Reddit mentions: The best ballpoint pens

Whoops I wrote a novel...

I think first it is important to identify what type of pen you want. Do you want a fountain pen? Do you want a ballpoint? Do you want gel ink? Fineliner? Do you prefer more bold or fine tips? Is it important to have a pen that has portability features? Are you a lefty? Is it important to have a pen that is pretty? Or if it writes well enough does it matter? It seems like a lot to go from "does it sort of write well enough to be legible" to such a laundry list of questions.

This is more or less the process I go through when buying a new pen:

• I enjoy the experience of writing with a fountain pen, but I personally do not think it is worth the maintenance for day-to-day journaling, so I prefer a ballpoint (also, fineliners are fantastic for art and stuff, but I don't care for them for lengthy writing)
  
• I prefer gel ink, but only if it doesn't smudge, bleed, or ghost too much so certain types of refills are right out (Pilot G-2 .07, for example)
  
• I too have tiny handwriting so I will always prefer a more fine tip as long as it isn't too scratchy (certain refills that come in sizes less than .38 can be pretty bad, imo)
  
• I am right-handed so smudging, while still a mild concern, is not necessarily a major issue as long as the ink isn't too bad
  
• I like pens that are more portable, which seems silly, I mean it's a pen right? but it does matter to me, for example, if it is clicky or twisty that is generally better than capped (unless the cap is very secure) because they are less likely to open in my pocket, or if the pen has a clip if the clip is positioned at the very top or if it sits down some so that if I clip it to my pocket it will leave a large portion of the pen sticking out, etc
  
• Finally, I like an attractive pen, but if it doesn't write well I'm not using it. As many pens as I have tried to use, and continue to try to use, I have literally never found anything I like to write with as much as these. At least as far non-gel ballpoints go. I have gone new-empty with well over a dozen of these. Any time I switch to a prettier pen, and then pick up one of these I always think, why did I ever stop using this pen?
  
  
• Oh, also, black ink only. Period. Sometimes red is ok too. Never blue.
  
  So that's a lot of words, but that's essentially my .02 for selecting a pen. Identify what you want and what is important to you and then make your selection based on that. With that in mind, here is my experience/opinion on specific pens:
  
  
• Best non-gel ballpoint: Pilot Better Retractable in Fine, unquestionably. Zebra makes a good non-gel ballpoint as well, but I find they are less consistent in quality and sometimes you get a weird scratchy one
  
• Best gel ballpoint: Uni-Ball Signo in Micro. This is actually probably my favorite refill type in general. Very smooth, dark ink, doesn't ghost on most types of common paper unless you're coloring with it or something. Makes fine lines that dry fast enough to not smudge unless you wipe your hand through it immediately. Just try to find a pen body you like that the refill will fit into, because the stock one is not pretty.
  
• I don't know much about specific fountain pens, so if you are interested in that definitely check out /r/fountainpens
  
• Honorable mentions:
  
• The oft-praised Pilot G-2 is a really good gel-ink pen, but at least in my opinion, the 07 is literally unusable because it smudges and ghosts so damn much.
  
• The Pentel RSVP is also a super good writer for a non-gel ballpoint, but this pen is the definition of not portable and also ugly.
  
• You 100% cannot go wrong with Parker. The Jotter is probably my all-time favorite pen body. If only I could get a Signo or Better Retractable refill to fit in there.
  
• Zebra F-701 is probably one of the best all-around decent pens. It looks impressive, it is substantial without being heavy in the hand, it is on the cheaper side for a "nice" pen (like 6-8 bucks I think last time I checked), and it can take most of the good Zebra refills and in addition many other popular refills will fit into it with some convincing.
  
• If you like needlepoint tips, the Pilot Hi-Tec-C is probably the best there is. I have a random pen body with a Hi-Tec-C refill in .3 that I am using as my main pen right now and am pretty happy with it. I still prefer the Signo refill in Micro, if only just, but the pen body I have won't fit the refill. I would like to add that this is the only pen I have ever used in .3 that wasn't too points and scratchy to use.
  
  One more thing, once you find a refill that you like, if the pen body isn't something you are happy with hit up thrift stores, ebay, or any of the number of Chinese wholesale websites out there for random cheap pens that you like. The refills don't matter, just buy a few of them until you find one you like that will fit whatever your preferred refill is. Like I said before, the Signo Micro is my favorite refill, but I hate the pen itself, so I have a random black metal pen with a secure cap that I bought from Aliexpress for like $2 with free shipping that the Signo refill happens to fit into that I (usually) use as my main pen. Right now I am using a different random pen that I bought online with the Hi-Tec-C refill because it is still new and shiny and I'm not over it yet, lol.

Hi! Just took the CA Bar and am about to start packing out of my on campus apartment, so I'm feeling a bit whimsical and some of this may be more directed at her.

Writing, Notetaking, and Organization

If you're particular about writing instruments, which some people are, it will take trial and error to find your right fit. This was my go-to, and it got me through three years of time, four years of credits, and three different employers.

Sharpie Liquid Highlighters, Chisel Tip, 5 Colors


Pros

• Great color, easy grip, chisel tip allows full line highlighting and underlining.
  
• Pen format works well in almost every bag or organizer.
  
• Five colors allows you to book brief (she will know what that means, and probably shouldn't do it until she knows how to craft a good one page case brief) in FIRAC format.
  
  Cons
  
  
• Getting harder and more expensive to find.
  
• Go through ink fairly quickly.
  
  
  uni-ball Jetstream RT Ballpoint Pens, Bold Point (1.0mm)
  
  Pros
  
  
• I mainly used the capped .07mm, but the retractable .07mm work well too.
  
  Cons
  
  
• This is less of a Con and more of a comment. Things like line width, pressure, and paper type make a solid rec hard to make here. There's so much personal preference. My general rule of thumb is it should cost enough that you can rely on it without being expensive enough to make you think too hard about losing one occasionally.
  
  Freeleaf® Yellow Annotation Ruled Pads Letter
  
  Pros
  
  
• Excellent weight, color, and ink retention.
  
• Pre-formatted organization structure, so you know what everything is if it gets mixed up before you file it.
  
  Cons
  
  
• It's $7 a pad. You're not going to find good quality pads for that much cheaper, but you fill find stuff that will get the job done cheaper. I maybe spent $200 during law school on pads, because I hand wrote notes. There's empirical studies that show it helps to write notes, but it was dying out at my school and I'd be surprised if my class would show any correlation between rank and note taking style.
  
  Ticonderoga Pencils, Wood-Cased, Graphite #2 HB Soft, Black
  
  Pros
  
  
• Best quality pencil for the price, hands down.
  
  Cons
  
  
• You could spend more on Blackwing, but the marginal utility is nil outside an artistry context, if then. Save the money for other things.
  
  BIC 4-Color Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point (1.0mm)
  
  Pros
  
  
• Great quality, incredibly durable, great form factor.
  
• Makes grading papers (self grading, or if she becomes a TA) turned in via hard copy a bit simpler. I had my own system that I maintained so that students could understand (Green - Good, Red - Rework, Blue - Style, Black - Final Comments)
  
  
  
  
  Since I am pickiest about those things, I will give more general comments about the rest.
  
  
• Battery phone case, back up laptop charger, extra phone cables all work wonders. Having an extra on hand lets you not stress about the tools you need to succeed.
  
  
• A good padfolio is both useful and a nod to the history of our profession in some circles. I went with Levenger, but everyone has their preferences.
  
  
• The best bookstand on the market, in my humble opinion.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This is more general, and beyond the scope of what you asked, but I felt like giving unasked for advice so you can take it or leave it.
  Sleeping & Home Life
  
  
• The surliest 2L will casually throw around comments about sleep being for the weak, but there is literally no other way to get the kind of rest your mind and body needs. Invest in the things and habits that make great sleep possible, whatever that may be for her. And do the best you can to never be a barrier to it.
  
• Sundays should be for rest and keeping everying not-school related on track. Need to visit friends or family? A few hours on Sunday is a great time to do that. Pre-plan meals and do bulk cooking to keep work down during the week. Get all the laundry done, get the kitchen clean, make sure you don't run out of toothpaste on Wednesday morning. Sunday evening you can get your reading done for Monday, but finish the night doing something restful so you don't go into Monday feeling you're jumping off a cliff.
  
• Low-effort acts of kindness do a lot of work. Writing a note, leaving a message, suprising her with a small and thoughtful gift are all great ways to show you care without imposing too much on her time and autonomy. Date night is important, and keeping a running list of things you can do at a drop of a hat for different amounts of time and money is helpful, but keeping your relationship strong through what in all likelihood will be a time of incredible change and transformation is about putting in the effort without demanding an equal or greater act of reciprocation. Even when the thank you text gets delayed more than it should, or she snaps at you unfairly, the body of love you show will find its way through to the end. The best way to show you love her is to enable her success and let her respond in ways that make sense while she figures this whole thing out.
  
• This is a very personal area that I will not spend too much time on, but here it goes. You may think you are a good lover now, and I hope you are. Try to be the best version of that for her now, in whatever form that takes. It helps a lot, proportionately to how much it's important to your relationship.
  
  Health & Wellness
  
  
• This is not a gendered comment, even and especially coming from the perspective of a guy who had some bad habits he broke before and took into law school. Any habits you thought were hard to break before law school are going to be multiples harder in law school. Dealing with this may be damage control, or require more work, depending on what it is. A caffiene fiend is going to reach unparalled heights. None of my friends who smoked going into law school found a way to quit. The moderate drinkers became heavy drinkers. Some people took up the gym as a new religion, but most stayed true to form. The only real way to know how to handle this is to either stop it quick or find an adult and productive way to keeps things reasonable.
  
  
• For the love of all that is holy, exercise. It is proven to help brain function whether in cognitive skills or emotional health or stress reduction. If it's nonexistent now, start small and try to build up to some routine of significance while it can become a habit and before the midsemester crunch hits.

A thinner pen on the cheaper side, hmm. Any of the Paper Mates line in fine point work very well for the pricepoint. There's the 100RT, 300RT, and 500RT/550RT, and the 700RT. I've had a hard time finding the 700RT in fine point (.7), but I believe they do make it. The RT stands for retractable by the way, if that makes a huge difference. I tend to lose caps easily so I prefer all my pens in retractable. The Pilot B2P in fine point (.7) and the Pilot "Better Ballpoint" fine point both use the same refill, but I prefer the B2P, which writes incredibly. All of the ones I just named have a pretty thin body to them as well. If you wanna spend a couple extra dollars I always feel the Zebra F-701 is an absolute must for every day carry. It's got a super heavy feel to it and you can snip down most thin refills to fit into it. The refill that comes in the 701 is okay, but not the greatest, although I would still recommend it. It's all metal, even the grip which is metal. I'm a tense person too and grip my pens tight and I love the feel of the 701. That's just a few to look around on the internet for. I'm super particular about my pens so if you get to try any of those and are looking to go in a different direction youre always welcome to message me. I'm not into fountain pens at all, basically just the cheap stuff, and with a little ingenuity you can combine some cheap parts to make some pretty nice stuff. As far as how it looks, if you check any of those out and like/dislike certain looks I could probably help there too. A super cheap pen you can get by the dozen is the Bic "Soft feel" which I personally love the look of but dont be fooled, the "soft grip" isn't all that soft but it writes okay for a "by the box" pen. The last one I could say off the top of my head is the Pentel RSVP in a fine point. It has a cap unfortunately, but it really does write well, looks super basic, and I'm sure they make a retractable version I haven't seen. Gimme a sec and I can link you to some that I mentioned.

Edit - Links: Ill keep updating.

Retractable Pentel RSVP in black (.7) - Pentel RSVP Super RT Ballpoint Pen, (0.7mm) Fine Line, Black Ink, Box of 12 (BX477-A) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079Q9VZ4F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PUPIDbP272DEN

Zebra F-701 (.8) - Zebra 29411 F-701 Ballpoint Stainless Steel Retractable Pen, Fine Point, 0.8mm, Black Ink, 1-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002L6RB80/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TWPIDb0QM0M7H

Bic Atlantis Exact (.7 but writes way thinner) - BIC Atlantis Pen 0.7mm, Pack of 3 - VCGNP31-AST https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F6B60UG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_VXPIDbKTK07BB

Pilot B2P ballpoint (.7 but again seems thinner. Careful though, they make a B2P gel so make sure you read descriptions and check packaging if possible) - Pilot Bottle-2-Pen (B2P) - Retractable Ball Point Pens Made from Recycled Bottles (5 Count) Fine Point, 2 Black Ink/2 Blue Ink/1 Red Ink, Refillable, Comfortable Grip (32614) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ZYF26G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JZPIDbFKEPGTP

Pilot "Better" ballpoint (.7, uses the same refill as the B2P) - Pilot Retractable Ballpoint roller pens, Black & Blue colors Fine point, 10 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CJCY6P5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_20PIDbH8JHY61

Paper Mates RT 300 (can find in .7 pretty easily) - Paper Mate InkJoy 300RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Fine Point, Black, Box of 12 (1951360) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EB4IZN4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_M2PIDbSHMC6V6

Paper Mates RT 700 (have only been able to find in 1.0 but pretty sure there's .7's out there. To me it's kinda girly looking but you can swap it into a Paper Mates Flexgrip Ultra which has a nice, classic look

RT700 - Paper Mate InkJoy 700RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point, White Barrel, Black Ink, Box of 12 (1951347) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EB4KBVI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_C5PIDb4JEMV5Q

Flexgrip Ultra (not Flexgrip Elite, unless you like that one better) Paper Mate Flexgrip Ultra Stick Medium Point Ballpoint Pen, 12-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IE6H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_T6PIDb5KPA4T3

Bic "Soft Feel" (only been able to find in 1.0/Medium but I'm sure they make a fine as well, though I heard it's not great) - BIC 8373971 Soft Feel Retractable Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point, Black, 12-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IE82/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_E7PIDbBCG8T5R

Give me your thoughts when you have time or if I missed any you wanna see.

Items are as follows:

1. Camera is a Fujifilm XE-1. I technically bought it for my fiancé but I've slowly began to adopt it as my "carry-around-anywhere" camera. It's smaller and cheaper than my primary camera and still produces killer images - so it tends to just come around with me, sometimes carried on a wrist strap, sometimes around the neck, sometimes in a bag (which I mentioned in another comment).
   
   
2. Knife is a Sog Reactor. I really enjoy the small size and minimalist feel. Has the essentials: a nice blade, a fantastic setoff pliers, an innovative, interchangeable bit driver, and, of course, a bottle opener. I recommend it - the blade has held its edge really well, it fits comfortably in a pocket, I find myself carrying it much more often than my last multitool.
   
   
3. Flashlight is a Jetbeam (aka Niteye) KO-01. It runs on a single 18650 rechargeable battery - super powerful, runs forever and is IPX-6 water-resistant - (Protects from powerful water jets. So if you modified your super soaker with an air compressor and an aftermarket tip, your stuff is still safe.).
   
   
4. Shades are Kaenon Bluesmasters which you have to believe me when I say are a steal at $150 (in that link). I also have the Kaenon Burnets which I actually favor for more of a stylish pair and treat them a little nicer. I believe it was two brothers who left Oakley to start Kaenon... but don't quote me... and they produce some crystal clear lenses far superior to brands like Oakley and Ray Ban. They may even be better than Maui Jims.
   
   
5. Notebook is a Rite in the Rain all-weather notebook. They make tons of different sizes and styles of notebooks with paper that feels like paper but can be written on in pouring rain... Obviously, then, you need a pen that can live up to that as well...
   
   
6. Pen is a Fisher Space Pen which is a great pen for $12. The all-metal construction, nice clicky mechanism, and ink that works in all conditions because it is pressurized ([it was designed for astronauts](fisher space end astronauts)) make it an ideal pen, IMO.
   
   
7. Wallet is my most recent addition. It's a Trayvax Element which is a Buy-it for-life, Made-in-the-USA wallet to end all wallets. It's made out of cerakoted stainless steel, thick leather, and 550 paracord along with a unique rivet-esque patented button. It holds cash, comfortably 6 cards and a Zootility Pocket Monkey which I failed to include in the picture. Both the wallet and the pocket monkey have bottle openers.
   
   
8. Buds are some older Bose SoundTrue Earbuds which I love for their decent noise-canceling and fantastic sound.
   
   
9. iPhone6

So in my mind, the basics of an EDC are a knife, a flashlight, a pen, and a notebook. Depending on your preference/level of preparedness, though, multitools are great, a gun is convenient if you're in a dangerous place with any regularity, and a first-aid kit can literally be a lifesaver.

