(
Pros: Durability, Materials, Overall Quality, Refill Quality
Cons: None
Perfect Combination of Style and Function
I got both the white and black versions of this 5.11 pen. The problem with most tactical pens is their exaggerated, aggressive look and their size. The look may defeat the purpose of resembling an everyday writing tool in many social and professional situations (a white or bright color helps with that), while the length makes them impractical to carry with dress clothes, as the pen might poke the lining of your pocket when you sit down. This 5.11 is a little bit shorter and more comfortable to wear in a front pocket. The clip is not too tight, and the grip is just right, with the thumb resting on the flat top of the pen while enough of the pen is protruding from the fist. There's no awkward cap to remove, one that never sits tight again once you've put it back on top of the pen. Just a twist to reveal the tip. The pen is not perfect. You have to twist is just a little bit to write because if you keep twisting, it starts to unscrew and open the pen in two (to replace the cartridge). But there is no cap to mess with, which is great. The finish looks great and the metal body is very solid. As a defense implement, CRKT's Williams Defense Pen is the king, but it's tall and poky in a pocket, and capping/uncapping it is either awkward (original metal version) or stiff (newer Grivory versions). For those who spend a certain amount of time sitting throughout the day, the 5.11 pen is ideal. Having experience with CRKT and Boker, this pen is comfortable and writes just as well. I didn’t notice any smear. I actually use it at work every day (minimal writing, but still, used daily). I can't comment on the refills but the black ink looks pretty standard.