About a year and a half ago, I posted about the Monteverde tool pen, an inexpensive aluminum-bodied pen with a built-in ruler, mini screwdriver, level, and stylus. It takes easy to find ink refills.
I happened across a pen store at a mall recently, and spied a few Monteverde tool pens on a shelf. They looked pretty good, but I saw enough through the glass to know that I wanted to finally order one from Amazon. I did get hosed on an inexpensive pocket pen. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.
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So I went home, bought the pen, waited 2 days, and it arrived today.
A $3 coupon made the purchasing decision a lot easier to make. That’s why I’m mentioning the pen now, instead of when I’m able to spend more time with it. It’s on sale now, and by the time I’m ready to review it, it might be back to full price.
There are 5 color choices. 3 of them are currently priced slightly above $20, the other 2 are around $24 each. “Clip the coupon” on the Amazon product pages, and the price goes down $3.
Less than $17 before tax? Okay, sold!
What I Like
- Solid construction
- Nice grip
- All 4 ruler scales are clear and crisp to read
- Excellent capacitive stylus tip (works with touch devices)
- If I don’t like the pen, I could cap the front with the stylus and use it as just a stylus
What I Don’t Like
- Mini screwdriver is okay, might or might not be compatible with micro bits
- Pocket clip is just okay
- Bubble level vial is a little small, dark, cheap looking
- COO info is nowhere to be found on packaging
Overall, it seems like a very good pen. It’s a little chunky, but comfortable to grip. I don’t care much for the medium ballpoint ink cartridge, and might seek out fine-point refills when I have a chance. Other brands make D1-sizes refills, which is a relief.
At their regular Amazon price of around $20-21, for the ballpoint styles, I’d recommend the Monteverde tool pen. At the clipped-coupon sale price of $17 or so, I feel a lot more enthusiastic about the recommendation.
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$3 might not seem like much, but psychologically, $17 and change vs. $20 and change is a big difference.
I don’t see the coupon anymore on the pen I bought (the black colored one), bit it reappears when I log out. I still see the coupons for the other versions, which suggests that the coupon is one-time-use, but with each color pen counting as a different product with its own one-time-use coupon. In other words, you should be able to use the coupon on multiple pens if they’re all different colors.
The coupon only works if you buy directly from Amazon, and not a 3rd party seller.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Nate 818
I want one
Matt
I have had one and use it on and off for about a year. Menards (Midwest location)had one of there rebate deals which knocked the price down to $8 I believe. Level and ruler are most handy. Wish it was a pencil and then I would use it more.
Stuart
They do have a version that’s a pencil. It’s limited to 0.9 mm lead, and it costs more, but it’s still a pencil!
fred
I bought a 4 of these (MV35212 yellow ones) in December 2015 as Christmas stocking stuffers and paid $19.98 each. I have not heard any complaints about them – but no positive comments back either.
Graham Howe
Also note that the pencil does not have a level on it.
Benjamen
I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t say anything at first, but I thought I saw these for cheaper at Menards. Maybe even $4 at one point.
Matt
http://www.menards.com/main/electrical/electronics/computer-accessories/xtreme-6-in-1-stylus-pen/p-1444436446624-c-13536.htm?tid=7996909815153276413
$5 knockoff
Hilton
In reference to the COO, this comment on Amazon;
“I didn’t know… so I contacted the company. They are assembled in the USA with parts made in Taiwan.
By Lori D. Ellison on November 11, 2014”
fred
Interesting – No COO listed on the packaging – UPC listed as 0080333352120
Acalz
Stuart the owner or inventor of that pen emailed me last year, and asked if I would review the pen. I told him sure, but then he sent me another email telling me that he changed his mind? Well I probably would have tossed it in my tool box and never used it. I use cheap pencils that if I lose them I just grab another one from the box. That pen/ruler/stylus cost to much to lose while working on a project. The best tool I ever got to review when I had my website up was the Studpop screw finder. I’ve used the hell out of that thing.
Ryan
Hate to break it to you but these are just rebranded Asian knockoffs. I work next door to an Air Force recruiting office and they’re always giving out cheap AF branded swag, water bottles, lanyards, etc. Recently I stopped in and they gave me one of these exact multi-tool pens-it’s identical in every way, except for the Air Force logo. It’s the same story as the Yeti tumblers. In case you haven’t heard Yeti, the cooler company, makes a vacuum sealed, stainless steel drink coozy($25), 20 oz travel mug($29), and a 30 oz travel mug($39). While at Walmart yesterday in the camping section I saw the exact same products (identical in every way) on the shelf with Ozark Trail branding. Respectively the three items were priced at $7.74, $7.74, and $9.84. I bought all three. They perform exactly as well as my yeti versions. Don’t be a sucker like me and pay over three times as much for an identical product- unless you really want the Yeti branding.
Stuart
I’ve seen those cheap promotional plastic-bodied tool pens. No comparison.
It’s also possible that the Air Force ordered these exact pens and had them customized with their color and logo.
Ryan
Yeah these weren’t plastic they were metal. Completely identical
Stuart
Hmm, I wonder if it’s a clone.
Grady
Bought one.
The pen is crap!
The stylus cap, stripped!
The stylus cap rubber, tore!
The level, body was not straight!
The screwdriver tip, had to be removed and inserted with pliers!
The Phillips bit, chipped!
The pocket clip, sprung!
Cursed myself!
Through it in the trash can as hard as I could!
I was unimpressed.
ken
They also have a fountain pen version for those of us who enjoy hands covered in ink.
John McD
At the bottom of the Amazon page I viewed, these came up looking very much like the others and, Not certain about the ones in the Review, these also have Inch measurements on them along with the Metric. And, their less than $10.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W0SW1AC?psc=1
Stuart
The Xtreme 6-in-1 is even less.
I’d like to think that the Monteverde ones came first, and the others are clones or knockoffs, but am not curious enough to buy one of the cheap ones for comparison.