When it comes to journaling or writing, picking the correct pen is incredibly important. Most writers will understand the lack of satisfaction that comes with using an inadequate pen. What’s meant to be a relaxing and thoughtful process can become incredibly annoying without the right pen.
Choosing the right pen can be difficult; that’s why we’ve gone through some of the best fineliner pens on the market, so you can pick the ideal pen for your needs. Today we’re going to be looking at what Staedtler and Stabilo have to offer and which one you should choose for your writing needs.
Fineliner Pens
If you’re not familiar with the term fineliner pens, they’re a type of pen that features fine fiber or a plastic tip. Most people typically use them for graphic, drawing, sketching, or coloring purposes. However, these pens are also popular when it comes to handwriting tasks.
A lot of people prefer the unique feel of the tip in comparison to more traditional ballpoints. Their tips are typically long in length and feature a metal covering to make them easier to use with rulers and templates.
They typically feature dye-based ink, which can smudge occasionally. However, there are several pens out there that make use of lightfast or waterproof pigment ink.
Another reason why fineliners are so popular is that they’re available in a variety of different colors. They’ll seriously suit anyone who wants to be creative with any task they’re looking to perform.
While there are many fineliner pens on the market, Staedtler and Stabilo provide some of the best and most affordable options. Keep reading to learn in-depth about the benefits and drawbacks of each pen.
Staedtler Triplus Fineliner
Chances are that you already have a piece of Staedtler stationery in your kitty. If you’re interested in trying out a fineliner pen, then the Staedtler Triplus represents a brilliant option. It’s available for $11.40 in a pack of 10 and is very affordable.
The pen is a fineliner that features a super fine metal-clad tip. Its design helps ensure that you can use the pen without worrying about bending the tip. Its body features an ergonomic triangular barrel design to help ensure that you experience fatigue-free working.
These pens will fit into your fingers perfectly, and you won’t get tired of using them. Whether you’re trying to write, draw, or color, all tasks will go by smoothly thanks to the pen’s ergonomic design.
Overall, Staedtler provides thirty color options that you can choose between. It’s arguably the best color range on the market. Each of the color options is unique and provides a decent aesthetic.
Once you get one color, you’ll be looking forward to getting your hands on the others that are available. Some of their most eye-catching color offerings are the light orange and the Bordeaux red.
When you get a set of color pens, one of the most annoying things can be identifying what color you’re about to use. Staedtler kept that in mind and made sure that identifying the color of the pen they’re about to use is an easy job for everyone.
Each pen features the ink color on the cap, and the bottom of the pen, so identifying which color you’re about to use becomes an easy job. One slight issue with the Staedtler line is that not all the colors match the cap and bottom indicators. It’s a good idea to test out what color you’re using before working on your final draft.
When you’re using the pen, the ink comes out sharp, and the lines are always clean. It’s an excellent writer. However, the pen is more suited for drawing, coloring, and sketching than it is writing. That’s mainly because the pen features a slightly softer tip.
The softer tip makes it almost feel like a brush pen. While it definitely isn’t a brush pen, it feels different from the other fineliner pens on the market.
One of the most annoying things while writing or drawing is pens bleeding ink onto the next page. This becomes especially common when you’re using a thin piece of paper.
When it comes to ink bleed, the Staedtler fineliner pens manage to perform to a decent level. There will definitely be some level of bleed on a thin piece of paper, but nothing too significant. If you’re using a high-quality thick piece of paper, then you won’t have to worry about any potential ink bleed.
If you choose to buy a pack, the case is all you need for storage purposes. It’s a single row molded case that’s easy to put in your backpack and carry with you anywhere.
Pens also easily slide in-and-out of the case and are very quiet as well. The case also features a built-in stand, which allows you to stand up the pens while you’re working. That makes it even easier to access whatever color you want to use.
Another annoying feature that puts most people off from buying a fineliner pen is that they dry out really quickly. Most drawing or coloring pens will dry out after an hour or two if you end up losing the cap. However, the Staedtler Triplus fineliners contains something called dry safe ink.
Essentially, if you end up losing the cap or leaving it off for an extended period, that won’t lead to your pen drying out. It’s important to remember that only the regular colors feature dry safe ink; the neon colors will dry out if you don’t put on the cap.
The ink itself isn’t permanent, so there’s no need to worry about it leaving stains on clothing and other surfaces. All it’s going to take is a little bit of water, and you’ll be able to wash away any unwanted ink.
When drawing with these pens, they’ll give you an immensely satisfying sensation. There won’t be any dry spots or points that you’ll have to worry about.
Summary
For any writer or journaler that’s looking to add a bit of splash and emphasis to their notes, the Staedtler Triplus Fineliners are a must-have.
