Looking For A Slim Multi Pen/pencil As Edc

[saranw71]

Hi everyone,

 

Right now I'm carrying a fountain pen (Pilot VP Decimo) and a disposable ballpoint, the latter is for FP-unfriendly surfaces and lending.

It goes quite well, but I'm looking for a multi pen in order to have a pencil and another coloured pen on hand.

It should be quite slim and light to not be too much of a heft in my pocket. I've been searching and narrowed it down to the list below:

 

Pilot 2+1 Slim (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AX5UL0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A214QR0RLUH6NQ)

Platinum MWBS-1500 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004BA6AKO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A214QR0RLUH6NQ)

Zebra Sharbo X LT3 (http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Sharbo-ST3-Body-Component/dp/B0010WMWTE/ref=sr_1_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1432227030&sr=1-2&keywords=Zebra+Sharbo+X+LT3) - Quite expensive though.

 

These pens' reviews can be found quite easily e.g. on Jet Pens, but there are some that reviews are scarce, but I'm leaning towards them:

 

Zebra Surari Sharbo 2000 (http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Surari-Emulsion-Mechanical-SB27-BK/dp/B00FBWWDL6)

Zebra Sharbo+1 (http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Sharbo-Ballpoint-Pencil-Notebooks/dp/B002H9W9AG/ref=pd_sim_sbs_229_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=03QC0G33GPDC367RA6F5)

 

So, feedbacks from anyone has experience on these pens are appreciated, especially on the bottom two pens. Another question is that are Pilot, Platinum, and Zebra compatible with other brands' refill e.g. Uni? I find Zebra refills quite expensive, Pilot and Platinum's can't be found locally.

 

Thank you very much!

 

Edited: Minor details

Edited May 21, 2015 by saranw71

[usk15]

Here is a slim one: http://www.cultpens.com/i/q/OH10669/ohto-multi-slim-4-multifunction-pen-mf-15sa4

The big + on this is using standard D1 refills.

 

D1 refills:

http://www.cultpens.com/c/q/explore/product-type/refills/d1-multipen-refills

 

 

Multipens:

http://www.cultpens.com/c/q/explore/product-type/pens/multifunction-pens

 

 

My review:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/257053-rotring-multipen-with-d1-standard-refills/

[GlennPen]

I have 2 systems of MultiPens, the Mitsubishi uni Style system and Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto. Both have their own line of proprietary refills but the selection is large especially with multiple ball sizes for the pen refills. My current systems:

 

Uni Style Fit 5 Refill Holder:

- 4x 0.5mm Style Fit Gel Refill; contains ink from the Signo series of pens

- 1x 0.5 Mechanical Pencil unit; self explanatory, holds 3 leads comfortably

 

Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto:

- 2x Eraser refills (yes it's an eraser that clicks out like any other refill)

- 1x 0.5 Mechanical Pencil unit

- 1x 0.5 mm Hi-Tec-C refill (needlepoint gel refill, just like the standalone Hi-Tec-C)

 

Couple personal opinions:

- When on-the-go, I have 2 mechanical pencil refills in the uni Style Fit. One has graphite, and the other has Soft blue (or Non-Photo Blue) colored lead. I use the soft blue for an undersketch and then pencil over it (the blue disappears with adjustment while scanning).

- Clicking through the refills may sometimes jam if done too quickly, easy to fix

- Rattles with more than one mechanical pencil unit

- Pen refills for either system in regards to gel ink tend to run out quickly. Ballpoints seem to be fine. They're see-through so at least you can know the ink level but even then, don't expect long-term writing sessions with one refill

- The eraser unit for the coleto is puny and more of an emergency asset, why do you think I have 2?

 

All in all, MultiPens (especially of the Japanese variety) are excellent, akin to Multitools, but like multitools hardly exceed the standalone tools they contain in performance. Space efficiency vs. Capacity.