BATTLE OF THE BUDGET EDC PENS
When it comes to writing utensils for every day carry I’m always looking for a good mix of quality, accessibility, versatility, and value. In that vein, I’ve chosen three budget EDC pens to put head to head:
contestant 1: fisher space pen
The Fisher Space Pen is an absolute icon among the EDC community. My journey with them started when I was about 8 years old on a trip to the Houston Space Center. My mom bought me a Fisher Space Pen with a little gold space shuttle on it as a moment of an amazing day of learning about NASA and space exploration. Since then, FSP has been one of my go-to EDC tools.
Making its debut in 1968 on the Apollo 7 space mission, the Fisher Space Pen was an instant classic. The bullet shape with its integrated cap that reversed to make it into a full size pen was a stroke of genius, but the real ingenuity lies in the sealed and gas filled cartridges that allow the pen to write in just about any condition. Since it’s debut, the Fisher Space Pen has been an absolute favorite for everyone looking for something portable, dependable, and tough as nails.
PROS:
Legendary Reliability: writes in almost any condition so you know you’ll have a working writing utensil anytime, anywhere.
Availability: This pen is readily available on websites like Amazon as well as in some big box stores like Staples, Office Max, and Walmart.
Durability: With their all metal construction, and few if any moving parts, the bullet style pen is a beacon of reliability because of its simplicity.
Price: This pen is meant to be affordable. Its simple design allows the manufacturer to keep their costs low and those savings get passed on to the customer. Coming in at an average cost of $23, this is the most affordable pen on this list.
Writing Feel: This is very subjective, but I personally love the way that the Fisher Space pen cartridges write, especially the fine point black ink refills. The ink flows smoothly and leaves few smudges or gaps. In fact this is pretty much what I put in every EDC pen that I own that will take them.
Cons:
Size: Some people have complained about the size of the Fisher Space Pen. If you have larger hands, this petite pen might give you hand cramps if you have to write for a long period of time
Limited Refill Variety: Fisher keeps their refill variety fairly simple. There are only a few available colors and line widths. You’re also locked into using Fisher Space Pen refills, as the refills are the central pillar around which the pen is built.
Rarity: These pens are EVERYWHERE. They’re not rare or special, but they are reliable and easy to find.
Easy to Lose: With no pocket clip, the Fisher Space Pen (bullet style) is VERY easy to lose. I’ve had a few of them and have to be very diligent about making sure I put it back into my valet tray every night. Otherwise it ends up in the wash, in the couch, or under the bed.
Fidget Factor:
There’s really no fidget factor in any of the FSP lineup. These pens are meant to be utilitarian. I’ll give it 1/5 fidget spinners.
overall Impression:
The Fisher Space pen is legendary for a reason. With its affordable pricing, wide variety of styles, impressive durability and iconic design, the Fisher Space pen will continue to be a legend for generations to come right along with brands like Zippo and Rolex.
CONTESTANT 2: REFYNe EP1 BOLT ACTION PEN
This pen is the newest in my personal collection, and I have to say I’ve been thoroughly impressed with it. I hadn’t seen any advertisements for it, and stumbled across it when search Amazon for bolt action pens. Once I did discover this brand though, I found a whole community of EDC enthusiasts who claimed this to be their perfect pen.
pros:
Build Quality: This pen is built like a tank. From thick titanium body, to the o-rings that seal out moisture and dust, to the heavy duty, removable pocket clip, everything about this pen is built to last.
Value: Priced at around $40, this pen has huge value for money with a sturdy build from quality materials.
Aesthetics: I think that this is one of the best looking pens on the market. I love the color combination of the copper barrel insert with the matte gunmetal finish.
Durability: As mentioned above this pen its built like a tank. I’ve been carrying it daily for about two months now and have no complaints. In most pens, the weak point will be the pocket clip, but with this EP1, I’ve had no issues with it getting caught or bending while in my pocket.
