Is the Ti Arto EDC Titanium Pen Worth $90? (Review)

The Ti Arto EDC Pen from BigiDesign ( amzn.to/2IgcWNW ) is a great concept -- it works with almost ANY refill -- but is it worth the money? No, I don't think it is.
When I first saw this pen I was thrill and thought it might be the best EDC pen of 2018, but after buying one and using it I'm less than thrilled. It's not a bad pen in any way, but it has some flaws that mean, for me, it's not worth nearly $100. Not when the FXMD ( amzn.to/2xPaIQJ ) is so good and the Lamy Safari rollerball ( amzn.to/2NHPJKw ) is so cheap and so versatile.
This is just my personal preference as a consumer. I'll be the first to admit that titanium isn't normally my favorite, I don't like the visible o-rings, and after using the pen I find the core concept (accommodating any refill) to be less appealing then I previously expected. Having the same pen body all the time with any refill is just kinda dull and, honestly, feels a bit lazy.
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[@ayb365]

I’ve owned the Ti Arto for over a year and it’s become my go to pen. No issues with grease or squeaking so far. To each their own I guess.

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

Check out the scam responses on the old comments. PEOPLE DO NOT VISIT THAT SITE.

[@user-el3rk6os3p]

if you don't mind sharing how's the pen now, a few more years later?

[@tacticaltrev]

I have had the Ti Arto EDC for about 4 months and love it. Very cool to change the refill depending on the task at hand for the day. I really enjoy a Mont Blanc refill for a super smooth ball point experience. Only criticism is actual a safety net, unscrewing the cap and screwing to post the cap is not fast, but ensures no ink leaks in the pocket and ruins my pants. Pen is very balanced in my hand and the raw titanium is grippy. Any criticism and qwerks eventually became no big deal after getting use to it.

[@jacobma1514]

This pen can use almost any refill. It is indeed a game-changer. Received the pen (machine raw version) yesterday. As the video mentioned, I also feel that the pen is not so comfortable to write. My thumb feels hurt on the edges. After one day of writing, I get used to this pen by griping a little upward. It resolves the issue. I really like the design, watching the collet tightening on any kind of refill is really satisfying. If the company issues an improved version of Ti Arto EDC, I would definitely consider purchasing it again. The collet of other versions of EDC pen, like Click and Pro, are very different from Arto. In terms of refill friendliness, Arto is the best on the market. Hope bigidesign can improve it and make this pen perfect.

[@jacobma1514]

Does anyone know how to disassemble the collet part of this pen and check how it is doing inside? I really want to redesign this pen to make a perfect pen with a collet system.

[@RazgrizDuTTA]

Actually, titanium grades are standard designations. Grade 5 is TA6V (sometimes called Ti64) which is an alloy with aluminum and vanadium. It's the most common titanium alloy used in aerospace. It's 2x stronger while being 2x lighter than your typical stainless steel. I know that alloy very well because I studied its metallurgy during an internship. It's really good stuff. Grade 4 is pure titanium with a high oxygen content that makes it significantly stronger than grade 1 pure titanium. Its strength is comparable to your typical stainless steel (but it's still 2x lighter). I guess they couldn't use grade 5 in the forming process of the pocket clip.

[@unsharpen]

Thanks!

[@adhithyasodhi3203]

Boy I was wanting to love this. Concept & engineering is clever. They need to get a [good] industrial designer to re-work this into something that elicits an emotional response. This has been beaten with at least one end of the ugly stick :)

[@ichirofakename]

Extremely cool pen, excellent review, thanks.

[@harindergill7221]

Good review, Very clear and true. Thanks

[@Richard_Barnes]

Great video Sal, thanks :D

[@fossilimprint2954]

Thank you for your honest review, subscribed !

[@unsharpen]

Thanks!

[@tomasdeleon5327]

I have one obtained via the kickstarter campaign and I really like how it works. I am also waiting for the clicky version that is being in production

[@DeactivatedCharcoal]

Does this work with uni-ball Vision Elite refills (they list other uni-ball refills) I use a pen every day at work. I like the uni-ball Vision Elites, but the pens are plastic and strip-out eventually. This would solve that problem.

[@soundknight]

Will this take the pentel LR7 Gel refill? (My favorite ball ink) Thanks in advance.

[@christianwolf5241]

Cool pen, I will think about adding it to my collection.

[@ItsTheMojo]

I'm not sure how using the same pen body for multiple refills is lazy. I bought the Ti Arto EDC through the Kickstarter campaign and I love this pen. I love the fact that I'm not having to buy and carry around different pen bodies to be able to use different types of refills. For me the experience of writing is affected far more by the refill itself than the body the refill is in, so long as the body is comfortable to hold and use and holds the refill well.

[@ItsTheMojo]

@@SPKLifeStyle2.0 yeah, because that's the only possible option.

