Just wanted to make sure you all knew about this one:

http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductD...vcat=REI_SEARCH

In case that link doesn't work, it's a Fisher Stowaway pen. You can find it at www.rei.com (and the MSR pots) by searching for "stowaway."

This little gem has no clip. No nothing, in fact, but a very minimalist sheath for a space pen refill. It's about twice the diameter and half an inch longer than the pencil in the PSP.

I like it.

Bear

Yes, these are excellent. My older one has a small pocket clip on it. They are indeed extremely small when closed, but easy to write with when open and they still write 3 x longer than a standard pen. Get one for your PSK and another for your pocket when you want to keep a pen handy.

I have the military space pen for EDC. Great when I find myself without a pen at work or school. The stowaway looks nice, and for that price, two or three would be a good addition to various kits in different locations.

Great post thanks.

What I did was order from Rite in the rain the special you get
1 pen (fisher), 2 notebooks, 1 pencil, catalog + samples
for 10 bux a nice deal.

Lee

In my PSK I just carry a space pen refil. Dont bother with the pen at all. Get a small piece of drinking straw to slip over the end as a cap and there you are.

Dang, I was just at REI yesterday, and forgot to get one. That's what I get for not putting it on my list. I knew there was something else too.

Opinions please: What, if any, is the advantage in a PSK of a pen (e.g. this space pen) over a pencil (e.g. a stubb, or a golf pencil, etc).

if you had to leave notes possibly for searchers/rescuers then more surfaces are suitable to leave messages on with a pen and a pencil at hand. I tend to think in terms of the advantages of having both rather than the advantage of one over the other.

They are small so I think the added utility is worth the space but realise that even more so than with other items this seems to be a matter of personal taste/habit whether you think the space is justified.

I do not know about the other EMS providers out there, but in the days before gloves, I routinely wrote patient information on my hand. A practice I still carry out, only now it is on my glove or a piece of tape stuck to my arm or pant leg. For this application, only a pen will work.

However, I can see times when each has an advantage over the other.

Pete

I write them on the stretcher sheet and gloves and like pete said only pen works.

For writing there are 4 things I like to use/have in my bag:
1. Space Pen, as it writes on most surfaces, doesn't leak, ect.

2. Pencil, as it can be erased and if need be burned

3. One of the two sided Sharpies, these sharpies can write very small and quite large on most surfaces and can withstand bad weather for a while once dry.

4. Sharpie Industrial, best sharpie ink ever. Much more perminant and wear resistant then the regular sharpie, however without the second tip it writes too large for pen use. If they made a twin tip Sharpie Industrial I'd be the first in line to buy some. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

In my pocket kits I keep a pencil as it can handle most writing needs, is small, and can be used as tinder. I like that the best for there since space is a minimum. For my bags or fanny pack sized kits I try to fit in the above, as it covers basically every writing task I could think of.

Thanks for the opinions. I guess I wasn't thinking EDC/EMS. I was just thinking "lost in the woods".
My Pipe Shop sells the Fisher pens. But to save even more space, I bought only the refill!

Bought one of these at REI a couple months ago and have it in one of my kits right now. Great little pen. The ink tends to gum up around the point but no leaks and well worth the $8 that I paid for it. Very happy with mine!