Best EDC pen?

[Armenate]

I currently carry a fisher space pen bullet poos in my pocket. Are there any other tough EDC pens that anyone would recommend. Budget is under $40 but would like it to be under $25

 

[jasonbournemp]

I have been using a Schrade survival pen for the past year or two. It comes with a glass breaker, whistle, ferro rod and striker. Its lightweight, solid, and looks pretty good. About $24-25.00. Refills can be had at local supply stores for $1.00-2.00 a piece.

The cap unscrews and screws on the other end while writing. My only gripe is that the ferro rod insert starts shaking around inside the pen. A little blue loctite and problem solved.

I recently lost that pen (two days ago) and I truly miss it. I have another one on order.

 

[thefirstsuspect]

I currently carry a fisher space pen bullet poos in my pocket. Are there any other tough EDC pens that anyone would recommend. Budget is under $40 but would like it to be under $25

I would check out the Smith & Wesson pen, they aren't the greatest pen ever made but my experience with it is pretty positive! (P.S. I would buy some fisher space pen refills for it to.) TFS

 

[Bob6794]

I rock the Fisher Spacepen Stowaway on a daily basis as it's small and lightweight and disappears wherever you put it till you need it. After who knows how many months or a year of daily carry I finally dented the cap which affects nothing and this thing has seen some abuse in my pocket as I tend to balance heavy loads on that leg when I need to. So for all we know it could have been a 100+ lb dresser that finally put that smell dent in that cap.

It's basically the space pen cartridge with a metal sleeve on it and a cap to put at the end so it's a full size pen, it is barely thicker than the cartridge and is refillable now days. Though I think your pen is tougher and probably comfier to use. I would argue you probably have one of the tougher and best EDC pens available until you get into the crazy tacti-cool pens for toughness.

 

[pcnorton]

I had fisher space pen, it was tough and small and great for EDC, but if you do EDW(every day writing), not so much, it was blobby. Little ink blobs that would smear. Have they corrected that?



Paul

 

[mexican]

Get an uzi pen, or a boker KID cal .50 with the carbon fiber barrel.

 

[tchapman414]

For that price range, a Fisher Space pen is impossible to beat, in my experience. If you are looking for a better feeling/looking one, take a gander at the titanium nitride and zirconium nitride models.

As far as the writing quality mentioned, I have noticed a trend. With the stock inserts, which are the medium refills, I have 'blobby' writing when I first start, after it has sat. The fine refills that I've used seem to remedy this, as I have had three of them now with no issues. They are actually my favorite ink to utilize.

If considering a higher price range, take a look at the Hinderer pens - the Investigator for a Space Pen size and the Extreme Duty for a hefty full size pen. I shifted from a Space Pen to an Extreme Duty, and while heavy to start, I couldn't go back now. I currently use a green fine refill in it for EDC.

 

[RevDevil]

For inexpensive pens, you really cannot beat a Zebra F-701 or the F-301. I don't like the way Fisher pens glob up, every single pen I've had does that and it is messy.

 

[powernoodle]

With the stock inserts, which are the medium refills, I have 'blobby' writing when I first start, after it has sat. The fine refills that I've used seem to remedy this, as I have had three of them now with no issues.

Thanks - I need to try the fine refills now. The medium is definitely blobby, but I like the form factor so much for easy EDC.

The easiest EDC pen may be the teeny pen on a Victorinox Manager, but its only really useful for something like signing a check or just writing a sentence or two.

 

[tiguy7]

The Parker Jotters are my favorites. They come in many materials: Silver, Gold, Titanium, Stainless Steel, Gold plated, metal caps with plastic barrels, etc. The mechanisms are push buttons and sliding caps. They will run the pressurized Fischer Space Pen refills, using an adapter, but the German copies of said refill are less blobby. I am a pen collector, so I buy shirts with 2 pockets. That way the fountain pens and ball points don't beat on each other.

