Gear: Fisher Bullet Space Pen

Product name: www.spacepen.com

Made by: Fisher Space Pen Co.

Web Site:

So the joke goes: The Americans spent millions of dollars developing a pen that can write upside-down, underwater, over grease and in the vacuum of space. What did the Russians use?... A pencil.

It’s true, Paul Fisher did spend millions, developing the technology for this pen, and yes, it does write upside-down, underwater and apparently in space (I haven’t tried yet). All of its technical accomplishments are beside the point, as the true beauty of the Bullet pen, is its size.
Opened, with the cap on the back, it is a full sized writing instrument. When closed, it is a mere 3 3/4”(9.5cm). Small. So small in fact, that it disappears into your pocket.
The pen itself is well constructed and has a pleasant weight to it. Its smooth torpedo shape is unobtrusive, and easy to forget you have it in your pocket at all.
The pen is available in a huge array of finishes and colors, but most common in Chrome or Matte Black. In general they are pretty easy to come by, available at stationary and design boutiques, novelty stores and a few big box office supply chains. They range in price from $18 to $40 depending on the finish and place you bought it, the big box stores generally being the cheapest.
Now pay attention, this part is important: Make sure you get the Bullet pen! Fisher does make other Space Pens, but most of them are exceptionally ugly, and of a more conventional pen shape, so unless you need to write under water or in the vacuum of space, I’m not sure why you’d bother.

If you are lounging, the Chrome finished pen can sometimes find its way out of a trouser pocket, The Matte Black finish has a slight texture, and tends to stay put a little better. Neither one ever falls out of a jeans pocket. These pens often come with a clip, probably for this reason. I suppose some people like it, but personally I pull it off as soon as I get it out of the box, as the pen feels much better in the pocket without it.
The Lacquer finish on the colored pens is not as durable as the more common (and less expensive) Chrome and Matte Black. The bright side of this is that beneath that colored lacquer is the basic Chrome model, so 15 minutes and some nail polish remover will leave you with a new looking Chrome pen.
The ink for these pens is not my favorite. The consistency is a little thicker than most ballpoint pens, and I’d prefer a stronger density of black, but I am overly picky about this sort of thing and most people will probably not notice the difference. These minor issues are easily dismissed for always having a pen at my side. The Bullet pen is a close to perfect as it gets.
Whether you need to write directions to your hotel, franticly draw a picture of a toilet, or jot down the digits of the hottie at the bar, the Bullet pen is an essential travel tool, and will likely find a permanent home in your pocket not matter where you are.