Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I didn't wanna do it. . . I mean, seriously, who pays $24 for 12 pencils? That's two bucks a pencil. You can buy perfectly adequate pencils for $2 for a box of 12. These are TWELVE TIMES more expensive. I've always had a thing for writing implements, and am very picky about my pencils (don't get me started on the awful office pencils. I buy my own out of pocket). My perfect pencil would be one that held a point without breaking, dark lead, comfortable to hold, an eraser that lasted through most of the pencil, smooth writing. I was happy with my Dixon Ticonderoga Tri-Writes for years. They weren't perfect, but they were. . . adequate. Then I saw a review for the Palomino Blackwings, and bought them on impulse, not really believing the reviews, thinking I'd debunk them. Even when I hit "Purchase", I couldn't quite believe I'd bought them. So who pays $24 for 12 pencils? Me, that's who. I'm addicted. The writing is so smooth and easy. The lead is dark, easily readable and doesn't smudge--very important for crosswords!. The lead is probably softer than what you're used to (I think it's #1 vs. the standard #2), but I wound up liking that once I got used to it. The point doesn't break easily--you really don't need as much pressure with this. It lives up to its slogan. And since they don't break as often as my old pencils, they last longer, so you get some good value for your money that way. The eraser--the eraser alone is worth the premium. It's extendable so it'll last as long as the pencil. It's rectangular, so you can easily erase fine points or wide swaths--you can even fidget with it like a clicky pen. I honestly didn't think this pencil was all that great until I tried to go back to my Tri-Writes when I couldn't find the Palomino. It was like going from a Porsche to a Pinto. I stopped what I was working on to search for my Palominos. My one minor quibble is, although it says it's made of incense cedar, I don't notice any aroma (I love the smell of a freshly-sharpened pencil). Given what a joy they are to use, though, I'll just sniff a cedar block instead.