When Pilot discontinued the BDW-40F (Down Force pen) many of us were forced to find an alternative. Pilot Down Force pens were selling on ebay for over 100$. This pen is among the few comparable writing utensils. It is as described, the ink flows at any angle, it works under adverse conditions (rain, oil, chemicals) and it comes in safety orange, which is handy for construction and work shop environments where this pen really shines. The retention clip is also nicely thought out, it springs into place and is metal so it will not break off after a few uses. Overall the functionality of this pen is excellent.
I must say however, it is too small for my hands. The shape is unfortunately not ergonomic for me personally. It is a short pen, and the barrel is tapered so gripping down on it reduces cross section. For a point of reference my hand is XL glove size (over 9 inch palm circumference) but this portion of the review is purely subjective and a matter of personal opinion therefor cannot be detracted from the 5* rating.
Cool looking, easy writing and lightweight - perfect for my needs.
The pen was comfortable and easy to write with. Performs as expected, but I do prefer a broader line. The clip was surprising ... it could hold on to a piece of paper in my purse, when others get away and I have to dig around to find them both again. I'm glad refills are available also!
This pen is extremely comfortable to write with and it's definitely a current favourite of mine. I have had two of these so far and the first one I bought many years ago, the head piece of this pen got a little loose with the threading. My second pen hasn't gotten this way, so I assume there were some improvements done. I do hope this pen sticks around for the long run so I can keep ordering refills. I do wish that this pen was thinner sometimes, but when I'm sitting at a desk with a large writing surface it's a dream in the hand and onto the paper.
Love this pen . This is my second one - wanted to keep one at home and one in my bag. Easy to hold and writes smoothly. I use it everyday and runs out of ink about every 2 months. Refills are inexpensive and shipping is free. Wish the refills can also come in a larger tip size, makes it a bit easier to read, but not a huge problem.