RE-REVIEW: BARON FIG SQUIRE ROLLERBALL

Since I am: A) terribly late with this review of the special edition - yet currently still available - Baron Fig Squire 'Clear Habits' rollerball, so at this point I don't know how useful an in-depth review of this particular edition would still be. And B) have already reviewed the Squire, in its many iterations, almost half a dozen times by now (Links to all reviews can be found HERE). I've probably said about everything there is to say about the Squire in my previous reviews, and rambled on enough to cause at least a little migraine.

So this post will be a Re-review of the Baron Fig Squire in general, instead. And I will focus on my experiences with the Squire rollerball thus far, and how my perception of this pen has maybe changed over the years.

The Squire was a pen that immediately won me over. How could it not? Baron Fig, if anything, really has their brand delivery figured out to absolute perfection. The minimalist in me (or rather the minimal design enthusiast, I don't think a hoarder like me could possibly classify as a minimalist!) smiles every time I see the simple packaging, clean lines, bold colors and minimal graphics that look like they came straight from Apple HQ. If you identify with a minimal aesthetic like this, it's easy to get sucked into their biosphere of minimal productivity products... dare I say addictive, even?

But packaging and branding is one thing (You could even argue if it's a valid reason for buying a product?). Luckily, the Squire inside is every bit as brilliant as its packaging. Design is certainly one area where my opinion about the Squire hasn't changed a bit, which is a good thing in this case. In many ways the Squire is about as good as minimal design gets: Just two parts. A very clean and simple, almost fluid-like design that's completely uninterrupted by hard corners, edges, or seams... except where the two parts of the pen meet.

Talking about that tiny seam: the slight gap between the two parts has been my only pet peeve from the beginning of the Squire's career. Albeit a bit of a stupid one, I suppose. But I can't really fault the design in any other way, so a stupid pet peeve is what you'll get. I feel like they improved the fit between the two parts a bit over the years, but you can still see and feel a slight gap. Is it a problem? No. Do I secretly wish that they'd figure out a way to make it (almost) as seamless as a Lamy 2000? Yeah, obviously!

...Oh, and while we're at it, a roll-stopper could be useful as well!

Baron Fig's style and impeccable ability to create an attractive story, reflects in the fantastic special edition releases they've done with the Squire over the years. Even though I'm not mad about them slowing down their pacing of special releases these days (All those seasonal subscriptions started to feel like a chore, trying to keep up with one special edition after the other), they've consistently outdone themselves on every single one of them over the years. Not just the minimal color schemes and themed engravings, but also the entire atmosphere created around each theme (The 'Lock & Key' being my absolute favorite, closely followed by the highly sought-after chemistry-themed 'Experiment' that I - as a chemist - thoroughly regret missing out on) - every piece of the puzzle just always fits together.

The 'Clear Habit' special edition that you're seeing here, is based on the color scheme of the 'Atomic Habits' book by James Clear (A self-improvement book about creating and breaking Habits), and Baron Fig's own Habit-tracker special edition Clear Habit Confidant notebook. Even though I don't read self-improvement books (I probably should), I still very much like the look of this rusty-orange pen and the triangle-pattern engraving.

Despite frequently having multiple Squires hanging around my desk and in my EDC carry, it still strikes me every time how compact these things are. Especially in the anodized aluminum versions that are also very light, making for an incredibly small and nimble pen. And yet despite the almost pocket-sized dimensions, it never feels like a pocket pen in the hand. It IS quite thin, though, which remains my only comfort-related gripe with the Squire. The combination of the slick, smooth shape, and anodized finish, with a fairly thin grip diameter (even at the widest point) does make it a little prone for my hand to cramp up after a while. Granted, it's not as thin as that other Baron Fig pen, the Squire Click (which is not one I'd recommend for more serious writing tasks), but I'd still like to see them try a design with a slightly wider grip area.

The refill... this is an area where I've changed my mind quite a bit over the past years, and my opinion on the Baron Fig-branded Schmidt P8126 rollerball refill still tends to go back and forth. Since my first experience with the Squire, I've definitely been using more rollerball and gel ink pens. The P8126 was something just shy of revolutionary for me at first encounter, and it's still one of the most satisfying and consistent rollerball refills I've used to date.

But gel pens have taken over the number one spot on my non-fountain pen list. The Pilot G2 (0.5) is just too good of a refill, and it's noticeably less picky about what paper you use it on, since the slightly more viscous gel ink has less tendency to feather and bleed on cheaper paper. That being said, the Squire does also accept Parker G2-style refills, which opens up a wide selection of refills that can be fitted (including the excellent Schmidt EasyFlow 9000M hybrid ballpoint ink refill that's a good compromise between ballpoint and rollerball inks).

Everything from the minimal design, aesthetically pleasing storytelling, compact and nimble size and excellent rollerball refill... Three years later, these are the things that make me reach for the Baron Fig Squire surprisingly often. And even though aesthetically you could call Baron Fig the stationery-world equivalent of Apple, their prices are actually quite reasonable I think. Starting at 55$, the Squire hits a pretty attractive price point, which makes it hard for me not to recommend picking one up. (Interestingly, the Squire's prices haven't gone up at all in the last three years, the same can't be said for a lot of other pens!)

