Review - Zebra PenPod Mini Keychain Pen (lots of pics)

[bruner]

Just ordered this from jetpens.com (http://www.jetpens.com/product_info.php/cPath/21_102/products_id/952) for about $8 shipped. It's a Zebra "PenPod" and from what I understand they are imported from Japan.

Click on any image to view full size.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/581/zebraba17bkiw6.th.jpg (http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zebraba17bkiw6.jpg)

I was under the impression that the pen was non refillable, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was wrong. See the sticker in this next photo.

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/1714/dsc06122ir9.th.jpg (http://img301.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc06122ir9.jpg)

This thing is great. It's a spring-loaded pen that collapses when inserted into it's keychain sheath. There is no danger of the pen falling out of it's sheath as it is twist-locked into position when opening and closing. Again, refer to the previous image.

Here's a picture of the label attached to the keychain:

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9714/dsc06125ug8.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc06125ug8.jpg)

The pen, in it's keychain sheath, when assembled is about 3" long, shown here:

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6725/dsc06139ex6.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc06139ex6.jpg)

The pen, by itself, in the extended mode is about 3-1/2", shown here:

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5291/dsc06141ku5.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc06141ku5.jpg)

Here you can see the two little prongs that lock the pen into the keychain sheath when closed:

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/5412/dsc06131zu1.th.jpg (http://img301.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc06131zu1.jpg)

Here is a view of the branding located on the side of the sheath:

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3106/dsc06129xb4.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc06129xb4.jpg)

Here is a rear view of the pen showing how to open and close the device from it's sheath:

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/9933/dsc06127fj6.th.jpg (http://img301.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc06127fj6.jpg)

Again, according to the label it is refillable, but I don't know of the availability of the refills. I can tell you that the ink cartridge from a standard Zebra Telescoping pen will fit in it, but is just a bit loose (not loose enough to fall out, just a bit loose).

I really like this pen and I plan on putting it into my EDC keychain rotation.

Any questions, I'll be happy to try and answer.

Thanks for looking,
Dan

[Lunal_Tic]

Does the cap fit on the back of the pen to make it full sized?

-LT

[bruner]

Hi LT,

No, it's pretty much what you see.* The cap does not fit on the end of the pen.

The extended pen (at 3-1/2") is however very comfortable to hold by itself.

Took it grocery shopping yesterday evening.* In comparison, the Inka, in it's short mode is only 2-7/8".* The inka is still my all-time favorite for it's "transformer" qualities ;)

Thanks,
Dan

[cave dave]

Nice, I'll have to find me one of those. At the moment I just use the pen on my Swiss Army Manager II pocket knife, but there are some cool penless small multi tools out there.

[LowWorm]

Another great review by Dan! :pirate:

I keep telling myself I need one of these...! Seems ebay has some that are sold in bulk packs, which might not be a bad way to go...though JetPen actually has the different colors, which would be nice... :idiot2:

Dan, are you still liking this pen?

[bruner]

Still liking it very much :)

It's a nice design. Very small and very keychain carry friendly.

Dan

[cyberspyder]

Massive bump...I've had mine for the better part of two years now, and I found out the pen portion is no longer attached! The two little nubs had disappeared, leaving me penless.... >:(

[TNRonin]

I liked mine, but when I put it in my mission wallet, and sometimes on my keychain it would open and I would have to look for the pen portion.