For as long as we can remember, we have both been stationary connoisseurs. If you asked a third grade us what the best part visiting Asia was, we would undoubtedly note spending two hours in the stationary store foraging in the mechanical pencils section as one of my highlights. There is an unexplainable satisfaction in finding the perfect-fitting pencil that is both comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.
Committed to embark on an odyssey to search for our next go-to pencil, we interviewed four similarly minded students about their top-picks.
Sophomore Lemeng Qu: the Pilot Dr. Grip ($7)
Created by Pilot — a pen company founded in Tokyo, Japan in 1918 — this pencil aims to offer exceptional comfort for long writing sessions with a soft ergonomic, cushioned grip. A shaker mechanism allows the user to conveniently extend the lead by shaking it with one hand or clicking the top button.
Qu enjoys using this pencil for its smoothness when writing. The one she currently uses is from Tao Bao, a Chinese online shopping platform. Because of her strong preference for this model, Qu has bought this pencil several times and solely uses these pencils for all her tasks.
Sophomore Grace Ji: Uni Alpha-Gel Shaker ($10)
The Uni Alpha-Gel Shaker mechanical pencil features Uni’s iconic soft silicon grip that maximizes comfort for those that write for long periods of time by reducing pressure onto the hand. The shaker mechanism gives writers the option to either click the top button or simply shake the pencil to release lead, providing a fun method for lead dispensation, especially for younger students.
For Ji, the Alpha-Gel has been her preferred pencil since fourth grade. After being introduced to the pencil by other classmates, Ji was immediately impressed by the comfort provided by its grip. She greatly appreciates how the pencil allows her to write for sustained periods without bringing pain to her fingers. Though her original Alpha-Gel broke after five years of use, Ji quickly replaced it with a new one and sees herself continuing to use this model in the future.
Sophomore Mia Su: Tombow Mono graph Rilakkuma Edition ($10)
The Mono graph pencil is created by Tombow, a Japanese stationary brand founded in 1913. The pencil features Tombow’s signature “Mono” eraser that can be adjusted in length through a twist mechanism and a 4mm pipe that ensures detailed precision. The Mono graph pencil also showcases a lead twisting feature that rotates the lead each time the pencil is pressed down to ensure an even lead surface. The San-X Rilakkuma design on the pencil offers a cute look.
Su chose this pencil while she was stationary shopping in Japan. The pencil’s adorable bear pattern caught her eye and she appreciated the convenience of the eraser that came with it. Su plans on continuing to use this pencil in the future.
Sophomore Katie Lee: Paper Mate Clear Point Mechanical Pencil ($3)
The Paper Mate Clear Point pencils are a staple mechanical pencil that include a minimalistic rubber grip, a detachable cap and eraser. The pencils come in a variety of vibrant colors and feature a side click mechanism for lead dispensing.
Lee has strong preferences on the construction of this particular pencil. Ever since the cap broke off of her Clear Point in middle school, she discovered a breakthrough. Without the extra weight of the cap, the mechanical pencil was much lighter and convenient, allowing her to write much faster than she did before. Even though she lost her original invention, Lee still purposely detaches the cap from her current Clear Point to maximize efficiency.
She also loves the countless color options of Clear Point, explaining her deliberate selection of her green pencil. Along with her capless pencil, she enjoys the easy-to-rub-off minimalistic rubber grip.
“Green is my favorite color. You see, the bright, earthy, rich color just infuses your mind with answers,” Lee said. “Without the [rubber] grip, it shows the hard work that peeled it off when you do math.”
As a person with strong preferences to her Clear Point, we asked her to rate her pencil out of 10.
Her response: six, seven.
