Uni Alpha-Gel Kuru Toga Mechanical Pencil, 0.5 mm, Black Body (M5858GG1P.24)

The gel is the winner here. Much comfier to write with than my other mechanicals.

I've been using these pencils for a while now, and the proprietary mechanism inside them is absolutely great. Always keeping the lead turning, always keeping the point ready and usable for sketching or writing. There's not much more to be said, get yourself a kuru toga and it will be the last automatic pencil you will ever need or want to get. Pairs great with the same brand leads, dual density cores.

It's comfortable to hold, the gel feels nice. The rotating lead system works okay. I don't like how the tip doesn't go into the pencil and just always sticks out, but I guess that's part of the system. I was considering buying a new one, but I don't think the new one would last very long either.

I SO wanted this to be my favourite writing instrument. Sadly it isn't. I do love how comfy the gel grip is and the overall design is nice. I was enthusiastic about the 'kuru toga' lead rolling mech, until I realised it 'fights' my handwriting. The tip has a slight amount of play and that waggle, combined with the automatic lead twisting means I can feel it dragging/ pulling at every change in writing pressure. The weight balance is quite top heavy too. My handwriting looks much messier with the kuru toga than any of my other mechs. So I now rarely use this at all.