They’re available in a very diverse range of colors, with no two colors repeating themselves in the collection. Aside from the thirty standard colors, buyers also can choose between six neon colors and six pastel colors. That totals out to 42 pens in the set.
The pens feature an ergonomic design that helps ensure that there’s no significant fatigue to the user. Anyone can write with this pen for a considerable period without getting tired. Its triangular barrel design helps ensure that it fits snugly between the fingers and feels natural in hand.
The length of the pen s also ideal and doesn’t feel unreasonably long even while posted. Each pen will easily post along with the cap to ensure that you can use the product to your convenience.
Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner
If the Staedtler Triplus Fineliner doesn’t float your boat, then the Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner might be the ideal choice. They feature a 0.4mm rounded nib and are available in thirty different colors. Five out of the thirty colors feature a full neon aesthetic. Buyers have the opportunity of choosing between a pack of ten, twenty, or thirty colors.
They feature a huge variety of colors and are available for a variety of affordable price points. Each pen features Stabilo’s distinct golden-yellow hexagonal design. On the corners, you’ll find white-striped corners that make the pen resemble the appearance of a regular pencil.
Choosing the right color pen can become difficult from a set. However, Stabilo includes an easy identification metric using the cover of their cap. Each pen also features the shade number on the top for easier identification.
Even though the pen is long, it still manages to post effectively. Posting makes it significantly longer but, it doesn’t add any weight because the cap is so small. The pen doesn’t feature a clip or grip, but it remains super easy to use. Its lightweight nature helps ensure that using the pen doesn’t require any significant effort or grip.
Its 0.4mm nib is slightly thicker than the 0.3mm Staedtler offering. However, it still manages to remain very useful at drawing, coloring, and writing tasks. The nib features a metal covering that helps ensure that it remains safe while using a scale or template.
The Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner features water-based ink that users usually expect to bleed like crazy on paper. However, it tends to perform better than most non-waterproof markers on the market. While it might not produce any significant bleeding, it’s prone to a certain amount of smearing.
The ink also dries fast, which ensures that the pen is safe for left-handed writers. While the pens don’t produce a lot of bleeding, the pressure you apply and over-coloring significantly impact whether or not any ink will bleed through.
Stabilo might not offer the same level of options as Staedtler when it comes to the color range. Still, their colors are all incredibly sharp and unique. While the different hues might blend with one another for the Staedtler pens, each color offering from Stabilo is unique and high-quality.
The colors dry quickly and produce no amount of discoloration when put in the sunlight. Suppose you’re using the Stabilo pens for your artwork. In that case, you can easily just hang out the frames and not worry about any framing issues.
One thing that helps endear Stabilo’s line of pens too so many people is the sense of nostalgia that they offer. Each pen has the same width and shape as the standard hexagonal pencil.
Even the color of the pen reminds you of the classic yellow pencils. The classic design choice helps ensure that the pens don’t feel alien in the hand of any user. Anyone can pick up the pen and immediately feel comfortable.
On the performance aspect of the pen, there are absolutely no issues. Aside from the slight bleeding problem on thin pieces of paper, the Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner performs exceptionally. There are no instances of scratchiness or any ink drying out.
These pens also feature safe, dry ink that helps ensure that the pens’ color doesn’t fade even if you lose the cap. While the pens won’t dry out without a cap, it’ll significantly impact the quality of the ink. Its barrel is lightweight and easy to hold, which makes writing significantly easier.
Staedtler vs. Stabilo
When it comes to a head to head comparison between the two pens, the Staedtler and Stabilo are neck-in-neck. Most people struggle to pick between the two, and it comes down to personal preferences. Here’s a comparison breakdown between the two pens.
Performance
Both pens offer a similar level of performance. The Staedtler Triplus Fineliner features a 0.3mm plastic tip that features a metal covering. Even though the tip features a metal covering, the pen still feels like a soft brush. That makes it more ideal for tasks like drawing, coloring, and sketching.
On the other hand, the Stabilo pens work brilliantly for all tasks. Individuals that enjoy writing will naturally incline towards the Stabilo. Its harder tip helps ensure that your handwriting remains consistent.
Design
The pens differ significantly when it comes to design elements. Stabilo’s Fineliner resembles the shape of traditional pencils that everyone uses. That helps ensure that they fit perfectly into the hands of all users. On the other hand, the Staedtler Triplus Fineliners feature a triangular barrel design that makes the pen more ergonomic.
Colors
Both Stabilo and Staedtler offer a decent range of colors. However, Staedtler offers a few different color options. On the other hand, Stabilo offers significantly better shades, and their lineup contains more unique colors.
Conclusion
Both Stabilo and Staedtler offer some of the best fineliner pens on the market. The best way to decide between the two is to get single pens from both companies first. After seeing which one suits your preferences more, you can then decide to buy the pack!
