Looking for a fine writing instrument to last you a lifetime? Bastion’s titanium bolt-action pen is a beautifully made and virtually indestructible one that’s well balanced, writes super smoothly with no skips, and is weighty without being excessively heavy.

This is a writing tool that is just as luxurious as it is practical, with exceptional fit and finish that elevates your daily writing experience. Just as an example of what I mean: Because of how precisely this pen’s metal body is milled, it appears virtually seamless until you go to unscrew the tip. And, the heft is just enough to force you to slow down a bit and write better.

Of course, the bolt-action mechanism is enjoyable to engage/disengage whenever you have the urge to fidget, thanks to the buttery smooth operation and a rather solid, reliable feel to its construction.

You can get the titanium gray pen for $76 on Amazon. They have quite a few other metal/color options as well, with widely varying prices:

• Polished titanium ($70)
• Black titanium ($76)
• Stainless steel ($54)
• Black stainless steel ($54)
• Carbon fiber ($60)
• Stainless steel + carbon fiber ($54)
• Aluminum (various colors) ($40)
• Zirconium black ($255)

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If you’ve already got a levitating moon lamp and some floating bookshelves in your office to create a physics-defying atmosphere, consider adding the Novium Hoverpen 2.0 to your workspace as well.

When not in use, this aircraft-grade aluminum pen rests within the ring of magnetic repulsion generated by its zinc-alloy pedestal stand, suspended at a 23.5° angle as if by magic. ️

Pictured here is the Mars Magma colorway.

Not only will this be an impossible-to-ignore centerpiece of your desk space, it’s also a cool fidget toy that spins freely for about 20 seconds if you need a break from the task you’re working on. The magnetic cap that snaps itself into place from a short distance can be considered a secondary fidget mechanism.

…and here is the Neptune Blue.

The Hoverpen accepts any D1 size ink refill — two Schmidt ones are included to get you started — and it comes with a small tweezer-like pincer ring tool that makes it easy to slide out the old cartridge so you can slide another in. {Insert John Wick reload sound effect here}

Get the Novium Hoverpen 2.0 for $99 on Amazon in your choice of Space Black, Mars Magma (my favorite), Neptune Blue, or Starlight Silver.

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Bright orange has long been a favorite color of mine. There’s just something about it that feels electric to me, and I know I’m not alone because people often associate it with feelings of warmth, energy, and positivity.

It’s also known for its ability to stand out in a crowd, drawing the eye to it like a magnet. In fact, it’s a color choice you kind of have to be careful not to go overboard with, even if you’re hoping to be noticed. Instead, it’s best to use orange accessories to accent other things you wear/carry.

To that end, this edition of the Caran d’Ache 849 ballpoint pen is an attractively bold option that’s conspicuous in the best way. That lacquered ‘fluorescent orange’ color makes it nigh-impossible to misplace or lose in a bag, and like its siblings, it sports the classic slim hexagonal barrel and signature pocket clip that’s always made the 849 such a distinctive writing utensil.

You can get this audaciously orange pen for $22 on Amazon. It comes loaded with one of Caran d’Ache’s own Goliath M Blue ink cartridges.

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The holiday gift-giving season is nearing, and if you’re on the lookout for great stocking stuffer ideas for your dad or any handyperson, the Multi-Tool Pen Set sold by the clever people at RAK should fit the bill. It comes with two retractable ballpoint pens that each double as a collection of little tools for handling small tasks anywhere.

Between the two pens — which are both made from robust military-grade aluminum — you have access to eight different tools/functions, including a bright LED light, bubble levels, Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, and more:

This will make a perfect gift for that DIYer who wouldn’t mind feeling like James Bond or MacGyver now and again.

Get the set for $25 on Amazon.

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The Mark One by Studio Neat, throughout its various releases, remains one of our all-time favorite metallic pens. Whereas most versions of it have been machined from solid aluminum, they’ve just released a new stainless steel variant in a black + black colorway.

Like previous editions of the Mark One, this stainless steel model is designed for people who like solid, beautifully crafted things that will last, and will pay the premium to have it. It sports a matte black Cerakote coating on the body contrasted by a polished black PVD coating on the knock, lending it some Darth Vader vibes.

