Backpackgeartest -Mark Wood
Posted on
Jan 4, 2006 |
After two months, this pen has seen a lot of use and is holding up like a champ! I have carried this pen in my pocket on my key chain almost every day now since it was received. I have also taken it with me on countless trips attached to the outside of my day pack by the included key ring. Overall, I would venture a guess that this pen has seen close to 10 different outdoor adventures, excluding everyday use. I have also conducted some rigorous testing of the pen which I will outline below.
Testing
When I first read the claim that the pen would write "at any angle, temperature, altitude or even underwater", I was a little skeptical. So I decided to really test this pen in some harsh environments. My first test was to leave the pen in my black car on a hot day. The day I chose was close to 90 F (32 C), a rather hot day for the testing time frame. I placed the pen on the dashboard and went to work. When I came out to my car in the mid-afternoon, the pen was so hot I had a hard time handling it. I carefully removed the pen from the stainless steel sleeve and proceeded to write with it. Apart from the pen being almost too hot to handle, it wrote flawlessly.
My next test was to freeze the pen. I placed the closed pen in my freezer at home and left it overnight. I figured that this would simulate winter camping. The next morning, I removed the pen from the freezer and attempted to write with it. It was a little scratchy, but did seem to write okay. Wrapping my hand around the pen for a couple of minutes improved matters considerably and the pen was once again writing smoothly. Not too bad at all!
My final test was to see just how waterproof the pen really was while closed. I realize that the pen is supposed to write underwater (a claim I was unable to test since I don't have any waterproof paper), but I was curious to see if the o-rings actually served a purpose. I placed the closed pen in my sink weighted down with a handy fork. I left the pen submerged for around an hour and then carefully removed the pen from the stainless steel housing. I'm happy to report that the pen was dry on the inside.
Field Use
Disassembly of the pen
Aside from my testing, I also used the pen extensively outside. I've gotten the pen wet, dropped it in one mud puddle (an accident), and gotten it plenty dirty. Usually, I simply rinse the whole thing off and it's good to go again! The joys of waterproof pens! Also, in the last two months of testing, I have answered many of my original questions listed in my initial report.
The Inka pen is supposed to be light and strong.
* Will it hold up to the constant abuse of being in my pocket almost every day?
o Thus far, I have noticed no abnormal wear from being carried daily. There are a few minor scuffs on the stainless steel barrel, but they have no impact on the functionality.
* Does the light weight make it difficult to write with?
o I must say that any problems I've had while writing are mainly due to the shortness of the pen when it is not fully assembled.
* Do I notice any corrosion or other deformities on the pen after submitting it to the harsh conditions it claims to survive?
o I have yet to notice any corrosion or other deformities through my usage. Further testing will lend more conclusive answers regarding durability.
I can't believe I've had this pen for 4 months of testing already! Since it's lived on my key chain every day I'm not out backpacking I've become very accustom to having a pen handy. In fact, my wife often asks if she can borrow it when we are in the store or driving. What's more, I've taken this pen on many outings and I can't notice any real damage. The stainless steel barrel is slightly scuffed up, but no real scratches are present. What's more, the Inka logo is still looking as nice as the day I received it. If only my car's paint held up so well.
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