The New Staples AvantPro with SilkScribe Ink and the Cap Posted
Recently, the good folks over at Staples offered to send over a bunch of their new AvantPro pens with SilkScribe ink for a review and a big giveaway to all of our fantastic readers. First we will take a look at this great looking pen, then at the end of the review here you will find the rules for the giveaway.
The New Staples AvantPro Capped
Visually the new Staples AvantPro pen is quite impressive. It has a very nice looking brushed metal body and cap and has a small flared out band at the neck with a shiner chrome finish. In addition to the nice finish on the cap and body, the cap also has a nice strong and wide plastic clip with a little bit of a spring action to it. With the cap closed, the pen measures about 5 1/3″ and with the cap posted it measures almost exactly 6″ long. One of the things I like about how the cap posts is that it comes down really far on the body, about 1.25″ down on to the barrel of the pen. I think that having the cap post so far down on the body probably helps to keep the pen from becoming top heavy and causing you to experience tiredness in your hand when writing.
Staples AvantPro Grip and Neck Flare
The grip on the Staples AvantPro is made from a soft, smooth, black rubbery material, and it does a good job of keeping the pen firmly under your control while you write. The picture above also shows the uniquely flared out neck of the pen which is the only part of the body that is not made from the brushed metal, and is instead a chrome-like plastic. This is also the area where you unscrew the grip when it comes time to replace the ink cartridge. Speaking of the ink cartridges, this is one of several pens in the new Avant series from Staples, and each of the pens take both the proprietary SilkScribe refills and the regular gel ink refills. The AvantPro being reviewed here comes loaded with a 1.0 mm black SilkScribe refill. The SilkScribe ink and the gel ink refills come in a black, blue, and red, and in .5mm and 1.0mm tip sizes. My best assessment leads me to believe that the SilkScribe ink is most like a hybrid ink that you would find in a Uniball Jetstream pen.
Staples AvantPro SilkScribe 1.0 mm Writing Sample
Writing with the Staples AvantPro turned out to be a very nice experience. The pen has a slightly hefty feel to it, which I personally like, but it is not TOO heavy as to cause fatigue in lengthy writing sessions. The SilkScribe ink performed well leaving smooth bold lines of black ink and hardly a trace of any skipping or blotching, although I did have some minor issues with that on one of the pens I tried, but they went away after a bit of use and were not apparent in the two other pens I tested for this. In addition to the smooth writing performance the ink seemed to dry pretty quickly at around 2 seconds. The Staples AvantPro is definitely a nice entry into the mid-range (a step above disposable but not quite luxury) pen market and should definitely be a consideration if you are in the market for a great looking pen that also writes nicely and can be refilled with both a hybrid ballpoint ink and a gel ink.
Staples AvantPro Giveaway
The Giveaway:
Staples was kind enough to send over a bunch of these pens for the giveaway, so we are going to pick 10 lucky winners that will each receive two of the AvantPro pens. As usual there will be multiple methods for entry, so please read the rules carefully.
Rules:
- Contest is open to US residents only
- Each person will have up to 3 ways to enter the contest
- Winner will be selected by using the random # generator at Random.org
- Each entry method requires a separate comment, do not combine your entries into one comment
- You will have until 9:59 PM Eastern on Sunday October 28th to complete your entries
- Winners names will be announced here on the site on Tuesday, October 30th
- The winners will have one week from the time of the announcement to claim their prize
Your 3 different ways to enter:
© 2012, OfficeSupplyGeek. All rights reserved.
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Monthly Giveaway & Newsletter
Would really love to win this!
I’ve also signed up for the monthly newsletter.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/foggylemon/status/260289646766981120
I’m always looking for new pens to try!
I have already signed up for the newsletter
Looks like a good one to try
I signed up for the email letter also
Looks like a really interesting pen that I would love to try out!
I am signed up for the monthly newsletter. Thanks!!
I tweeted! http://bit.ly/S9js5U
Looks like a nice pen. Count me in.
Neat looking pen
I already subscribe to the newsletter
Another newsletter subscriber. Wish I knew what accountant decided .5 and 1.0 were the only acceptable sizes. Got my hopes up when you reviewed the Bic 1.6 sticks. Have to look for those at my office supplies.
Great give-a-way!
Good luck to everyone.
I am already subscribed to the newsletter.
I just bought one of these pens and really liked it, would love to have another to keep at work
Looks nice; curious to try it.
Already subscribed to the newsletter.
And the tweet:
https://twitter.com/RCarterHall/status/260375662261587970
Tweeted! That’s one
I like that there are refill options! 1.0mm is a little thick for note taking.
Already subscribed. Everyone should.
Thanks for the great giveaway!
Already signed up for the newsletter.
I like the look of these pens.
Email subscribe.
https://twitter.com/aisazia/status/260383166659977218
Thank you for the give-away and a great review.
Looks like a neat pen to try out.
Already on the mailing list.
TweeteD: https://twitter.com/pkansa/status/260386333430804480
Great contest and I tweeted about it!
https://twitter.com/PearlMom/status/260377633479593985
Interesting
Looks nice.
Please, sir.
Already get news letter.
Twitter entry: https://twitter.com/imgovtdrone/status/260402374059905024
Glad to see Staples offering more interesting pens. I like their Durapoint porous-tip pens, too.
