any alternative to the valliant concept keychain pen?

[tal-c]

since my edc is keychain-based, im looking for a keychain pen (or a regular pen which could be modded to fit) to edc.
i'd like to keep the length of the pen in a spyderco ladybug proportions, and so far i've only encountered the valliant concepts SS pen for 35$ without intl shipping...

that price for such a small pen is abit too much for me to justify... so, are there any other/cheaper alternatives?

[Gnarly]

About $4 @ Staples or HellMart: OOPS! Link doesn't work.Google Zebra Compact Pen & check the Zebra Pen Website....they work well.

Doesn't foul up a day if you lose one,like losing a high-$ pen does!

~Gnarly

[yatsunil]

About $4 @ Staples or HellMart: OOPS! Link doesn't work.Google Zebra Compact Pen & check the Zebra Pen Website....they work well.

Doesn't foul up a day if you lose one,like losing a high-$ pen does!

~Gnarly

Looks good and the price is right. I might give it a try. Can always be relegated to loaner status if I don't like it :)

[Gnarly]

Can you tell I've lost some really nice pens? (insert: YOUCH! and pained expression here!).
Never again!

OR: if you are looking for pure EDC utility in a compact pen, buy a couple Fisher pressurized refills on eBay.($8.50 for 2).
Then wrap one with Gorilla duct tape,until it almost-but-not-quite reaches the diameter you like.
The other one? Wrap it with one strip of electrical tape (the good stuff),leave an quarter-inch gap,then one strip of bandage tape,leave an quarter-inch gap,then one strip of Scotch tape.
Fill the first gap with unwaxed dental floss,and the second gap with monofilament fishing line.
Then take your magic rubber tape (the kind that only sticks to itself) and put a wrap over both pens,to avoid 'the stickies'.
In my opinion,no cap is needed.I've carried two like this for > 7 months now,and they simply don't leak ink.They fit nicely in the side-elastic of my phone holster...or my multi tool holster...and in the shoulder straps of my 'FMTH!' bag.Wouldn't put 'em in my pocket without some sort of cap,but otherwise,no issues.
And the real benefit is knowing they'll write anytime,anywhere.
Butt-ugly,but it's function over form!

~Gnarly

[davem]

I highly recommend the Pico Pen. I have had a keychain pen attached to my keychain for many years and I have carried just about all of them. The Pico Pen is my favorite, hands down.

[widgetdr]

I second the Pico Pen. I just bought one but I love it and the price was reasonable.

[tinker gnome]

The pico pen is a nice one if you can live with its magnetic attraction for other keychain items I put some layers of duct tape around the magnet section, and it helps

One more candidate would be the Inka pen. You can use it "short" or "full size". In carrying mode it is half an inch longer than the valiant concept keychain pen, and a bit wider in diameter.

[Hebily]

The Inka pen is a good alternative at about $12 many places. http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/too...e/?cpg=froogle
It's also available in-store at many REI locations.

If it was to be used daily, I'd carry the Inka instead of the VC pen. I believe that the VC pen is well worth the money; it is wonderfully made, and amazingly small. The Inka has a much quicker-use design, is half as painful to lose - though the design makes loss more likely - and some would find the larger size a benefit.

[Oddboy]

http://www.trueutility.com/pocket-to...e/telepen.html

I have one of these. Love it.

[tonester]

http://www.trueutility.com/pocket-to...e/telepen.html

I have one of these. Love it.

wow thats pretty cool. might have to check that out. wonder if its sold anywhere in the states?