[@ItsTheMojo]

@@SPKLifeStyle2.0 Also, I don't think everyone would stop making pens of one reviewer said they think this pen is the perfect EDC pen.

[@alecshane6683]

Your using it wrong lol. Supposed to loosen the collar then loosen the end. Replace refill then adjust till the refill is at the desired height then tighten the collar. I got it to use Mount Blanc refills and is definitely cheaper.

[@Richard_Barnes]

One of the best refills around, great choice :D

[@matttheoneonly6617]

I was deciding on this or the Tactile Turn glider in titanium. Went with the Tactile Turn for the bolt action, but this one looks pretty sweet too

[@ChocolateStranger]

Hey sal would love to see you do a review on the click version of this pen. And test some refills on it. Thanks champ

[@Gman1024]

I've been watching these for a while Sal, but I don't remember seeing any bolt actions. Do you have any?

[@Gman1024]

Haha, glad I asked. :) Thanks for the uploads.

[@Richard_Barnes]

I have the Ti Arto. The idea behind it is awesome and their latest release Ti Click EDC would be the one to buy now. The Ti Arto is for me, how Sal describes it too, it's a good pen but I just don't enjoy writing with it. I love screw cap pens, all my fountain pens are screw caps, however, the Ti Arto just 'doesn't do it' for me at all. Mine has sat for a very long time unused. I've only picked it up this week to use in a journal whose paper is not good enough for fountain pen ink! So an expensive pen to have just sat around doing nothing. If you're looking to buy now, get the Ti EDC Click version just released this month.

[@Richard_Barnes]

Oh ok Sal. What was the issue?

[@DWtuna]

Considering that some pens can cost upwards of a few hundred dollars (Lamy, Parker, Waterman, etc.) I think 90 bucks isnt too big of a deal. The problem is, I’ve lost so many of those expensive pens over the years that, I just buy those Japanese plastic pens in bundles at a fraction of the price for a single nicer pen, or even a refill, and instead invest my money and peace of mind elsewhere. A good idea, though.

[@lSirCumference]

The real problem with any expensive pen if you are trying to justify it as the last one you'll need is that inevitably you will drop it or mar it some other way and want to either replace it or get something else when it becomes damaged. Just because it is Titanium/steel or any other metal doesn't matter if you drop it out of your pocket onto the pavement when you're getting your wallet out to fill your car up with gas. Not sure why the squeaking would be that big a deal since you would only be tightening/loosening when you are putting in a different refill which wouldn't be very often.I do wish they would just make a cap version that uses an oring to hold it tight like the fisher space pen so that you didn't have to screw/unscrew the top.

[@ItsTheMojo]

I've dropped mine and I haven't replaced it. I think what you meant to say is that when you personally drop a pen you want to replace it. It's possible that other people also like having stuff look a particular way, but not everyone is like that. Damage that makes the pen unusable is a different story, of course.

[@adsrbad9733]

@@ItsTheMojo What he’s saying is that people generally (exceptions obviously apply) would probably feel like they want to change pen once it’s visually damaged even if it’s perfectly usable or not even so noticeable the damage will be used as a justification for something new.

[@ItsTheMojo]

@Ads RBad I don't think that's generally true. No one I've ever met has replaced something like a pen just because it's got cosmetic damage. Pens with cosmetic damage have been the norm in my experience, not the exception. That does only cover a couple of thousand people, though.

[@lSirCumference]

@@ItsTheMojo Well for me personally when I buy a pen it's for the luxury of it or else I would just use any throw away pen. That being said I don't like pulling out a dented and scratched up pen that looks worse than BIC pen.

[@ItsTheMojo]

@@lSirCumference A luxury pen in perfect condition and a throw-away pen are not actually the only pens available in the world. One of the reason I have one of these pens is to have a robust pen with multiple cartridge options. So I can have cartridges that are far superior to what I would get in a throw-away pen. And that, for me, is where most of the luxury is. A shell in perfect condition with a poor quality cartridge is not going to be much more pleasant to use than the same cartridge in a chewed up plastic shell. But a quality cartridge in that same chewed up shell will still flow beautifully on the page. It's like reading a book. A battered old copy of a great story is still a pleasure to read because the inside is far more important than the outside. It's true that some pens just have a bad design, but even in prefect condition those won't be nice to use, regardless of the cartridge in the shell. A pen that looks worse than a bic and a pen in perfect condition are also not the only two possibilities. "A bic" isn't even a single 'condition'. They range from brand new to having been owned by a serial pen chewer for several weeks. And again, in my experience the reason I prefer something like one of the Ti pens is because the bic cartridges are simply not that pleasant to use.

[@emeltea33]

I'd like to get a maxmadco pen, they're sold out though.

