Review: Paper Mate InkJoy 300 RT

Paper Mate kind of overdid it earlier this year with the marketing campaign for the new InkJoy pen.

You couldn’t go anywhere on the Internet without being bombarded by phony conversations about people discovering this ‘ingenious’ new pen. Twitter, Facebook and dozens of blogs were flooded with hype, all pushing the lame concept that the InkJoy was the ‘world’s most stolen pen.’

It turned me off from even wanting to try the InkJoy.

But then, wouldn’t you know it, I came across one of these pens sitting unattended on a desk â€“ and I swiped it. (For the record, I blame the media for encouraging me to steal this pen.)

So then, of course, I had to take the InkJoy on a test drive to see whether it lived up to the hype. Short version of this review: it didn’t. But keep reading for the slightly longer version.

Papermate Inkjoy 300 RT Black

The one I ‘borrowed’ was a Paper Mate InkJoy 300 RT with a 1.0 mm point.

Check out our Ultimate Guide to Paper Mate Pens to see not only the Inkyoy 300 RT but every pen that Paper Mate makes.

Paper Mate calls the InkJoy a ‘revolutionary new ink system’ that combines ultra-low viscosity ink with ‘optimized’ writing tips for the smoothest possible writing experience.

After trying it out, the upshot is that yes, the InkJoy is a reasonably smooth-writing pen. The ink is a nice intense shade of black. The rubber grip is comfortable.

It also has a few shortcomings. The ink flow was slightly uneven, leading to some blotting, and the overall appearance of the pen is very plain, especially the utilitarian clip.

And that’s it. Not much more to say about it. A pen best described as….adequate. Certainly not worth all the hype that Paper Mate piled on.

If you’re looking to save a little money, they are certainly cheaper than, say, the Pilot G2 or Zebra Sarasa. But if you don’t mind spending the difference, you’d be better off just going with the higher-quality pen.

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Peter Warrior: Pen & Pencil Expert

With nearly a decade of experience in the pen industry, I successfully ran an online pen business for 9 years. My deep-rooted passion for pens and pencils led me to become a part-time blogger, where I've dedicated myself to sharing the wealth of knowledge I've amassed over the years. I'm a firm believer in the power of the written word, as echoed by Malcolm Forbes: "Putting pen to paper lights more fire than matches ever will." My expertise is not just rooted in business, but in the genuine appreciation and understanding of the art of writing instruments.

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