Back To School: A Stationery Review

After news came out that we were finally going to school in-person, most of us started thinking about our packing lists. While the majority of the items on that list include necessities for our dorms, such as our favorite snacks and plushies, a crucial component of supplies for school include stationery. Since we are technically here to study for the next few years, we might as well make them as pleasurable experiences as possible. That small change can happen with the stationery you use. Even if switching your stationery doesn’t improve your grades, they still make you appear more classy and aesthetic.

• Zebra Sarasa Clip Pen
  • For those of you who have dabbled in fancy Asian stationery a little, this pen probably sounds familiar to you. It’s quite famous because it has a smooth feel when writing and is widely accessible in the US. However, this pen’s markings could stain your highlighter as it is a gel pen, even if you wait an entire day for it to dry. But, due to its popularity, it is relatively easy to find, even in places like Target and Amazon. 7.5/10

Source: Stationery Pal

• Pilot Hi-Tec-C
  • The Pilot Hi-Tec-C is harder to find than the previous pen, but has a few advantages. The biggest is that it is okay to highlight over after waiting a few minutes. On the other hand, the tip feels drier than the Zebra Sarasa. 8/10

Source: JetPens

• Muji Gel Pen
  • Muji gel pens are equally as famous as the Zebra Sarasa. Compared to others, this is a relatively cheap option (though it depends on the seller). Unfortunately, there are no Muji stores in Illinois, so you have to purchase them online. Nevertheless, Muji gel pens have a refined, simple look to them and are smoother than the Pilot Hi-Tec-C but rougher than the Zebra Sarasa. Similar to the Hi-Tec-C, it is okay to highlight over after a few minutes of waiting. 8/10

Source: Kawaii Pen Shop

• Uni Jetstream
  • The Uni Jetstream is also another famous option, except that, unlike the others, this is a ballpoint pen. This means that it is a drier pen than gel, but the Jetstream is famous for being smooth. I personally have had terrible experiences with this pen because they dried out really quickly without having used even a quarter of the cartridge. However,  many people have enjoyed using it, especially since its dry qualities allow for highlighters without smudge. 6.5/10
  • TIP: if your pen’s ink stops running, store it with the tip facing down or put it in hot water.

Source: Uni Amazon

• Pilot Juice Retractables
  • The Pilot Juice feels quite similar to the Zebra Sarasa, except that its barrel is thinner. I would recommend using thinner pens because wide barrels may end up hurting your hand after hours of writing. Yet, the Pilot Juice takes a while to dry and is never good to highlight over. There are also some reports of “railroading,” which is when the ink doesn’t come out as a constant stream and splits. 7/10

Source: Ekabuki

Highlighters:

• Zebra Mildliners
  • Stationery gurus know that Mildliners are the most popular highlighters out there. Like its name, Mildliners have mild colors that don’t hurt your eyes like neon ones do. They also don’t “pool,” which is when the highlighter ink leaves a heavy stain at the end of your highlighted area. These are relatively dry enough to prevent that from happening. There is also a diverse collection of colors to choose from. 11/10

Source: JetPens

• Stabilo Boss
  • At first glance, the Stabilo Boss looks very thick and difficult to use. However, the tip of the highlighter is very smooth. The only downside is that there is significant pooling and can bleed through your notebook if you use thin paper. It is also quite pricey compared to the Midliner. 7/10

Source: JetPens

• Uni Propus Window
  • If you want to look aesthetic, the Uni Propus is the choice for you. It looks nicer than the other choices because it has a window to show you where you’re highlighting. It also feels smoother than the Stabilo Boss. The colors are more traditional neon colors, though they hurt your eyes less than Sharpie or Bic highlighters. 9.5/10

Source: JetPens

Mechanical Pencils:

• Pentel Caplet
  • This is my all-time favorite pencil. It has a thin barrel and writes firmly. The design recently changed from transparent to opaque, so the old design will be more costly. Disregarding the questionable design change, it feels sturdier than other plastic mechanical pencils I have used. 10/10

Source; AliExpress

• Pentel Graphgear 1000 
  • The Graphgear 1000 comes as a close second to the caplet. It is heavier and more expensive, but because it is metal and not plastic like the Caplet, it feels cool and the grip allows you to write for extended periods of time. It also has a sharp clip that lets you pinch your friends. The major disadvantage is that they cost around ten dollars per pencil. Since this lasts long, though, it is certainly worth it. 9/10

Source: Pentel

• Uni Kuru Toga
  • Of all the items on this list, the Uni Kuru Toga wins the award for the most creative stationery. The lead (or graphite) inside the pencil turns every time to write or put pressure on it, which shapes the lead so that it writes smoothly at a consistent thickness. If you tilt your pencil so that the lead becomes slanted, the Kuru Toga is the choice for you. It is also relatively cheap compared to the other options. A minor disadvantage is that it may feel flimsy and shaky. 8.5/10

Source: Pen Store

Erasers:

• Pentel Ain Eraser
  • The Pentel Ain eraser is a plastic eraser that doesn’t leave a lot of eraser dust. It also erases efficiently and doesn’t feel crusty. However, this is not easily accessible from the US, so it is priced quite heavily on Amazon. 8.5/10

Source: JetPens

• Daiso Gathering Eraser
  • This eraser feels similar to the Pentel Ain eraser, but leaves a lot less eraser dust. It erases well at first, but the quality deteriorates over time. The best part is that you can get scented ones, including orange, grape, strawberry, and Coca Cola. Minor disadvantage: if you store this with your other erasers over the summer, they stick together. 8/10

Source: Daiso Japan

• Staedtler Rasoplast Eraser
  • The Staedtler eraser isn’t plastic and feels softer, but then that means it leaves a lot more eraser dust than the other two. However, it is cheaper and easier to access and erases a little better than the Daiso eraser. 9/10

Source: Staedtler

Although this isn’t a comprehensive list of high-quality stationery items, hopefully this list will share some ideas on what to fill your pencil case with for this school year. Happy shopping!