen. How do you keep them together in one place? You could duct tape the pen to the cover of your notebook, which isn’t a very elegant solution, or you can get the Pen Clip from Authentics. It’s a much more elegant pen holder for your Moleskine, Rhodia or similarly bound notebook.

Note: Most of the images in this review can be clicked to see more a larger size with more detail.

The Pen Clip is made of stainless steel and is available in two sizes and two finish styles. The fine people at Connox sent me the larger clip with a brushed matte finish. The clip is also available in a smaller size and a gloss finish.

Although I was sent the larger clip, which is a little longer than 5 inches long, it works just fine with my Moleskine 3.5 x 5.5 inch notebooks and similarly sized A6 Rhodia Webbie notebooks.

The long part of the clip slides into the opening between the spine and pages. On Moleskine and Rhodia notebooks, this area is not glued, so you won’t need to force the Pen Clip. It will easily slide into the open channel.

Another view of inserting the Pen Clip.

Here is the Pen Clip fully inserted. You will notice that the clip hugs the spine. This is what allows it to hold a pen or pencil.

The opening in the clip is mainly for looks.

I experimented with various pen and pencils to see which sizes worked best with the clip.

I found that the classic Bic sized pens with and without caps (if you want to use the cap, just flip the pen around)…

and standard sized pencils work best. Larger barreled pens and pencils will work too, but I wouldn’t recommend really thick ones. The pencil shown above was included with the clip. As you can see, it’s a bit too long for the small Moleskine… I suppose I could cut it off though

Although you can position the writing end of your pen or pencil in either direction. I would suggest (at least for pencils) to orient it with the tip under the clip. It provides good protection that way.

Inserting and removing pens and pencils from the clip doesn’t take much effort. It is a two-handed task to insert the pen though. One hand to lift the clip and the other hand to slide the pen under it. Removing a pen is easier. Just grab it and slide it out from under the clip.

I only found one slight issue with using the Authentics Pen Clip… The spines of Moleskine and Rhodia notebooks are designed to allow them to open flat. You can see that the spine folds when the notebook is fully opened.

But when the Pen Clip is inserted, the curved metal of the clip can restrict the angle at which the book can be opened unless you provide extra pressure when opening it. That said, this is mainly only noticed with brand new books and not really noticed once the book is ‘broken in’. I’ve only tested the Pen Clip with small versions of the Moleskine and Rhodia notebooks, so I don’t know if this is an issue with the larger sizes.

After continued use, I found no evidence that the Pen Clip scratches or otherwise damages the spine.

The Authentics Pen Clip is not bulky, looks cool and is easy to use. It is a unique solution to the common problem of carrying a pen or pencil with your favorite notebook.

What is your preferred method of keeping your favorite writing tool and your notebook together?

Filed in categories: Miscellaneous, Reviews

Tagged: Moleskine, Pen, Pencils, Rhodia

Authentics Moleskine Pen Clip Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 29, 2010 at 4:10 pm.

One of my favorite technology tools, the Livescribe Pen, is getting an upgrade. Livescribe announced the release of the Echo pen. This seems to address almost every criticism I have had for this most useful tool. It comes in a 4 and 8 GB version.

I have liked the Livescribe pen from day one. That doesn’t mean I didn’t have issues with it. Here were my issues:

• Proprietary headphone jack. Since the headphones included additional mics, the connector was not compatible with any other microphones.
• Proprietary docking station. You had to use the included cradle to sync and charge the pen. Out of town, with the cradle left at home? Better hope that charge lasts.
• Perfectly round. This means it has a tendency to roll when put down. Not something you want an expensive pen to do.
• Ugly. Sorry to be shallow, but it is not an attractive pen.
• Not retractable, no pen cap. You needed to use the neoprene case included, or an upgraded leather case.

