August 21, 2008

Review: TUL 0.5mm Retractable Gel


This pen was designed and created specifically for Office Max, so they are only available at their stores or website.  Since I don't have an Office Max nearby, I never had the opportunity to pick any up, and it looks like I was missing out - that is until a wonderful reader sent me a couple to try out (Thanks Marilyn!).  The pen design is solid, with a plastic barrel and a brass tip, as well as sharp looking graphics.  The pen performance reminds me a lot of the Pilot G-2, which is a pretty big compliment.  On top of that, the TUL is very wallet friendly, checking in at approximately $1.50 per pen.  My only complaint so far is that the grip is a little slick, but it is already starting to get better with use.

If you have an Office Max convenient to you, or feel like placing an order online, I think you will enjoy the TUL.

8 comments:

passing meds said...

One complaint I have of gels, and a factor when picking a pen, is what happens with the ink when you highlight the line written (after it dried) with a yellow highlighter.

Please consider this in your testing.


Regards

dowdyism said...

That's a good idea that I will work on for some of the reviews. Here is a sample of the Pentel Slicci under a highlighter if you want to take a look - it doesn't smear at all: Pentel Slicci and Highlighter

Andrea said...

I absolutley love the look and feel of this pen! However, when I am doodling with it and trying to color in an area, it starts to skip on me a bit. Almost like too much ink in one are makes it choke up a bit.

That is my big complaint with this pen, and it breaks my pen loving little heart every time that happens.

Anonymous said...

I have an Office Max not terribly far from my house, but Staples and Office Depot are more convenient, since the first is very close to me, and the second is by Fry's Electronics. ^_^ Doesn't seem like a bad pen, perhaps I'll pick one up next time I go there.

mizm said...

Glad you liked them! "Passing meds" makes a good point about highlighters. I wonder if TUL highlighters play nicely with TUL gel pens? Hmm, I might have to run back to Office Max this weekend...

Marilyn

Nathan said...

I actually get these at the Randall's grocery store by my house. I guess office depot lightened up their exclusive thing.

Anonymous said...

It seems like the retractable and rollerball would be the same but I find the TUL .7mm Retractable a bit scratchy. I prefer the TUL .7mm Rollerball in blue. It produces a nice bold line and the color is a nice dark blue.

mizm said...

A late follow-up to the highlighter observation: I picked up some TUL highlighters at Office Max, half-joking/half-hoping for smear-free highlighting with TUL pens. They're nice highlighters in their own right, but alas, the gel ink still smears beneath them.