Have you read our guide on how to pick the perfect pen? If you haven’t, I’ll urge to do so before continuing. If you did, maybe the decision is close at hand but you’re looking for inspiration to expand your research. Thus, without further ado, allow me to introduce you to 10 of the most popular pen brands.
All brands on this list offer at least one pen with the following characteristics:
- Made primarily of metal (e.g., aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, zirconium) or plastic (e.g., acrylic, carbon fiber, Ultem) materials.
- Uses common opening mechanisms such as bolt action, cap, click, or twist.
- May contain additional features, such a glass breaker.
An EDC pen, needs to have certain characteristics that go beyond its ability to perform its function of writing. It also aims to provide certain ruggedness, safety, and usability advantages. Not to the mention a “cool” factor that can derive in a higher pride of ownership.
| Brand | Aluminum | Brass | Bronze | Carbon fiber | Copper | Stainless steel | Titanium | Ultem | Zirconium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Idea Design | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| CountyComm | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Dango Products | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| KarasKustoms | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Kaweco | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Prometheus Lights | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| Ridge | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| Tactile Turn | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| The James Brand | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
| Wingback | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Big Idea Design
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Brass, copper, titanium, zirconium
- Categories: Ballpoint, fountain, rollerball
- Opening mechanisms: Bolt action, cap, click, twist
- Prices: $35 – $250 (USD)
- Website: bigidesign.com
Big Idea Design (BID) was started in 2011 in Chattanooga, TN. Their focus is to bring innovative EDC gear to people who want to do more and carry less. BID offers ballpoint, rollerball, and fountain pens made exclusively from metals like brass, copper, titanium, and zirconium. They utilize all common opening mechanisms such as bolt action, cap, click, and twist.
CountyComm
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Brass, copper, titanium, Ultem, zirconium
- Categories: Ballpoint, rollerball
- Opening mechanisms: Cap, twist
- Prices: $20 – $100 (USD)
- Website: countycomm.com
Based in Sunnyvale, CA, CountyComm was established in 1992. They primarily manufacture and sell tactical gear to U.S. government agencies, but retail any excess inventories to the general public. Within those products, CountyComm offers a few EDC pens with mostly cap or twist opening mechanisms, using ballpoint and rollerball ink refills. Their pens are made from metals like brass, copper, titanium, and zirconium, as well as a few plastic models made of Ultem.
Dango Products
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Aluminum, titanium, Ultem
- Categories: Ballpoint, rollerball
- Opening mechanisms: Cap
- Prices: $45 – $100 (USD)
- Website: dangoproducts.com
Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, Dango Products is an American manufacturer established in 2015. Their objective is to elevate everyday carry products coupled with modern aesthetics and lasting materials. Dango produces a few pens with cap opening mechanisms, including either ballpoint or rollerball ink refills. They’re made from either aluminum, titanium, or Ultem.
KarasKustoms
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Aluminum, brass, bronze, copper
- Categories: Ballpoint, fountain, rollerball
- Opening mechanisms: Bolt action, cap, click
- Prices: $65 – $170 (USD)
- Website: karaskustoms.com
KarasKustoms was established in 2008 in Mesa, AZ. Their desire is to manufacture durable goods that stand the test of time, specializing in fully machines writing instruments. KarasKustoms offers pens with bolt action, cap, and click opening mechanisms, utilizing ballpoint, fountain, and rollerball ink cartridges. Their pens are machined from aluminum, brass, bronze, or copper.
Kaweco
- Origin: Germany
- Materials: Acrylic, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, stainless steel
- Categories: Ballpoint, fountain, rollerball
- Opening mechanisms: Cap, click
- Prices: €20 – €200 (EUR)
- Website: kaweco-pen.com
German brand Kaweco was founded in 1889 in the city of Heidelberg. They believe that the quality of good things is an experience that goes well beyond a single sense. Kaweco manufactures pens with cap or click opening mechanisms, fitted with all types of ink refills (ballpoint, fountain, and rollerball). Their pens are made of a variety of metals, particularly aluminum and stainless steel, as well as a couple acrylic and plastic models.
Prometheus Lights
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Brass, copper, nickel, titanium
- Categories: Fountain, rollerball
- Opening mechanisms: Cap
- Prices: $175 – $295 (USD)
- Website: darksucks.com
Prometheus Lights is based out of Mountain View, CA, and it was started in 2017. Their mission is to create products based on simplicity and usability without compromising quality. Prometheus Lights offers pens with cap opening, fitted with either fountain or rollerball ink. Their pens are made of various metals including brass, copper, nickel, and titanium.
Ridge
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Aluminum, brass, carbon fiber, titanium
- Categories: Ballpoint
- Opening mechanisms: Bolt action, click
- Prices: $55 – $125 (USD)
- Website: ridge.com
Ridge is an American brand established in 2013 and based in Santa Monica, CA. Emulating their wallet designs, their pen designs are also minimalist, aimed to carry less and live more. Ridge utilizes some of the same materials used on their wallets, hence we’ll find pens made of carbon fiber, aluminum, titanium, and even brass. Their pens rely on bolt action or click opening mechanisms, which include a ballpoint ink refill.
Tactile Turn
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Aluminum, bronze, copper, stainless steel, titanium, Ultem, zirconium
- Categories: Ballpoint, rollerball
- Opening mechanisms: Bolt action, click
- Prices: $80 – $400 (USD)
- Website: tactileturn.com
American brand Tactile Turn started in 2012 out of Dallas, TX. Initially, they only focused in making quality machined pens and other EDC items, they have also incorporated knife making in their portfolio. Tactile Turn produces pens made of aluminum, bronze, copper, steel, titanium, and zirconium, in addition to a couple Ultem models. Typical opening mechanisms in their pens include bolt action and click, combined with ballpoint or rollerball ink refills.
The James Brand
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Stainless steel, titanium
- Categories: Ballpoint
- Opening mechanisms: Cap, click
- Prices: $60 – $170 (USD)
- Website: thejamesbrand.com
The James Brand was founded in 2012 in Portland, OR. They pride themselves in designing gear and tools aimed for people who like to live adventurously and pull up their sleeves. The James Brand produces pens made of stainless steel and titanium, with cap or click opening mechanisms. Their pens utilize oil-based ballpoint refills exclusively.
Wingback
- Origin: United Kingdom
- Materials: Brass, stainless steel, titanium
- Categories: Ballpoint, fountain
- Opening mechanisms: Cap, twist
- Prices: £130 – £185 (GBP)
- Website: wingback.co.uk
British brand Wingback started in 2014 and is based out of London. They design products that pursue to be straightaway a pleasure to use, to improve with age and become a cherished item passed down through generations. Wingback offers pens with either cap or twist (mechanical) opening mechanisms, fitted with ballpoint or fountain ink reservoirs. They are made of metals such as brass, stainless steel, and titanium.
Key takeaways
In conclusion, here are some pros and cons of choosing a product from any of these popular EDC pen brands.
Pros of an EDC pen:
- Compact and easy to carry in pocket, purse, or backpack.
- More resistant and durable compared to disposable non-refillable pens.
- Provides features needed on most daily situations and tasks.
Cons of an EDC pen:
- Heavier than most refillable and non-refillable pens, especially if made of metal.
- Way more expensive compared to disposable non-refillable pens.
- Needs to be properly maintained to ensure durability and usability.