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.