[@agabrielhegartygaby9203]

I disagree - I have had it for almost a year tried out several refills it is my TOTAL FAVORITE - for me the balance is perfect and it is very comfortable to use. G

[@felixbelanger2659]

I ordered the raw Ti XTS (40$ atm) with the intention to switch the cartridge to a Schmidt instead, one of the issues with Ti on Ti, Al on Al or Stainless on Stainless is that if the threads are dry, fine and tight you can get galling at which point they're almost welded together... so maybe that's why they use grease like that, anodizing would be better... I'll report back when I get the pen!

[@felixbelanger2659]

Finally arrived today (took long enough...) no grease whatsoever, but the threads are just ok... The Pilot mini G2 isn't working (seems common), the balance, clip and grip are meh... My girlfriend got me "the Stillwell" form "the James brand" (I know the name sucks) and for roughly the same price, it is miles ahead, it's soooooo satisying to use and disappears in the pocket... Definitely try it!

[@bobkeller8383]

Are you aware of another pen that uses the collett style for different refills like this but more affordable?

[@unsharpen]

sadly, no

[@bobkeller8383]

@@unsharpen that's what I was afraid of

[@KMS5280]

I agree with you about this pen. I wished I had found your review prior to my purchase. I even tried it with a few other refills, which did improve the writing experience somewhat, but the overall design and the issues you raise...I agree. The concept is compelling, but I’d prefer to see them try it again in a steel or bronze body, sans the rough edges, grease and exposed o-rings. If I’m going to spend $90 on a pen I want it to have some heft and the lightness of the titanium completely takes that enjoyment away.

[@stro666]

what i get the option to regrease my pen... take my money

[@Nathanchancy02]

Never heard of it until now Great video though.

[@dangonzalez3505]

Uggh...I watched this video, didn't listen to it, and bought one anyway. Now, I wish I hadn't. Unsharpen is right. You don't want to get stuck with the same pen forever and ever.

[@Ali-in8xi]

I like having an assortment (design/color/ink) of pens that I can choose from day-to-day according to my mood or circumstance. For this reason, I'm not drawn to the Ti Arto pen. It's a great concept... a pen that can hold many different kinds of refills. I mean, how great is that! The price is a bit steep. Approximately $90?? Maybe 90 isn't much for such a unique pen. While I don't have any interest in it, I do find it to be a great gift idea for a pen enthusiast/collector. The midnight black is quite nice looking. This pen comes in a capless, pocket version in antique black which I prefer more.

[@Ali-in8xi]

As long as you're keeping up with your bills and you're happy, I say "GO FOR IT!!"

[@DrDennis]

The threads down next to the knurling looks like a bummer when writing!

[@lancewoody6294]

Will the montblanc le grand fit in this?

[@unsharpen]

I’d test but I don’t have it any longer.

[@dr.zoidbergmd5012]

It is actually designed for people who use their pan first and foremost as a tool this actually very suitable for artists because there is no tip wiggle and the grip is not that big so it will be very precise to control the pen and the fact that it can take any refill you need is just awesome that being said I don't really care for it's aesthetics!to be honest don't buy this if you don't use your pen all the time!

[@ichirofakename]

I doubt many artists draw primarily with ballpoint pens.

[@rlv05001]

Thank you for your honest review. I returned mine the same day I received it. The upper and lower threads and edges dug into my skin, and I don't like to post. I prefer lighter pens. The ridges on the section only ended up reducing surface area to grip requiring unnecessary extra effort to hold. I think they focused too much on the perks with a lack of consideration for the comfort of the writer. I'm curious about the Karas Pen Co EDK GrooVED. They removed the upper knurling present on the original EDK so it doesn't irritate the web of the hand and added some more contouring grips along the section. They made a beautiful all black one for a custom order: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH3KoINujc2fhKs but have since only made some small batch versions in violet and orange. But IKD how it fits. With my luck my grip would fit in between the grooved sections : P but I may try it out in the future.

[@gregs8678]

There is nothing about this pen that makes it worth the price and quite frankly everyone commenting is really struggling to sell it in their own minds…

[@sadisticD]

This seriously! The comments trying to sell/justify it only make me more certain I don't want it. It's like they're AIs regurgitating the website description.

[@benjaminvandersluis9216]

So if you don’t like visible o-rings, moving parts, or titanium pens, why did you buy this pen? This review should start with “I bought a pen I knew I wouldn’t like, here’s how I was right.”

[@unsharpen]

I go into these things with an open mind and then test out the pen, putting my findings into the video.

[@humanfirst11]

A r0tring 600 ball point seems enough!

[@christianwolf5241]

Ouch, that's alot of money, never mind lol

[@GeoffreyCapes]

Search for ‘Titanium pen’ in the AliExpress app, I’ve jut ordered a couple of EDC pens that attach to your keyring for £15 per pen.