Independent reviews
From everyday tech and home products to lifestyle and specialist gear, each review focuses on practical use, strengths, limitations, and who the product suits.
Fountain Pens
A sleek black-and-palladium French fountain pen with a partially hooded steel nib that writes like gold, and a famous on-screen association worth knowing about.
Fountain Pens
S.T. Dupont's least expensive pen brings a sleek retro hooded-nib design, magnetic cap, and French manufacturing to a mid-$300 price point.
Running Shoes
The Saucony Guide 16 is a solid workhorse trainer with subtle stability, but the Saucony Tempus, Asics Gel-Kayano 28 and New Balance 860 v12 each bring something different to the table.
Running Shoes
High-stack super shoes are not the most stable choice for everyone. Here are eight racing and fast-training options with more inherent stability.
Stationery
A limited-edition all-black ballpoint built on a drafting-pen platform, with an 8-groove grip, balanced weight, and G2-compatible refills.
Stationery
A closer look at the Staedtler 771, the 1.3mm mechanical pencil designed for answer sheets, with its new 2023 colors, comfortable triangular barrel, and generous built-in eraser.
Stationery
Staedtler upgrades its popular 925 15 with an integrated metal knurled grip, a lower center of gravity, and thoughtful details like a separately sold replacement grip.
Stationery
A quietly handsome Itoya-exclusive version of the Staedtler 925 35 drafting pencil with a double anodized finish, gold accents, and a price that stays reasonable for a limited model.
Stationery
Staedtler Japan celebrates 50 years with a Royal Blue limited edition of the 925 35. Beautiful finish, refined grip, and a higher price. Here is what to know before buying.
Art Supplies
Staedtler's 72-pencil Design Journey set delivers a thoughtful palette, bright color, and excellent layering on the right paper, with a few blending trade-offs to know about first.
Art Supplies
A well-built, affordable student-grade pastel pencil set that works beautifully as a low-risk introduction to the medium, with a few limitations to know about first.
Art Supplies
A budget-friendly set of water-soluble crayons with surprisingly vibrant pigment, easy blending, and clean activation with water.
Stationery
A lightweight hexagonal-shaft mechanical pencil with a chipping-style finish, cushion lead mechanism, and rotating eraser. Not sold in Japan, but available online.
Stationery
A close look at the Version 3 red-and-gold limited edition mechanical pencil, including specs, handling, and the one durability concern worth knowing before buying.
Stationery
The new cool grey Staedtler Hexagonal Limited Version 1 compared with the 925 35 Charcoal and Version 0, covering build quality, grip comfort, and whether the higher price is justified.
Stationery
A lightweight German-made mechanical pencil with a soft grip, smooth lead, and a very friendly price. Here is what works and what to check before buying.
Fountain Pens
Staedtler's Triplus 747 fountain pen pairs an ergonomic triangular barrel with a steel nib and award-winning design at a friendly price. Here is how it writes and where it falls short.
Stationery
A drafting-style mechanical pencil from Daiso's Standard Products line that punches well above its 330 yen price tag.
Stationery
From matte-finish gel pens to ocean-inspired fountain pens and embroidered five-year diaries, nine charming stationery products that earned their spot on our desk.
Fountain Pens
A one-of-a-kind fountain pen from Stanford Pen Studio with graphite artwork by Brandon Lodwick, silver trim, and a custom skinny architect nib.
Stationery
An 80% sugarcane fiber notepad from Staples turns out to be surprisingly good with fountain pens, from fine italic nibs to very wet double broads.
Stationery & Desk
Six practical picks for desk and pen enthusiasts: an L-shaped standing desk, budget pen cases, ink swatching supplies, a fresh ink, and a brass ballpoint.
Stationery
Sticky notes, washi tape, blotting paper, and more: twelve practical stationery picks for planners and journals, with honest notes on what each one does best.
Stationery
From student staples to journaling, art, and letter-writing picks, these are the stationery items worth replacing first if you had to start over.
Stationery
Nine stationery products that seemed unremarkable or gimmicky at first, but became favorites after real daily use, from erasable gel pens to a pocket brush pen.
Stationery Guides
From sketchbooks and drafting pencils to lab-proof pens, here is the stationery that suits six very different college majors.
Stationery
Three curated stationery gift kits covering study tools, craft supplies, and premium writing gear, with the key features of each item explained.
Stationery
From smear-resistant gel pens to character-themed collabs and legendary notebooks, these are the stationery products most likely to turn a casual friend into a fellow enthusiast.
Stationery
A compact haul of new releases and updated classics, from Plus Fab's textured pen case to Pilot Graphite lead.
Stationery
From a carabiner ballpoint to a wooden drafting pencil and a leather pen case, these ten writing instruments and accessories each bring something genuinely useful to the desk.