The selection of writing instruments I carry with me is now a little more optimized in that I have specific functions in mind for everything. Still more excessive than I’d like (and I like a little excess), but at least it’s less random. Here is the current load-out:
- Uni Kuru Toga 0.5 mechanical pencil: For times I want to use a pencil, obviously. This is the only pencil I’m carrying.
- Pentel Clic Eraser: The Kuru Toga has an eraser, but I to have a separate eraser for erasing larger areas faster.
- Uni Propus Window: This highlighter is double-sided. The 4.0mm side has a see-through section so I can see what I’m highlighting. The other side is 0.6mm. I chose bright yellow.
- Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto Lumio: I might actually replace this in the future. It’s a good multipen, but it does little that something else in my bag doesn’t do better. I’m considering the Uni Style Fit instead since it offers both gel and ballpoint refills, which use the same ink as the Signo and Jetstream lines respectively.
- Uni Power Tank 0.7: This pen writes in extreme conditions and on wet surfaces. Gravity independent. It doesn’t write as well as the other pens I carry, but it’s nice having something I can use when other pens would not work.
- Uni Jetstream 0.38: These pens are smooth, quick-drying, reliable, water-resistant, and have comfortable barrels. I carry one black for general writing and signing, and one red for correcting and comments. If I do end up getting the Uni Style Fit, I may remove these since they would be redundant.
- Uni Signo 207 micro: This is the designated pen I offer people who ask to use a pen. It’s reliable, smooth, and easily replaceable.
- Uni Signo 0.28: I use the blue black one for general writing on paper that doesn’t agree with fountain pen inks. So fine, yet so smooth.
- 3 EF/F nib foutain pens: I carry these for general writing with nice ink. Currently have one with Noodler’s Heart of Darkness (black), one with Pilot Iroshizuku shin-kai (blue black), and one with Rohrer & Klingner Scabiosa (purple).
- 4 stub/italic nib fountain pens: Okay, I probably don’t need to carry around four of these, but the line variation from the italic nibs make my handwriting look slightly nicer. Three of them are loaded with the same inks as the fine nib fountain pens mentioned above, and the fourth, a Pilot Penmanship with stub nib, is loaded with Sailor Jentle Grenade.
I removed the assortment of Pilot Hi-Tec-Cs I used to carry because the standard barrels are terrible. Removed the Uni Signo 207 BLX because I didn’t like the broad lines or the colors very much. Removed the Pilot 78g because I don’t like anything about that pen (other than the nib which I’m using on the Penmanship). Removed the Sailor HighAce Neo because the nib wasn’t as fine as the Pilot fountain pens. Removed the Uni Jetstream 0.7 because I prefer the finer tip sizes.
Daryl Marcus 