It’s almost like they heard me talking, They addressed all my issues with this release. You can now use your own headphone with the pen. They still have “3-D” headphones (additional mics to pick up sound) as an option,  but you can plug a standard headphone into the pen. Also, next to the jack, you get a standard micro-USB jack:

I like the new design, I think it looks very slick and modern. The elliptical shape should also keep it from rolling away. Here are some nice vanity shots:

It comes with 2 smartpen caps. I couldn’t find any pictures of these, but I had noticed they came out with caps for my pen as well.

Not only did they upgrade the hardware, but they upgraded the software as well. Even better, the updates are available to those of us with Pulse pens. They include:

• Password Protection for your recorded audio.
• Expanded smartpen and notebook naming.
• Enhanced pencast sharing.
• Pencast player for something called an “iPad” if you have heard of that.
• Easier launch of applications.

I’ll be updating my pen with the new software, and trying to figure out if my Pulse can succumb to some sort of “accident” in the near future. It is a shame these things are so durable.

UPDATE: I forgot to include the link to the Livescribe Blog post with details.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Digitizer, Pen

Livescribe Announces the Echo Pen originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 19, 2010 at 1:20 pm.

Grand Illusions offers a pen with an 8 cm-long stainless steel body and no ink supply.  There’s no need for ink because the pen writes with a soft metal alloy nib that’s been sharpened into a “pencil point” shape.  The metal pen is inspired by Medieval writing implements that also used metal nibs to draw on specially coated paper.  The modern metal pen can write on most common types of paper.  On printer/photocopy paper, the metal pen makes a mark that looks like pencil, but it doesn’t smudge and it is difficult to erase.  Because there is no ink, it never dries out.  If the nib begins to dull, you can sharpen the tip with sandpaper.  The Metal Pen is £13.99 or $20.99 U.S.

Filed in categories: Gear, News

Tagged: Pen, Spotlight Gadgets, Stainless Steel

Metal Pen from Grand Illusions originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 4, 2010 at 9:15 am.

The Zip Pen is a compact 0.5 mm point pen that is worn on the middle finger of your writing hand so you always have a pen ready while you type on your computer, read your mail or are on the phone. They can be found at Office Depot for $2.99.

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Pen, Spotlight Gadgets, Writing Instruments

Freeform Zip Pen – wearable ink pen originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 1, 2009 at 7:03 pm.

To be honest, before I reviewed the KROMA and U2 Ultra LED Flashlights I had never heard of SureFire. But after using several of their extremely well made flashlights, I have come to further realize that (99% of the time) you get what you pay for. Last year SureFire introduced their first Pen, the EWP-01, and have recently released a second, the EWP-02. Both are constructed of military grade aluminum and stainless steel, coated with a Mil-Spec Type III hard anodized finish, are finely machined, and seem to be nearly indestructible. Point blank, these SureFire pens are built to the same (very high) standards as SureFire flashlights and meant to last a lifetime.

The SureFire Pen I (EWP-01)

SureFire’s first pen is big and heavy….but in a good way. At over six inches long and weighing nearly two ounces, it is one of the largest pens I have ever used. And while its not the most transportable pen out there it gives you a very enjoyable writing experience, can break glass, and potentially could be used as a weapon, if you are in a pinch.

Hardware Specifications

Features

• Rugged aerospace-grade aluminum body
• Aluminum body hard anodized to military specifications
• Virtually indestructible pocket clip with SureFire logo
• Smooth, tough window breaker tailcap for emergency use
• Schmidt ink cartridge flows effortlessly
• Pen adjusts to accept most ink cartridges
• Ink tip retracts into body; no cap to lose
• Made in the U.S.A. with imported ink cartridge

The pen’s pocket clip is made of stainless steel and is extremely rigid. I doubt it could be easily bent without a lot of force. The clip does a great job holding the pen in my computer bag and pockets.

What makes SureFire’s Pen I unique is its hardened stainless steel tailcap tip. This tip can break tempered glass….pretty cool. Remember the MythBuster episode where Adam was pretending to be trapped in a vehicle that was sinking underwater and he had to do his best to escape. Well, with this pen you could easily escape a watery grave by using the tip to shatter the car window and swim to safety.

The SureFire includes a Schmidt easyFLOW 9000 high-performance ink cartridge, that writes very nicely. But this pen can use almost any ink cartridge with a simple adjustment of the set screw located within the upper barrel (nice engineering if you ask me).

The SureFire Pen II (EWP-02)

SureFire’s second pen is engineered and machined with the same precision as their first. And while the EWP-02 is only one inch shorter and 0.2 ounces lighter, it feels much more petite and pocketable than the EWP-01. The only criticism of the EWP-02 that I have is the relatively large ‘SUREFIRE’ logo stamped into both sides of the pen. If it were me, I would have used a similar clip design as to the EWP-01. Where the logo is much more stealth and the pen itself has a cleaner look.

Hardware Specifications

Features

• Rugged aerospace-grade aluminum body
• Aluminum body hard anodized to military specifications
• Virtually indestructible pocket clip
• Schmidt ink cartridge flows effortlessly
• Ink tip retracts into body; no cap to lose
• Made in the U.S.A. with imported ink cartridge

The feature I like much better in the EWP-02 than the EWP-01, is that the tip retracts via the push button clicker on top versus the screw in and out of the the EWP-01. But then the EWP-01 would not have its very cool, glass breaking tip then

The EWP-02′s stainless steel pocket clip is just as strong and rigid as it’s big brothers. Definitely holds the pen in place.

I like the weight and feel of both of these pens. They are great to write with, but as I said before, the EWP-01 is not the most transportable thing in the world. I keep the EWP-01 on my desk most of the time and actually prefer to keep the EWP-02 with me in my pocket during my day/travels.

I received a Mont Blanc pen for my 40th birthday and while it is a very nice pen, it pales in comparison to either of these by SureFire. My Mont Blanc pen is made of a black resin (feels like plastic to me….) with platinum highlights. To me, the pen is too light, fragile, and has to be babied/protected all the time.

For the most part, I lead a very crazy, hectic life that includes fieldwork for my day job and many, many construction (home improvement) projects at home. The Mont Blanc pen rarely accompanies me into any situation that might put it at risk. The SureFire pens on the other hand, are the exact opposite of the dainty, less than durable Mont Blanc. Both are engineered to go into the thick of battle and come out unscathed.

I have to admit I was very much looking forward to trying out the SureFire Pen I, for its ability to break glass if nothing else. After playing with it a bit, I came to realize just how big the SureFire’s first pen really is. Added to the fact that I do not need to break glass very often, I carry the SureFire Pen II many times more often that its older, big brother. But that is truly a preference thing, either pen are very well made and great to write with…..it really comes down to what you are looking for.

I know $90 or $125 dollars is a great deal to spend on a pen (especially in these days and times). But I look at it this way, my Mont Blanc was 2-3 times the cost of these pens and I find either one of the SureFire pens equally good for writing and countless times more rugged and able to withstand the riggers of a rough and hectic lifestyle. Those factors in addition to SureFire’s lifetime warranty make the SureFire pens a great value for an incredibly well made, nearly indestructible writing instrument.

Filed in categories: Gear

Tagged: Pen, SureFire

SureFire’s (Nearly Indestructible) Pens Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 15, 2009 at 1:00 am.

The HawkPen is a regular ink pen, but it also has a 3x LED lighted magnifier built into the barrel.

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Pen, Spotlight Gadgets, Writing Instruments

HawkPen Lighted Magnifier Ink Pen originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 25, 2009 at 10:03 am.

SureFire is normally known for their high quality flashlights, but they also offer a nice looking pen. It has a hard-anodized aerospace-grade aluminum body with a stainless steel clip and tip. It uses Schmidt® Technology easyFLOW 9000 ink cartridges. The Blue version looks pretty snazzy, but the $90 price tag knocks it out of the impulse buy realm for most people.

Filed in categories: Uncategorized

Tagged: Pen, Spotlight Gadgets, SureFire

SureFire Pen II originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 24, 2009 at 4:19 pm.