Reviews > Books > Blank Journals and Writing Implements > Inka Pen > Mark Wood > Field Report

Product Information
Manufacturer:	Inka Corporation
Year of Manufacture:	2005
URL of Manufacturer:	http://www.inkastore.com
MSRP:	$25.00 US
Listed Weight:	None listed
Weight as Delivered:	0.63 oz (18 g)
Listed Dimensions:	None Listed
Materials:	Hardened 304 stainless steel and a high-strength lightweight composite.
The Inka Pen is a collapsible writing instrument which lends itself to outdoor use.  It features a hardened stainless steel and high-strength composite body.   All joints are sealed with rubber o-rings to keep the elements out.   For a more detailed description of the Inka pen, please see my Initial Report.

Field Report

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 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? 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? 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? I have yet to notice any corrosion or other deformities through my usage.  Further testing will lend more conclusive answers regarding durability. If clipped to my backpack or day pack, will I find that it falls apart when hiking? I was originally very concerned about this.  However, as of yet, the pen has stayed secure within the metal barrel.  The o-rings seem to really grip well. The pen is supposed to be able to be assembled into a "full-size writing tool". Is it big enough to avoid hand fatigue? I will say that this pen is not ideal for extended writing sessions.  While I was able to write in my journal with no great problems while hiking, I did find that after 20 minutes or so, my hand began to fatigue.  I attribute this to the light weight of the pen and the narrow diameter.  However, the convenience of the pen far outweighs any problems I've had with it. How much effort is needed to assemble and disassemble the pen? It's really not all that hard with a little practice.  In fact, within a week I was able to assemble the pen without even looking at it.  That said, it is somewhat of a nuisance at times to have to put together your pen before use.   Does it join together securely or does it have a tendency to "bend" or fall apart when assembled fully? I have found that there is no noticeable flex when the pen is assembled. The website advertises replacement pressurized cartridges for the pen. Will I need to purchase refills during the four month testing period? After two months of use, I have not run out of ink yet. With the short size of the pen, how long does each cartridge last? Again, I honestly don't know.  A decent length of time from what I can tell! Are they hard to replace? I have yet had a need to remove the cartridge so I really don't know. Finally, a pen is of no use to me if it doesn't write well. Does the Inka write smoothly on all types of papers I normally encounter? This is one of the greatest joys of this pen.  For being so convenient and portable, it writes very smoothly!  I have actually really enjoyed writing with this pen. Does it bleed through thin papers such as found in a Bible? While camping, I was able to underline text in my Bible with no bleeding.   Throughout the testing of this pen, will the writing characteristics diminish, or will it still function as designed? So far, the pen works as well as it did when brand new.  I will reserve durability judgments until the next two months of testing have elapsed.

Reviews > Books > Blank Journals and Writing Implements > Inka Pen > Mark Wood > Field Report