Uni Color Pencil Lead - 0.5 mm - Red

Being new to the colored lead fad I decided to buy the three biggest brands of 0.5mm lead. Staedtler Mars MIcro (blue), UNI-ball (red), and Pentel Stein (red). I wanted to buy each brand in red but mars was only offered in blue.

Erasability: Both the Pentel and Mars leads were impossible to erase and act like an indelible pencil. The UNI however erased as easy as normal graphite. (I tried using both normal pencil erasers as well as the premium hi-polymer erasers).

Durability: Both the Pentel Stein and the UNI appeared to be fairly comparable in their durability (the UNI may be slightly stronger). The MARS lead reminded me of those 2 foot long rubber pencils that you use to play with as a kid (huge fail)

The left handed smudge: writing more like an indelible pencil both the MARS and Pentel appeared to be resistant to smudging. Although the UNI smudged noticeably less than a standard graphite lead it could not compete with the other two.

Color and depth: Both the Mars and UNI appear to write with a deeper and smooth feel while the Pentel offers a slightly more crisp feel.

Overall I am most impressed with the UNI however will be investing in the Pentel because I need an indelible pencil for work.

Works ok in my Pentel Twist-Erase III, no lead breakage problems. In my opinion the red color isn't dark enough to use it for writing but it is good for underlining or drawing. Most of this red lead is erasable with the eraser on my pencil but it's not a perfect erase like it is with AIN 2B graphite lead.

these are really good, the lead doesn't break and erases well in comparison to the steadler mars lead i used (they were the only ones available in the shop

This is not erasable! I tried to erase with my Boxy, my Pilot Foam, and just the end of a yellow wooden pencil. I am not impressed

I got this to use with one of my 0.5 lead pencils, which is the kuru toga (plastic body) which promises less lead breakage... and tried it in my rotring 800, I get constant lead breakage inside right at the advancing mechanism... I ordered the uni ball red pencil supposedly "made for this color lead" and ill see how it works out. I dont know any lead that breaks so often... But it writes pretty awesome and erases fairly well. I also just ordered a while collection of eno neox to try out.

Trying to get some color pencils to color coordinate my diagrams and notes for school!

I think the best pencil for this type of lead is one where there is minimal play between the advancing mechanism and the sleeve / tip of the pencil, any flex will introduce internal breakage which will cause clogging.

3 stars for a great red lead for writing / doodling...
-2 stars for constant and consistent lead breakage.