[Pen/Pencil Review] The Write Dudes Gorilla Lead 0.7mmm Mechanical Pencil
I didn’t pick up any fun pens at ArmadilloCon this, but I did get to spend time with Mark Finn and Rick Klaw – so in the honor of The Apes of Wrath (and a pretty lame reach for a connection) – I’m reviewing the Write Dudes Gorilla Lead Mechanical Pencils from Target.
There won’t be a writing sample – because well, mechanical pencil. 0.7mm #2 HB Lead all looks the same. It’s the rest of the piece that’s important. The fact they put “fine” on the package does make me roll my eyes. 0.7mm is NOT fine, and doesn’t apply to pencil points. But the selling point for this pencil is supposed to be the strength of the lead – “combining the strength and fury of gorillas”.
Okay so the hype is cute. The package comes with two pencils and extra lead for a relatively reasonable price. I bought the rubberized black ones. They also come in a silver/gray. The pencil runs about 5.75″ long. The black is rubberized for a good grip…and speaking of the grip. It’s…odd. Not bad, but definitely takes a bit of getting used to. The grip is an ergonomic triangular with ridges and smooth parts, but done in a way that almost makes it too narrow for me. And you have to use the grip. There’s no comfortable way to choke down like I normally do. Which isn’t completely bad?
The hardware is chrome plated and stepped down to the lead. The clip seems sturdy. The rounded plunger cap covers the refill tube and eraser. Now… about the lead… It is a good lead. I’m not sure it’s “Gorilla Strong” – it does break. But I put quite a bit of pressure to bear on the lead. and it took effort to get the lead to snap. It’s probably easier to do early and late in the lead life.
It’s a decent mechanical pencil for the price. These are not all that expensive at Target (and other retailers) – and with back to school sales, they’re probably even on sale. I’d be wary if you were have big hands or fingers – this is a narrow grip. It’s taking some time to get comfortable for me. But it’s inexpensive and amusing.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 – It works like it’s supposed to. The lead advances and retracts. The grip is grippy. And the lead is sturdy.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – They make a concerted effort for ergonomics. But I find it a bit too narrow and high up on the barrel. You might not.
3. Material – 1 – It’s actually fairly solid. The rubberized grip is part of the whole barrel. The lead is sturdy. The chromed metal parts don’t seem in any danger of tarnish, cracking or flying off into the eitherh
4. Overall Design – 0.5 – It’s okay. The narrowness is a problem. There are ridges that can dig in. And I don’t think the lead is a strong as furious as they think it is, but should still last a good while.
5. Price Point – 1 – These are not expensive. A 2-3 pack of pencils (most with extra lead and – maybe – erasers) runs about $3.50 at Target. For a the quality of the pencil and the longevity it should have… this is a fantastic price – and might even be less expensive if you catch a sale.
That’s 4 of 5 bronze pencils.