So for the basics I'd recommend:
Knife: a Kershaw Leek or Scrambler. The Leek is smaller, more discreet, very light, and razor sharp. The Scrambler is considerably more robust, has a longer blade (3.5" vs. 3"), but weighs more as well. Both can be found in Kershaw's "Blackwash" finish, which I like both for the feel and for the added rust and scratch resistance. Both are also spring-assisted, which is legal in a lot of places, but check your local laws before carrying either in public. If you can't carry them, take a look at the Cold Steel Voyager. It comes in several lengths, is legal in California, and is very durable, if not super comfortable.

Flashlights: Oh my god, the flashlights. LEDs have become so cheap and so bright over the last few years that it's actually pretty hard to go wrong. Nitecore is currently my favorite brand, but Fenix has some options as well. I would urge you not to buy a surefire; they are undeniably great lights, but unless you expect to encounter truly extraordinary circumstances on a regular basis (any chance your light could fall under a tank or a bulldozer? maybe surefire is for you), they tend to be somewhat more pricey per lumen than a number of other companies. For EDC, the Fenix PD35 2014 edition is almost unmatched. Almost a thousand lumens, takes rechargeable batteries, and small enough to drop into the front pocket of your jeans, if you don't want to use the included clip or holster. If you'd like something more keychain sized, the Nitecore SENS series comes in several sizes and battery types, and automatically adjusts the brightness of the beam based on the light's orientation. Aim it at your feet and you get a soft glow; aim it off into the woods and it grows steadily brighter.

Let's be honest, a pen is going to get lost. The best pen is one you like enough to keep track of, but one you won't miss too terribly should some co-worker walk off with it. I like the Zebra F-301. Writes smooth, classic stainless steel good looks, and comes in RGB & Black. Notebooks depend entirely on personal preference too, but the smallest Moleskine is easily pocketable and has 32 lined pages.

In my mind, there is only one name in multitools. Leatherman has a kick-ass reputation, a 25-year warranty, and a plethora of tools to suit any need. For the casual EDC, I'd go with what I believe is the second-lightest full size tool, the Skeletool. 7 functions include a knife that opens while the rest of the tool is closed, the ubiquitous pliers/wirecutters, two double-sided bits and a driver; and it looks so. freakin. cool.

I dunno much about guns except that of all the things I've listed, a pistol should be the one you consider most carefully, especially whether you need it or not. It's a big investment and a bit of a lifestyle adjustment if you decide to go CCW. I've always heard 9mm and up, so use that as a jumping-off point.

First aid kits are useless unless they're both small enough to be carried anywhere and large enough to contain anything you might need. Making your own is a good idea because you have the best knowledge of your environment, but I found a couple on Amazon which seem to have most of the basics without too much fluff or bulk. The first could be stuffed in a jacket pocket, whereas the second would be useful in a car.

I hope I helped. Good luck!

[Kershaw Scrambler] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I04MOIO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

[Kershaw Leek] (http://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-1660BLKW-Folding-BlackWash-SpeedSafe/dp/B00J14BOBU/ref=pd_sim_sg_6?ie=UTF8&refRID=1MHD47WR72RJ9HJVWCZN)

[Cold Steel Voyager, 3 inch] (http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Voyager-Tanto-Plain/dp/B00322LQB0/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1417535788&sr=1-5&keywords=cold+steel+voyager)

[Fenix PD35 2014] (http://www.amazon.com/Fenix-PD35-Flashlight-EdisonBright-Batteries/dp/B00DR9GWX0/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1417536075&sr=1-1&keywords=fenix+pd+35)

[Nitecore SENS AA version]
(http://www.amazon.com/Nitecore-Flashlight-Active-Dimming-Lumens/dp/B008J4CHNW/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1417536301&sr=1-2&keywords=nitecore+sens)

Zebra F-301

[Moleskine "Cahier" Notebook, pack of 3] (http://www.amazon.com/Moleskine-Cahier-Journal-Pocket-Ruled/dp/8883704894/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1417536675&sr=1-1&keywords=moleskine+small)

[Leatherman Skeletool] (http://www.amazon.com/Leatherman-830846-Skeletool-Multitool/dp/B000XU9NXW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417536920&sr=8-1&keywords=skeletool)

[Small bag or pocket first aid kit] (http://www.amazon.com/AAA-Piece-Commuter-First-Aid/dp/B000SL0R9K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417537142&sr=8-2&keywords=first+aid+kit)

Larger car first aid kit

EDIT: aspace

Sounds like fun! I'll have to do this later

1.) Something that is grey: Pelican Gray Nail Polish. (on private WL)

2.) Something reminiscent of rain: Shower Curtain is a barrier between the bathroom tiles and cascading, rain-like, waterfall that flows from the showerhead. (on dream WL)

3.) Something food related that is unusual: Candy Mold. Chocolate frogs, anyone? (on under $5 WL)

4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why. (Yes, pets count!): Ice Cream Maker. No ice cream for me because I started keto last week. My friends and family would benefit from this when I make them some delicious ice cream. (on dream WL)

5.) A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it!: The Knife of Never Letting Go. It's book one of the Chaos Walking trilogy, which has rave reviews. Apparently it's a dark, dystopian book full of suspense. (on high priority WL)

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related!: Laser Finger Beams (not on WL)

7.) Something related to cats. I love cats! (keep this SFW, you know who you are...): Westside Warrior Nail Polish. Lions, which are really big cats, are warriors of the jungle. (on under $5 WL)

8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it: Origami Star Paper. I like folding these, but once I make them into stars, I literally have nothing to do with them. There's jars of them all across my house and all I can do is look at them (on under $5 WL)

9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why?: Song from Iron Man 3 Soundtrack. Everyone should see it because Iron Man + Tony Stark + RDJ = <3 (on digital WL)

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain.: Spin-the-shot. If zombies attack, I would need to be drunk, so this would come in handy for some last minute fun before I turn into a brain eating zombie. Let's face it, I'm not surviving a zombie attack... (on $5-$10 WL)

11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals: Coconut Oil. Everyone on the keto subreddit raves about this stuff. Being a newbie to this lifestyle, I feel that if so many people had great results using this oil, that it would help with my goals. (on $11-$25 WL)

12.) One of those pesky Add-On items: Anti-stress face mask (not surprisingly, found on my add-on WL)

13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why?: Globe Bar. I would feel like a super cool James Bond-esque spy who would have a secret room hidden behind a bookshelf. Plus I love alcohol and globes. (on dream WL)

14.) Something bigger than a bread box: Desk Easel. (on $11-25 WL)

15.) Something smaller than a golf ball: Earrings. (on private WL)

16.) Something that smells wonderful: Pink Punch Baby Lips (on add-ons WL)

17.) A (SFW) toy: Kindle. I would consider this a techie toy. (on dream WL)

18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school: Fun Colored Pens. (on add-on WL)

19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be: Paints. My current obsession is painting! (on $11-25 WL)

20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand: Mug. I love love love this literature mug. I not only love the varying typography all over it, but I think that there are some really striking first lines of literature. (on $11-25 WL)

BONUS

1.) Real name: PM sent

2.) Made in Oregon: Handwarmer Mug

Edit: raffle phrase - fear cuts deeper than swords

Bags

• (1) [Filson Medium Field Bag](http://www.filson.com/products/field-bag-medium.70232.html?fromCat=true&fvalsProduct=luggage/field-bags&fmetaProduct=1019): This is my usual every day bag, and I rarely leave the house without it. After a long search for a bag last year, I decided to buy the Filson (and get it shipped from the US); I'm glad I did – the quality is fantastic, and it looks practically the same as it did on its first day.
  
  -or-
  
  
• (2) [Filson Briefcase Computer Bag](http://www.filson.com/products/briefcase-computer-bag.70257.html?fromCat=true&fvalsProduct=luggage/briefcases&fmetaProduct=1019): If I ever take my MacBook Air with me outside of the house (usually to some work at a coffee shop), or if I go on a flight, I'll take this bag. It's rarely used in comparison to the Field Bag, but it's worth a mention nonetheless.
  
  Gadgetry
  
  
• (3) [iPad (third generation) - Wi-Fi and 4G](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00746V5DY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00746V5DY) with (4) [Byrd & Belle felt pouch](http://www.byrdandbelle.com/product/ipad-kindle-sleeve-gray-wool-felt-and-brown-leather), and (5) red leather Smart Cover: The iPad has been an integral part of my EDC since the original iPad. I seem to be getting more and more done on the iPad – whether it's emailing, writing with Byword or reading news with Reeder.
  
• (6) [iPhone 4](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041E5G32/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0041E5G32) with (7) [Sena Tan Leather pouch](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003X9ZJSS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003X9ZJSS)
  
• (8) [13" MacBook Air](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CWHZP4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005CWHZP4) with (9) [Byrd & Belle felt pouch](http://www.byrdandbelle.com/product/macbook-air-sleeve-gray-wool-felt-and-brown-leather)
  
• (10) [Fujifilm X100](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043RS864/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0043RS864) with [Leather Case](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MME698/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004MME698): I used to own a Canon 7D, but its size is so unwieldy for me in practice, that it ended up not being used. Instead, I've swapped it for the X100 – sure the lens is fixed, but I mainly used a prime lens with the 7D anyway; the APS-C sensor is a boon, especially for the camera's small size. The software is a little finicky, but the cassis and build quality is fantastic.
  
• (11) [Etymotic HF3 Earphones with Mic with pouch](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YTROIU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003YTROIU)
  
• (12)[ B&W P5 Headphones](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003IHUHGE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003IHUHGE): If I have the rare inclination to listen to music (I usually listen to podcasts) and am happy to take the additional hassle compared to the HF3s, I'll sometimes use the P5s. The design and construction is amazing and the audio quality is great, although the leather pads do get a little hot after a while on my ears.
  
• (13) [Amazon Kindle 4](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051QVESA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0051QVESA): Reeder and Instapaper are great on the iPad, but the Kindle is much better for novel reading. The iPad 3's new screen is on par (if not better) than e-ink, but the Kindle's much smaller size and weight is a necessity for prolonged periods of reading.
  
  Accessories and Miscellaneous
  
  
• (14) [Cocoon GRIT-IT! Organiser](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HU27UW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002HU27UW): This incorporates, (15) [Studio Neat Cosmonaut Stylus](http://www.studioneat.com/products/cosmonaut); (16) Barclays PinSentry card reader; *(17) Zebra F-701***; **(18) iPad SD Card Reader; (19) [Griffin USB Mini-Cable Kit](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003T5KXJQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003T5KXJQ); (20) [USB Battery Pack](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000UH46YY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=coffee-coffee-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B000UH46YY)
  
• (21) Polo Ralph Lauren Leather Card Holder
  
• (22)[ Seiko SNK809 Automatic watch](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SSUQFG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002SSUQFG) with [Hirsch Liberty leather strap](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002ZJIVNW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lawrencemurga-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B002ZJIVNW)
  
• (23) Keys including [True Utility Cashstash](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JUDJBG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002JUDJBG), [LaCie 8GB Key](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D2AZ0Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=yoarthwo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004D2AZ0Q) and Barclays Cycle Hire key
  
• (24) Hand Sanitiser
  
• (25) Passport
  
• (26) Screen Cleaning Cloth

I thought some more about this post today. There are plenty of web sites about how to do a good job interview but here's what I'd tell candidates. Bear in mind these are my personal preferences, I'm an INTP, and I'm 47.

Do:

• Arrive 15 minutes early.
  
• Be nice to receptionists, administrative assistants, door/security people. They will talk about you after you've left.
  
• Smile.
  
• Wear a suit. It doesn't have to be fancy or new, but does need to be clean and pressed and fit reasonably well.
  
• Dress in neutral tones.
  
• Ladies, if your skirt hits above the knee when standing make sure it doesn't slide up your thigh too much when you sit down. I am not interested in interviewing your underwear.
  
• Wear understated makeup in natural tones.
  
• Wear understated jewelry. And no jewelry at all is preferable to cheap jewelry.
  
• Scrub your fingernails.
  
• Clean your glasses lenses. Trying to interview someone through a haze of oil, dust, and smudges is just gross.
  
• Take a moment to think about an answer before you give it.
  
• Bring a briefcase or portfolio, not a backpack, and nothing made out of parachute-type fabric.
  
• Bring several hard copies of your resume/CV. Sometimes I pass these on to colleagues if I don't hire that person but they made a good impression on me.
  
• Pay attention to your shoes. Clean them. No stilettos.
  
• Turn off and put away your phone. I don't even want to know you have one while you're in the office.
  
• Bring ID, references/contacts, directions/instructions, questions.
  
• Focus and show interest.
  
• Know at least a little about the company.
  
• Thank me for taking the time to meet with you.
  
  Don't:
  
  
• Use your phone in the office, even the outer office.
  
• Look at the clock during the interview.
  
• Interrupt me.
  
• Wear perfume/cologne. In fact, try to use unscented shampoo, lotion, hairstyling products, etc. If my office still smells like you after you've left, you're not getting the job.
  
• Wear shoes you can't walk in comfortably, or shoes that make a lot of noise when you walk.
  
• Overuse the word "excited."
  
• Play with your hair (this goes for guys, too).
  
• Fold your arms across your body. No one wants to hire this.
  
• Bring in coffee/soda/etc., headphones, gum, candy, breath mints, a hat/cap, piercings (one in each ear is fine), friends.
  
• Slouch.
  
• Complain - about past employers or anything else.
  
• Ask about salary, working from home, flex hours, or vacation time. Wait until you've been offered the job to negotiate.
  
  Ask (not necessary all of these):
  
  
• What other departments/positions would I be working/coordinating with?
  
• What would be the most important things to accomplish in the first 30 days?
  
• What do you think is the best part of working here?
  
• Are there any other questions I can answer for you?
  
• Can you show me or describe some of the projects the person who previously held this position was working on? What did you like and not like about their performance on those projects?
  
• Can I see the work area/cube/desk/office? (If you can, this is a good opportunity to glean information about the corporate culture and possibly meet future coworkers, esp. if there is going to be a second round of interviews.)
  
  Want to impress me?
  
  
• Take notes during the interview and use a nice (not disposable) pen.
  
• Know about my company's competition.
  
• Use a pocket portfolio for each hard copy of your resume, with a slot for your business card.
  
• Be able to reiterate the primary responsibilities of the position you're applying for.
  
• I want to know that you can identify and solve problems so be prepared with specific examples.
  
• Know some of the current trends and concerns in the field and ask my opinion about them. "What's your opinion about the impact AirBnB has been having on local real estate markets?"...I will remember that: 1. you asked my opinion, and 2. you know something about the field unrelated to the interview.
  
• At the end of the interview if you want the job, say so directly.
  
• A hand-written (if you have decent handwriting) snail mail thank you note still scores points. Put it in the mail that same day if possible.
  

1. I used to go camping a few hours north by this pretty river with my family every summer. I really loved it. I loved swimming in natural bodies of water (it's just so different then swimming in a pool) and I was the type of kid that never wanted to get out of the water. I also loved looking up and seeing the stars every night. I adore camping but I haven't been in the longest time. Now that I'm an adult, I've been talking with some friends about taking a camping trip to Yosemite and I really hope we can manage to make it happen, I've never been to Yosemite and I think it would be a lot of fun.
   
   
2. I don't have anything great. Though camping makes me think of smores, and what do you need to make smores? CHOCOLATE OF COURSE. Also I think something about writing in a notebook or on paper instead of a computer is really nice. I used to go to girl scout camp every summer and I remember sending home nice handwritten letters to my friends and family, [so here are some pens!] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U9TEEA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3QFC3MEUS1ELO&coliid=I1K9ZOTZI8U069) When I end up taking my Yosemite trip that I talked about, I definitely plan to send lots of postcards!
   
   
3. If I didn't have a load of work to catch up on I'd be taking a hike right now :(, but this summer I hope for lots of outdoor time. And I hope you have a wonderful trip with your family :)

I use 3:

• Zebra F701 I love this pen. It's $5, is near-100% steel, has a click that is very quiet, has an incredible pocket clip, has great filing near the tip for grip. The entire thing comes apart, and you can tinker with it or take it apart/rebuild it as much as you like. I like the way they write - not too heavy, not too light. They leave a very small mark on the other side of notebook pages, but compared to some gel pens like the Pilot G2, it's nowhere near as bad. The ink cartridges are disposable, but you can buy replacements online. They last a very long time. Over the past 4 years, I've carried and used this pen all day, 5 days of the week. So far, I've gone through 3 (Most still work, but have some aspect of them that is broken, such as the threading wearing from excessive fidgeting or something). It's also worth noting that I have a habit of spinning my pens and fidgeting with them, so there's a huge increase on the frequency that i drop/slam my pens into the ground and the amount of wear-and-tear the threading experiences compared to a regular user. The pen itself, by the way, feels incredible - not just as in how it feels physically (very smooth), but I like the weight distribution for spinning it.
  
  
• Pentel Graphgear 500: This is the pencil I use. It's about $6, and comes in 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, and 0.9mm versions. If you buy bulk (~8 pencils, I think?) you can save a couple dollars per pencil. I prefer pens to pencils, but when I need a pencil, I always go with this. It's pretty standard for mechanical pencils, but one neat feature is the eraser - the eraser is not exposed on the back, there's a cover that you must remove to access it. This is something I really like - it makes the pencil look nicer, and you aren't pressing on an eraser to get more lead out the front. You can buy replacement erasers, for when it runs out. Note that this pencil is a bit front-heavy (the front is metal, while the back/center is lightweight plastic), and that the tip is a tad bit sharp (comes in handy for opening plastic packages, but I've never had it stab me by mistake). My #1 issue with this pen is that the pocket clip tends to come loose and fall off after awhile - this is a big issue for me, because I carry my pens/pencils in my pocket. Because of this, I'm considering other pencils, or maybe finding some way to hot-glue the pocket clip on? It's a shame, because I otherwise love this pencil.
  
  
• Pilot G2. This is a pen, you can buy a dozen for $1 each. It's gel, and writes bold. I use this when I want to write in bold. I also use this when I write a full page of equations in regular pen, then have space on the sides that I want to use- the bold nature helps separate it from the other equations on the page. This is the pen that I keep as backup for if my main pen somehow fails, and it's the pen that I let other people borrow (since so often we both forget to return it / get the pen back).
  
  I also have a fisher space pen. It's cool, but I find it is kind of small and easy to lose, so I just keep it at home and only use it at my desk.

Oh god. Okay. I feel like I've been preparing for this post my whole life (or at least since I found these awesome things on amazon):

• Tuscan Whole Milk
  
• Fresh Whole Rabbit
  
• Uranium Ore in a Can
  
• The 2009-2014 Outlook for Wood Toilet Seats in Greater China -- Amazing read! Riveting!
  
• A Million Random Digits -- the textbook no student should be without!!!
  
• UFO Detector -- It's so amazing, you'll want to anally probe yourself!
  
• Everybody Masturbates -- Best reference manual and an amazing children's book!
  
• BIC Pens for Her -- Not to be used by men or your penis and testicles will immediately invert themselves and transform themselves into a vagina and ovaries!!!
  
• Moon People -- The greatest book of our time. Quite possibly. Follow the adventures of Dale Courtney - I mean, David Braymer - and his lady friend Cheral and his escapades as 1st Science Officer on the Lunar Base 1 Mobile Base Station
  
  Make sure you read the comments on these amazing, once in a lifetime products!!!
  
  edit: Aww shoot, I just saw you meant for realz. I got nothing, sorry. But still, you'll have a good laugh!

>This is interesting.

Yes!! This is one of my favorite subjects. Jodi Pfarr has an excellent video explaining how dominant and minority groups interact. I wish I could show it to you but it's kept under lock and key by a third party publisher. I'll try to sum it up as best I can. I'm going to go into some issues that are pretty hot right now. Know that I use these just as examples and I don't want to open a debate about their specifics.

The dominant group and minority groups have equally valid narratives built through their perspectives. Those perspectives are world views built through socialization. For example, I'm perceived as white and therefore experience white privilege in the ways articulated in that Invisible Backpack article I linked in my previous comment. That doesn't mean my experience is less valid, it just means I've been treated differently just because of my skin color in a way that's very different than the experiences of people of color.

Growing up, I saw the police as upholders of justice in the neighborhood. All my interactions with the police were positive except for that one speeding ticket, and heck, I totally deserved it.

However, people of color, particularly certain races, often have a very different experience with the police. Any African American person likely has a story of a time when they or a person they know was unjustly harassed by the police for no reason other than the color of their skin. Many have a very different experiences and conclusions on whether or not the police are trustworthy. Take a look at this graph about perceptions of the investigation of Brown's death in Ferguson:

http://www.people-press.org/files/2014/08/8-18-2014_03.png Source article here

Look at that racial division. Majority white people trust the investigation. Majority black people don't. They see the prevalent racism in the police force we're never exposed to. They understand what it's like to be singled out for their race by the police and their humanity disregarded in a way that people who are white will never understand from a first person perspective. We can hear/read about it, but we'll never truly experience it, so we'll never have that same world view.

Again, these worldviews are all equally valid, but our own isn't a good make up of the big picture. Author John Steinbeck traveled to a city with another author friend of his and both wrote about their experiences. When the trip was over they compared essays and Steinbeck remarked that if he didn't know better he'd swear they visited a completely different place. Both were correct, but only a partial view.

When you talk about minorities and dominant groups, things get even harrier. By definition, the dominant group gets all sorts of invisible backpack bonuses. One of those bonuses is being seen as "normal". The dominant group is the "norm" and the minority group is the "other". There's toys for kids and toys for girls, there's vitamins and women's vitamins, there's bic pens and bic pens for her, etc.

The dominant perspective/worldview is also what's presented as normal. This is a very complex issue that spans many social science fields from sociology where studies examine dominant view impacts on statistical trends of a group, sometimes as large as a country population (for example in one study students were primed by being reminded that they are female did more poorly than the control group of female students who were not primed), to psychology where the dominant view impacts are studied in an individual who may internalize the dominant view or come to reject it.

So when it comes to social movements you're looking at a social minority group, who has realized there's a social problem they want to change. They recognize it because it's intrinsic to their experiences as a minority group, yet the dominant group doesn't have that perspective. What often happens is the dominant group becomes reactionary to minority group voices. "I've never seen that before!" when said in a normal voice by a single individual becomes a massive wave that smashes into the minority group. It's the dominant group's responsibility to listen, not speak to the minority group and take in what they say as an equally valid conclusion that stems from vastly different experiences that they will never personally experience. In order to understand someone else you have to temporarily suspend your own world view and listen. This is the core of a lot of Pfarr's work.

At this point you might ask, "well shouldn't the minority listen to the dominant group's views too? That's what a discussion is all about, right?" The answer is that they've already heard the dominant narrative over and over on a daily basis, either as a constant hum in the background or being screamed from many mouths in the foreground. Due to the nature of being a dominant group, their voice is always so loud no matter how softly each individual tries to speak. In contrast, the minority group's voice is so small even if individuals are screaming at the top of their lungs. So it's the dominant group's responsibility to suspend their worldviews and take the time to listen without comment.

An example of this comes from a book a federal government employee wrote about his time working with a local Native American tribe. He came in with the expectation that they would get moving on the project of mutual land management as soon as he arrived. To his surprise no one from the tribe was remotely interested in working with him or even talking to him. And whenever he did get someone talking they gave him an angry rant about all the ways they've been manipulated and exploited by white people and the US government. Our author was initially hurt, understandably, and would try to explain that he wasn't responsible for their suffering. To his further surprise their reaction was complete rejection. He found a few tribe members who would talk to him more openly and tried to explain that before moving forward, past grievances had to be addressed. The local tribe had been hurt too many times by white people and the encroaching government to trust the next white guy who shows up with a big smile and nice sounding promises. Before moving anywhere forward, they needed to know he was going to listen to them, know their perspective and history of exploitation and suffering (which so many others never cared to learn), and know that he would keep every promise no matter how seemingly insignificant. Once our author began listening, instead of giving his own views, and building up trust a little at a time he started getting somewhere. It took him years to build the relationships he needed to perform his job effectively and writes about how frustrating it was, especially at first when he was enduring many people's painful memories and anger directed at him. Through it all he writes that it was an invaluable experience and he learned to appreciate the opportunities of honesty and openness that were shared with him. He gained a much better understanding of the people he was hired to work with and through that relationship was able to act as a respected intermediary between them and the government. His experiences show how important it is for someone of the dominant group to listen to the minority group, hear what they have to say, and take it as a valid and true perspective equal to their own. This is key for social progress. Some background info, his five predecessors didn't last a year and very likely all his initial discussion points were bad echos of the last five failed attempts.

TL;DR Here's where I answer your question building on stuff I said previously. Sorry I wrote a book but I wanted to build up some key points first.

>So, if I'm understanding correctly, despite the dominant group's larger numbers, the unacknowledged privileges which they hold hurt their credibility and therefore their opinions are, objectively, not as extreme as they appear? Hopefully this analogy isn't too ridiculous, but are you basically saying that if I have an apple and an orange, I could say that the apple isn't as apple-y as the orange is orange-y because the apple grew in different conditions? Is that another oversimplification? I'm aware I do that from time to time.

So to specifically answer your question, both dominant and minority groups are equally credible, but as the dominant view is the norm, only the minority view hasn't been heard. The minority group is also in the disadvantaged position so they should be the ones to determine the problem and solution. To use your example (which is an oversimplification but that's okay, we'll roll with it) apples are equally apply as oranges are orangey but both live in a society where apples are everywhere! Oh not when it comes to population numbers, then they're about 50/50, but you see apples posted all over billboards and filling the grocery store aisles. There's just a little corner here and there for oranges and when ever they pop up, some apples always ask why that space wasn't used for more apples. Government is comprised of 75% apples and being an apple gives you a bonus at work. And when oranges try to talk about getting more orangey things, many of the apples tell them things are just fine they way they are. See, those apples have no idea what it's like to be an orange stuck in a world made for apples. In order for the oranges have the same opportunities at life as the apples, the apples need to listen to the oranges frustrations and sufferings and then make what changes they can to include more orange voices.

That was a silly extended metaphor (it might just float around as some copy pasta) but I hope it helps.

This is the stuff I have on me most of the time. I’m a grad student and as you can see, I’ve been lurking here for quite a while. I’m basically an /r/EDC stereotype at this point.

• Saddleback wallet
  
• bullet space pen
  
• Nitecore p12 flashlight (winter . . . short days)
  
• Ruger SR9c (winter)
  
• Sig p938 (summer)
  
• Spyderco delica (summer)
  
• Benchmade 950-1 rift (winter)
  
• carmex
  
• phone
  
• keys
  
• N82 IWB holsters
  
  *Thoughts: I used to carry a FourSevens QT2A (I think?) and it fit in the pocket much better but was obviously much dimmer than the p12. I think i'll go back to a smaller flashlight next winter. I've also carried a Benchmade 707, 275, and several 556 styles. Of all of them I liked the 707 the best but I tend to give away my knives to anyone that takes interest and the 707's price had gone way up when I went to buy another one.
  
  The p938 is, of course, much easier to carry than the SR9c but I can't hit shit beyond 10 feet away and it only holds 6 rounds. Luckily the odds of me needing to hit someone more than 4 feet away are effectively zero. I kind of regret buying the Sig but it'll do for another summer or two. I highly recommend N82 holsters because they are so damn comfortable and secure compared to most others I've tried. The Saddleback ID wallet is amazing if you never need to carry cash, and I've not found a better pen for my pocket than the Fisher space pen. I also like to buy the space pens in bulk so I can give them away to people who take interest.

Truthfully I'd just recreate what I have, as it would almost entirely fit inside the budget:
SS Jotter, I used this before switching to a TT Shaker, it is still fantastic.
Leek, been thinking about upgrading but still fantastic and the alternatives are way more expensive.
SF 348 I got the unlabelled BLF variant, and it is fantastic. Sleek, small, and bright.
MOTA Pocket Tool One of the card tool variants, I've used a few of its parts, but will radily admit that on these not everything is useful.
Flowfold This holds everything listed above, and does so without increasing the volume of my pocket, and making everything quieter and easier to pick up and go with.
Cable Key Ring Great, because it is large and thin, so I have my keys and car keys and USB on here. I tried a Keydisk mini, but found it still rattles against the car key, is fairly bulky, and cannot hold the USB. May try one of the new Orbitkeys next.
USB Drive, goes with the keys, I actually have a SP J80 32, but for some reason that one has increased in price.
Bifold Wallet The one I currently have is very similar, but I have no idea what it is called, a basic bifold.

So, this budget covers everything save the watch, which I didn't leave room for, because downgrading from a pebble would be sad, and getting one would be the entire budget. My choice to recollect everything I have mostly indicates how happy I am with the set that I created.

1. Benchmade 771 - out of production, 154CM blade - aluminum handle w/ Axis lock
   
   
2. Kenneth Cole wallet - very slim and usable for a front pocket wallet.
   
   
3. Tissot PR-50 - also out of production but similar watches are available for the same price. Check for a "sapphire" crystal. It is much more scratch resistant than the "mineral" glass crystals out there.
   
   
4. Leatherman Squirt P4 - a handy multi-tool with: blade/file/pliers/screwdrivers/bottle opener/reamer/etc.
   
   
5. United Defense Pen - a solid and affordable aluminum "defense" pen. When paired with a Fisher Space Pen refill - it writes everywhere: upside down, in freezing conditions, under water, always moves smoothly, etc.
   
   
6. Illuminati Titanium AAA light - because titanium is cool and 115 lumens is bright from a single "AAA" light. This one is using an Energizer lithium battery for extra run time (over an hour on high - way longer on lower settings). For comparison, a regular 2D Maglite is only about 50 lumen.
   
   
7. Zippo lighter - it's a "Zippo". If you need one they are time honored and reliable.
   
   
8. Titanium rings - 40% lighter than steel, just as strong, and 100% more unique.
   
   
9. Titanium clips - Looks like they are out of the Ti McGizmo's.
   
   
10. Custom engraved tag: $25.00 total, I had to have 5 tags made (to make the minimum) so I gave out a few gifts since I only wanted two (I added friends' numbers for their tags). I don't remember the name of the engraving company unfortunately. Some pet stores (Petco) have machines that do single engravings for "pet tags" that would work perfect for a keychain i.d. and only cost around $5.
    
    
    Edit: If anyone is curious, everything looks pretty much the same after three years except the Squirt's anodizing is a little chipped up. Black leather dye, Lexol leather conditioner, and polishing compound helps to maintain the shiny look. Also maybe don't put your Benchmade in the washer/dryer - that is hard on the bead blast finishing and also really aggravating when you realize it is not just a metal button from your jeans making the noise.

From top to bottom:

Fisher Space Pen - $18

Popular, cheap, writes anywhere and on almost anything.

The Pen Project (originally from Kickstarter) - $60 (I paid $30)

Uses the Fisher Space Pen cartridge, milled out of aluminum. Backed this project on Kickstarter but didn't really like the pen's design - little too thick and didn't like that it used the Fisher cartridge.

Kaweco Liliput Fountain Pen - $52.50

Awesome EDC pen, writes extremely well, lightweight, cap posts to the pen, overall just a great EDC pen if you like fountain pens.

Ti Pocket Pro (also originally from Kickstarter) - $75 (I paid $65)

My newest addition to the collection... just got this a couple weeks ago. Accepts over 80 refills but ships with a gel-ink cartridge that writes similar to the G2 pens. Love the rich, smooth ink and the design of the pen. Made out of solid titanium.

You're welcome. There are so many places to start it can be overwhelming. Step one is figure out what you're trying to learn. Do you want to learn cursive? calligraphy? printing? There are many styles. Step two is practicing your butt off. I write in cursive every day, all day.

I keep a work journal and am sure to write in cursive in it. When I'm on the phone or in a meeting, instead of doodling I write words in cursive or I write individual letters over and over. I have a sketchbook that I currently practice in. The weight of the paper does a good job of accepting the ink from my Lamy fountain pen. Oh, pens.

Find a good pen that you like. A fantastic start is an F301 ball point pen. I LOVE this pen for an everyday writer. The gel ones are even better. Then get a legal pad or a steno pad and just practice your butt off. It takes time.

I'd be happy to help with whatever.

Okay here are some suggestions

1. Wallet. I have not ordered it yet but [this] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002P4Y9EW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A28SBX2GB3VZCT) cigarette case could work.
   
2. Knife: [Spyderco tenacious] (http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tenacious-Handle-Folding-Plain/dp/B001EI7578/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1370136756&sr=1-1&keywords=spyderco) is $32 and a little more than 3 inches or the [Spyderco ambitious] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MMSDHO/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER) which is a baby tenacious with a 2 1/4 inch blade and $29.
   While they are not tactical opinels are really nice and are near $10 and come in lots of sizes.
   
   
3. Pens: I have a [zerbra 701] (http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-F-701-Stainless-Ballpoint-Retractable/dp/B002L6RB80) and a [Fisher space bullet pen] (http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Space-Pen-Bullet-400/dp/B000095K9D/ref=sr_1_sc_2?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1370136956&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=fisher+space+ben). For the money the zebra is excellent, the bullet pen is nice but there is a tutorial on how to mode the zebra to take space pen refills which is the best of both.
   
4. I know you got the wave but I suggest getting a small mt like a sak or a leatherman ps4 or micra. The victorinox classic sd is good and about $10
   
   Also with all the stuff you want to carry, It might be wise to invest in a maxpediton micro pocket organizer which is about $15
   If you got any questions just ask.

Zebra F-701: Nice weight and grip, and the ballpoint isn't bad. I recommend to mod it to be even better.

