Zebra X-701 Pen First Look (The Extreme F-701)

This is my first look at the Zebra X-701 ( amzn.to/2BIbnpi ) pen that just arrived today. It's so new that had to buy it direct from Zebra, where it took forever to ship from. That said it's pretty interesting, worth this preview and unboxing. I'll deliver some more complete thoughts and comparison in the coming days.
More: unsharpen.com/...
So far so good - it's a cool looking pen with some nice features. That said I do prefer the F-701 so far. This pen is a bit on the light side and a bit "tactical" looking. I would have really preferred a knurled grip as opposed this light weight plastic one. That said I really like the coating on the steel barrel - it feels and looks great. Why not do it on the whole pen??
This is the going be one of the biggest EDC pen releases of 2018, so it's great to finally get my hands on it.
Where I bought it:
www.zebrapen.c...
Want more videos like this? Please subscribe! www.youtube.com...
note: amazon links are affiliate links and I get commissions for purchases made through them. Any other affiliations or agreements will be noted in this space, if they exist.

[@ryancarlson5993]

I’d love for Zebra to make a matte black version of the F-701. Keeping everything else including the all-metal design and knurled grip.

[@jth_printed_designs]

You could acid etch the F701 since it’s stainless. Common mod for knife blades. Ferric Chloride is what you’re looking for.

[@jth_printed_designs]

@@odouroushouseant That’s an option…but it’s not a black 701

[@KcCake]

+1

[@David_Downs]

someone also posted a picture of one they stripped, the tip is metal, just with a heavy amount of coating. The clip area and the grip are plastic, but the rest is all metal. I got one shortly after my last comment, as the store i go to got them in, and I wanted to test one, and I am not really a huge fan, even though i love the size of it (it is similar to the Parker IM Premium in width, which is one of my favorites, though i hate their clips, i have snagged and broken off so many). The coating is cheap and comes off very easy, i had it in my pocket for like 10 minutes and took it out and saw the steel underneath showing already. If they just did an 701 with and anodized it, i think that would be cool. But as is they market it as a "tactical" pen, but yet use plastic parts, and charge a little more than the 701.

[@WhenDoesTheVideoActuallyStart]

This comment should be pinned. Yeah, totally a "tacticool" pen.

[@Kurazaybo]

Have you ever removed the grip from the F 701? It is actually made of brass and barrel, grip an tip are actually supported by a plastic cylinder. Mine gave up and the pen is useless now. Also the silver plating of the grip is wearing away and you can see the gold color of brass underneath. Definitely not as rugged as it seems at first. I should make a video debunking the 701. By the way Pilot also has the pressurized when you click gimmick they callit downforce and their pen is shamelessly plastic and I kinda like it.

[@Foxinthetree]

Thanks for the video man. Definitely helped me realize it's not for me.

[@kelvinpang413]

The spring pushes back against the clicker mechanism instead of the refill itself. Good looks but bummer about the grip being plastic.

[@marshallrowley3516]

I just exchanged my tips from the F-701 to the f-402 and it is able to except the fisher refill.

[@lebosh15]

Just fyi, the tip of it, the bit u wasn’t sure whether it was plastic with a brass insert or coated brass; it is coated brass. I scratched the paint off mine and now it looks awesome, black barrel with a good looking tip. Obviously I’m not saying do this to a brand new pen but mine was old and idc about it. Still. If u wanna make it look doubly cool just scratch the paint off the tip.

[@MrTrackman3]

I find it hard to find x701 refills are there any alternative refills I can put into it? I dont care too much abt the pressurized aspect

[@christianwolf5241]

Cool pen, love your pen videos, planning on buying one too.

[@jblaze2467]

Just a note...I went to office max yesterday and to my surprise they sell the F-701 all metal version the US equivalent to the F-xMD. Only difference is the subtle "all metal" notation on the packaging and .8mm point. No more modding lol.

[@dustingaddis2423]

FYI, I just bought an 'all-metal inside and out' 701, and it is NOT all metal. While trying to get a Parker G2 cartridge to fit (by pulling the plastic endcap off), I was able to shake two small plastic pieces out of the click mechanism. And FYI, the Parker cartridge didn't work. It fits in the pen, but not up into the clicking mechanism. AKA, the clicker doesn't push it up or down.

[@psps6623]

Oh...There's more modding to be had on the F-701/XMD ;) ti2design.com/collections/pens/products/techliner-clip-titanium

[@DownHillgamer]

Looking at this and the G750

[@solarsynapse]

The sealed refills with the moving plug look like they are for the pressurized Pilot Down Force pen. Looks like the plug is missing from the refill in the pen. I think they copied the Down Force pen internal design to pressurize the refill.

[@chadslagle1662]

Will it take the Fisher Space Pen refill

[@unsharpen]

No

[@kimsweelye9670]

Any gel refill option for X701 ?

[@ottohonkala6861]

so - what's the best refill that fits?

[@yunyichen887]

thanks for the video. Just one question : is the pen clip tight enough cuz clip of Fxmd and 701 is quite loose.

[@joshschwerin4169]

Hi Sal, I'm really interested in purchasing this pen but don't think I'd like the standard ballpoint refill. Any idea what else might fit in this pen? I was thinking maybe a Zebra Z-Mulsion refill or Uni SXR-80-10 Jetstream Ballpoint Multi Pen refill. What do you think?

