Reviews > Books > Blank Journals and Writing Implements > Inka Pen > Marie-Noelle Augendre > Initial Report

Inka Pen - Initial Report
September 4,2005

Reviewer information

Product information

	The Inka Pen arrived encased in a blister pack, with a cute leaflet describing the different components, the lifetime warranty and detailed instructions.

The whole pen comprises 5 parts (from left to right on the picture below): a 1" (2,5 cm) diameter metallic ring clipped to a black carbon-fiber piece in which is screwed the 304 stainless steel hollow body which contains the carbon-fiber pen, with its enclosed "pressurized and hermetically sealed" ink-cartridge and its PDA stylus tip on which is screwed the carbon-fiber end cap fitted a light blue O-ring
To use the Inka Pen short size, one has only to pull the pen-tip out of the barrel and begin writing on the closest sheet of paper. When finished writing, I found it easy to put the pen back into the hollow barrel. Once I heard the little click, I knew that the pen was fully closed. Both opening and closing can easily be done with only one hand. As stated previously, the pen-tip is very short, and is fully contained in the writing hand (left picture). Using the short form of the pen is convenient for a quick note, but I wonder if using the pen like this for a long time would induce writing cramps? The other option is to use the Inka Pen full size, requiring one to put all the parts together before writing: pull the pen-tip out from the metal barrel unscrew the metal barrel from key-ring base unscrew the end cap from the pen-tip turn over both the metal barrel and the pen-tip and screw the pen inside the barrel in order not to lose it, push the end cap into the metal barrel until it clicks (the O-ring seals the closure) The pen is now ready to use full size (right picture). This is supposed to be more comfortable, but requires some assembly time before use. In both cases, the key-ring and its base are the only unused parts, and can remain attached where they previously were.

Testing strategy

In order to conduct the test, I intend to bring the Inka Pen with me nearly everywhere no matter I am doing. The Inka Pen is so light and compact, can be attached to anything without fear of losing it, and it is supposed to work under any condition, “wet or dry, at any angle, any temperature, and any altitude.”

During the four-month testing period, I'll make about about 12-15 day hikes in Ile-de-France, within a 25 to 50 (40 to 80 km) radius from Paris; elevations will mainly be in the 70-1150 ft (20 to 350 m) range, temperatures between 23°F and 86°F (-5°C and 30°C), and weather can be anything from bright and sunny, to wet and windy.
In addition, I'll spend two weeks dog-sledding in northern Quebec, which will involve at least 6 nights snow-camping; elevations will be between 655 and 2130 ft (200 and 650 m), temperatures in the -22°F/+20°F (-30°C to -7°C) range, weather either dry and sunny, or snowy with possibly strong wind (blizzard).

In short, I intend to put the Inka Pen to good use through various activities and climates in order to test it many different conditions. I hope it’ll be a great traveling companion for my Rite-in-the-Rain All-Weather Pocket Journal.

Testing plan

I’ll be especially testing the Inka pen with regards to the following issues:

1) Ease of use and comfort:

• Can it be used short-size for some time, with no excessive strain on the hand?
• In which conditions does it really deserve to be converted to full-size?
• Does it run smoothly on different kinds of paper, including water-resistant ones (such as Rite-in-the-Rain)?
• Can it write on other materials? Plastics and fabrics, for example.
• Is the PDA-stylus really handy?
  

2) Open/close system reliability:

• I’m a bit concerned about the closing system, especially when the Inka pen is hung by its ring: Can it open by itself? Is it possible for some part to fall down?
• The pen is supposed to be watertight when closed; is it really the case, even under heavy showers or under water? (When kayaking, I intend to keep it on deck, ready to use). And what if it is not completely tight? Will exposure to water impair the pen's abilities?

3) Ability to work in extreme conditions:

• It’ll be interesting to check the pen ability in whatever condition I can think of: upright position (as in writing against a wall), upside down (writing when lying in tent or hammock), in rainy weather, on wet paper, under the water, in hot temperatures as well as below freezing ones (my two-week dog-sledding trip in December will surely provide the right conditions).
• Of course, though I haven’t read it explicitly, I guess the ink itself is waterproof and won’t wash off when exposed to water! 

4) Sturdiness and durability:

As the pen will be mostly used during outdoor activities (backpacking, kayaking, dog-sledding, etc.), I expect it will bear nicely with the abuses it’ll be exposed to; it’ll be trailed along in packs or pockets, might often fall on not too soft grounds, be crushed under heavy items or even walked upon. Will it show scratches, bumps, crush marks, or other wearing signs?

5) Ink consumption:

I understand the pressurized ink cartridge is supposed to "last 2-3 times as long as an un-pressurized cartridge". I can see no way to check the actual consumption, but I intend to use the pen as often as possible in order to try to use up the whole cartridge.

6) Corrosion resistance:

Last, but not least: as I intend to use the Inka pen when sea-kayaking, I’ll pay great attention to any corrosion sign; as it is made of stainless steel (with carbon-fiber parts, but these shouldn't be an issue), but I know for certain that very few stainless steels are corrosion-proof when exposed to salt water!

In addition, I will report on anything else I might observe that could be useful for a potential user of the Inka pen.

Reviews > Books > Blank Journals and Writing Implements > Inka Pen > Marie-Noelle Augendre > Initial Report