Fisher Space Pen: The cream of the crop when it comes to ballpoint inks, Fisher pens are really nice. There's lots of variety, so check around for the style you like.

Baoer Skywalker: is a good not-knockoff of the Montblanc Starwalker. I have one, and with good ink in it it's a nice pen. The clip is a little flimsy but I like it, nice and heavy.

Jinhao 599: Heavy and solid pen, but a little cheap feeling at times. It's a rollerball, so I don't know if it takes ballpoint refills.

Vktech Tactical Pen: I have one of these and it's very solid but lightweight too. The ink it comes with is garbage, but it fits any standard Parker refill. I have a Parker gel refill and it writes great. There are lots of other "tactical" pens out there made of steel and aluminum, but this is the most affordable option.

Hope that helps!

Just a few notes:

• Chromebook fits 90% of my needs, and I find myself using it more than my Macbook. It's got Ubuntu running on it for any "real"/offline work. Got it on ebay for a good deal (~$220)
  
  
• I have a Leatherman Juice CS4, but I found it to be too large to fit in my jeans. The dime is a much better fit for me.
  
  
• The flash drive acts as a secondary computer, it's got Liberkey on it.
  
  
• The Skilcraft B3 Aviator multipen is the best pen multi pen i've used yet. Barely any rattling, solid brass, has red & black ink & a pencil (Perfect for any student). Would definitely recommend it over the Zebra Sharbo X.
  
  
• Moleskine's got my school notes, homework, and other random bits throughout the day.
  
  
• I've had the Sansa for a good 3+ years and it still holds a good charge (15+ hours). I've got Rockbox running on it.
  
  

Okay, so I used an Expedition for a while doing some research in the sticks of Nicaragua and I tried a number writing implements (all with limited success, they all smudged a bit). If you use a pencil, I think it is best to use lead that is quite hard, since that won't smudge as much. Those also happen to be good for EDC, since they tend to have better point retention. A Staedtler Wopex is a good option, if you don't mind the weird, rubbery feel. But basically any pencil will work (including mechanical pencils) as long as the lead is fairly hard. Like /u/lightinthedark suggested, you can use a bullet point to make it more carry-able. I also use pencil caps, which are great as long as they're metal.

If you do want to use a pen, I had good luck with a ballpoint. Any basic ballpoint works pretty darn good; I used the FN one for a while (which is a Bic Clic). If you go for anything fancy it'll probably smudge, although I also used a space pen for a hot minute. Those don't hold up to being lost in warehouses though.

Even more Amazon reviews for the retractible version

> I accidentally grabbed one of these pens (the lovely purple one) out of my wife's purse and instantly got my period. Now I'm feeling bloated and weepy.

> For those who haven't actually tried this pen, it is easy to make fun of. I LOVE this pen. When I click on it, it sometimes releases an eraser-sized nub of chocolate. At other times, a Fabio-like voice in dulcet tones says "Math eez hard. But you can do it" or "Take a break. Ez time too watch Dr. Phil!". It really just gives me the extra motivation to go on with my day. Also, it has amazing built-in smart technology! When I see my patients using this pen, the pen automatically detects the awkward situation because it knows to say "Do not worry, the real doctor will be in soon." Thankfully, the pen then signals to my male colleague, who will arrive with his "For Him - Bic Magnum" pen, designed to write OVER "For her" scribbles. Lives saved. Thanks, Bic!!!

there are some pens made to accommodate common gel pen refills like the uniball and g2 refill.

I think there are some in the same price range as the jotter, maybe the zebra? but maybe not.

They are thin stainless steel.

But there are other much more impressive and expensive ones too. The tactile turn is pretty awesome, 7 times the price of the jotter though.

I would look for an all metal click pen like the jotter, in the same price range as the jotter, that is compatible with the g2 refills.

I really like cheap but functional. It will write just as well as a $70 tactile turn.

here's a zebra for $8, there are different models but I don't know what refills they take, the zebra gel refills are excellent anyway.

https://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Ballpoint-Stainless-Retractable-Pen/dp/B002L6RB80

Knife: definitely something more beefy than the Leek (while it is a beautiful knife you may want something more rugged I like the Ontario rat 2 or the fixed blade Rat 3 I also like this gerber "survival knife"
Light: that's a great light good pick
Multitool: This gerber is my favorite, they've taken me through two deployments overseas and still run like a champ
Pen: Space pen for sure

First off, many of these things are intentionally cheap, because I do tend to break and/or lose things, so... Here goes.
All have Amazon links, because that was what was easiest.


Jewelry:

• Elder Scrolls Imperial symbol arrowhead necklace - I made this from scrap a while ago for a basic metal-arts class.
  
  
• Kris knife necklace - Got this at a Renaissance Fest last year, and I also like wearing it.
  
  
• UP by Jawbone (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A17IAO0) - Really great sleep tracker, plug-and-sync
  
• Fitbit Flex (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BGO0Q9O) - The de-facto fitness tracker, wireless sync
  
  
• Pebble watch (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BKEQBI0) - Simple smartwatch
  
  
  Right front pocket:
  
  
• Frame-lock box cutter (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016KHW2W) - Was using a frame-lock knife, to open boxes. Replaced it with this, been happy since.
  
  
• Precise V5 RT (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E6A9M8) - My favorite ball-point pen. Looking forward to the arrival of a Lamy Al-Star fountain pen.
  
  
• Zebra M301 0.5mm (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BLC7FG) - Great intro engineering pencils.
  
  
• Galaxy S5
  
  
• Chapstick
  
  
• Pentel plastic eraser (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001Q4HQVU) - For the larger-than-one-character mistakes.
  
  
  Left front pocket:
  
  
• 4-in-1 screwdriver (similar to http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014KMDZ0) - Thin profile screwdriver. Awesome. Clips away in a corner and you can forget about it until you need it.
  
  
• Streamlight MicroStream (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00143JZ08) - Tiny little flashlight, amazing little clip. Clip it in a corner and forget it until you need it.
  
  
• Mighty Wallet (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036FN60W) - I keep it relatively thin in contents, and it's amazingly thin by itself.
  
  
• Sennheiser CX300IIs (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EZYMF4) - Some of the best little cheap earbuds. I have over-the-ears for desk-work, but these can go with me easily.
  
  
• Yubikey Neo (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LX8KZZ8) - For my 2FA needs, both on the phone and PC. I use it with LastPass.
  
  
• Spare AAA Battery
  
  
• 12" baton (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MHDLF8E) - For self defense, since I stopped carrying a knife, and it's more actually useful for defense than my old knife was anyway.
  
  
  Wallet highlights:
  
  
• Band-aids - I chew my cuticles and pick at scabs. Bad habit. Nice to have these around.
  
  
• Bottle opener - Got this as swag from a startup I used to work for.
  
• Sewing kit - For emergency mending
  
  
• Guitar picks (I like http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002D0CGC)
  
  
• Safety pins
  
  
• Handcuff key
  
  
• Handcuff shim - Nice when handcuffs aren't double-locked; sometimes easier to manipulate than the keys.
  
  
  Left back pocket:
  
  
• Field Notes graph-ruled notebook (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006CQT2KU) - reasonably durable, cheap notebooks.
  
  
  Not shown:
  
  
• Keysmart Extended key holder (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JXQQNC6) - Nice to keep my work keys from jangling around
  
  
• Car keys

1: KNIFE OPTIONS
Take a look at some of Ruike's offerings. They're available on Amazon. The P801 is right in line with your budget at $30 and it is a spectacular knife for the price: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06X9S3947/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1519959816&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=keysmart&dpPl=1&dpID=417boF2rKtL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

As far as steels go, 8cr13mov is fine. Clearly if you've been carrying a $4 Walmart knife you aren't one of the few people who really needs a great steel in a knife and 8cr13mov is heaps better than anything on a $4 Walmart knife. If you do want a steel that's a little nicer but still in your price range, 14c28n is great. It's what Ruike uses in their knives.

2: KEYCHAIN RECOMMENDATIONS
You could kill 2 birds with one stone if you pick up a key organizer like this Keysmart Lite: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06X9S3947/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1519959816&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=keysmart&dpPl=1&dpID=417boF2rKtL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

It will hold all of your keys together without jingling around and if you get the red version it will be nice and easy to see.

3: PEN RECOMMENDATIONS
The Parker jotter is a classic and you might be able to put Pilot G2 refills in it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0017D5WXY/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1519960055&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=parker+jotter&dpPl=1&dpID=21BhP8zNBiL&ref=plSrch

4: ORGANIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS
Pocket clips are the key my friend. I carry 9 items in my 4 jeans pockets. I keep 1-2 items clipped to the outside edge of each pocket (and 1 item down in the pocket. Nothing ever rubs together and each item can be removed with one hand without having to move anything out of the way first.

> My interest in tactical pens was short lived. I found that my interest was more for machined pens. I have several machined pens now. I was obsessed with heavy pens, but after getting that Tuff Writer, I found my preferred weight is around 2 oz.

Fair enough.

> Everyone talks about the Zebra so I'm going to get one. Most of my machined pens are from smaller manufactures, like Tactile turn and Urban Survival.

They're cheap enough to not worry about it, but I haven't really touched mine since I got it. I do like the Zebra F-301 for it's lightweight nature and compactness, but if I'm going to carry a heavy pen, it may as well be a nice fountain pen with some fancy ink in it. ;-)

These days, that means a Noodler's Nib Creaper Flex if I want something light or a TWSBI Eco if I want something fun.

I'm 28, in the Navy, and here's what I'm usually carrying.

Maxpedition Pocket Organizer

NM Flag patch

Old coin given to me a while ago

Sparrow's Tuxedo Pick Set It's a great set, and a cool thing to learn. The linked set has a different case, I guess they don't do the leather cases anymore. I also had them put rubber handles on mine when I ordered, makes all the difference.

USB cord that came with my phone

Tekton 4" adjustable wrench

Zebra pen. Forgot which specific one...you probably know it though, it's one of the popular choices on this sub. My main pen I keep in my breast pocket, the Fisher Bullet. That's the best pen I've ever had, hands down.

Fine point Sharpie

Rite in the Rain notebook. It's ok. I much prefer Field Notes Expedition which I also keep in mind that breast pocket. Just wish the pages were perforated.

Streamlight Microstream. Awesome little light, and the AAA battery it takes lasts quite a while.

Chapstick

ThermoWorks surface thermometer. Sorry, can't find a link. My buddy gave me this last Christmas. Comes in real handy in the field, to see if my JetBoil is too hot to put away. Also, I dunno, I can tell you if stuff is hot or cold or whatever. Neat.

How much are you looking to spend on a pen?

I do not personally own one, but I have heard a lot of good things about the Zebra F-701 as an EDC pen. Also it's like $5.

I carry a Fellhoelter TiBolt (because titanium) and I absolutely love it, but it was quite an investment and at the moment they're hard to obtain. It takes any parker-compatible refill and it will literally last a lifetime.

Prior to my purchase of the TiBolt, I carried a Karas Kustoms Render K in the Pilot G2 cartridge variation, which happens to be my favorite pen cartridge. The build quality is pretty damn good, but my only gripe is that the threaded cap doesn't attach to the back of the pen very well when you're writing with it. I imagine that the other Karas Kustoms pens are put together with the same build quality.

• I <3 these pens for writing!
  
  
• I'd love this if I win, please!
  
  
• Write On!
  
  
• I did all of the above, so I hope you consider me. :D
  
  
• I'd love for you to send me a postcard! I can send you a postcard too if you'd like as well.
  
  
• Thank you for this contest, I did have fun with this! I love writing.
  

I gotcha on this one! I just went through the exact same thing. I had been using a Pilot G2 .38 and loving it. Wanted it to be portable and metal.

You'll have to switch to frixion. Doesn't write quite as nicely as the G2 but it's close. Plus frixion is erasable.

Pilot FriXion Ball Slim Retractable Erasable Gel Ink Pens,Extra Fine Point, - 0.38 mm - Black/Blue/Red Ink- Value Set of 3 https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00G2TH1PK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_d8OTCbJWZZZXJ

Get a Fisher bullet and toss the childishly thick cartridge. And then put in the cartridge from the frixion.

Fisher Space Pen Bullet Space Pen with Clip - Matte Black, Gift Boxed (400BCL) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0002ZQB4M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_H9OTCbCJ782R4

You'll need to add something to the end of the Fisher pen to ensure the cartridge is pushed out....I used a wooden dowel.

Hope that helps! Let me know if you have questions.

• SecureCRT, the chat window feature that allows you to paste and run commands to all sessions is awesome.
  
  
• The Rhino 5200, it rocks. It has a bunch of useful functions like printing labels that wrap around cables and I don't have to beg anyone for their crappy label printer.
  
  
• Crossover Linux to manage the windows applications I need to run on Linux (checkpoint smartconsole and ikeview, visio, ...)
  
  
• I need to get a digital toner and tracer to better deal with undocumented patch panels, the fluke intellitone must be nice but is a bit expensive for something I need only once in a while.
  
  
• I'd like to get the panduit cable comb to make /r/cableporn worthy bundles but it is expensive for a piece of molded plastic .
  
  
• And I need an Air Console, because screw sitting on the floor in the cold aisle of a coloc center.
  
  
• Now that I'm writing a wishlist, I also need one of these to avoid manually switching console port from one device to another, a usb quad serial ports adapter.
  
  Edit :
  
  
• Wolf Wifi Pro, an android wireless survey app, it's basic but a fraction of the cost of more professional tools and still allows me to make signal strength and snr heatmaps over a floor plan. It's good enough for my needs, in fact it's awesome.
  
  
• Wacom Bamboo Graphic Tablet to draw crude diagrams or dicks or dick shaped OSPF areas I can paste in an email.
  
  
• BIC 4 color pens because they blow my mind and are really useful for hand drawn diagrams.

Nice.

How about a prepaid sim card too? They're tiny. Obviously useless without a phone, but phones are ubiquitous. Carrying a prepaid sim means any phone with charge can be used, and it potentially gives you a network backup, if the spare is on a different network to your regular phone. Just check it every month to make sure it's topped up; a lot of networks will eat your credit if you don't use it within some time period, like 6 months.

How about a condom? Excellent compact water carriers / other improv uses.

I stuck labels to the bottom and inside the lid of my ATFAK with personal info on them. Just so there's one less item to lose. I no longer carry the ATFAK btw, I have a bigger IFAK now.

Looks like you've laminated the info sheets. I would keep them as raw paper for use as emergency tinder / note taking devices.

How about some writing implement? Perhaps one of these. Could be stored inside the straw; no extra space required. (You can get them cheaper)

Ditch the keyring from the LED to save space?

I respect the fact that you cut the corners off the med packets. Me too! High five!

Most likely-to-be useful item, imho, is that whistle.

edit: This pen looks even better, as it's supplied with 3 refils.

That's a fine choice. I love F-301s, but now that I have my F-701, that's all I use. Yeah, its a little more expensive, but the barrel is thicker and the grip is better. Even though the two pens come with the same ink cartridge, the F-701 writes better because it feels better in my hand.

I've been using the Parker Jotter with an ink refill for a Fisher Space Pen (which includes an adapter) and I've found it to be a wonderful combination. The fisher space pen is a bit too small and slippery for me to use comfortably, and the Jotter has (in my opinion) a better aesthetic and a very satisfying click. The space pen refill writes very smoothly, the ink is indelible, and is much nicer to use than the standard Parker ink.

If you're really looking for a more minimal aesthetic, check out the pens sold by Muji. They are rather cheap, as well. That store in general tends toward a minimal aesthetic so they are worth checking out for other goods too.
Edit: This pen by Muji seems to be a pretty close fit to what you described. To my recollection, there's no branding on any of their pens.

You can’t go wrong with a Fisher Bullet Space Pen. However, the clip doesn’t like thicker material and it’s best to keep it in a pocket slip of some sort if kept loose in pocket.


I recently picked up two of theseKetalon Rohk on a buy one get one free deal. They are my new edc and great pens, but to be honest $32 for one pen is pretty pricy. If you can catch another sale I would definitely recommend them.

The items I can think of right now that I've bought pretty much because of this subreddit:

1. Zojirushi Travel mug - I use this as my office coffee mug. I fill it up in the morning and if I get sidetracked then it's still hot hours later.
   
   
2. Saddleback Pocket ID Wallet - simple and gets the job done
   
   
3. Weber One-Touch Gold Charcoal Grill - I love this grill.
   
   
4. Red Wing Iron Ranger 8111 (amber color) - the first 3 weeks I thought I made a huge mistake but now they are the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned.
   
   
5. Fisher Space Pen - I've had to stop other people from pocketing it. My wife tried to take it because she likes the way it writes.
   
   
6. [Kershaw Skyline Knife] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CZBDF8) - I'm not into putting a lot of money into a pocketknife so this fits the bill nicely.
   
   
7. ToiletTree Heavy Duty Nose and Facial Hair Trimmer - my previous nose trimmers felt like it was ripping the hair out by the root. This one I don't feel anything and it's very well made
   
   All of these I would buy again.

if this is your first delivery job make sure you get a good small flashlight and buy some good pens to keep in your car at all times. I also bought a mini clipboard for a few bucks and had the credit card receipts on it. It increased my tips by a lot because when someone didn't fill in the blanks I handed it back to them and told them "You need to fill out the entire receipt" and 80% of the time would add a tip. Also, countless comments of "Fancy/Convenient!" as it is hard to sign a receipt when you have to find somewhere to do it at.

If you drive a older car MAKE SURE you have:

• a good jack
  
• 1 full sized spare in the trunk (junk yard sells these for under $20)
  
• lug wrench - it makes it much easier
  
• jumper cables
  
• rain coat/poncho
  
  use the maps as much as possible and use google maps in a pinch. This gets you used to learning the lay out of neighborhoods and what not as google maps just tells you where to go.

Well what role do they have exactly. If they are retail, they could probably use a few things:

Pens: http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Ballpoint-Pen-Retractable-29212/dp/B004WOAJP6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426819458&sr=8-3

Stapler to save their wrists: http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Bostitch-Electric-Capacity-02210/dp/B00006JNU2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_op_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1P36SKYQNHS5S45VQPFG

Mat to save their feet: http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Step-Anti-Fatigue-Polyurethane-Length/dp/B00OFVJQRS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426819677&sr=8-3&keywords=smart+step+mat

Kind of a range of prices as well, depending on how much you want to spend.

If they are a CPP or do a lot of clinical stuff then Epocrates Essentials is SOOOO useful, albeit a bit expensive (still less expensive then the alternatives and a lot better IMO).

There are tons of great options, the Parker Jotter I can definitely recommend. I've never had any leakage issues with the stock ink cartridge it came with but I also normally switch it out for a Fisher Space Pen refill.

Other good metal pens that aren't too expensive might be a Cross Click which is my current edc with a Fisher Space Pen refill in it which is great for signing receipts and quick things like that. I use it at work to give to customers to sign their receipts.. I like it because it is skinnier than the Parker Jotter, however, it is easier to accidentally click in your pocket whereas with the Jotter you have to use an intentional amount of force to click it.

Another one (or two) would be the Fisher Bullet Space Pen or the Cap-O-Matic Space Pen. The bullet is really quite compact and the Cap-O-Matic is a regular sized pen.

And if you're really worried about ink leakage in your pocket then you can get something like a Lamy Swift which has a mechanism so that when the tip of the pen is extended, the pocket clip retracts which makes it impossible to clip onto your pocket. One thing to keep in mind with the Lamy Swift is that it comes with a rollerball refill which is incredibly smooth but it puts out more ink than a regular ballpoint so it has a longer drying time and can smear on receipt paper.

I love Pilot G2's, but my hands-down fave are Zebra F-301 0.7mm. I get compliments all the time, and a few other nurses have them. The charge RN calls it "her precious"

Zebra F-301 Ballpoint Retractable Pen, Black Ink, Fine Point Tip, 9 Pens per Pack Refillable Pens with Refill 0.7 mm Stainless Steel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NHV6VH0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_YQBKBbG0768HP

Sorry guys, I thought this comment would show up but it didn't so here's it again!

Info and such.

Picture one is my work (garrison, not deployed) EDC and picture two is my normal EDC.

1. IPhone 5 with LifeProof case
   
   
   
2. [Fisher Space Pen] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E103CY/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687602&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000095K9D&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1RKGZQWYCXZQTRK0TSEH) (This is my third one, last two flew off.)
   
   
3. Just a normal sharpie
   
   
4. Two diffrent types of Rite in the Rain
   notebooks
   
   
5. Gerber Flick Multi-tool and belt carrying case
   
   
6. Southord Jackknife lock-pick set
   
   
7. Kershaw Cryo knife
   
   
8. CREE LED flashlight
   
   
9. Keys with a TEC P-7, a tritium key FOB, and a 2 GB flash drive
   
   
10. ID tags
    
    
11. A very cheap Armitron sports watch
    
    
12. Carmex
    
    
13. A BIC lighter
    
    
14. Standard ear Protection
    
    
15. Standard tri-fold wallet (will upgrade soon)
    
    
16. Oakley Flak Jacket (These were given to me)
    
    
17. Standard issue gloves (do not buy these)
    
    So I do carry much more stuff with me while I'm working but I'm quick to shed it when I get back to the barracks.
    
    Hope you enjoyed and I'll be happy to answer any questions about my getup!

Happy, happy birthday! :) Are you feeling 22?

<$5 Earrings (Cosmetics WL)
<$4 Pens (Nursing School WL - under more buying choices)
<$3 Eye Shadow (Cosmetics WL)
<$2 Sunflower Seeds (default)
<$1 Decal (default)

Thanks for the contest! You are aweΣ!

It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.

I need these pens because I love to doodle! And doodling is just so much more fun when it's in color. School starts next week, so I have a lot of doodling ahead of me. Please make my doodles colorful. :)

Warning: I'm a pen freak. I love pens for some reason.

My favorite pens!

these pens, because colors!

and sharpies for making labels!


They make taking notes 1,000 times better! Plus, all my professors now know me by my colored pens :)

Back to cool :)

I'd say look at Fisher Space Pens, I don't have one (cause I'm not into ballpoints) but these seem really nice:

[Fisher 400B Space Bullet Space Pen - Matte Black] (https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-400B-Space-Bullet-Pen/dp/B000WGD13U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466379244&sr=8-1&keywords=fisher+space+pen)

Fisher Space Pen Men's Cap-O-Matic Space Pen

The Lamy 2000 isn't flashy, but it definitly looks expensive, personally if you like that pen save up and get the fountain pen version, its more worth it than the ballpoint in my opinion...

Colorific pens!!! my favorite dinosaur is the pterodactyl!!! That is the nice dinosaur in the Magic Tree House series my kiddo likes :) Thanks for the contest!

Skilcraft govt pens, they aren't y but they are solid and cheap never broken one before I love them and they are sentimental to me as my dad uses them daily at the post office and he always had one on him I've used them as long as I could write and they haven't failed me. You can get a dozen of them for around 13 bucks on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Skilcraft-Government-Retractable-Point-7520-00-935-7135/dp/B0055KSNYK

The best is the [Zebra 701] (http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-F-701-Stainless-Ballpoint-Retractable/dp/B002L6RB80/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410206849&sr=8-1&keywords=zebra+701), stainless steel case.

It's a fine point, writes smooth, and has a nice weight to it. It also has refillable ink reserves so you won't have to buy another one, just refills.

Edit: If you like to [flip/spin] (http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/100838/pen-spinning-o.gif) pens to keep your hand busy when not writing, it's balanced well for that too.

I'll interpret "guy stuff" as "EDC stuff".

• A Flowfold Minimalist slim wallet
  
• A Zebra F-701 stainless steel pen with a Fisher Space refill so it can write anywhere. This isn't a "tactical" pen by LE/TSA standards, but is a solid stainless steel tube, if you know what I mean.
  
• If you prefer something smaller, a Fisher Space Bullet Space Pen and/or a Zebra Mini mechanical pencil TS-3.
  
• You might also want something to write on, and a 3-pack of Field Notes, Pitch Black Edition in Dot-Grid isn't a bad choice unless you're into fountain pens, in which case you'd be better served with a Clairefontaine or. Rhodia pocket notebook. (They will feather fountain pen ink less, resulting in finer lines.)
  
  Bonus item: This isn't under $30, but $45 wil buy you a Leatherman Skeletool, which is one of the most universally useful items I own.
  
  Edit: "EDC" stands for Every Day Carry. To paraphrase the /r/EDC sidebar, EDC means the essentials that I carry a daily basis. Things that I either use every day, or want to have with me in case I might need them. Sorry for the confusion, /u/ForgottenEcho and /u/Sanctitas.

YAY! :D let me think.... I'll add things to this post as I think of them.

Bed Caddy

Bed Risers

Hamper

This Book (my cousin got it for me when I started college way back when, and it really has a lot of good advice)

Storage

Dry Erase Calendar

Small Room Safe

Dorm Security

Command Strips

This amazing food/beverage station

A freaking PURPLE fridge

Brita

Make pooping in a shared bathroom less embarrassing

This photo display

An electric kettle

Also a planner! I like to make my own and use different colored pens to differentiate between my classes! If you want the template I use for my planner, I can send you a link to it! :D

It may not be the fanciest, but I love Uniball Deluxe Micros. Smooth, consistent ink that seems to last a while. If you want ballpoint, look into getting a Cross brand pen. I received one for graduation and love it. This is the one I have. Just under $20 too!

A few things I would probably get.

• Flash light always comes in handy. I noticed you didn't say anything about one. I streamlight is a great brand with nice seemingly durable lights. You will probably lose it before it shits out on you or breaks. I prefer the stylus pro or the microstream (difference between the two is microstream is shorter. It's penlight size makes it easy to slip in and out of your pocket.
  
  
• Always carry a good pen. Zebra makes decent pens. If you want to stretch your gift card further, you could get the f301 but I really prefer the f701, it's just a nicer pen. There is also the space pen if you ever feel you need to write something in zero gravity. If "tactical pens" are more your thing, you have plenty to choose from
  
  
• saw you were looking at a cheapo fixed blade. If you were to get any "cheapo" fixed blade at all, seriously consider mora. You can read more about mora in this post, but I assure you that you will not find a better fixed blade for the price.
  
  
• You have anything to carry your beverages in? Nalgene bottle or camelbak for water, thermos for hot beverages.
  
  
• Get you a nice rum cake or whiskey fudge

Two potential pen fixes:

1. Micron waterproof pens. They come in a wide range of tip sizes, and I use them for watercolor painting (I paint over the ink lines), and don't have any issue with smudging, so I imagine it can handle a little hand sweat.
   
   
2. My salt marsh ecologist friends swear by the Rite in Rain pens for all-weather writing, and, again, if it can handle scientists in the rain...
   https://www.amazon.com/Rite-Rain-All-Weather-Black-Clicker/dp/B000QBPZKS/ref=pd_sbs_469_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PGPZWS0237QAZ1TSM7DB
   
   (I spent entirely too long choosing which version of the Rite in Rain pen to share; this one looks the nicest for BuJo-ing)
   
   Happy pen search!

The pen shown in OP's photo is the Zebra F-301 which I carry and like very much. I didn't know Zebra made a full stainless steel version but I found the Zebra F-701 on Amazon and it looks pretty sweet. Thanks for the tip!

By the way, I currently own a Jeep and don't have any Benchmade folders either but have been lusting after a Benchmade Griptilian 551 for quite a while.

Bwah ha ha ha ha, it actually mentions the Bic pens. If you haven't clicked that and read the reviews, you're in for a fucking great time. Dragging extrordinare.

But seriously:
>Women, Nooyi suggested, “don’t like to crunch too loudly in public. And they don’t lick their fingers generously and they don’t like to pour the little broken pieces and the flavor into their mouth.”

Speak for yourself, bitch. she says as she licks her fingers and belches for good measure

The Zebra F-701 and Zebra F-402 aren't exactly tactical, but they are pretty heavyweight and write really well. They take cheap refills too. I have the F-701 and the weight and sturdiness are great, however I don't really write that much, just come class notes and such.

Pilot Metropolitan Collection Fountain Pen, Black Barrel, Classic Design, Fine Nib, Black Ink (91111) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KRPFD96/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ClLyCbE11EHDE (comes with converter, and personal favorite)

Pilot Kakuno Fine-Nib Fountain Pen, White Body Soft Blue Cap Body (FKA-1SR-SLF) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOOOBU4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_emLyCbX5CXBY8 (takes con-50 converter)

(25 u.s. dollars) Pilot Explorer Fountain Pen Gift Box, Fine Nib, Gray Barrel, 1-Pack, Black Ink (12271) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KBSLWCZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9mLyCbABH6FRS (get con-40 for this one, or syringe and refill cartridge)

Platinum Fountain Pen, Preppy, Fine Nib, Black (PPQ-200-#1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001H0CEM4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_lrLyCbFE357BE (just get an o-ring and eyedropper convert this one)


For all the pilots get the refill cartridges at Staples cheaper than online.

Good (cheap) ink brands are noodlers, waterman's, diamine, and Parker.

Also r/fountainpens is a good resource.

Regular pens

Tombow Airpress 0.7mm Ball Point Pen, Full Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047Z24IU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-xLyCbH5FAXT9 (pressurized can even write upside down)

Zebra F-701 Stainless Steel Ballpoint Retractable Pen, Black Ink, Fine Point, 2 Pack (29411) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0141DN1CA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SyLyCb6MJMDZ4

Pilot FriXion Ball 0.7mm Erasable Gel Pens, Fine Point, Black Ink, Pack Of 6 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019OZVV6I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_XzLyCb98B993R (erasable)

Pentel EnerGel Deluxe RTX Gel Ink Pens, 0.7 Millimeter Metal Tip, Assorted Colors, 6 Pack (BL77BP6M) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012G9VNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NALyCbV2QVSTV (disposable cheaper at Staples to)

Parker Jotter Stainless Steel Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point, Black Ink https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017D5WXY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UBLyCbX0J93DW (Again Staples)

Anyone else can and should add on to this if you want to.

Lately it's been taking me around a week or so to finish a chapter, and most of my chapters have been between 1500-2000ish words long. I've edited a couple times before publishing the chapter, but usually I'll go into the unpublished chapter to add what I've most recently written about 4 or 5 times before publishing.

I hand-write my chapters in a notebook before typing them up on Wattpad, so I can re-read what I've written and make any corrections before I start typing. I have one of those pens with 4 colors in one so I actually go through with the red ink to make corrections, and use green ink in the margins to make notes of any important plot points I've thought of that I can add in later.

EDIT: Here's the pens that I use :) They're really useful for note-taking and hand-writing drafts, so I thought I'd share them with the rest of you!

My favorite one is from the amazon website itself, by an "MRA" named "Johnny Tubesteak". It made me lol pretty hard:

1.0 out of 5 stars Being a dude just got suckier, August 28, 2012

By JohnnyTubesteak - See all my reviews

This review is from: BIC Cristal For Her Ball Pen, 1.0mm, Black, 16ct (MSLP16-Blk) (Office Product)

What do men have left? Today's women are voting, getting paid to do work, and now WRITING?!? At the bar the other day, my wife asked for a beer instead a wine cooler. My buddy heard that there are female golfers in many parts of the country, and most clubs let them play on the same course as the men. At an intersection the other day, I saw a woman in the driver's seat, and not because she was sitting on a male driver's lap. As if men hadn't been stripped of everything good already, BIC steps in and piles on by encouraging women to learn to write, just like their male counterparts. WTF, BIC?

Guys have so little as it is. Sure, we can stand while we urinate, but standing is a lot of work, and it's rarely as fun as it sounds. And Just For Men hair dye is marketed as a product strictly for guys, but my cousin used it on a female dog once, and it colored her hair just fine.

In a world of girl-only bras and tampons, guys are left with nothing of our own. Thanks for nothing, BIC.

How about a Zebra F701 and add a Fisher Space Pen refill. The pen body is well built and pretty cheap and the refill is literally good enough to write in space. For something more classy you can get a Parker Jotter which also fits the space pen refill but has a pretty good refill itself.

Fisher Space Pen looks like it could be a winner minus the twist cap.

If she's dead-set on the twist mechanism, the classic Cross Century and Cross Tech 2 sound like winners. The Century is selling for $26 on Amazon US though you could search for a Made in USA version on eBay.

If you don't mind splurging, you can take a chance on the Rotring 800. Good weight, brass construction, takes G2 refills, and has a twist-open mechanism. Should set you back ~$60 with shipping from Amazon Japan, though you can wait for it to drop - I bought mine at around the 5200 yen ($47) mark.

Hello everyone!

I had been wanting to post my edc for school and felt since the semester is almost over, now would be a great time. I am a computer science major and have been carrying this with me for several months now. Also, pls excuse the obvious line down the middle - i merged two seperate pictures together. So here is my edc from L>R, T>B.

1. [Dell Inspiron 13 5000 2-1 Laptop - upgraded to ssd] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075KPJBNK/?coliid=I1GW25Q5H1PRGC&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
   
2. [Portable 2K Monitor] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GDDG3WJ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
   
3. [Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8"] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DXVKQU6/?coliid=I30KIDP5OPIEAJ&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
   
4. [Samsung Galaxy Tab cover] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013LKLDQ0/?coliid=IBT2WKWKJ8WCV&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
   
5. Degree deodorant/body spray
   
6. [Five-Star 1-1.2 inch Zipper Binder] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00COHAJQW/?coliid=I3AJVWHYPKUKIP&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
   
7. [Cliffnotes Statistics book] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0764563882/?coliid=I3KQKEY8MUDSYT&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
   
8. [Weekly Planner] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DWF2VS9/?coliid=I3NPS8L0T44MB6&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
   
9. Snack
   
10. [Maglite Mini LED Flashlight] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HFBR1O/?coliid=IPIZ47DZ3YAQK&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
11. [Dell Power Companion 18000 mAh battery] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PC9HG0Q/?coliid=I3TOCRL4ALQLZB&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
12. Laptop power brick in two parts
    
13. [Samsung 64 GB 3.0 flash drive duo] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013UHK0TK/?coliid=I1GCQN4CLWL20T&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
14. [Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FG7MZP0/?coliid=I13DJEPDK4W4K6&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
15. [Microsoft Universal Foldable Keyboard] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UBGU4PY/?coliid=I1Q8LPNTWUYWM9&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
16. [Fisher Space military pen] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NXDFC8/?coliid=I2EJ6P9U4BUWZ4&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
17. [Skilcraft B3 Aviator multifunction pen] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001KKPGHQ/?coliid=I2TE4MXP76ML33&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
18. [Portable tablet/phone/switch stand] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZAYH58/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
19. Downy Fabric dewrinkler spray
    
20. Portable Lysol spray
    
21. Work/School ID
    
22. [Portable CPR face shield] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011MIQX4/?coliid=I1O45DFTMWUHAV&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
23. Various single use medicine
    
24. [C++ Pocket reference] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0596004966/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
25. Microfiber towel
    
26. [3 in 1 threaded usb cable] (https://www.walmart.com/ip/3-1-Lightning-Cable-USB-C-Cable-iHaper-Apple-MFi-Certified-chrging-Sync-Cable-1m-Nylon-Braided-Bulletproof-Material-High-Speed-Sync-Quick-chrge-iPhon/102599920?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227256658686&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=304459247725&wl4=aud-566049426705:pla-545878314906&wl5=9026166&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=102599920&wl13=&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8_PfBRC3ARIsAOzJ2uoI0nzcc7TDGxqiTgIZxVjy0Jibd5ZS05gnXVFp2umPPzJpor5KyjIaAoNxEALw_wcB)
    
27. [Mini usb charging cable - plus the usb transfer cable that came with calculator] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UY57VDK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
28. [Micro usb Cable] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MTXZ3U8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
29. [Mini HDMI - HDMI cable] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P2KH178/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
30. [TI-84 PLUS CE Graphing Calculator] (https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Instruments-TI-84-Graphing-Calculator/dp/B00TFYYWQA/ref=lp_2530606011_1_4?srs=2530606011&ie=UTF8&qid=1543362147&sr=8-4)
    
31. Sunglasses
    
32. [Vectron charging case for LG Bluetooth headphones] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LF4W9DA/?coliid=I7NGM5OCPFXW7&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
33. [Not pictured - LG Tone Platinum Bluetooth Headphones] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6K7K02/?coliid=I1N2LPPTGNOIHY&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
34. First Aid Kit
    
35. Lip Balm
    
36. Portable sewing kit
    
37. Tic Tacs
    
38. Purell
    
39. [C# Pocket reference] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1491988533/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
40. [Backpack cover] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01449GWW2/?coliid=I1M6ZTRJINMZ9L&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
41. [Umbrella] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F8APXQM/?coliid=I19IFY33R4OGH8&colid=15RV6KZEPXKI7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it)
    
42. [Not pictured - Swiss Digital TSA friendly backpack] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H5CRRPF/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
    
    I do carry all of this with me. It's not too heavy as I've tried to minimize the weight of the items I did decide I wanted to carry.
    
    Some bonus pics are below:
    
    [Backpack loaded will all the above] (https://imgur.com/XRBubGH)
    
    [Another showing the strip that reflects light - one of the reasons I purchased it] (https://imgur.com/lkirjJf)
    
    [The Headphone case w/ the headphones] (https://imgur.com/UQFNF53)
    
    [Inside of Five-Star Binder for those curious] (https://imgur.com/aVPxA2l)
    
    [Bulit in organization in the backpack] (https://imgur.com/m0KAvOa)
    
    [The reason I carry the extra monitor/keyboard/mouse/etc] (https://imgur.com/n6QRldz)

Bic Pens for HER (they're normal pens)

"BIC Cristal For Her has an elegant design - just for Her! It features a thin barrel designed to fit a women's hand. It has a diamond engraved barrel for an elegant and unique feminine style. "

Read the reviews, they are hysterical.

https://www.amazon.com/BIC-Cristal-1-0mm-Black-MSLP16-Blk/dp/B004F9QBE6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Edit: Post is rotated 90 deg, left to right & top to bottom doesn't make sense anymore.

Left to right, top to bottom:



Pens & Tools (I rotate my pocket pen & keep the rest in my bag. Logic dictates when to and which tool to carry.):



Leatherman Supertool Original with sheath - It's crazy to think, but this was retired before I was born. Several of my family members used to work in hardware stores so occasionally these things are found lying around brand new.

Leatherman Juice CS4 - Great little tool, it fits in my pocket without any notice.

Zebra F-701 .7 Black - Great look & feel but it writes like shit. Anyone know a good refill that fits?

Pentel EnerGel .7 Black - Incredibly smooth & bold, not too big a fan of the look.

G2 .38 & .7 Black - G2s, nuff said.

Uniball Signo 207 .7 Black - Comparable to the G2, but it has a metal clip.

Did you notice I pit the EnerGel in here twice? - Because I didn't

Frixion Erasable .7 Black - Ink is really sort of grayish, but it still beats white-out.




Everything Else:



Panasonic RP-HJE120-K IEMS - Perfect for people who are afraid of breaking or losing their buds. I wrap them around a binder clip and attack it to a belt loop with a carabiner.

Keys, Bottle Opener, PNY USB Drive - The flash drive has lubuntu on it. The opener is exclusively for mexican corner store drinks.

Best Made Co. Pocket Notebook - This isn't exactly the one I have but it is the closest I could find.

Dollar Store Notepad - It was 3 for dollar. Would you not buy it?

Dockers Trifold Leather Wallet - Not even close to the one I have, but still the closest they still make.



Not included: School ID, Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime (Direct picture quality complaints to Samsung except for the lighting, that's just because I suck.)

I'd counter this by suggesting some Skilcraft US Government pens. You'll find these in pretty much any military base, government research facility, or federal office. They last forever, have a good feel to them, and are very durable/dependable. Despite the high quality, they are fairly cheap. I would recommend buying them and you're supporting a good cause by doing so.

http://www.amazon.com/Skilcraft-Government-Retractable-Point-7520-00-935-7135/dp/B0055KSNYK

MORE CAFFEINE IS ALWAYS WELCOME.

You can never go wrong with a BIC Four-Color Pen It's functional AND sexy. Good for hours of notes, from the toes to the throat.

And if you want the world to know you mean business, look no further than the Lisa Frank brand Trapper Keeper brand Binder. A constant reminder that you're a good time finder.

Getting down to the floor plan, you need a Miniature Trash Can to be the suavest of the trash man.

A water-resistant watch. I got this one for nursing school and still using it after graduating. https://www.amazon.com/Casio-Womens-LRW200H-7BVCF-Sport-Watch/dp/B00791QYMQ/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1573177845&refinements=p_89%3ACasio&s=apparel&sr=1-2

As for shoes, I always get Sketchers sneakers. Doesn't have to be expensive to be comfortable. I had a pair of expensive Dansko shoes but I started getting foot problems from it.

Some clinical professors may want you to bring a pocket med book instead of looking up meds on your phone.

A multicolor pens are useful too for clinical if you're into color coding your notes. So many nurses use these exact pens. https://www.amazon.com/BIC-4-Color-Ballpoint-Assorted-3-Count/dp/B002JFR8Q8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=32R3Y4SAB7T5N&keywords=4+color+bic+pen&qid=1573178363&s=office-products&sprefix=4+color+bic+%2Cfashion%2C176&sr=1-1

​

Good luck!

Yeah, haha. I've found the perfect one for me in these pens. I know people who don't like them so much. But I love them.

My normal EDC (not including cell phone, car keys and CCW as they all cost more than feasible for this situation) is a multitool/knife, flashlight, wallet, watch, pen and bandanna.

Multitool: Leatherman Squirt PS4, $28.75 Not the biggest or baddest MT out there, but it will do pretty much every EDC task I can think of needing to do.

Flashlight: [ThruNite Ti5, $15.95](
https://www.amazon.com/ThruNite-Compact-Penlight-Output-Firefly/dp/B014SGM234/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1478977407&sr=8-12&keywords=thrunite) Hard choice between this and the Streamlight Microstream.

Wallet: Big Skinny Metro, $19.99 Carried Big Skinny wallets for years. Only recently switched to Recycled Firefighter, just for a change in pace.

Watch: Casio Calculator, $14.99 The ultimate nerd watch.

Pen: Zebra F-701, $4.63 Best damn pen I've ever used.

Bandanna: Rothco Solid Black Bandanna, $5.87 Any cotton bandanna will do, I just picked this one because it was solid black.

The grand total is: $90.18. The remaining $9.82 will buy me a six pack of mid tier craft beer.

I quite like the design, feel, and quality of Caran D'Ache. If you like, you can get their pen and pencil to look like a matched set. They're high quality instruments but don't cost anything near the overpriced fluff.

I also really like the Zebra F-701, which is even cheaper. It's more substantial than the F301 which I also like a lot, and keep around me everywhere. But the F-701 I keep in the same spot at my desk. Also available in both pen and pencil

You can find it on Amazon. The price tends to fluctuate around $20 from the looks of it. I got mine when the price dropped to $17.

As far as multi-pens go, I'm really impressed by how slim the Skilcraft is. The rotate-to-change component mechanism is fun to play with, and it's solidly built with a metal construction (weight is comparable to rOtring) and very nice matte black finish. Overall though, I would say it's a bit of a jack of all trades that doesn't fully excel at anything except being very convenient and portable. The pen components write pretty well, but nothing mind-blowing. I definitely prefer my EnerGels. The mechanical pencil experience is average, though the click is very unsatisfying because of how unsteady it is. However, the component is retractable (since it's a multipen), so that's a nice bonus.


You can also check out the Clutch Situation review on YouTube.

Sure. This pen is amazing ergonomically and hella cheap (shaped much like rotring with knurled grip and stainless steel construction), BUT: it has two drawbacks. One is the awful stock ink that smudges, and the other is the plastic clicky that squeaks. So, several posters took it upon themselves to remedy these problems.


Firstly, everything on the pen is metal except for one part of the pen; the retractable "clicker" - weird, right? The plastic parts make it squeak whenever you bring the pen in or out. Thankfully, another zebra pen DOES have the metal clicker! The rest of the pen's construction is not much to write home about, but that's unimportant. You just need that metal clicker construction.


Secondly, the ink. The stock ink is pretty bad and is prone to smudging. Once again, thankfully, the fisher space pen insert will fit once you remove a small plastic part at the front of the f-701.


An anon that I think posts here made a walkthrough of the mod process here, so if you follow it you will yourself become the very owner of a Space Zebra F-7401!


This will leave you with a great fully metal pen that also has an ergonomic knurled grip and that makes use of the pressurized space ink!

Here's the perfect pen for you because fountain pens will drip into the cap when banged around and dry up if not used. There's no real way to avoid it. Yes, you are going to get inky fingers every once and a while and there are times when it won't work. Accept it, or a fountain pen is not for you.

With that said, some pens are better than others in terms of reliability. Most mid/high range pens are made well and typically have less problems and better customer service.

There are lots of pens out there that are professional and stylish. You should just be searching fountain pen boards, looking at pictures and finding the right pen for you. For example, I have a few Parkers and I have always found the Parker Sonnet to be a classy pen, and one that I would like to get. But you may be looking for something bigger, something that says a statement (because the Sonnet is a slimmer pen).

As for reliability, no pens come to mind that are spectacularly reliable.

/u/commiespaceinvader touched on an issue that I'd like to address a bit more directly.

In my experience, people who are not history buffs sometimes confuse the ideas of "women's history" and "gender history." This might be a bit obvious, but gender history can be seen as an expansion of the more femme-focused field of women's history. Gender history looks at femininities, masculinities, genders in between, genders outside, agender identities, etc. (See /u/sunagainstgold's reply to this comment for the historiographic context of this, which includes the difference between social and cultural history.)

I think part of why many laypeople equate gender history with women's history is that we in the Anglophone world tend to think of men/masculinity as the default state of being, and women/femininity as the gendered alternative. (Think of the Amazon review debacle that was ungendered Bic Pens vs. "feminine" Bic for Her. Or behold these unnecessarily "designed for women!" ear plugs. The regular product is for men (?), so apparently we need a special pink product for women.)

Deborah Tannen explains phenomenon this brilliantly in her classic essay, "There is No Unmarked Woman." We have been trained to notice femininity more than masculinity, causing us to equate "gender" with femininity.

EDIT: And I'd like to second /u/sunagainstgold's Feminist history versus history of women as a very pertinent to what I was trying to say here.

EDIT 2: Changed a few things in response to sunagainstgold's valuable corrections.

Pockets

• Phone Case - Magpul iPhone 5 Field Case
  
  
• Knife - Benchmade Mini-Griptillian
  
  
• Handkerchief - Fifth&Brannan Charcoal Pocket Square
  
  
• Bottle Opener - New Belgium Globe - Got this for free after a tour there, and it's lived in the small pocket of my jeans ever since.
  
  
• Lip Balm - Burt's Bees
  
  
• FitBit - Fitbit Ultra - Probably going to be replaced by a newer Fitbit soon.
  
  
• Pen - Fisher Cap-O-Matic Space Pen - I will buy this pen over and over.
  
  
• Wallet - Saddleback ID Wallet in Tobacco
  
  
• Gum - Orbit Sweet Mint - It's unbelievable how much of this I have chewed.
  
  
  
  Keys
  
  
• Biner - Nite Ize S Biner Ahh
  
  
• USB - Kingston Digital DataTraveler 8GB - Contents change daily. Mostly client software.
  
  
• Light - FOURSEVENS Mini 123/ML - Throws a ton of light for how little room it takes up.
  
  
  
  
  That's pretty much it. Any questions feel free.
  

I’m a woman. He’s the one that assumed.

Edit: Shortly after I moved out of my childhood home, my dad sat me down and gave me a speech about how I’d have to do things for myself now (seriously), and he presented me with a tool kit. All the handles had a flower print on them.

Both of these men have my best interest at heart, but I guarantee that they each spent an extra 10% at least for an unnecessary bit of decoration.

It’s like when BIC branded that one set of pens for women (Read the reviews!). Why?

1. You NEED this Disney Mickey Tuxedo Bath Rug. You can't be just stepping out of your bath with drippy toes onto a cold, hard floor. Nooooo, that will never do. Allow Mickey to cushion your steps in comfort and to dry those toes in full formal tuxedo style!
   
   
2. These pens would be mighty fly.
   
   
3. Have fun choosing, and enjoy whatever it is. Thanks for the contest!

The point that stuck out to me was when she said no one really asks how a character like nathan drake represents men where as all female characters are asked about their representation of women.
I've never really thought about either gender irl representation, just like I've never thought about irl representation of comic book characters, or characters from novels or movies. I watch/read/play to escape reality where I can put myself into the protagonist and save the world or even just matter in a significant way in that world for a bit everyday, when in reality I'm so insignificant to not matter except as a demographic to a marketer.
To be honest I think marketing pink pens for girls much more insulting then anything I've seen in video games. I'm a woman and pink everything or flower everything bugs me more then tit physics in video games.
All that being said I really like the interview format. Keep up the good work TB.

Zebra F-701. Great pen, stainless steel. Nice balance and writes great. Plus its $5.

http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-F-701-Stainless-Ballpoint-Retractable/dp/B002L6RB80/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410233699&sr=8-1&keywords=f-701+zebra

I'm curious about the pricing too (I also saw it was $120 when you commented). I looked up the cost of the things listed.

• Gerber Dime green/black - $16.02 new on Amazon
  
• Zebra F-701 pen - $7.20 new on Amazon
  
• NarwhalCo pens set of 2 - $11.95 new on their site
  
• 2.5" ratchet bit extension - about $4~ new on Amazon (counting out the other bits included in that listing)
  
• ARES 1/4" micro bit ratchet & mini bits - $14.42 new on Amazon
  
• Small length of black Gorilla tape - less than $1 worth of a full 1-pack price new on Amazon
  
• Glasses/screen cleaning cloth - comparable to $1.50 new on Amazon from a 6-pack
  
• Length of FireCord - less than $1 worth of a full 1 roll price new on Amazon
  
• Bic Mini lighter - about $1.39 new on Amazon from a 5-pack
  
• Sim card removal tool - about $0.50 new on Amazon from a 10-pack
  
• Kingston 32gb microSD card & portable USB reader - $20.94 new on Amazon
  
• CountyComm "Industrial Strength Survival Food Grade Tin" large topo design - $3.45 new on their site
  
  In total that's about $83.37 USD all new prices. Most include free shipping if purchased from Amazon. I did not include possible cost of that leather holster because the post currently does not say the leather holster is included or not.

I agree. For a long time I used these and I really like their slender shape. They have the same innards as the one posted by dbzpsycho1 above.

I recently switched to the all metal one that he posted. I bought two of them on Amazon and I refill them as needed. Even though they're slightly thicker they are indestructible which is great!

For those that missed it, (only recently discovered this myself, but had a great laugh from it). http://www.amazon.com/BIC-Cristal-1-0mm-Black-MSLP16-Blk/dp/B004F9QBE6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417968102&sr=8-1&keywords=bic+for+her#customerReviews

Best pen depends on the paper.

These are excellent on white copy paper: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IE8O/

For notebook paper (thinner and bleeds through), Zebra pens will always be my favorite: https://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Ballpoint-Retractable-Refillable-Stainless/dp/B00NHV6VH0/

For real. I have an ex that commented on a FB post I put up of a really entertaining listicle of the "masculinity so fragile" variety. And he got all butthurt like "isn't this just generalizing about men? wouldn't this be offensive if it was about women?" And I'm like no, dude, it's about toxic masculinity. Men should find it funny too. Just like, as a woman, I find it funny when people mock pens for women. Not everything is about you.

Wow, this is such a perfect fit for OPs requests:

​

\> The ink had to dry within five seconds and be guaranteed not to smear or blot. Printed on paper, the ink had to withstand being submerged underwater for 48 hours and two doses of chemical bleach.

\> the pen’s unusually slight size — 5 and 1/8 inches long

Here's the amazon link for the fine point, for the lazy ones: https://www.amazon.com/Skilcraft-Government-Retractable-Point-7520-00-935-7135/dp/B0055KSNYK

Can't really pick just one, but I figure you'd rather see more interesting things people carry than fewer, so here some are in order of "if I had to pick one":

1. Fisher Bullet Space Pen - with clip, carry in coin pocket
   
2. Chicobag Micro - I'm annoyed they don't make it in black anymore in case mine, which I've been using fairly often/heavily for years, finally gets a rip. Heck maybe this should be #1, I'd be ok with another pen.
   
3. Nightcore TIP
   
4. Nite-ize Ahhh s-biner+bottle opener to carry items like giant car key fob, garage clicker, and the above flashlight on my belt loop so that they're not attached to my keychain stuffed in my front pocket. The bottle opener is surprisingly great. (I actually purchased a 10x-price Corter Bottlehook very recently to "upgrade", and the bottle opener is bad, so it's in a drawer.)
   
   I should do an updated EDC post sometime...

Fisher Space Pen refills come with an adapter that fits on the back so that they can fit into any pen that takes Parker-style refills. So you have lots of options if you'd like to go that route.

Or, if you'd like pens that are designed for the Fisher Space Pen refill specifically, here are some options:

Original Astronaut Pen: https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Space-AG7-Original-Astronaut/dp/B0015ZP2AC/

Fisher Space Pen Bullet: https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Space-Pen-Bullet-Clip/dp/B0002ZQB4M/

Fisher Space Pen Bullet - Brass: https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Space-Brass-Bullet-400-RAW/dp/B00KQSMAYU/

Machine Era Field Pen - Original: https://www.machine-era.com/collections/pens/products/field-pen-stainless

Schon Design Classic Machined Pen: https://www.schondsgn.com/collections/pens/products/classic-machined-pen?variant=7245842087982

The Easy flow 9000 is very good as stated by another redditer, however I personally like the fine space pen refill which comes with an adapter to fit parker pens.

A little higher on the price range you mentioned but I've enjoyed the Pilot Precise V5 line of pens. They come in a variety of colours, pack sizes, and they're fine pointed which I fine handy in my line of work where I have to take a lot of notes in a day.

Pilot Precise V5 RT Retractable Rolling Ball Pens, Extra Fine Point, Black Ink, Dozen Box -26062

sweet! Fisher Space Pen SPR4F Black Fine Point Pressurized Refill https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Z7WVZK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BxVACb0Q9KC8B

i love the idea of having my bullet-style space pen for EDC, but I’m really excited to make it actually happen with the fine point refill.

If you're using them in poor conditions: Fisher Space Pen, or a pen that will accept a Fisher refill. I carry this Parker Jotter because it matches my Hero 100 Flighter, equipped with this Fisher refill.

However, just saying you want a ballpoint pen is a pretty big request. Gel, rollerball and ballpoint pens are all... ballpoint pens. Different ones will come with different inks.

Uniball Jetstreams are good, as are Pilot G2s. Personally, though, the Retro 51 Tornado is an absolutely fantastic pen. It's more expensive by a wide margin than the Jotter. It's a much thicker pen, though, so if you have larger hands it's much more comfortable than a Fisher or Parker. And, unlike a lot of pens out there, the refills are both fantastic and affordable.

So. I would say: Get a Jotter and slap a Fisher Space Pen refill in it. Then, if you want to get another nice ballpoint, get yourself a Retro 51 Tornado. Then get a fountain pen. Avoid Zebra. I love my G-301s, but goddamn, those refills are expensive and don't get any mileage at all.

This may be a trigger rabbit hole for some but I absolutely stand by my day-to-day work pen. Pilot Precise V5 RT. It's a thing of beauty; writes a sharp black line, comfortable grip, retractable so I can click it incessantly. They may not last a lifetime like fountain pens or whatever, but they blow my standard office's pens out of the water.

1. [Pens 2.78] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U9TEEA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1OUQ8B0KGTG86&coliid=I19H22AN4GNZDT)
   
2. [Row Counter 3.49] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007LHJXS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1OUQ8B0KGTG86&coliid=I14936QDCI9PVF)
   
3. [Peeler 4.48] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0041BV0B2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1OUQ8B0KGTG86&coliid=I1ODM1MEFABTZ7)
   
4. [Coffin Box 5.30] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017R7DQO/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1OUQ8B0KGTG86&coliid=I1P5F2ZEZ412A8)
   
5. [Lotion 6.22] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UTK76C/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3SBJB5RE7GN4X&coliid=I18C5UFNH5ZAL2)
   
6. [Eye Shadow Base 6.03] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030O9LYY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1OUQ8B0KGTG86&coliid=I3GJQPN6EDDVTD)
   
   Meets the 25 minimum requirement Codename Duchess
   
   Thanks for the contest! Feel free to sub other add-ons from my list if you see fit.

+Maxpedition E.D.C. Pocket Organizer

+Sharpie w/Chisel Tip

+Zebra F-701 Metal Pen

+Chris Reeve Large Sebenza w/Gabon Inlay

+Fenix ALB-20 Snap Hook modded: bottle opener delete

+Olight I3E EOS

+Gerber Shard

+Leatherman Squirt P^S4

+Fenix UC35 v2.0

+Leatherman Charge+

+Visine Advanced .8fl oz

+AKG ear buds

+Burt's Bees Wax Honey Lip Balm

I carry a The North Face "Router Transit" (second generation) that holds a BE RED CROSS READY FIRST AID KIT, Hinderer XM-18 3.5" Wharncliffe w/CPM-20CV, Eagle Eyes X1R "warm", a [Kindle Paperwhite](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DLPWYB7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UlF1CbK87E6JV], Just Wireless 6,000 mAh Power Bank, ZEBRALIGHT H600Fc MK IV, TG Plasma Lighter, a couple Sarah Glove Emergency Disposal Ponchos and a small toiletries bag with Tylenol, toothbrush/paste, mouthwash and deodorant.

This is my daily carry, everywhere I go. I have a much more complete "Bug Out Bag" with a full change of clothes in the back of my truck. I would like to add a dedicated pry bar and maybe a fixed-blade knife to my bag but other than that feel pretty complete. Suggestions?

I'm planning on buying a TIHK for a friend thats going into vice. I think its always smart to have on you regardless if you are plain clothes or uniformed. Also a good pen like Zebra 402 or 701 is always a smart choice. They are nice enough to use but affordable enough to lose. Good hinged cuffs for off duty use and a low profile carrier is nice too. I don't know the laws and polices for officers in Queensland though.

http://tihk.co

http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-F-402-Retractable-Ballpoint-Pen/dp/B004WOAJP6/

http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-F-701-Stainless-Ballpoint-Retractable/dp/B002L6RB80/

I love the way the flamed titanium wears! All the little snail trails give it a ton of character. Yeah, I lost the pen and a sebenza at the same time. They were both in a pocket slip I made, and the slip slipped right out of my pocket without me knowing. Bad day lol. Here is a link to a fine point black refill

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Space-Pen-SPR4F-Pressurized/dp/B000Z7WVZK

Thanks! Honestly, the pen I write with the most is the Pilot Precise V5 RT. It's been my favorite writing tool so far but the grip, while comfortable, tends to hang up in the inside of my pockets. The Jotter is my go-to pen for portability.

I know exactly how you feel. While I really enjoy the size of these pens, I write far too heavy with too much pressure to allow these guys to last more than a few days.

The Zebra F-402 series are solid metal with a rubberized grip on the end. The cap unscrews to replace the cartridge and it uses the same refills as the F-301--a win-win. You might have better luck with these.

I would definitely recommend the Rite in the Rain pen or the Fisher Space NonReflective Military cap-o-matic

https://www.amazon.com/Rite-Rain-Weatherproof-Black-Clicker/dp/B000QBPZKS/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=23G1I5MLT9K23&keywords=rite+in+the+rain+pen&qid=1554850746&s=office-products&sprefix=rite+in%2Coffice-products%2C177&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-NonReflective-Military-Matic-SM4B/dp/B001NXDFC8/ref=sr_1_4?crid=23G1I5MLT9K23&keywords=rite+in+the+rain+pen&qid=1554850746&s=office-products&sprefix=rite+in%2Coffice-products%2C177&sr=1-4

They're very similar and I have the rite in the rain and it's a great all-metal retractable pen.

THIS ONE is on my Amazon wish list. If it's good enough for pilots, should be good enough for us!

This is one of my favourite WTF - I mean who needs 55 gallons!

Also I love the shear ridiculousness of this steering wheel table

And one of the other stupid thing is pens specifically for her read the comments for all of these - they are funny!

As far a gift - surprise me if I win :)

Pilot G2 is always a good pen. I also like the pilot precise V5. It is a roller ball pen, so it feels a little smoother than other ball point pens. I use fountain pens. Pilot Metropolitan or Lamy Safari is a great place to start out, but if you want to spend even less money the Platinum Preppy is a popular starter pen. In the long run a bottle of ink will be cheaper than a ton of disposable pens.

Two choices- quality flash light with belt pouch. If you have the funds, the Surefire Fury is an excellent light. If not, the $20 LED lights on Amazon will do just fine. Or an all weather pen/pad set, like Rite In The Rain or Fisher...

SureFire P2X Fury LED Flashlight Dual Output 600 Lumens with 12x EXTRA Surefire CR123A Batteries and 3 Alliance Gadget Battery Cases https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071CR6Q48/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_XdSgAbXTRDKFV

LED Tactical Flashlight TODYM Brightest 1000 lumens Mini Water Resistant Military Grade Flashlight Adjustable Zoom Focus 5 Mode Torch with Rechargeable 18650 Lithium Ion Battery & Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XZ3P4CY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ahSgAbSJCXZ1M

Rite in the Rain All-Weather Black Metal Clicker Pen - Black Ink (No. 97) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QBPZKS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4hSgAb4WYKYZ0

Rite in the Rain All-Weather Top-Spiral Notebook, 4" x 6", Green Cover, Universal Pattern, 3 Pack (No. 946-3) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQFDNSH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_PiSgAbJVVGAP2

I recommend this. A good butcher always carries a pen. Yea I am a stocker at a grocery store, and it's perfect at opening boxes that have tape everywhere :)

You have to use it similar to a right-click w/knife on Counter-Strike, but it's just as effective. Plus you won't slice your hand accidently with it...

Ooooh. Your bro might like some nice writing stuff. Since he likes science/math, these pencils have a legit cult following (google them!) and until recently were no longer available. If you get them you might also consider getting him a sharpener. I always carry one of these small Moleskine notebooks around with squared paper. These Zebra F-301s are my favorite pen, and they make a fancier version too.

Oh man, I'm a lefty so i'll get down on this:

I only use one type of pen -- and I write a lot between work/personal therapy.

I use a Pilot Precise V5 RT. It has an extra-fine point, so I don't smudge the paper with my lefthandedness. It's just a smooth writing utensil and I LOVE it.

Thanks for the contest!

Well now you have to save up for the best damn pen that’s available in this generations market. Here, i’ll list a few:

Cross Classic Century Lustrous Chrome Ballpoint Pen (3502) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IECI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_LmU2Ab8HHWB2G

Scribe Sword Fountain Pen With Ink - Calligraphy Pens For Writing - Luxury Designer Set - Medium Nib - A Business Executive Fountain Pen and Case - Instructions Included https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071G94945/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dnU2Ab4HREZ26

Pilot G2 Retractable Premium Gel Ink Roller Ball Pens, Fine Pt, Dozen Box, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GAOTSW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_KnU2Ab0TCXJCJ

PicoPen - Stainless Steel mini-ballpoint Pen with Magnetized Keychain Holder by TEC Accessories https://www.amazon.com/dp/0991557557/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-nU2Ab2HZESRW

Valtev Tactical Pen Black, First Line in Self Defense, Quality Aircraft Aluminium, Sturdy Nylon Pouch Included https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BJPL27O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_GoU2AbDGB01DC

Cross Townsend Black Lacquer Rollerball Pen with Rhodium Plated Appointments (AT0045-4) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000928J98/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.oU2Ab695F91V

Honestly as a civil engineer he may just appreciate a Fisher Space Pen. Get him one with a clip. $20 on Amazon right now. He'll appreciate the versatility and the history.

Pilot Precise V5RT. Like I said, not super expensive, but not cheap. And even less cheap when you forget to order online so you just keep getting them at target lol. Happy cake day!

Zebra - F-301 every day

http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Ballpoint-Retractable-Refillable-Stainless/dp/B00NHV6VH0/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1450239850&sr=1-1&keywords=zebra+f-301


personally for my notes i like a super fine tip so i also carry several of these pilot g-tecs in the ultra fine .25mm size

http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-G-Tec-C-Rolling-3-Pack-35483/dp/B0058NNAG0

So I carry a Maratac AAA Rev 3. Last year for the holidays my wife bought me a Leatherman MUT multi-tool. I don't carry that with me everywhere, but I absolutely love the sheath that came with it. My multi-tool of choice is the SOG PowerLock. I've been carrying that thing since 2003.

Here is everything keep on my belt: Link

• SOG PowerLock (This is not the exact model, but closest I could find.)
  
• Maratac AAA Rev 3
  
• Fisher Space Pen
  
• Mini Sharpie
  
  Keeping this whole thing on my right hip, the front side of the sheath holds the writing bits. Link And on the back side is where I hold the flashlight. Link
  

I have had great luck with the Rite in the Rain clicker pen. It is pressurized and weatherproof like the fisher space pen, but it is a bit thinner, and not full length. (which I appreciate because I prefer to carry it in my back pocket)

http://www.amazon.com/Rite-Rain-Weatherproof-Tactical-Clicker/dp/B000QBPZKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411773701&sr=8-1&keywords=rite+in+the+rain+pen

Well, it's not that I can't get some of them for relatively the same price in-store, it's just a lot easier to sit down and check off the lists and not have to deal with pushy moms getting supplies for kids.

Like... I found these awesome pens, and a dozen mechanical pencils.. It's not that I can't get them elsewhere, as I said before. It's just easier to buy everything together and while I will get Prime eventually, my tuition check broke the bank. I'll get there, though! Paycheck is coming in soon! :D

Zebra F-701 with F-402 action. I put the 402 nose on mine, with a blue refill.
Makes me wish I had non-marring pliers - the threading seemed to be different from the two pens and I wish it turned out nicer.

Skilcraft ballpoints were my favorite when I was in the Army. Made by the blind! Wrote great, despite being super cheaply made and kinda scratchy.

edit: they not only still make them, you can buy them on amazon. Sweet!

link

Now that I am on shift I took a look at mine, Zebra F-701

My backup pen is a Parker Jotter, not quite as durable but it did write all of my notes through college like a champ.

Previous post, I've changed a few things now and I'm constantly updating! Looking for a nice slim black hand stitched leather bifoldwallet at the minute.

• Fisher Space Pen with an extra spring for more click.
  
