These pens, given their varying specs, also come in varying prices. Make sure your budget can sufficiently cover the expense associated with acquiring a piece of your choice.
Tactical pens on the cheaper end may not have advanced features found on high end pieces. In fact, you will find that they are made of plastic rather than the more expensive aircraft aluminium. That, however, does not devalue their performance by any significant factor.
Such an essential tool does not deserve to be mentioned in passing. It deserves a detailed highlight that points out its features and compares it to the likes to ensure you get the most befitting survival pen.
Why tactical pens?
- They are small enough to carry around without the awkward feeling of cumbersomeness often associated with tactical tools.
- Tactical pens are multipurpose. You can use them to write, break glass, defend yourself against an advancing enemy, etc.
- Survival tactical pens are not only beautifully designed but also made of durable elements.
- They are very affordable and unlike other ordinary pens, they do not become useless when the ink runs out.
What do you look for when shopping for a tactical pen?
There are a few common things users desire in a tactical pen. We will highlight them here so that you are not clueless the next time you are shopping for a tactical pen.
1. Weight of the pen
Here is where preference plays a key role on the type of pen you will buy. Heavier pens may offer you an edge when in a combative situation, but they may be cumbersome that lighter pens.
2. The material used to make the pen
Manufacturers of tactical pens may choose to make their pens out of different material. This choice can be influenced by various factors including but not limited to cost of production and prestige.
The materials most preferred include:
- Stainless Steel: make the strongest tactical pens you will find in the market. They are also the heaviest, which may be their only misgiving.
- Aircraft Aluminum: preferred for brands that desire strength but want the pen to remain as light as possible. Most tactical pens are made of this material.
- High-Impact Plastic: mostly used on the low-end tactical pens. They can take a beating but may not compare to the metallic counterparts.
3. Type of ink cartridge the pen uses
Different tactical pens use different types of ink, each of which come under a different brand name. There are even tactical pens that use fountain inks and have a specialized ink dispersal system.
The most common types of ink cartridges you can find in a tactical pen include:
- Fischer Space Pen: The cartridge used in the most high-end tactical pens. You can use these tactical pens under any conditions because they hold very well. The pen can write under a diverse range of temperatures (from the negative temperatures on one extreme and very high temperatures on the positive extremes.
- Parker-style gel ballpoint: Uses a ball-point pen type of ink cartridge but uses a smoother gel ink, which is easier to use. You can also replace the ink when it runs out.
- Parker-style ballpoint: Most tactical pens use this type of ink cartridges. It is cheap and doesn’t hold well when you subject the pen under extreme conditions of use. You can always replace the cartridge when the ink runs out.
4. Easy to camouflage
If you want to take your attacker by surprise, you need a tactical pen that easily passes as a normal writing pen. Other tactical pens are not easy to conceal and may alert your would-be attacker before advancing on you.
Here are some options to consider:
