Note to self: Get the lead out
The urban legend about the space pen goes like this: During the space race in the ‘60s, NASA spent more than $1 million developing a pen that could write in zero gravity. Russian cosmonauts, meanwhile, used a pencil. In reality, both U.S. and Russian space explorers used pencils until inventor Paul Fisher developed a pressurized pen that wrote in a weightless environment. Now Fisher and others offer pens designed to write under extreme conditions. We tested two versions and compared them with that trusty school staple, the No. 2 pencil.
TAKING THE HEAT
First look: The Fisher Trekker Space Pen is a compact version of the original space pen with a key ring and carabiner to latch to your backpack or belt loop. Like the original, this pen uses pressurized gas to feed ink to the ballpoint tip so it can write upside down. But the manufacturer claims it can also write under water and under extreme temperatures, from minus 30 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Likes and yikes: The Trekker performed admirably after a few hours in a freezer (about zero degrees) and after a few minutes in a toaster oven (about 140 degrees). It also wrote well under water, although our wet binder paper failed miserably. The drawback is the $25 price. But if the government can spend $600 for a toilet seat, a $25 pen is not a bad deal.
The 411: $25 from REI and at www.spacepen.com or call (800) 634-3494.
POOR MARKS
First look: The Inka pen by Nite Ize Inc. also uses pressurized ink and attaches to a ring for easy access. It also promises to leave its mark under water, while upside down and under extreme conditions. Inside its stainless-steel shell, the pen also holds a PDA stylus.
Likes and yikes: The Inka wrote well after being toasted like a bagel but failed the freezer test and left only a feeble mark during our underwater test. The pen top pops out of its canister and can be reassembled to make a longer pen that is easier to hold.
The 411: $20 for the stainless-steel model and $50 for the titanium version at Adventure 16 stores and at www.writeanywhere .com or call (800) 678-6483.
STILL THE CHAMP
First look: The yellow No. 2 pencil is a staple of students’ back-to-school supplies. The wooden exterior is great for chewing during tense classroom exams, and the pink eraser can be removed and hurled at unsuspecting classmates to exact revenge or produce a few giggles.
Likes and yikes: While its markings are transitory, the old No. 2 passed the freezer test, the toaster test and, surprisingly, the underwater test. It doesn’t attach to a key ring, but some masking tape and a piece of yarn can do the trick.
The 411: $2 for a box of a dozen from Office Max or dig into your Clue or Scrabble board game for those half-size, eraser-less golf pencils.
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