Thursday Drops: Penco Perfection Alternatives and Inky New Arrivals!

After yesterday’s New York Times Wirecutter article declaring the Penco Perfection Bullet Pen to be the ideal pocket ballpoint, we had a run on those and the plastic Penco Perfection Light like never before after the Hightide site sold out of both models. While I question whether the Penco Perfection is the “best” pocket ballpoint out there, it is a very good option, and I do agree with their comments about D1 refills being versatile and inexpensive. In light of the internet’s overnight fixation on this little pocket pen that we’ve carried with moderate success for more than 5 years, I thought it would be fun to dedicate today’s “Thursday Drops” post to a few other pocket pen recommendations in addition to the Penco pens, since those are quickly on their way to selling out and I expect it will be quite some time before Penco/Hightide is able to restock.

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I’m constantly behind on all the restocks showing up. I may not specifically feature them below, but we have more Taccia Ink as well as Ohto CR series rollerballs.

As noted with this week’s “New Arrivals,” we’ve added all sorts of new items from Rite in the Rain, including not just the All-Weather pens but heavy duty mechanical pencils, more Rite in the Rain Paper, and the “Monsoon” line of pen cases and notebook covers.

Come see these and more in-shop! We will be open this week from 1pm-6pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturday. Be sure to check the shop page for up-to-date hours.

1. Lamy Pico Pocket Ballpoint. Lamy’s retractable pocket ballpoint expands from the size of a tube of lip balm to a full-size writing instrument with a click. The M22 ballpoint refill is available in black or blue, and multiple tip sizes.

2. Anterique Mini Ballpoint and Brass Mini Ballpoint. The pocket-sized versions of the Anterique low-viscosity ballpoints feature a miniature version of the same excellent “mach ball” refill.

3. Rite in the Rain All-Weather Pocket Pen. These lightweight plastic bullet pens are sold in a pack of 2 and feature Rite in the Rain’s pressurized refill cartridge. Multiple colors are available.

4. Rite in the Rain All-Weather Metal Bullet Pen. Rite in the Rain’s version of the classic bullet pen features a modified formulation of the Fisher Space Pen ink, tweaked to perform optimally on Rite in the Rain’s all-weather paper. I enjoy this refill because I find it slightly less viscous, and capable of writing a cleaner line than the Fisher cartridge, but that’s a matter of personal preference.

5. Fisher Space Pen Bullet Pen. The all-time classic pocket pen, now available with Cerakote finishes!

6. Traveler’s Company Brass Pocket Pens. Whether you want a classic ballpoint or a refillable rollerball or fountain pen (or even a bullet pencil), these sturdy brass pens are built to last.

7. Penco Drafting Ballpoint Pen. Ok, so if you’re stuck on Penco, and the Perfections and Perfection Lights have sold out by the time you’re reading this,

8. Platinum Prefounte Fountain Pen Restock. The excellent Platinum Prefounte - a exceptionally good choice for those just starting to explore the fountain pen segment - is now back in stock.

9. Papier Plume Bottled Inks. We’ve now added our own ink swatches of tbe Papier Plume Classic Collection, including personal favorites Moss Green, Midnight Blue, and Burgundy!

10. Anderillium Ichthyoformes Inks. If you’d like to check out the most recent releases from Anderillium, be sure to take a look at this recent YouTube walkthrough in which I swatched all of the inks, and I’ve added the swatch cards to the product listings.

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All the Papier Plume Ink Swatches

New Arrivals: Rite in the Rain All-Weather Pens, Mechanical Pencils, and Cases!

I’ve been aware of Rite in the Rain for a long time, mainly due to their “all weather” line of notebooks and notepads (including some really nice hardbound field notebooks) that are a favorite of field researchers, backpackers, boaters, and really anyone who needs a notebook that will perform under non-standard conditions. While the paper doesn’t work with writing instruments that use water-based ink (since the paper is designed to repel water), those looking for an all-weather solution typically use a pencil, ballpoint, or marker, so it tends to be a non-issue in this specific case.

