Zebra Pen M-301 Stainless Steel Mechanical Pencils .5mm, Fine Point, 2-Pack (54012)

Like most people who have used mechanical pencils for a long time, I settled into my favorite couple pencils, bought a number of them and used them for years. For me it was the Y&C Double Knock and the Alvin Draftmatic dating back to the mid-90's. But then I started using "luxury" pen and pencil sets from Cross, Parker, Pelican and Waterman and lost touch with the "functional" mechanical pencil market. But both between a realization that these "luxury" brands aren't actually interested in making a good pencil as much as something good looking (don't get me wrong, they're good, but writing quality of their pencils is not what drives them) and my kids getting to the age where they could use a good mechanical pencil, I decided to dig back in and re-learn the current offerings. I decided to give my older kids (as stocking stuffers for Christmas) one of each of the viable contenders and then borrow them on occasion to see what I thought. It's now been a couple months and I'm reviewing them all:Best overall: Pentel GraphGear 500 (full review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2V3OHBEJN60WZ)Best value: Zebra M301 (this review)Best retractable tip: Pentel GraphGear 1000 (http://www.amazon.com/review/R1WGL8ZCB03SQK)Best rubber grip: Staedtler 925-05 (http://www.amazon.com/review/R1ZX77U5OV8OS6)Also rans (in order of preference):Alvin Draftmatic (http://www.amazon.com/review/R1VQY95VWPF0YI)Uni Kuru Tora (http://www.amazon.com/review/R2JV48N3D6KXH3)Pentel P205 (http://www.amazon.com/review/R3C11TD28G7BUT)Click on the links above for my detailed review of each. And now for the actual review for THIS pencil, the Zebra M301:This is the only low priced ($1-$5) pencil that I bought. The others I looked into were obviously junk. In fact, it was my wife buying a few different very cheap mechanical pencils from Bic and others that put me up to this endeavor. They were all junk and my kids deserve better, even if they lose them too often for comfort (which is why she was reasonably buying such inexpensive ones). Nevertheless, the stainless steel barrel of the M301 intrigued me thinking that these guys may actually care about quality and at that price it was worth taking a flyer on it.Boy was I impressed!If you're looking for a pencil for your lower elementary school kids, THIS is the pencil. Between the price and the quality, it's the unquestioned victor for your throw away pencil. I've decided that these are the pencils I keep in the woodshop and if the kids ever lose all their stocking stuffers, this is what they'll be getting to replace them.The stainless steel barrel isn't overwhelmingly good, but it is surprisingly good quality for such an inexpensive pencil. It's very dirt and grime resistant, something nice for when the kids come back from the school cafeteria with sticky fingers. It cleans easily too.The other surprising part is the grip. For those who read all of my pencil reviews, you'll see that I'm generally not a fan of the plastic grip. They tend to absorb finger grease over time and get a slick feel to them. And then oddly, perhaps because the maker is trying to over-compensate, the ribs in the plastic tend to dig in too much. The result is a slippery grip that is still hard on your fingers. The worst of both worlds! However, the plastic on this pencil is not ribbed in one direction ("horizontally" around the barrel) like most plastic grip pencils including the classic Pentel P205. Instead it has both horizontal and vertical ribs that make a nice pattern that gives a good grip. I still prefer a metal grip, but I must admit, for a plastic one, this is pretty good.Finally in the positive category is the clip. It is tight enough to clip on thin materials, but since it is wide and made of a thicker gauge material than most of it's competitors, it slides over the material easily. While I haven't stressed it frequently, it just has the feel of a clip that will last a long time.All of those positives aside, don't get me wrong, this is not a high end pencil. It has more give in the tip than the best of the crop. If it was a medium cost pencil it would have just been one amongst many. The eraser is pitifully small (although just as big as all the others I guess and of a good quality polymer material). The clicking mechanism is OK, but not high end either.Nevertheless, this pencil is a great value and is one of only two I give a 5-star rating to. Buy a bunch of them and spread them around so that there's one where ever you need one. You won't regret it.

Ah, the Zebra M-301 Stainless Steel Mechanical Pencils, 0.5 mm, Pack Of 2. These little beauties have been my trusty companions for years in the field, faithfully recording my notes in Rite in the Rain field books. And let me tell you, the action on these pencils is just delightful. It feels smooth and satisfying, like a perfectly executed dance move.Now, I must admit, I've put these pencils through their paces. I've used them with all sorts of lead, from the standard graphite to the more adventurous color pencil lead. And you know what? These pencils handle it all with grace and ease. The lead stays firmly in place, never faltering, and with just a simple click of the cap, you get just the right amount of lead every time. It's like magic.But here's the thing - these pencils do have one weakness. Their erasers. Oh boy, I've gone through more erasers than I can count. It's like they have a secret pact with the paper, conspiring to make me buy eraser refills on a regular basis. But hey, at least the eraser under the cap is the perfect size for those smaller areas that need erasing. And when it starts to run low, you can just slide it up like a pro.Now, let's talk about the lead size. The 0.5 mm lead is a dream come true for field notes and sketches. It writes on paper with such clean and crisp precision, it's like a symphony of words and lines. And let's not forget about the stainless barrel. It's sturdy, reliable, and has been my everyday carry for several years now. All I've ever had to do was add more lead and occasionally replace the eraser with one of those handy refills.So there you have it, my take on the Zebra M-301 Stainless Steel Mechanical Pencils. They're great companions for any fieldwork or drafting adventures you may embark on. Just be prepared to stock up on eraser refills, because these pencils are so good, they'll make you want to erase everything and start over, just for the fun of it.

My favorite brand for writing instruments! Comfortable to use, rare lead breakage, and a smooth fine line writing result. My fave throughout college, nursing school, and professionally. Well made, and last forever!

My husband's favorite brand of pens. If it is a pen it has to be this pen. He has only used the pen for ten years. It great quality and writes great. And feels great it the hands

Smaller than expected, fits shirt pocket better than thought it would.Lot nicer than I expected, I doubt the clip will break, which is one of the things I was looking for in a mechanical pencil.Easy to refill, but I'd recommend getting an eraser. Eraser is super short and it didn't come with refills.Grip is okay, might need a protector thing for some people. Doesn't bother me, but it's noticeable.If I had one complaint, it's the nib thing. I think I've stuck myself more than I've cared to with it.Hopefully a retractable one like clearpoint has will be available in the future. Their clips break though, so. Here I am.👍

Can't go wrong with these. They're a classic! They work well.

Best price for a lead pencil

My favorite pen that just glides on paper the ink is bold and lasts a really long time.