[@joshschwerin4169]

UPDATE: I have found a refill that works with the X-701 and greatly improves the writing experience. It's called the Paper Mate Profile 1.4mm bold refill located here: www.officedepot.com/a/products/732580/Paper-Mate-Profile-Retractable-Ballpoint-Pen/ Simply trim it and it fits perfectly into the pressure mechanism. This is now my new favorite ballpoint. Next, I will be purchasing another X-701 and altering it to fit a Zebra Sarasa bold refill.

[@TrNdke]

@@joshschwerin4169 I knew you'd find another refill for this, Sal! Too bad it's a Papermate, though. I've always found their ballpoints to be way too blobby. Pressurized gel ink, though?? I'd be Intetested to see that.

[@Jcksn0617]

Do you think the plastic end of the pen would break easily? I always break the 301 pens at the connection from the grip to the metal part of the pen

[@drdrew3]

No. The tip is metal. Just a plastic coating over metal

[@jpolar394]

Just by the way it sounds when you put it on your cutting mat, it sounds cheap and worse of all you can't put in a Fisher cartridge. 15.00 USD for this pen is completely out of the question. Best bet is the F 701 with a Fisher cartridge. I've picked up the F 701 for as little as 4.00 and it's one of the greatest pens I used. Thank you for your review and be safe.

[@junglejay77]

Does anyone know if the X-701 refills will fit into the F-701/XMD?

[@David_Downs]

i imagine you could put in a Fisher universal style refill.

[@macdaddy9344]

Thanks for this video... at first I was curious and interested... X701 must be better, right? Nope... at least two steps backwards, maybe more. Redesign but less functional and fewer options... and cost? Non starter for me. I like the F701 modded with F401 parts resulting with one all metal F701 with no markings at all and an F401 with a plastic clicker ring... I swap the clips too so the modded 401 actually says 401 on Barrel and 701 on clip... both still very good and can take the Space Pen refills... two nice pens for less than one X701. Then add a Space Pen refill... bonus. Modded 701 for the win and still king!!! (If in a dark barrel 701 option, sweet) X701, sigh, for me? A non starter... :-(

[@恙恙]

Every cop will permit to carry it in anywhere on this planet.😊

[@rustle9369]

Fisher do other size refills that might fit FSPS4F for example

[@boneguru]

thanks for this, looked cool until I saw the breakdown, now I can relax knowing I would not like it at all

[@handsomenot32]

I second this comment. Glad I watched this review. Plastic barrel sucks. But it looks cool. Kinda reminds me of the barrel on an AR

[@psps6623]

5:02 You've never taken an F-701 apart, have ya? :) This "tank" consists of a single plastic shaft connecting the tip, grip, shaft casing, and clicker. also, all the threading is plastic.

[@softbingan]

Thanks for the information, just enough to help me to avoid it.

[@therealb888]

Looks cool but this is such a letdown. No full steel construction, the wall thickness is that of a sheet of paper, no space pen refill. Overall this is the biggest let down in pen history!

[@artemv4680]

Where can I buy this pen?

[@boneguru]

Office Depot in store and online

[@Tom_-]

I think they copied the idea from the Tombow Airpress. Surprised no other pen companies seem to have copied it already, as far as I can see. There is the Uni Powertank which instead uses a pressurised refill, comparable to a Space Pen.

[@solarsynapse]

Pilot Down Force has the pump pressurizing. I don't know who had it first, but the Down Force is a much better pen than the Tombow. The Uni Powertank pens are good, but I like the clip and grip of the Down Force better. Looks like they ruined the Down Force now with a stupid rubber grip that will rot.

[@wildbillwilmoth98]

Do you write with it ?

[@neilschenkel1758]

I read the reviews and was so excited to but the pen It’s wrote beautifully for 20 minutes then dried out So I loaded up 1 of the 2 free refills that came with it and go and hour of writing time Maybe this pen is mit intended to be a primary writing pen but a back up doodler emergency pen

[@tydshiin5783]

There's a reason why it's Military grade/tested It's not exactly meant to be long lasting while being as cheap as possible

[@chainjail4834]

5:02 lol

[@OtakuUpNorth]

Dang, this is kind of a disappointment. I will stick to my modified F-701. Thanks for the thorough breakdown!

[@chadj.bologna4847]

How'd u modify your F-701?

[@emeltea33]

@@chadj.bologna4847 might have put a 501 metal fineal (sp? (Plunger)) onto the F-701 to make it all metal. They're sold like that now. I just put a .38mm ink stick into my F-701, think I might have cut it a hair short.

[@samson4907]

Pretty sure this pen is a gimmick. I used one for a bit in -20 temp. I couldn’t get it to write at all. Even warming it up in my pocket with my hand for several mins. All of which u shouldn’t have to do.

[@unsharpen]

Did you try the fisher space pen?

[@samson4907]

@@unsharpen ya I had the fisher before the zebra. The only problem I had with it was it quit clicking seemed like it would write forever. Lately tho I’ve had pretty good lunch with the rite in the rain pens. Should be noted that I have a very dirty job and I use a pen a fair bit daily so it’s not just how the pen writes for me. It’s how long will everything work clicking, writing, pocket clip ext.

[@ds2td]

F-701 > X-701

[@Nathanchancy02]

I think I was a little late on this video because I am usually one of the first people

[@psps6623]

Love the idea but gonna be one ugly lookin' pen as it ages and scratches....I'll stick with the F-701.

[@25hztolife86]

It's not worth 15 bucks; I will consider it at 10 bucks with shipping.

[@joq702]

I'll pass on this one. Not an improvement, but a gadgety slip by Zebra, imho.