That all-steel construction — the first of its kind since that Apollo Limited Edition they released back in 2019 — makes this Mark One edition more durable and twice as heavy as the aluminum ones. In Tom and Dan’s own words:

“If you like a pen that feels weighty and substantial in your hand, this is for you.”

—@studioneat via Threads

Order the black-on-black steel Mark One pen for $130 at Studio Neat. Supplies will be limited at first, but the plan is for it to become a permanent member of the lineup.

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LAMY’s “Pico” pen is one of the more interesting ballpoints I’ve seen, thanks to the clever push mechanism designed by Franco Clivio. Clicking the button not only pops out the writing tip, but also telescopes the back of the pen body, turning it from a nondescript little cylinder (3.5″) to a full-length writing utensil (4.75″).

Pictured here is the Chrome edition.

The Laser Orange shown at the top of this post is my favorite color because it’s so bright and eyecatching, but there are others to choose from as well, like the more subdued Imperial Blue.

Whatever color you go with, this is a pen that would do James Bond proud. It fits nicely in your pocket when you’re not using it, and then like a quick-change artist, shows its full potential when expanded. Very cool.

Get the Laser Orange Pico pen for $40 on Amazon. All versions of the Pico accept M22 Black M (medium) ballpoint refills.

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My family and I recently visited Evermore Park, a fantasy adventure theme park in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s like D&D brought to life, and it’s awesome.

You get to wander a village full of quirky, fleshed-out characters, many of whom can give you quests to undertake in order to earn trinkets or be inducted into one of various guilds. There are also a number of vendors that sell super neat handmade items you can buy as souvenirs, from weaponry to stationery to carved figurines to cosplay-worthy jewelry and beyond.

Ever since our visit to Evermore and seeing all the neat stuff for sale there, I’ve unabashedly been in full-on “fantasy gift shopping” mode, and this steampunk-style feather quill pen set is exactly the type of vibe I’ve been on the lookout for.

Inside the decorative box is a mechanical quill pen (in one of the three colors pictured above), two bottles of ink (black and blue), four interchangeable gold-colored stainless steel nibs (in different sizes), and a decorative holder for the pen and one ink bottle.

Is it a bit kitschy? Sure, maybe. Would someone you know be happy to open such a gift anyway? You bet.

Get the set for $17 on Amazon. The pen comes in your choice of blue, green, or grey.

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There are cheap fountain pens for people just getting into the hobby, and then there are higher-end fountain pens that are elegant enough to be given as gifts on special/momentous occasions. The L’essence du Bleu Hémisphère pen by Waterman falls into the latter category.

Hand assembled in France and with a design inspired by the River Seine, the barrel of this deluxe pen features a gorgeous deep blue lacquer, while the palladium-finished brass cap is etched with the company’s signature wave pattern:

As this video shows, the company puts a lot of care and craftsmanship into these pens:

Not only is the pen stunning to look at, it also feels good in the hand and writes beautifully every time. If you do intend to give it as a gift, it comes in a dark blue gift box that will make the occasion feel all the more special for the recipient.

You can get this fountain pen for $122 on Amazon. You can also check out other models in the L’essence du Bleu collection.

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Look, we love a good space pen as much as anybody. At the same time, we know that not everyone wants to drop the kind of money it usually takes to buy one. For the more budget-conscious writer, there’s the Uni-Ball Power Tank.

Like the space pen, the Power Tank is capable of writing upside-down and in very cold weather (down to -4°F) without any lessening or skipping of ink flow. It just does the job in a humbler, more “standard” style pen body. And since the ink is oil-based, the pen can even be used on wet paper or those annoyingly slick shipping labels that defy lesser pens.

This is one of those pens hardworking people rely on:

I rely heavily on these pens to get the job done. I work in the field with temps ranging -25°F to 100+°F. I climb towers, through pipe racks, into small manways on vessels and I have never had one break. They are durable, and they write on just about anything. I have written a full page in the rain with the power tank pens. The pen in the photo has been refilled about 6 times. It still functions like it did the day I bought it. This pen even writes under water. The oil based ink takes time to get use to. Once you get over that you will become a salesman because there is no better pen on the market.

Another upside to the oil-based ink is that it dries super fast so you never have to worry about smears or anybody trying to somehow tamper with what you’ve written.

You can get a single Power Tank pen for $6, but since there’s also a pack of five pens for $10, that’s what I’d go with instead.

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If you’re in need of a simple yet classy writing utensil meant for big hands, you can’t go wrong with the Parker Jotter XL, which has all the design elements and features of the original Jotter but in a larger body. It’s light, durable, well balanced, writes smoothly, and just plain looks sharper than any old disposable pen.

Step up your writing utensil game for $19–$25 on Amazon, depending on your choice of matte black, matte gold, matte silver, or matte rose gold. Each one is preloaded with blue ink and comes in a gift box.

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When you hear the word “Sharpie,” I’m betting the first thing that comes to your mind is a permanent marker, right? Well, you should know that those guys also happen to make a series of gel pens they call “S-Gel” that promises a smooth, vivid, and smear-free writing experience.

They come in four widths — 0.38mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, and 1.0mm — which you can see compared below:

All sizes feature contoured rubber grips for comfort, whether you’re a lefty or a righty. The ‘twisty’ feel of it is oddly fun to play with in those moments when you’re thinking of what to write down next.

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Anyone familiar with the Fisher space pen needs no introduction to what it can do, but for those unfamiliar with it, the main thing you need to know is that it can write anywhere — in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, through grease, and at temperatures both below freezing and above boiling — without missing a beat. If you need a pen you can always count on, this is it.

Today’s example of the pen is the Space Pen Clutch, which has a hexagonal finger grip so you can keep a good grip on it even with thick gloves on, making it an ideal writing tool in the field. It’s also constructed from black anodized aluminum, so it manages to be both lightweight in the hand and super sturdy, all while lasting 3x longer than a typical ballpoint pen.

Get the Space Pen Clutch for $45 on Amazon. It’s a smart investment you won’t regret.

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In case you missed the news a couple days ago, the guys at Studio Neat are offering a very limited-time orange edition of their sweet “Mark One” pen.

When I say limited time, I mean it — as I write this on March 3rd, 2022, there are only eight hours left to buy this thing, after which it will never be produced again. So if you’re gonna get one, skip over there and put your order in right now.

Want the details first? Alrighty then. This edition of the Mark One sports the same aluminum body as the original model but with a bright orange Cerakote coating, with the knock left in its polished stainless steel state. This color combination looks sleek as heck, and you’d have to be nuts not to get one.

Like I said, hurry up and order one before it’s too late. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

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Tactile Turn — a company you may remember from the fidget-friendly Brass Slider Pen I wrote about back in 2018 — is currently offering a special release of their titanium Side Click Pen that they’ve dubbed the “GT” edition, which comes in a gorgeously retro light-blue-and-orange colorway (plus white accent screws on the clip).

This latest addition to their collection of limited edition seasonal releases comes in three sizes:

• Standard (5.8″) — Comes with a Pilot G2 0.7mm refill.
• Short (5.3″) — Comes with a Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 medium refill.
• Mini (4.6″) — Comes with a Pilot G2 Mini 0.7mm refill.

{Other compatible refills for each size (with and without modifications) can be found on this list.}

The vibrant colors of these pens are all Cerakote ceramic coatings, which you’ll often see used for automative and firearm application because of their corrosion-resistant properties. Each one sports a clip engraving that comes in your choice of the default “GT” logo or a number between 0 and 9.

The Tactile Turn GT pen will be available to order until March 26th, 2022. Each size is $149. Don’t miss out!

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When Ugmonk owner Jeff Sheldon learned that the manufacturing process for his Analog productivity system was resulting in leftover scraps of walnut going unused, he was inspired to develop a lovely little pen tray that would give your favorite pen a presentable resting place:

Seeing those “scraps” immediately got me thinking about how we could repurpose them into something useful.

So I went straight to my sketchbook and within a week we were off prototyping. We worked closely with our woodworker to get the perfect corner radius, angled cuts, and smooth matte finish.

[…]

This was a fun product to see come to life! I’ve been using the prototype these past few weeks and makes me smile every time I see it. I’m excited to see what other unexpected ideas we come up with alongside our local partners.

I’m all for clever ways of reducing material waste, and this pen tray not only fits the bill, but will make a great addition to any workspace.

Get your solid walnut pen tray for $38 at Ugmonk.

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