ROtring 800 Mechanical Pencil | 0.5 Mm | Black Metal Barrel

Once you buy it and use it for years, that explains everything. Why not the 600 model? Because the 800 you put in your pocket and won't make a hole with the sharp end. But you have to remember what lead is inside because there is no indicator. It doesn't bother me because I usually use the same hardness of the pencil lead.

Looks great, beautifully made, perfect size, weight and feel in the hand. And the retracting mechanism means it doesn't rip your pocket or bag. Can't find a minus point to be honest.

No doubt if you are looking into a 45 quid pencil you'll be doing your research. And some of that will lead you to a lot of people saying that the retractable Rotring has a slight tip wobble (because it's moving parts). I've been using this daily for over a year now and it's still going strong. I'm a massive fidgetter so I'm constantly popping the nib in and out and taking the rubber protector on and off and it's still not gotten to a point where it's worn or damaged. This is my favourite pencil. It weighs a really nice amount for me and feels like a good bit of kit.The improvements I think it could do with are minor. The first is the little tab thing that you slide it onto shirt pockets and what not. I think this should not be painted. This area is the one that gets the most wear and naturally the paint chips. It'd made more sense to plain finish it. The second is the availability of the rubbers. The rubbers last ages but they are a little difficult to pickup, in the end I opted to go for the ones direct from their site because they are a special size and didn't want to get the wrong ones.Besides that though I really like the pencil. I'd definitely recommend it if you are looking to upgrade to a something proper.

I’ve tried many mechanical pencils, and I’ve settled on this one. It’s extremely well made, and well weighted. The knurled grip is defined enough to provide control, but not too deep to be uncomfortable over extended use.The retractable nib, which differentiates this model from the 600, allows for safe pocket carry, and to be honest it’s an extremely satisfying sound and feeling when engaging/disengaging.You don’t need to be an engineer to appreciate this pencil, but using one will make you appreciate tolerance and design in ways you never knew!

Cracking. 0.7 is just right too

I’ve had this pencil as my EDC along with my fountain pen and ball point for over 6 months and it has been a phenomenal writing instrument for me.It is compact with a great mechanism that provides not only satisfaction if you’re a fidgeter like me but also great function by hiding away the lead sleeve when not in use so that it doesn’t damage the point.It is a very easy carry in the pocket or in any pen case you could think of.The pencil oozes class and quality.I wanted a pencil that would serve me for many years and I’m confident it will do just that!Highly recommend this pencil for anybody who needs a pencil on the go or in the studio or office environment or just about anywhere else!

Going back to stabbing myself in the finger every time I put my hand in my pocket and using a cheaper pencil. The retractable tip was good but the end was loose and wobbly when you use it, it lacked the sharp tip you get from kuri toga pencil with it rotating tip and although it cost a lot it didn't feel robust, just heavy. It is uncomfortable to use and I put it into my pocket without retracting the tip and it bent. No spare parts with it, or available so it is now going in the bin after 3 drawings. Avoid.

The retractable point is a two edged sword - it's nice to protect ones' pockets, but it simply doesn't support the lead as well as the fixed point of the 600, and so as a serious writing and drawing tool this falls a little sort of it's junior sibling. The lack of a lead grade indicator really consigns this pencil to 'more is less' status.