PentelTwist-Erase Express Mechanical Pencil, (0.7mm), Medium Line, Assorted Fashion Colors, Pack of 5 (QE417FBP5M)

TWIST ERASE MECHANICAL PENCIL: HANDS-DOWN this is the BEST mechanical pencil on the planet ... or at least the best one I can find. The pencil is quality made, holds lots of lead, and has the absolute BEST eraser which is big, replaceable, and quality (it erases well, does not shred, and won't rip paper). I have purchased this pencil for my kids for several years and, in my experience, it will last a full school year.BONUS: It comes in 5 good neutral colors.DOWNSIDE: There are probably more comfortable mechanical pencils on the market - with squishier cushions (but those squish cushions gather dust and glitter from pencil boxes. So get this pencil :)

They are exactly as advertised. I love how they are comfortable to write with. It's really easy to refill lead, and the eraser is easy to replace. They last a long time. Very satisfied with this purchase.

I have been buying these pencils since 2007. I never buy any other type and if I'm being honest, I've only had to buy maybe 4 packs in 17 years. That's mainly because I lost them, not because they broke. They are extremely durable. The grip is comfortable and they write so well.

Can a pencil change your life? Doubtful. Can you look forward to using a pencil for mundane work tasks as if you were a child on Christmas afternoon, excitedly remembering your new bounty of playthings? My experience says yes. I enjoy the thicker diameter of the pencil itself compared to the fine writing point. The small metal tip helps to reduce lead breaking so typical of mechanical pencils. Erases well.

For years, I've purchased Bic mechanical pencils, but in recent years, I've noticed they just aren't the same quality they used to be. The parts are all plastic, and in just a short time, they stop "gripping" the lead so that it slips back up into the pencil when you try to write with them. Also, the Bic pencils come with very fragile lead that snaps in two with just the least pressure, and their erasers are small and not replaceable. These Pentel pencils are a much better quality! They have a metal part that grips the lead...no slippage. The eraser is very long and can be replaced when it is used up, and the lead that comes in the pencil is a good quality...you can actually write with it without breakage. The grip is nice, too...very comfortable. The only thing not to love is the fact that when you use the eraser, you have to hold the twisting section that raises and lowers the eraser or it will twist all the way back into the pencil, and you will find yourself rubbing the paper with the plastic surrounding the eraser. Once you know to hold this part, it's fine.

My favorite brand for years and the price was outstanding. This is the only pencil I've ever bought with an eraser that doesn't leave a black smudge after using it, nor does it get hard.

I got these to switch to a model that is lest wasteful over my Paper-Mate non-refillable pencils. The obvious draw to these was the large eraser since the kids think use up the erases on regular pencils almost immediately. Eraser twists easy and stays in the position during erasing. Eraser is good quality and actually erases the pencil marks without smudging them around. Pencil is slim, comfortable to hold, and designed to reduce lead breakage. Overall, very happy to make a switch to these pencils and will purchase again.

When my son came home from school asking for these pencils, I though he just liked being able to twist up the erasers. In all fairness, that is the feature that excited him the most, but he kept saying they were easy to write with and his hand wasn't as tired after using it. I do my best to get my kids school supplies that they enjoy using because I know how much more I enjoy my own work when I have tools and supplies that work well or I like for whatever reason. So while a pencil choice might sound a bit silly, I see it as a way of encouraging my kids at school.Compared to other pencils, these aren't exactly cheap, so I initially picked up a 2 pack at a local store, hoping my son would get his fascination with the twist eraser out of his system and this would be the end of it. But when I actually used the pencil? Well let's just say it's the first time in my life I've said 'Wow' after writing with a pencil. It's so incredibly smooth! It actually writes smoother than many pens I've used. And it does not break nearly as easily as most other pencils we've used, mechanical or wooden. So off to Amazon I went to purchase more at a better price, because mom wants a few of these pencils now, too.Now, personally, I'm not super jazzed about the twist eraser as the eraser likes to twist itself out while in my purse (not all the way out, but out enough that I have to twist it back in before each use). This is probably because I don't use pencils often so it sits in my purse getting jostled around for quite a while before it gets pulled out. My son does not have this issue with the ones in his backpack, as he uses them every day at school. He also uses the eraser a lot, so having an extra long eraser is not only 'cool', it's practical for him.One could just buy the strong-yet-buttery-smooth lead refills and put them in a cheaper pencil, if you don't have need or desire for the extra eraser. But this pencil is also very comfortable in my hand, lightweight and balanced well, so I haven't bothered to do that personally. Still, it's an option if you prefer a different pencil design.