  
• Orbitkey Black limited edition + Orbitkey Multitool + Orbitkey ring
  
  
• Apple Airpods + Nomads case
  
  
• Simple watch co Earl Watch
  
  
• Common Projects Card holder
  
  
• Leather field notes cover with a little leather pen holder stuck on the back page, field notes coast edition inside. Fits lovely in my back pocket. Thinking about replacing it with the bellroy one.
  
  
• Some cheap rings from asos

Skillcraft B3? It's a three in one type deal with black ink, red ink, and a mechanical pencil+eraser. Sounds sort of cheesy but it actually works really well and feels quality. I write quite a bit for my job and it is really handy to have red ink on hand, even if you don't need it often.

They look very cool! Although honestly, I wouldn't have connected them to the transgender flag colors if you hadn't mentioned it. Now, will cis people be able/allowed to use these too, or will it be like Bic for Her?

I've found that These pens write amazingly for me. YMMV, but they've got a great solid lines.

Skillcraft US Government pens.

They are the pens the US Government buys for all their employees. They're fantastic, nice looking, and cheap.

Try a box out!

12 Pens for $12

Skilcraft U.S. Government Retractable Ball Point Pen, Fine Point, Black Ink, Box of 12 (7520-00-935-7135) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055KSNYK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_L8LMxbGYBPM9N

There are so many ways to answer this one.

When I was younger my favorite pens were gel pens and mechanical pencils.

For YEARS from High school - post college I was partial to zebra's F-301.

In the past 2 years I was fixated on [Sharpie's Ultra Fine Point] (http://static1.jetpens.com/images/a/000/054/54716.jpg) when I needed to fill out documents for work because it was a solid black. Which morphed into me wanting an even finer point Micron.

I then swung back to pens instead of markers after grabbing a Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pen. It was amazing and I've bought about 10 more since then just for filling out timesheets for work.

Most recently I got a Pilot Metropolitan fine for Christmas which is fantastic, but has only gotten about 25 minutes of use out if it so far.

I also want a brush pen, but haven't taken the time to pick one up at hobby lobby or Michaels yet.

Bic Pen for her

Read the deliciously sarcastic reviews for bonus lulz.

this

or
this

or

this



I love boobies

or

this

or [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Mate-Retractable-Ballpoint-1781564/dp/B004U9TEEA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1377374923&sr=8-6&keywords=gel+pens)



Didn't I say, I love boobies?
The last two are add ons- helpful when there are contests for such!

The reviews are pretty great too.

Pens are personal and the aesthetics are more valuable than the BIFL status. https://www.amazon.com/Skilcraft-Government-Retractable-Point-7520-00-935-7135/dp/B0055KSNYK is what the entire government uses and its the only MILSPEC pen on the planet. Its a god damn tank. But the form factor and writing quality may not be to your liking.

There are 98,345 notebook systems out there. /r/Leathercraft/ can custom you one, etsy, ebay, or a popular one is http://www.saddlebackleather.com/leather-notepad-cover

1 - Canadian pesos: great for censuring keys and exchanging for cheap goods.
2 - Kingston DataTraveler SE9 8GB USB 2.0
3 - Generic plastic cable stripper from idk where.
4 - Old 10 roentgen quartz pen dosimeter from (I think) Canadian forces surplus.
5 - Gerber 22-41830 EAB Pocket Knife
6 - Zebra Pen F-701
7 - Corsair 32GB voyager GO
8 - Olight i3E EOS EDC AAA LED Keychain Flashlight
9 - USB-C to Micro USB, One is in a 3d printed holder.
10 - Cheap but good sony headphones from bestbuy.

Wow, that's pretty cool. I carry a Fisher military space pen with me religiously, but cool pen nonetheless.

The part about the protein bars cracks me up. Just like those Bic for Her reviews. Always good for a chuckle.

I love the reviews for the bic "for her" pen. They are all hilarious. The first one is great, but read the others if you have time, you will not stop laughing. DIRTY THIRTY!

to clarify, I was asking about felt tip pens similar to this paper mate specifically, not pens in general.

but i usually write with [whatever] or, if i have one with me, a Parker Jotter in stainless steel (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017D5WXY) which is not comfortable to write with, but is my favorite pen because it was used by Boris in Goldeneye :)

Would the Zebra F-301 Ballpoint or Pilot G-2 Fine Point be appropriate for the criteria that I've listed?

Review of Recommendations:

Papermate Inkjoy Gel seems like a very adolescent pen. I'm looking for something more sophisticated in terms of style.

Pentel Energel is not retractable. I feel like with a cap and close type of pen I would easily misplace/ lose the cap.

Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Ballpoint-Retractable-Refillable-Stainless/dp/B00NHV6VH0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469493739&sr=8-2&keywords=zebra+bp+f-301+pen

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Retractable-Premium-Roller--31020/dp/B001GAOTSW/ref=sr_1_8?s=office&ie=UTF8&qid=1469494045&sr=1-8&keywords=pilot+g2

As others are mentioning, gel versus ballpoint is a place to start. I'm a fan of the Signo 207 gel pens as well. For ballpoint, I carry a Zebra 701 + a Fisher Space refill with me pretty much everywhere

OnePlus 5T
OnePlus 5T Case | SUPCASE
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BSZBHN5?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Frenchie Wallet
https://www.thefrenchie.co/speed-wallet

XTACER Tactical Molle Key Ring
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DSMZBGO?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Standard Zippo

Benchmade 943
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Q9CLF2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_e677AbHZWZ2N3

Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Smartwatch (Bluetooth), SM-R760NDAAXAR – US Version with Warranty https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M7MDK5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_o877AbX4HJSM2

Gear S3 Frontier / Classic Watch Band, V-Moro 22mm Solid Stainless Steel Metal Business Replacement Bracelet Strap for Samsung Gear S3 Frontier / S3 C https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG08BY8?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Craftsman Slide-Locking Utility Knife Model 994877 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GPADBQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3.77Ab4CDNWX1

KONOV 8mm Stainless Steel Mens Ring, Blue Plated Faceted Edges, Blue Silver - Size 11 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DRHHFI8?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Smok Alien 220w
Tobeco Mini Super Tank
Tobeco .2 sub ohm coil

Spyderco 2160199 C170GBBKP Kara hawk G-10 Folder Blade Knife, Black, 2.35" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y2K2SX6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bj87AbS6969NS

Zebra F-701 Ballpoint Stainless Steel Retractable Pen, Fine Point, 0.7mm, Black Ink, 1-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002L6RB80/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jl87AbB68Z7HP

Field Notes Kraft Ruled 3-Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0034KDEMO?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Field Notes / Moleskine Pocket Notebook Cover by Metier Life | Canvas with Vegan Leather | Fits Journals 3.5" X 5.5" | With Included Field Notes Notebook and Metier Pen - Stealth Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072VR628C?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

SKILCRAFT B3 Aviator Multi-Function Pen Black/Red Ink & Pencil with Stylus (7520-00-NIB-2522) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YT3FGTY?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

BRS Barebones 2.0 https://www.bladehq.com/item--BRS-Barebones-Balisong-Butterfly--33574

So what everyone's favourite pens? I've found these Zebra brand ones over here and love em. Cheap, light, and a fine nib to write.

https://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Ballpoint-Retractable-Refillable-Stainless/dp/B00NHV6VH0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539979956&sr=8-1&keywords=zebra+pens&dpID=51BE56nfNXL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Kinda pricey on Amazon UK though

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zebra-F-301-Ball-Point-Pens/dp/B00NHV6VH0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1539979972&sr=8-3&keywords=F-301

Pilot V5 Extra Fine

When they came out with the Retractable version of this bad boy it was like Christmas. I also found another cap version while I was in Greece last Spring that had a gray body and a super fine point...Love this pen so much. I also use Microns a lot, although I'm not sure why.

These pens would be handy and great! Everyone at work keeps stealing my pretty pens and I am now down to black and blue. :)

pay attention in class!

Zebra F-701 all the way, can function as rudimentary strike device for self defense too. Stainless steel is easy to clean as well.

They're not Bic Clic's but they are awesome pens.
https://www.amazon.com/Skilcraft-Government-Retractable-Point-7520-00-935-7135/dp/B0055KSNYK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478350052&sr=8-1&keywords=skilcraft+pens

So far it’s nice, I have a nice pen collection, but if you are itching to buy a new pen you can get the Zebra F-701 and add in a Fisher space pen refill . It writes nice, relatively durable.

Edit: Possibly this?

However, bendable pens exist, as well as Mini pens. Hope that helps.


See also; /r/HelpMeFind

Definitely the V5 in my opinion, Vision is another good line if you're looking to go Uni-ball/Stick. If you're looking retractable then I would say the retractable V5 (which is refillable), the 207, or my girlfriend's pick the classic G2.

Buy these. I am shit at math, but with these I can have a color code so I can tell what step is first, second....

It really helps with being able to take notes and can make it so anyone can look at them and help. I can take some pics of my math notes tomorrow if you want.

You forgot the best part! The Amazon reviews!

Left to Right:


Slim Wallet - It's super thin and it attaches to my phone. ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P4J55NV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9msGDb54PTKM2 )


Watch - It's durable and in my opinion doesn't look too bad for the price. ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009KYJAJY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BosGDbN06048V )


Mint Things - They are pretty strong breath strips that have an amazing form factor. ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XWM1NA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kVyGDbB6KA26N )


Space Pen - The end needed to be worn down last year because too many teachers tried to accuse me of having a juul. ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002ZQB4M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-WyGDbQNQWE30 )

Phone - Not pictured but a Pixel 3a.


My teacher showed up late, so I had time to do this.

This suggests that life experience is largely gendered, which I would disagree with and hope that we are continuously moving away from this style of gender policing.

>But you'll definitely see things along the line of "poems that make ladies into rad bitches".

I hope not. We already have pens and "strong female characters," what else do we need?

1. Work laptop. HP Elitebook 850 G3.
   
   
2. Not shown. Left at work :/. Fisher Space Pen with clip.
   
   
3. Stand in for Space Pen, Pilot G2 .07.
   
   
4. Field Notes.
   
   
5. Standard 32GB USB 3.0 flashdrive..
   
   
6. Elk Ridge Ballistic knife. Name engraved gift from being a groomsman at a buddy's wedding.
   
   
7. Fitbit Surge. Large, Black.
   
   
8. Jaybird Bluebuds X. They have newer versions out than this one so if you wanted a pair, I'd recommend upgrading as the newer ones are almost the same as these now.
   
   
9. KeySmart.
   
   
10. The Ridge Wallet.
    
    
11. Samsung Galaxy Note 4. White, 32GB, Verizon.
    
    
12. Spigen Neo Hybrid Note 4 case. Metal Slate in color.
    
    
13. Samsung Note 4 spare battery charger + extra battery.
    
    
14. FlyawayToys fidget spinner. Blue with full ceramic bearings.
    
    
15. Contigo AutoSpout Addison 24oz Water bottle. Smoke in color

I use the Zebra F-701 with a Fisher Space Pen refill, and it's fantastic. My pen was actually the old-style with a plastic "clicker," but I replaced it with a steel clicker to get the right look. Now the pens are all-steel out of the packaging!

NOTE: The pen isn't truly all-steel construction. Many of the innards are plastic. However, it's a very sturdy pen which I have carried for years now. It's also cheap enough that I wouldn't be (very) upset if something happened to it. If you try it, I think you'll be pleased.

I don't doubt that she got that it was a gag gift.

Perhaps it would've been more amusing had he gotten something like this: http://www.amazon.com/BIC-Cristal-1-0mm-Black-MSLP16-Blk/product-reviews/B004F9QBE6/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt/181-8028149-3024744?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Fun pens are always... fun. :)

Agreed. Love my Rite in the Rain notepad - http://www.amazon.com/Rite-The-Rain-4X8-Notebook/dp/B000QBUC4M

and pen - http://www.amazon.com/Rite-Rain-Weatherproof-Tactical-Clicker/dp/B000QBPZKS

and printer paper - http://www.amazon.com/Rite-Rain-White-Copy-Paper/dp/B0016H1RYE

all held in a clam shell clip board - http://www.amazon.com/Officemate-Clipboard-Case-Gray-83375/dp/B005XK3PRC

I usually give out 'telepens' as gifts. They are endlessly useful, fit in with the idea of 'Be Prepared' and also most leaders don't already have one, unlike a pocket knife.

Slow down. Women need special pens that reflect their delicate sensibilities and unique biology, so it only makes sense that LGBT people would need special apps with purple or rainbow backgrounds.

I think the term OP meant to use is "Applications of Color", and I can't recommend any because it would violate sacred safe spaces for me to even look at the Appstore of Color. But they probably have some awesome apps in there.

I like the $17-ish Bullet model. I've carried one in my front pocket for the past five years. Works great, but I don't like the quality of the tip. I wish I could get the same kind of pocket carry with a G2 insert.

If you wanna start to understand why, you can buy a Zebra F-701 for $5 at your local office supply store. That was my introduction to nice, metal manufactured pens.

What I really like to do is take an F-701, and buy an F-402 for $10. I replace the plastic mechanism in the F-701 with the metal mechanism from the F-402. Then I replace the branded clip on the 701 with the 402's blank clip. Now you have an all metal pen that looks nice with no branding on it, and it only cost you $15.

Just replace the ink in the existing pen. Super simple and highly worth while. link to the refill

I use these. They are the best pens ever made.

Skilcraft U.S. Government Retractable Ball Point Pen, Fine Point, Black Ink, Box of 12 (7520-00-935-7135)

Front left pocket:

• Rite In The Rain Leather Cover with 3x5 All-Weather Memo Book
  
• Zebra F-701 with Fisher Space Pen Fine Point Refill
  
  ---
  
  Front right pocket:
  
  
• House key keychain with EDCgear Pocket Hanger (originally from eBay — link is to same exact rebranded hardware
  
• Car key keychain with TEC Glow Fob
  
• Sriracha2go with Blair's After Death Hot Sauce — the contents of this change every time I refill it. It will probably be Melinda's Trinidad Scorpion next time.
  
  ---
  
  Back right pocket:
  
  
• Fossil Flip ID Wallet — I don't think this is sold individually. It's actually a wallet insert that came with a larger wallet, but it's the perfect size to hold the bare necessities.
  
  ---
  
  Back left pocket:
  
  
• LG V10 with OBLIQ case
  
  ---
  
  Also pictured:
  
  
• UTG Tacticool Messenger Bag
  
• Gerber Suspension
  
• 27-ounce Classic Stainless Steel Klean Canteen with Sport Cap
  
• Smith & Wesson Galaxy 12 — my version is an older model that uses 2 CR123As and only has white LEDs and a regular bulb

Flashlight: Nitecore TIP

Knife: Byrd Cara Cara

Pen: Pilot Kakuno

Wallet: Saddleback Leather Sleeve Wallet

Caribiner: Metolius Mini

Total: 98.33

More realistically, I would DIY the wallet with a $10 piece of tooling leather, and get a better knife like a Spyderco Efficient. This would put me a couple dollars over, so swap the pen for a Zebra F701. Total:$100.42

Hard mode:

Flashlight: Nitecore Tube

Knife: Opinel #6

Pen: Pilot Kakuno (same as linked above)

Wallet: DIY Sleeve (as discussed above)

Caribiner: Metolius (same as linked above)

Total: $49.14

This is the original listing with the thousands of funny reviews. The product is "out of stock" now so it won't appear when you search amazon directly.

https://www.amazon.com/BIC-Cristal-1-0mm-Black-MSLP16-Blk/dp/B004F9QBE6/ref=pd_sbs_op_4

If you allow add-ons, if not.

IVE BEEN GOOD I SWEAR

Nice pens are my go-to gift in this kind of situation. I collect and use fountain pens, but some people don't like the learning curve.

The Cross Classic Century model is one of my favorites.

Yeah. Of course women are people. But do they have the same status as adult men or the same status as children? As of 2012 living in America I can complete a higher education, vote, drive my own car, work, choose who I want to marry, inherit from my father as equally as my brother, etc, but I can't possibly understand what I'm doing when I decide to terminate a pregnancy so I'm going to undergo unnecessary and uncomfortable (to say the least) medical procedures and receive a nice lecture from my doctor, just to make sure I really, really get it, as if I hadn't thought it through. Oh, and BIC has decided that I need my own set of pens for writing because my feeble feminine hands can't handle the regular ones that I've been using my entire life. Go ahead and make slimmer pens that are easier for people with smaller hands to grip (you know, like children), but don't say it's designed for teh womenz because holy shit, I think I was doing just fine before you decided I wasn't. This comment may be too simplified or rushed so I apologize but I think it gets my point across.

I'm using the Zebra F-701 it's a great pen for the money. I got it for about 6$ on Amazon and a refill pack of 2 will run you about 5$.

If you are a ballpoint kind of person the Fisher Space Pen is for you, if you want a fountain pen go for a Kaweco sport, and you might want to look at the Pokka Pen.
 
I personally love my Kaweco sport and Fisher Space Pen