Flexibility: The EP1 can take a multitude of refill types, including Fisher Space pen refills, or the Parker roller refills
Replaceability: With a regular T6 hex driver, you can replace not only the bolt, but can remove and replace the pocket clip, which is one of the pieces that breaks most often on pens like this. This is a huge value add in my opinion and should extend the life of the pen.
Cons:
Weight: At 1.3oz, the EP1 is the heaviest pen in this lineup. This may not sound like much, but when you’re using it for an extended period, it does lead to some hand fatigue.
More Moving Parts: More moving parts generally means less reliability in the long run although I’ve had zero issues when running this pen daily.
Ergonomics: This pen isn’t the most ergonomically friendly. The smooth finish and design looks amazing, but doesn’t provide great grip when writing, or if you have sweaty hands. I usually have to hold the pocket clip against my hand to get a secure grip for extended writing sessions.
Fidget Factor:
This pen score high on the fidget factor scale. The bolt action slider is super smooth and very fun to play with and use to annoy your spouse. I give it 4/5 fidget spinners.
Overall impression:
As I said before, this pen feels like it’s built to last, but for a fraction of the price of more “premium” EDC pens. This has rocketed to the top of my list of favorite writing utensils and it’s regularly found in my pocket. The mid-tier price tag may seem hefty for some, but what you’re getting is a very versatile and durable pen that feels like it will last through years of use.
Contestant 3: everyman co. grafton mini twist pen
If you haven’t seen an ad on Instagram for the Everyman Co. Grafton Mini you might be living under a rock. This pen has shown up anywhere and everywhere in my feed claiming to be a “pen you buy for life”, but is it really that good?
pros:
Design: This pen is very simple and very well designed. Made from aluminum, it’s also lightweight weighing in at 1oz when loaded with a cartridge. The grip at the bottom of the pen helps it feel comfortable and secure during longer writing sessions.
Materials: As stated above, this is machined from aluminum, making the pen feel very durable.The finish also stands up to everyday wear and tear, although with heavy use it will start to wear off.
Value: Once again, this pen comes in around the $35-$40 range, which for the EDC pen market is a steal. While I still think that there are better options out there in terms of value, the Grafton Mini is a good choice.
Cons:
Durability: This is a big one for me. The pen itself seems like it’s going to be durable for the long haul, however where my concern lies is with the pocket clip. When I first received this pen, I put it in my pocket and carried it for the day, and within a few hours, the pocket clip had already completely bent open and the pen would no longer stay securely in my pocket. This has continued to be an issue, and I’ve had to bend the pocket clip back several times.
Replaceability: This goes hand in hand with the durability concerns. With the Grafton Mini twist, it doesn’t appear that you can actually replace the pocket clip, which on the Grafton mini Click, it looks like you can. This to me is a huge design misstep as the pocket clip is often on the parts that needs replacement through the life of a regularly used pen
Fidget Factor:
overall impression:
The Grafton Mini twist was one of my first steps into the world of entry to mid tier EDC pens (besides the Fisher Space Pen). I was impressed with it at first, but after adding to the collection, I find that I have less and less desire to carry it daily. The biggest downfall is that pocket clip, which isn’t replaceable, and bends very easily. If this weren’t the case, this pen would score higher in this head to head.
overall winner: refyne ep1 bolt action pen
With its combination of value, durability, premium feel, flexibility, and affordable price tag the EP1 is a clear winner. This is a great entry into the low-mid range EDC pen world and in my opinion its value, form factor, and feel far exceed its price tag.
runner up: fisher space pen
This was a bit of a heartbreak for me. The Fisher Space Pen is one of if not my favorite pen of all time. This was an incredibly tight comparison, and honestly I could carry either of these pens and be perfectly happy. The FSP will remain one of the most iconic EDC tools in my arsenal, and will be a staple across industries for decades to come. The huge upside to this is that you could have two space pens for about the cost of the EP1, which you might need in case you lose one.
Have something you’d like to add? Leave a comment below to let me know your thoughts!