My Pentel Pocket Brush Pen Review

In this article, I’ll share my Pentel Pocket Brush Pen review and share all the things you should know before you buy!

Wild Inky Bliss

If you’ve dabbled in brush lettering or ink drawing, you may have come across the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen. This unassuming pen might not look like it, but it packs a powerful punch. This honest-to-God brush pen, bristles and all, stands out from the rest in my vast collection with its rich black ink and versatile brush tip. The brush tip allows for excellent control, enabling both fine and bold strokes effortlessly. If you want to have a versatile tool for your bullet journal, line art, or brush lettering, then keep reading to see why this pen has a place of honor on my desk.

What Exactly is the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen?

You have probably seen brush pens before. You might even have a small collection of brush pens like the Tombow Dual Brush Pens or Fudenosukes. So what makes this one special?

Most brush pens on the market contain solid nylon nibs that bend and move as you apply pressure. That’s very neat, and can certainly produce a ton of excellent results. But the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen is different because the brush tip is a bonified brush. It has sturdy but flexible bristles that give you a huge range of control with a single tool. The brush tip’s design prevents ink spills and provides excellent control, enhancing the creative experience for artists and beginners alike. This pen can create different line weights, from incredibly fine detailed lines all the way to thick, broad strokes. You can even get streaky brushstrokes because the bristles split and flex on the page in unique ways. Basically, this pen can do it all.

Where to Find the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen

You can easily find the Pocket Brush Pen online through retailers like Amazon, Jet Pens, and Blick for reasonable prices.

What I Love

As you can already see, I have a lot of positive things to say about the Pocket Brush Pen. Let me tell you all the ways this pen blows my mind.

Travel Friendly

This one brush pen will be your best friend if you like journaling, lettering, or drawing on the go. It’s easy to toss in your bag whenever you need to travel. I’ve never had a leaking issue with my Pocket Brush Pens — they really can go right in your pocket, no fuss. As long as the cap is on, you’re good!

Lovely Textures

You can create lots of gorgeous textures with the Pocket Brush Pen thanks to the bristles, which allow you to achieve different line weights. You can create both thick and thin lines depending on the pressure applied, making it suitable for a variety of artistic techniques and styles. If you move the brush quickly across the page, you can create dry, streaky effects to add variation and grunge to your art. Or you can create juicy, dark strokes if you move a little bit slower and more purposefully. As the ink begins to run out, you can get sustained streaky effects until you decide you want a full barrel again.

Refillable

A huge perk of the Pocket Brush Pen is that it’s refillable! I’m concerned about the environment and sustainability, so little details like this make me very happy. Besides, being able to refill your pen instead of tossing it every time the ink runs dry is undeniably better value for you. The refill cartridges are inexpensive and easy to stock up on. Alternatively, if you have a blunted syringe and a bottle of black ink, you can try refilling your own cartridges.

Perfect for Bullet Journals

I love organic lines and boxes in my bullet journal — no ruler-straight edges for me! I have used my Pentel Pocket Brush Pen to draw, letter, and create cool spreads in my bullet journal for years. The ink is very dark and juicy, which can result in some ghosting, but I’ve never had any issues with bleeding or feathering in my journals.

Water & Fade Resistent

One of the reasons I love this pen so much is because I can use it with watercolors. Once the ink dries, it is dry. Full stop. I can run washes of watercolors over my linework or lettering and not have to fear the ink running or blotting. If you work with wet media at all, or even just want to highlight over your lettering with other markers or pens, then this little detail makes a world of difference.

What I Don’t Love

While this is obviously a positive review for the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, that doesn’t mean I don’t have a few criticisms of this product.

Learning Curve

One thing no one prepared me for when I bought my first Pocket Brush Pen was how difficult it would be at first. I’d never had a bristle brush pen, so I struggled with control of this tool when I first used it. However, with a little bit of time and practice, I was able to begin using it with ease and comfort. It just takes a little time to figure it out!

Little Variety

While the Pocket Brush Pen comes in black ink, grey ink, and sepia ink, I do wish I could buy a whole line of different colors. If I could get my hands on some jewel-toned Pentels, I would be all over that like a cat on a string. I can only imagine what lengths I’d go to to get access to a gold-inked Pocket Brush Pen…

My Final Thoughts

This fun, challenging, and versatile tool is one that I will continue to use for years to come. Every time I travel anywhere, this pen is always brought along because I know I can rely on it for whatever I need. If you want to have incredible control over your inking, drawing, or lettering, I’d suggest you pick up a Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and take some time to master it. You won’t want to ever put it down again!