Modern Rōnins' Top 5 Best Pens for EDC
"The pen is mightier than the sword." True in many respects, so you should make sure you are carrying the best with you all the time.
Disclaimer1
Ah the humble pen. Many of the greatest documents in the world were signed into action by nothing more than a pen. Documents that have shaped our cultures and very existence! For better or worse, were signed off with a pen in hand.
Yet, we the average men of the world aren’t signing off on new laws, or billion dollar contracts, so why worry about a pen? To you my friends, I say you’re wrong. A pen is one of the most overlooked pieces of gear that you can carry. I use my pen nearly everyday, whether it is signing receipts, making notes, marking a cut point, you name it, I use my pen in some capacity.
“Ok that’s all fine and dandy Matt, but I don’t need to buy a new pen, I have some left over BIC pens from my school days, or I have Pilot G-2 that I borrowed from work permanently.”Well I say those are fine options and if they work for you, keep them and save your money. If you don’t know me or what we are building here at Modern Rōnins, efficiency is one of our core tenets, so if you have a pen on hand that you can or currently carry you are in great shape! But for those that want to elevate their pen game and by extension, their EDC game, below are our top 5 pens for EDC, in no particular order
I won’t lie to you, this is my current daily driver. It is the perfect pocket size pen, with a butter smooth writing tip. It also is equipped with a bolt action that makes it very fun fidget tool as well. I recommend this pen to nearly everyone I talk to. At only $13 it is also very affordable and also has the ability to be refilled making a great long term option.
If you need a pen that quite literally works anywhere and in any condition, look no further than the Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Black Metal Clicker Pen. Equipped with a pressurized cartidride it writes in temperatures from -30F to 250F, under water (up to 35 ft), and any angle. Also being of standard pen size it fits great in all hands, where some of the mini EDC pens may feel too small. Definitely a handy pen to keep in your rotation or in your vehicle.
Another pen with the ability to write in extreme conditions, the X-701 Tactical Retractable Ballpoint Pen is a great tool for any EDC loadout. This has an incredibly smooth writing tip and a good weight that feels nice in your hand as well as your pocket.
All of the same benefits as the previously mentioned Rite in the Rain Pen (#2), but in a smaller more pocket friendly form. If you want some more portable, but still capable, then I recommend you purchase this!
Considered by many enthusiast as the gold standard of pens, I would remiss if I failed to mention this legend in my list. Definitely pricier than the others I have mentioned, but you are paying for quality. As the original, over-engineered space pen, if you have the opportunity or ability to purchase one, I can assure you it will be one of if not your favorite pen to ever hold.
These are our top 5 best EDC pens to add to your loadouts, but as I mentioned previously, our core tenet is efficiency, so I encourage you to first look at your pen collections in your home offices, random drawers, or elsewhere before you commit to buying a dedicated EDC option. However, should you choose to buy any of these listed above, I assure you that you won’t regret your decision.
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