Pilot HDGCL50R-PBLA Mechanical Pencil, Dr. Grip CL Play Border 0.5mm, Black x Lavender

I've had the same mechanical pencil for about 13 years now. As you can imagine, I was due for a new one. The grip had gotten really manky.I wasn't so sure about buying a pencil online. I wasn't expecting the grip to be comfortable without being able to test squeeze it in person first but I can't imagine using any other pencil now. The grip is just soft enough that my fingers don't hurt when writing for long periods (I have a claw death grip when I write and a very firm press) but it still has the right level of firmness left to feel really solid and sturdy. The barrel size is perfect for me. I didn't want something super thin like the pencils that look disposable but I didn't want something that felt like a pipe in my hand either. This is that perfect middle ground.I bought 4 of these just so I could switch up the color I'm using each day and so far, the purple one is my favorite. They're all really nice and vivid colors but the purple one has a "pop" to it that I didn't expect. I really wish they still made the red ones (either the solid red one posted above or a black with red accents version) as that would be my favorite but we can't have everything we want in life.I haven't had any issues with lead coming out in my pencil case as I travel either. I was a little afraid that a shaker pencil would have that problem (this is my first one of this kind) but I've found that it has to be a very deliberate shake from top to bottom to get the lead to come out.I have seen one person mention that the lack of a clip on the side makes it easy for the pencil to roll across the table and I have to agree with that. I can't just throw this down and go walk away. I use a clicky extendable eraser paired with all my mechanical pencils and I've adjusted by just making sure the pencil is between the metal spiral on my notebook and the eraser, every time I put it down, to make sure it doesn't roll off the table. The clicky eraser has the clip on the side that my other pencils had. I used to do the same thing before this pencil except the eraser was in the middle, so it was just a minor adjustment for me to avoid letting this pencil take a walk. At the same time, I have to say that from an aesthetics standpoint, this pencil does LOOK a lot better without the long clip on the side. The rolling issue doesn't bother me because of that and the minor adjustment I've made with my eraser.

Amazing pencil. Its grip is very comfortable and it is a very durable pencil. Would buy again

Really like the color and the grip. Lead tends to smear but I just think that’s the brand.

Very comfortable, well weighted and well made. I have a preference for 5mm mechanical pencils over any other pencil option and the Dr. Grip series is by far the best I have drawn or written with to date. They are bulkier compared to some others out there but that's mostly because there is a silicon sleeve that makes long periods of writing or drawing much more tolerable. I actually bought 3 different colors of the same Play Border series just because I liked them so much. These are so nice that you really only need one.

I have several of these. I bought several more so I could keep one in each room.

Noisy and built just like the PhD pens.I had two of those and broke in short order.Not sure how long this will last.Good grip and barrel diameter though

Comfortable grip and cute colors

This has made drawing with carpal tunnel so much less painful and I have far more control over my lines as a result.