Oh no, it’s Pin Pen time again! Myke and I discuss the Uni-ball Bracket final matchup, my plans for the upcoming Atlanta Pen Show, and answer your AskTPA questions.
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(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And her latest book, Root Rot, is now available for pre-order!)
Where were these all my life? Bookworms rejoice, there's finally a wee chisel-tip highlighter that's perfect for highlighting fine print and closely printed text. I didn't know I could be so delighted about highlighters, but here we are.
Zebra, king of the school supply isle, has brought us the Click Bright Highlighters, which are both bright and clickable. This set of six comes in the classic neon colors: yellow, pink, blue, orange, purple, and green. They're not overly pigmented to the eye-searing level that some highlighters achieve, but they're a good balance of bright enough to draw attention. Unlike the standard capped highlighters, these are a click-retract model, which is so perfect for when you're holding a book in one hand and marking it with the other. No more removing the highlighter cap with your teeth! We've all done that, right? And despite the lack of cap, these still have a sturdy clip, so they can become the clip-on bookmark that all highlighters are destined to be.
The tip on these is also very good. It's a slightly angled chisel tip that is only 2 mm tall, which makes it so perfect for dainty work. It can even be used as a marker for writing, if one wants some neon calligraphy.
The ink is water-based, but not too wet or overly-juicy, so it doesn't bleed through paper. It makes me very sad when highlighters bleed through, so I was glad to see that these don't. They do feel a little dry when using them, but they don't actually dry out, even with their capless design.
I have to nitpick to find anything wrong with these, and the only thing I can come up with is that there's so much text on the body that it makes them look very cluttered and cheap. And to be fair, they are cheap, or at least inexpensive. The set of six sells for $10.50, with colors available individually for $1.75. That's a very decent price for what are now my favorite highlighters.
How much time have I spent slowly and carefully using the tip of a regular highlighter to mark fine print or novel text? So much time! These I can just swipe across the page without a care in the world. They're also perfect for color-coding in planners, even those with tiny grid lines. These have made my day literally and figuratively brighter.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
Just a few months ago, I reviewed the 2022 special edition of the Opus 88 Demo, which was a wonderful mix of purple and maroon that I really enjoyed. Before then, I wasn't aware that Opus 88 did annual color editions, so I was curious about whether a 2024 edition was announced yet. Not only was it announced already in January, but it was also available for sale. I immediately bought one after see it on the computer screen because the greens and blues spoke to me so strongly.
Fast forward a few days when I got the pen in hand, and I couldn't be any happier with the purchase. In person, the greens and blues are more vibrant and you can see more of the semi-translucent qualities of the acrylic material. It's not often for me that I know that I'll love something like this before I've even received it, but for some reason I just knew that the colors would be spectacular in person. I'm glad I was right.
2022 vs 2024
The Opus 88 Demo model has been around for years, and it's one of my personal favorites. I like the uniform barrel shape and mix of colors that I would think might clash but somehow work together. The grip section fits my hand well, and the pen diameter is really comfortable for how I write and hold the pen. On top of all that, the ink capacity is stellar. I don't normally fill these pens up all the way with ink because I normally want to change out the ink before I use it all. But, just having the option of loading this pen up with ink and not having to refill for quite a while is definitely comforting.
The color scheme for the 2024 special edition is a dark turquoise body paired with green-yellow accents on the cap and grip, and a lighter blue blind piece that you use to open and close the ink reservoir. The colors go so well together, and I love the visual interest that the semi-transparent material adds to the already eye-catching colors. The nib and clip are both a dark off-black color, which go great with the dark hues of the pen body. I think bright metal would distract the eye from the acrylic materials, so I like the dark metal choice.
For this model of the Demo, I opted for a Medium nib. This is a favorite size for me when doing general writing or long-form writing, so the Demo is a perfect workhorse choice for that nib duty. The nib is glassy smooth out of the box, and the flow is perfect. I paired the pen with Road Trip from Standard Bindery, which is a fun ink on its own merit, but it pairs beautifully with this pen.
It's refreshing to see pen companies release fun and new colors for their existing products. Lots of companies do it, but Opus 88 does an exceptional job. Their pens are great quality, affordable for what they offer, and work well. Since I know the pen model is a great baseline, it's easy to make a quick decision on a colorful and attractive model without having used the actual pen before.
If this 2024 Edition of the Opus 88 Demo speaks to you like it did me, you'd better hurry and snag one ($140 as of this review). These are limited stock, and when they're gone, they're gone. If the greens and blues aren't for you, then there's always next year or even the solid selection of standard colorways as well. The Demo is one of my favorite pen models, and this color combination just makes me happy.
(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.
Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!
