The Zebra M-701 is a straightforward, midtier option that lacked the distinguishing lead rotation of the Kuru Toga line.

There’s even a Kuru Toga line that has you covered if your problem is that your current pencils don't have Disney characters. The Kuru Toga High Grade has a polished aluminum look and limits the lead-rotation clutch to a smaller window near the tip. Likewise, there’s the self-explanatory Kuru Toga Rubber Grip model, as well as the even-cushier Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Grip. The Kuru Toga Roulette is great if you want a heavier pencil with a serious grip similar to that of a graphing pencil. But you have many more options if you don’t mind a slower rotation and don’t need a retractable tip. If you want the Pipe Slide’s twice-as-fast lead-rotation engine and retractable tip, you’re limited to the Kuru Toga Advance, which has a metal-plated clip and tip, giving it more heft and a lower center of gravity. If the Kuru Toga’s rotating mechanism sounds appealing but you prefer a differently styled writing implement, we suggest looking at the many other available versions. Widths available: 0.5 mm for the Pipe Slide 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, and 0.7 mm for the Kuru Toga standard pencil

The Kuru Toga has been our pick since 2013, but the Pipe Slide is a newer version: It has a retractable tip so it won’t stab you through your pocket, and it rotates lead twice as fast as the original so it keeps the tip at a finer point.

It looks and feels nicer than most similarly priced or cheaper mechanical pencils, and it’s readily available online and at office-supply and stationery stores. For people who mostly use a pencil for writing and doodling, the Uni Kuru Toga Pipe Slide is a well-rounded, always-sharp option.

Pentel mechanical pencils