BIC Triumph 537R
Ok, so I finally got my hands on a BIC Triumph 537R! I first noticed it because of the nice looking packaging. BIC had actually received a 2009 Silver Pentaward for the package design at the Brussels Design Forum in Brussels, Belgium.
Typically, I am not too fond of BIC products, but due to this packaging and sleek look of the pen I reluctantly bought it. After opening the package, the first thing I noticed was that it is not as heavy as I first thought it would be. The weight of the pen is comfortably light, but still has a nice sturdy feel to it. One drawback to the feel of the pen (maybe it is just my preference), it has no rubber grip on it. It would be a more enjoyable pen with this mainly because of the sweat and moisture that develops between the fingers when writing for an extended period of time or in warmer climates. As I started to write with it, I was very pleased with how smoothly it glided across the paper. Additionally, it does not take a lot of pressure to create a nice bold line. This specific 537R that I am using is a 0.7mm. I used three different types of paper for this test; a standard canary legal size notepad which is about a 16 lb. paper (the same as regular filler notebook paper), a small memo book purchased at Wal*Mart which feels about like a 14lb. paper (slightly thinner than the standard notebook paper), and a sheet standard 20 lb. copy paper. On all three the results were about the same. There is minimal feathering after writing which was a surprise to me with how bold the pen was writing. The bleed through was very noticeable. You could not write on both sides without being distracted by the ink bleeding through. It does dry rather quickly (about 5 seconds). Prior to that you will get some smudging, so this is probably not the best choice for those "leftys" out there. Additionally, for those who work in environments where liquids can get on their papers or in more moist and rainy climates, this pen is not waterproof.
Typically, I am not too fond of BIC products, but due to this packaging and sleek look of the pen I reluctantly bought it. After opening the package, the first thing I noticed was that it is not as heavy as I first thought it would be. The weight of the pen is comfortably light, but still has a nice sturdy feel to it. One drawback to the feel of the pen (maybe it is just my preference), it has no rubber grip on it. It would be a more enjoyable pen with this mainly because of the sweat and moisture that develops between the fingers when writing for an extended period of time or in warmer climates. As I started to write with it, I was very pleased with how smoothly it glided across the paper. Additionally, it does not take a lot of pressure to create a nice bold line. This specific 537R that I am using is a 0.7mm. I used three different types of paper for this test; a standard canary legal size notepad which is about a 16 lb. paper (the same as regular filler notebook paper), a small memo book purchased at Wal*Mart which feels about like a 14lb. paper (slightly thinner than the standard notebook paper), and a sheet standard 20 lb. copy paper. On all three the results were about the same. There is minimal feathering after writing which was a surprise to me with how bold the pen was writing. The bleed through was very noticeable. You could not write on both sides without being distracted by the ink bleeding through. It does dry rather quickly (about 5 seconds). Prior to that you will get some smudging, so this is probably not the best choice for those "leftys" out there. Additionally, for those who work in environments where liquids can get on their papers or in more moist and rainy climates, this pen is not waterproof.
Overall, I would say that it is a nice pen to have. I would not choose this pen to use everyday, but would not be upset if I could not find one of my other favorite pens and was forced to use this one. It is a reasonably priced pen for the quality and design(about $6.99 in store for a 3 or 4 pack and about $17.50 online for a dozen). It is refillable which is a plus if you truly enjoy using this pen. I give it a 3.5 out of 5.
Please leave your comments or experiences with the BIC Triumph 537R on the "Tell Me About It!" page.
Please leave your comments or experiences with the BIC Triumph 537R on the "Tell Me About It!" page.