[Pen/Pencil Review] The Paper Mate Flair Ultra Fine
This week’s pen blog is a bit late, but it’s still Monday, so it’s still technically on time. This week I’m visiting an oldtimer, the Paper Mate Flair Ultra Fine marker pen. I’m not usually a fan of porous point pens – and this is the one time that a finer point doesn’t mean better for me.
I bought the five color pack at Target on sale one day to try them again – especially at work. And they’re better than I remember. I don’t quite feel like I’m going to destroy the tip…as quickly. According to the package, the Flairs now have a guard that keeps the point from fraying…and maybe they’re right.
The ink is bolder than I would expect for an Ultra Fine Point. The ink does dry quickly on paper. I haven’t had too many issues with smearing – though honestly I don’t remember trying to make the ink smear on this one. Even the orange ink isn’t too light. It doesn’t bleed through paper – I’m not sure about the acid free, but I will take Paper Mate’s word for it. Most inks are these days.
These are the “fashion” colors so I might continue to use them some at work, but they’ll be “I’m bored ” pens. I’m still pretty much a gel ink and ball point person. But these were a lot better than I remember them being in the past.
The Numbers.
1. How does it work? – 1 – It’s better than I expected. The ink was richer than I anticipated and the point felt sturdy.
2. Look and feel – 0.5 – They haven’t changed much in decades. They have ridges near the point and another where the cap clicks in. The cap doesn’t fly off the end, but it feels like it might.
3. Material – 0.5 It’s inexpensive plastic the same it’s always has been.
4. Overall Design – 0.5 – It’s a PaperMate Flair. It’s a plain pen.
5. Price Point – 1 – You can get these cheap when there’s a sale. And there’s almost always as sale somewhere – and they are everywhere…Target, Walmart, office supply stores.
3.5 out of 5 bronze pencils.
