The rOtring Trio-Pen puts black ink, red ink, and a pencil into something that still feels like a regular-sized pen. That is its best feature. You get three useful options without carrying three separate writing tools or a bulky multipen.
We have been using the silver Trio-Pen for a few weeks. The metal body, satisfying weight, fairly fine writing points, and sensible price have made a good first impression. Our verdict is Recommended. This is an early-use review, not a claim about years of durability.
It feels like a proper pen
The weight is particularly good. It feels substantial in the hand, and the metal body looks great without needing much decoration. More importantly, fitting three functions inside has not turned it into an oversized pen.
That combination matters more to us than an impressive list of features. A multipen still needs to be a pen you actually like using. The Trio-Pen gets the size and feel right.
Black, red, and pencil
The two ballpoints write with fairly fine points, which we like. Black and red ink cover the pen functions, with a 0.5 mm mechanical pencil as the third option.
The ink cartridges are replaceable, too. That is a practical advantage in a metal pen worth keeping: running out of one color does not mean replacing the whole thing. We have not had it long enough to judge refill life.
The selector needs a little explanation
Choosing the different tips was initially confusing. The trick is to hold the pen roughly horizontal with the icon for the tip you want facing upward, then press the button. Want red? Turn the red-ink icon upward before clicking. The same applies to black ink and the pencil.
Once you know that, the mechanism makes sense. It just is not obvious the first time you pick the pen up, and that small explanation would have saved us some puzzling.
Good value, with a short testing history
The price we paid felt very reasonable for what we got: a good-looking metal pen with a weight we enjoy, three writing options, and replaceable ink cartridges. It does not need to do anything more elaborate to be useful.
There is a limit to what we can say after a few weeks. We like the way it feels and writes now; long-term wear and the selector's durability are still open questions. For now, it is an easy recommendation if you want black ink, red ink, and a pencil in a normal-sized pen. Recommended, not GoodKit Approved.
- Black ink, red ink, and a pencil without the bulk
- Metal body with a satisfying weight
- Fairly fine ballpoint tips
- Replaceable ink cartridges
- Good looks and very reasonable value
- Tip selection is not immediately obvious: the desired icon faces up before you click
- Only a few weeks of use so far; long-term durability is not yet tested
Where to buy
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Product details and selector operation checked against Holbein's rOtring Trio-Pen listing, which includes the silver model 1904454. The opinions above are based on our own use.
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