Hi I’d really love to try this pen. I just found your blog recently and I LOVE it!
I’m subscribed! OMG you have so many good giveaways!
And I’m already subscribed to the newsletter. Thanks!
I wanna try them!
In it to win it!
Already a subscriber to the monthly newsletter!
This is not an entry per se – just wanted to say nice thorough review of this pen – looks like it would be great for outdoor writing… say.. at a canadian football game on the program…
Ooo, pretty!
I want to win!
I’m already a subscriber
The tweet – https://twitter.com/reudaly/status/260411174292713473
Nice review and very nice looking pen.
I would love to try this pen!
I am a loyal newsletter subscriber!
I would love to try one of these pens. I don’t have any pens like this in my current rotation.
I’m already signed up for the Monthly Giveaway and Newsletter.
I would love to try these new pen…
i am already signed up for the newsletter!
Great giveaway! I have seen these advertised so I appreciate your review!
I love new writing instruments. Can’t wait to try this one!
I am an email subscriber.
I tweeted : https://twitter.com/cowladydeland/status/260434233888210944
Looks like a nice pen. I could always use another one;) I’m an email subscriber too:)
I love your reviews and I’m one who likes pens that are on the “heftier” side. Just feels good to write!
I just signed up for a subscription.
I’d like a chance to try it.
In for a chance
My pen family would welcome this new addition.
I am a long-time email subscriber.
And I have tweeted: https://twitter.com/TheDarkEngine/statuses/260439348288299008
my tweet https://twitter.com/marlermedia
i’m already a subscriber
would love to try this new pen
I can never have enough pens laying around.
I love the look of this pen. Very elegant.
Cool pens! Thanks for the giveaway
I’m already signed up for the newsletter
I’m signed up for the email newsletter.
I tweeted about the giveaway.
https://twitter.com/orchidlady01/status/260448337868754945
raises hand!
Nice pens!
Already signed up for the newsletter.
Retweeted – https://twitter.com/FreeMyBiz/status/260472991731830786
Yay! Please enter me in the contest. Thanks
I’m already signed up for the newsletter
Yo, gimme dat pen!
Nice pen!
And I’m already subscribed!
Oooh I saw these in Staples the other day. Maybe I will luck out here
I’m already signed up for the newsletter and monthly giveaway! Maybe I will luck out next month as well hehehehe
Tweeted! Thanks for the chance to win
https://twitter.com/GourmetPens/status/260509172251123713
It is impossible to have too many pens, right?
Wow, looks great!
Also, I’m already subscribed to the newsletter!
I’ve already bought the gel refills! They are pretty nice!
Would love to try this version!
I’ve already signed up for the newsletter.
Tweeted.
https://twitter.com/karen_x_yao/status/260559012309897216
Would love to get one.
I subscribe to the newsletter.
Thanks for the info on a product new to me!
Already a subscriber!
Always good to hear about new products …
I like the look and i’m interested in how this ink is
I really like AvantPro stuff.
I’m a newsletter subscriber.
Super excited
I am a newsletter subscriber
Sharp looking pen!
I’m already part of the mailing list. Thanks!
Here’s my tweet: https://twitter.com/Addifaerber/status/260729650106486785
I’d really like to try this!
And I’m a newsletter subscriber.
Ooooh! Pick me!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Tilleybl@aol.com
I’m already signed up for monthly newsletter, etc
love the giveaways!!
I can’t wait to see one of these in the store.
I’m a long-time newsletter recipient as well.
I am a newsletter recipient as well
Entry number one for me
I am also currently signed up for the newsletter as well, so here is number 2
https://twitter.com/Stonerman33/status/260923308042747904 and here is twitter. Conveniently, my birthday is October 30th, just sayin…
Entry No. 1 for me. Looks like a pretty slick pen.
I want! I want!
Already bought a bunch myself, both the capped and retractable. Nice heft and feel and a good write, though I’ve had some inconsistency with the blue refills, w/more skipping and less of a soft feel than the black. Esp at sale price, what with real metal, etc, a good buy. Refill will fit uniball gel pens (207 series) as well…the newer Office Depot hybrid ink writes better but the barrel on that one is cheap metal-looking plastic with ribbed grip…and ITS refill is taller and thinner and I haven’t found another brand barrel it’ll fit in yet. Avant 1.0 is a very good pen, agreed, in this range.
Thanks for info about this pen, would love to win a couple to try out. I like that there is a 0.5 option. How does it compare to the TUL?
And please enter me again – I already subscribe.
The Staples stores in my area must be late to the party. I’ve been to three different stores in the past week and haven’t seen these anywhere!
Excellent pen. I already have one, but as pen geeks know, you can never have too many.
just signed up for the newsletter
Here is the tweet. http://goo.gl/NevKX
Here is the tweet http://goo.gl/NevKX
These look pretty cool!
Oh, and I’m signed up for the newsletter!
Thanks for the great giveaway! Love the industrial sturdy build of the pen and the ink sounds great!
Already signed up for the newsletter.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/aisazia/status/262724333418463232
I would love the chance to try this out.
I haven’t seen these yet. Need to swing by and take a look see.
I’m already signed up for the Monthly Giveaway and Newsletter
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/algonzalez/status/262731864211607553
I am a pen snob. Always on the lookout for a smooth writing ink that will also not smear when I go back to highlight my notes.