2018 Trends in Choosing Tactical Pens

The pen has held a special place in the heart of millions of Americans for decades now. Ever since the pairing of the quill and ink, this writing instrument of the masses has left for lack of a better term an indelible mark on the lives of writers, teachers, and business people alike.

Many people carry at least one pen on them at all times. Even in the digital age, signatures are still required left and right and who knows when bureaucracy will rear its ugly head and require the old John Hancock or heaven forbid a mound of paperwork. But in today's efficiency obsessed age there's a strong desire to maximize the amount of utility in a given space, especially when pocket space is at a premium thanks to cell-phones and wallets chock full of cards that outlived their usefulness long ago but you can't bear to part with them. Who knows when you'll need that $0.30 left on your sandwich card?

This has given rise to the tactical pen. Tactical in this case simply means as many different gadgets and tools crammed into a pen as humanly possible, as well as unparalleled durability. It all started with pens that had an added flashlight or bottle opener and has now blossomed into a million dollar industry with pens that would make even the most fully loaded Swiss army knife blush.

What's new in the world of tactical pens, and how can these make choosing a tactical pen easier?

Let's take a quick dive into the newest innovations in tactical pens.

Stronger, Lighter Components

Rugged durability is hands down one of the main things to look for in a tactical pen. At the same time, having your pockets weighed down by a pen that is as hefty as it is functional is non-ideal. No tactical pen worth its salt is made from the cheap plastic of a Bic pen.

The chosen materials for tactical pens are currently strong, lightweight materials like aluminum and titanium. Little known fact, titanium is just as strong as steel but weighs half as much. While the clip can be made from thin stainless steel, nobody in the tactical pen sphere is settling for a body that isn't made from at aluminum at the bare minimum.

The newer trends in tactical pens as far as body material is concerned is anodized aluminum. The anodizing process creates a strong oxidized layer on top of the aluminum that prevents tarnishing over time and keeps the pen looking brand new for as long as possible.

Better Writing Ability

It's actually pretty humorous that at this point consumers are asking that tactical pens become better at being pens instead of focusing on the tactical aspect. For the longest time tactical pens' main selling points were all of the extra bells and whistles, like skull crusher points for breaking windows or pretty looking shafts with ergonomic grooves. All of this focus on the tactical aspect with little focus on the pen aspect has left many people wanting the main reason to have a pen in the first place clamoring for proper ink delivery.

There's nothing more annoying than having to furiously shake a pen or lick your finger to get a ballpoint drawing ink again, especially in your $120 pen that's supposed to have all of its ducks in a row. It's for this reason that most tactical pen manufacturers are now refining their ink delivery systems to make sure ink flows in a consistent and seamless manner with little need to worry about what will happen to your reservoir over time. 2018 will mark the return of the tactical pen's real purpose: being a reliable writing instrument.

The Future Is Bright

Those are just two of the main driving forces in the tactical pen industry currently, there's much more going on behind the scenes in the tactical pen world. Any pen connoisseurs should keep their eyes peeled for what 2018 will bring as far as innovation is concerned. Personally, I'm most excited for affordable pens that make use of space-age technology previously reserved for NASA scientists. Also, seeing what else pen manufacturers can cram into as little space as possible always leaves me giddy with excitement. So let it be known, 2018 will be full of surprises for any who are eager to see something new in the world of tactical pens.