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Shown here is the Rite in the Rain Monsoon “Dirtbag” (Yes, that’s the name :) ) which is a waterproof/dirtproof pouch designed to protect your notebooks while offering easy access to pens, pencils, and accessories.

As of this week, we’ve also added Rite in the Rain’s line of 1.3mm mechanical pencils, click pens and bullet pens, and “Monsoon” waterproof pouches and cases. The mechanical pencils have been a frequent request, as many of you are apparently looking for pencils that use sturdier lead in the .9mm to 1.3mm range. The standard Rite in the Rain pencil uses a very dark 1.3mm 2B graphite, which I’ve found quite nice to write with. The ballpoint refills are manufactured for Rite in the Rain by Fisher Space Pen, but per Rite in the Rain feature a slightly modified ink formulation optimized for Rite in the Rain’s paper. Personally, I find the Rite in the Rain refill slightly less viscous, and that it leave a finer line.

We are an authorized reseller of Rite in the Rain products. Come see these and more in-shop! We will be open this week from 1pm-6pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am-6pm on Saturday. Be sure to check the shop page for up-to-date hours.

Pen Review: Pokka Pen / Rite-in-the-Rain All-Weather Pen

If you recall the story behind the original Pokka Pen, Terry developed the concept because he was tired of losing his expensive Fisher Space Pens, and wanted something relatively replaceable that offered a similar writing experience. While the original Pokka Pen was, and remains, a high-quality, cost-effective replacement, it lacked certain features that made the pressurized Fisher cartridge so great - namely exceptional waterproofing and the ability to write upside down. Enter the “All-Weather” Pokka Pen a couple years later.

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This Pokka All-Weather Terry sent me for review came equipped with the new clip, available for purchase separately and shown here on a “Blaze Orange” All-Weather Pokka Pen.

Designed in partnership with both Fisher and Rite-in-the-Rain, the two leading companies in the “all-weather” EDC writing space, the All-Weather Pokka Pen features a pressurized Fisher cartridge and the “Rite-in-the-Rain” logo emblazoned on the side. Otherwise, the All-Weather Pokka Pen is identical to the standard Pokka, which isn’t a negative in my book because the original Pokka Pen has a nearly perfect design and build for a product in its intended niche.

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The pen works as expected. One pleasant surprise was a very fine tip size on the cartridge - finer than either the standard Pokka Pen or the Fisher Space Pen. For someone who writes relatively small, I always enjoy discovering new options for fine-tip ballpoint pens, and this one has been a steady companion in the car and in my coat pocket.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

I actually ended up preferring the All-Weather Pokka Pen to the standard Pokka (and even the standard Fisher Space Pen) due to the finer tip size and the slightly drier ink. Pokka and Fisher nailed the cartridge, which is a joy to write with and works flawlessly.

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Rite-in-the-Rain, or in the sun! The Pokka All-Weather in Blaze Orange compared against my Fisher Space Pen Brass Bullet.

The only thing that gives me some pause is the current price point and lack of refill availability. A standard Pokka Pen costs roughly $2-3 per unit, depending on how many of them you purchase, with refills available if you don’t want to just recycle the pen body after it runs dry. The All-Weather pens currently costs just under $13 for a two-pack, which makes sense given the relatively expensive pressurized cartridge, but no refills are currently available. Rather than lay out $13 for two disposable pens, some people may choose to go ahead and purchase a Fisher Space Pen that they can refill if they aren’t scared to lose it. (Note: Regular Pokka refills weren’t available when the product first launched, and pressurized refills may be introduced at a later date.)

You can purchase the All-Weather Pokka Pen directly from the Pokka website, along with the standard Pokka Pens in all of their great patters and colors, and using the coupon code “GENTSTA” you can get 10% off your purchase. Pokka Pens make great stocking stuffers, btw, and my family has enjoyed receiving them for the past couple of years! For that reason I’ve included them in the past couple of TGS Holiday Gift Guides.

Disclaimer: Pokka Pens sent me the samples featured in this review free of charge, for review purposes.