 

[tchapman414]

Thanks - I need to try the fine refills now. The medium is definitely blobby, but I like the form factor so much for easy EDC.

The easiest EDC pen may be the teeny pen on a Victorinox Manager, but its only really useful for something like signing a check or just writing a sentence or two.

Sure thing! Let me know what you find out.

That's interesting you mention the Victorinox SAK pen, as I used one of those for a summer, and it worked surprisingly well. I remember having to extend the screwdriver on the other end to have enough writing leverage - not ideal, but functional. Moving to a Space Pen after that made me feel spoiled.

 

[Sosa]

This is not the best but it serves my needs. 8 bucks on the big auction. Machined aluminum with a carbide glass breaker in the cap. O rings so it won't leak and it takes refills. I frequent junkyards a lot so I bust a lot of windows and this does the trick.

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[Scott Free]

I just pulled a Zebra SL-F1 telescoping pen out of the mailbox 20 minutes ago. I gotta say that I'm very happy. It's 3.375" in it's closed position and 4.25" when extended, and it writes just as well as the other Zebra pens I own. Less than $5 online!

 

[sideways]

Ironically I'm currently carrying a promotional pen from a custom pen company.

Most of the pens I carry are promotional freebees. No need to get tactical about it or to spend a bunch of money on them IMHO.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Ironically I'm currently carrying a promotional pen from a custom pen company.

Most of the pens I carry are promotional freebees. No need to get tactical about it or to spend a bunch of money on them IMHO.

Much like knives, it all depends on needs and wants. I use a pen enough at work that I finally laid out the money for a Tuff Writer and don't regret it a bit. A pen that's heavier and more solidly built can actually help reduce hand fatigue if you take lots of notes.

 

[jone]

I would suggest the Lamy Pico. Great compact size that extends when you engage the point making it a full sized writing instrument. Have had one for a little over a year - use it daily and never replaced the ink cartridge. An added plus - no globby writing and it comes in a variety of colors. Not tactical, but just a great functioning pen.

 

[jackknife]

I've used this same Cross for 50 years now. I don't like the standard refill, so I used the blue bold filler. About 2 years ago, the twist mechanism failed, and Cross fixed it for free. I told them the pen had sentimental value, and I didn't want it replaced. They did good by me. The worn off chrome and dents all are part of it's history.

 

[tchapman414]

I've used this same Cross for 50 years now. I don't like the standard refill, so I used the blue bold filler. About 2 years ago, the twist mechanism failed, and Cross fixed it for free. I told them the pen had sentimental value, and I didn't want it replaced. They did good by me. The worn off chrome and dents all are part of it's history.

That's a beautiful EDC pen! The wear speaks to its character. I used to carry a similar Cross, but carrying a pen in my back pocket now, I have to have a threaded/gasket-ed cap just in case.

 

[jackknife]

That's a beautiful EDC pen! The wear speaks to its character. I used to carry a similar Cross, but carrying a pen in my back pocket now, I have to have a threaded/gasket-ed cap just in case.

I joined the army not long after high school. When I was leaving, dad gave me that pen, with the strong request that I write home every week to let them know how I'm doing. I'm a social security retiree now. That pen has been all over the world, and after my 10 year army service, went on to handle all my writing in civilian life. I don't have many objects that have served as faithfully for the long amount of time as that pen. For me, the Cross brand has proven itself.

 

[sideways]

Much like knives, it all depends on needs and wants. I use a pen enough at work that I finally laid out the money for a Tuff Writer and don't regret it a bit. A pen that's heavier and more solidly built can actually help reduce hand fatigue if you take lots of notes.

Yup, nothing wrong with going high end. For me disposability is something I actually value in a pen, so going cheap works for me. I admire jackknife's ability to hang on to one pen for 50 years. I'm more of a 50 pens in 1 year type of guy. They seem to dry up or walk away at an amazing rate. :thumbup: