Paper Mate 1868817 Mates 1.3mm Mechanical Pencil Starter Set,Assorted Colors

This set is perfect because it includes spare lead refills and erasers. I like these colorful pencils that have a comfortable, larger barrel. Great for kids and also for adults who want an ergonomic pencil. The rounded triangular barrel keeps pencils from rolling away - a thoughtful design.Another plus of using 1.3mm leads is that they don't break easily so you can press harder when writing with these. Since the lead is thicker, the writing tip lasts longer and you won't have to "click" to add more length as often. Good for general writing and drawing .. but the lead may be too thick for very fine detail rendering and writing in tiny spaces/boxes.

I got introduced to these pencils as an Amazon Vine reviewer. I was sent a 5 pack of these to try out and became a fan. I started using the in the classroom and then the students all started getting them, too. What is so great about these is that they are sturdy, come in fun colors, and the lead never breaks! I hate watching students fighting with that skinny lead in their generic lead pencils during class when they should be learning.This set is even better than what I got originally. It includes extra lead and two eraser tops. In my original review, I noted that one thing that would be challenging with these pencils is the erasers. The triangular shape of the eraser would make it almost impossible to replace with a topper eraser. Plus, when the eraser is gone, you cannot keep the lead from falling out of the top.

I have always hated mechanical pencils with led breaking constantly and other malfunctions. But these are fun and much less frustrating. I thought I'd be annoyed with the very thick led, but have found the written results don't look any different than using a traditional pencil. And the feel of the pencil while writing feels much like a traditional pencil as well. Yes, I have had the led break and it isn't perfect, but I'd say it's on equal footing with traditional pencils as far as issues with broken led and other frustrations go. Just like you sometimes come across a pencil where no matter how many times you take it to the sharpener the led cracks inside the pencil and the pencil ends up in the trash, sometimes a strip of led inside these mechanical pencils will shatter (if you drop it) and you have to throw out a strip of led. So, yes, the led can break, but that's the nature of led and of pencils. My kids like these too. We love the bright colors and the fact that you can replace the erasers, which is how most of our traditional pencils end up in trash. Kids use up erasers so quickly when they are young. So to sum up, these are on par with traditional pencils for led breakage, but surpass traditional pencils with the ease of use (no pencil sharpener!) and replaceable erasers.

Finally a pencil for a kid who pushes down with all of his might!! We have tried several different kinds of mechanical pencils and wooden pencils that need constant sharpening. These are by far my new favorite homeschool item. These are terrific for him since he always pushes down really hard as he writes and they do not need to be sharpened and the lead does not break off every time he writes. He loves them and loves that he does not constantly break them. Changing to these pencils has actually made our writing lessons much easier. I would highly recommend these pencils - the lead is thicker which I do not like for my writing but they are perfect for kids. Happy writing!!

I feel like a kid using those jumbo pencils in elementary school. I wish I had discovered these years ago. These are a great alternative to regular wood pencils when you're tired of constant sharpening, or the lead breaking on smaller (0.5, 0.7, 0.9mm) mechanical pencils. The thick 1.3mm lead is strong, doesn't break under normal use, and is just nicer to write with. Also great for general drawing/sketching and for marking cutting lines on wood for carpentry work. And these are so inexpensive that if you lose or break one, no big deal.The barrel is hard plastic (good thing - I don't like rubberized grips) and is thicker than regular pencils. It has a rounded-triangular cross section which I didn't like at first, but now that I'm used to it, I find it probably more comfortable than regular round or hexagonal pencils. These have a hefty, comfortable feel...it just feels nice in the hands.The only thing not to love (and the reason for 4 stars rather than 5) is the eraser: it doesn't fit very tightly, so it sometimes works its way out, and it's the cheap pink natural rubber kind which scuffs and smudges the paper rather than erasing cleanly. And it's small so it won't last long. Two extra erasers are included in this pack.Extra 1.3mm HB leads are also included. If you prefer softer leads, you can find 1.3mm leads in B and 2B hardness (Kokuyo Campus brand). Also, Kokuyo and Pentel make red-colored refill leads in this size.

Bought these for my 4 year old who was having problems gripping a pencil. The shape and thickness worked out perfect. My child has been able to use these to write, his grip is getting a lot better. The lead is thick and doesn't break. I highly recommend these for children. Even my 7 year old has started to use these for homework as they are just more comfortable for her. Highly recommend these!

I use nothing else in my accounting and math classes but this wonderful pencil. The lead is substantial and holds up extremely well. Seriously, I have now ordered five or six packages as I have been handing them out as gifts to fellow students as well as instructors. They love them as much as I do. This is a pencil you can really grab onto and write for hours without the hand or wrist becoming uncomfortable. They are perfect for south paws. Love them!!