pen/pencil

[Baysidebob]

It's winter. It's wet. It's windy.

 

What is the preferred writing instrument for filling out logs?

[jkettu]

A pen works only when it is warm and dry.

A felt-tip pen works only when it is dry.

A pencil always works.

[+W7WT]

You can always leave your mark in the snow!!

[namiboy]

blood.

[Rocketsteve]

I've found that on logs that have gotten wet, a gel-ink pen works really well, but they work equally fine on dry logs.

[+briansnat]

A pen works only when it is warm and dry.

A felt-tip pen works only when it is dry.

A pencil always works.

 

Well sort of. A pen works better than a pencil on wet logs.

 

I solve the pen/pencil dilemma by placing both in each cache.

[+Headhardhat]

I prefer pens but if the log is wet you are going to have issues. I usually carry both just in case and worse case scenario carry some blank log sheets with you so if the log is that bad you can just add an clean sheet with it.

 

-HHH

[+Garry Owen]

One could always use a Fisher "Space Pen".

[+popokiiti]

Or use stickers if it isn't too wet.....

[+Prime Suspect]

One could always use a Fisher "Space Pen".

Another vote for the Fisher. I've been able to write on the remains of a log that were nothing more than a lump of soaking wet pulp.

[+StarBrand]

Uniball powertank RT pressurized ink pen. Writes in the cold and on wet surfaces. I perfer red.

 

Far cheaper than the fisher pens and just as good: http://tigerpens.co.uk/blog/the-uni-ball-power-tank

Edited December 14, 2009 by StarBrand

[+Chrysalides]

I like gel pens, specifically Pilot Mini G2. I've lost enough of them on the trails in just 1 year. Sadly, gel ink runs when the log is soaked though. Ball point ink works much better when the log gets wet.

 

I have a Fisher space pen, but they cost 15 times what a mini G2 costs, and would hurt a lot more to lose. The mini G2 is also more comfortable to hold (thicker) though for scrawling name and date it doesn't really matter.

 

By the way, if you're interested in Japanese made pens (and pencils), I found a great place to buy them from. Standard disclaimers : I've bought once from them (just last week, in fact), don't have any financial interest, don't own any part of it, don't know anyone who works for or owns the place, etc. http://www.jetpens.com - and I checked, they have the Uni Ball power tank that I haven't been able to find in a store anywhere. Is that the same one, StarBrand?

[+StarBrand]

....Is that the same one, StarBrand?

Yup - good price too.

[+brslk]

I carry a felt pen, pencil and an ink pen...

[+pyro07]

i carry both it just depends on the conditions ive had ink freeze on me before and thats when i used the pencil, but if i can i will usually use pen

[+Jeep4two]

I keep regular pen, pencil and one of those tiny Sharpie markers in my cache bag. That covers me for virtually any condition. I also have small 'replacement' sheets for those really wet logs where nothing works.

 

I've also used a lighter to burn the tip of a small twig and signed one log that I'd hike a 1/2 mile back to didn't have my cache bag or pencil. Sooted tip wrote just fine but use caution in fire prone areas.