NOTE: This product was provided by Baron Fig, so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affiliate links.

QUICK LOOK: BARON FIG SQUIRE COPPER PEN REVIEW

I know, I know! It's a bit late to do a 'quick look' review when the 'new' copper version of the ever-so popular Baron Fig Squire has already been around for more than three months... In fact I'm so terribly late that -in the meantime- Baron Fig already introduced another iteration of their pen: the Squire Brass (same as the special edition lock & Key, but now part of the standard production line). Better late than never though, right? 

The Squire may have lost some of its popularity since the original launch back in 2016 (review HERE), and there's some fierce competition from other small makers and brands (Such as Karas Pen Co., Tactile Turn, or even the brand new Mark One by Studio Neat). But in my opinion it still holds strong today. That's in part because Baron Fig managed to keep their lineup of Squire pens fresh by constantly releasing new limited edition colorways and various material options in their so-called Precious Metals collection.

Another reason why I still consider the Squire is its fantastic design. The minimal teardrop-shaped Squire is still one of the sexiest pen designs I've come across. Let's face it, Baron Fig knows how to make a clever-looking and sleek product. It's a clean and uninterrupted, clipless shape, which is of course minimal but not always practical... The shape and size of the Squire lend itself perfectly to being pocket carried, which sometimes makes me wish it has a clip. If you want, Baron Fig sells neat leather pen sleeves, which offer some protection and a place to store your pen without having it roll all over the place. 

Personally, this solid copper version of the Squire is probably my favorite so far... But then again, I AM quite partial to copper pens. Part of the appeal for me is definitely in the patina it creates. I just love to watch a pristine, shiny pink-colored copper pen create its own unique character after a short while of use, taking on fantastic hues of red, brown and blue. 

Copper is obviously also a lot heavier than aluminium, and I think the Squire in particular lends itself perfectly to these heavier metals (brass, copper, stainless steel). At 50 grams, it's twice the weight of an aluminium Squire, giving it a very solid feel in the hand. Yet at the same time, it's not too outrageously heavy because of the relatively compact form factor. Contrary to larger, beefier pens made of copper (like the copper Namisu Nova), the Squire never felt like it weighed me down or caused any fatigue while writing. (For a full discussion of dimensions, and size comparison, you can check out my review of the original Squire!) 

If you still want the extra heft, but don't like the smell of pennies that you get from copper or brass pens, the stainless steel version (review HERE) offers a similar heft but with a more industrial, silvery steel look. The choice is up to you. 

Since my last review of a Squire, my preference has shifted slightly towards gel ink pens, as I've been using the Pilot G2 a lot lately. The Schmidt P8126 rollerball refill that ships with the Squire still comes in at a very strong second place though, and it remains the most consistent performing rollerball refill I've tried to date. It lays down a consistent, black line. The ink dries fast and doesn't smear, but it does tend to bleed through lesser-quality paper (which is the main reason why I switched to gel ink, which is a bit less prone to bleeding and feathering).

Price-wise, the copper Squire sits at the upper-end of Baron Fig's offerings, coming in at 95$. The upcharge -compared to the brass (75$) or stainless steel (85$) version- seems somewhat high. It's certainly not cheap for a minimal pen, and let's be honest: not everyone is a fan of copper pens (both due to their weight and the penny smell).

That being said, after 3 years the Baron Fig Squire still brings a smile to my face every time I use it. The design is great -from packaging to branding-, it's a comfortable pen to use and you can't really go wrong with the Schmidt rollerball refill. If copper is not your thing, there are plenty of other finishes to choose from, each with their own characteristics and look (at some point I'm hoping they'll also add a titanium version, which would complete the 'precious metals' collection IMHO).

This product was sent to me by Baron Fig so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affilate links.

REVIEW: BARON FIG SQUIRE CLICK BALLPOINT PEN

The Squire from Baron Fig (read my review here) has quickly become a staple within the community. For good reason of course, as it is a superb pen all around. But when Baron Fig announced a new iteration of the Squire: the Squire Click, I was left with slightly mixed feelings. I loved the idea of a knock mechanism, but at the same time it seemed to lose a bit of the clean look of the Squire's design.

But as always, it's quite difficult to assess a product just from photos online. So my thoughts changed when I got one in hand for review -thanks Baron Fig!

I was still a bit unsure about how I felt about the design choice of using a standard Schmidt knock mechanism, although I do like that the barrel and knock sit flush against each other. When you pick up the pen, you'll notice that it slimmed down a bit compared to the regular Squire. Basically what they did is remove the taper towards the front of the pen so the diameter is now uniform across the entire length of the pen. Without that teardrop shape, the Squire click lost some of the character that the original Squire had, but it's still a good looking minimal pen.

L to R: Kaweco Al Sport, Riind The Pen, Karas Pen Co. Retrakt, Baron Fig Squire, Baron Fig Squire Click, Lamy 2000, Lamy Safari

At 12.7 cm (5"), it's the same length as the Squire. The barrel diameter was reduced from 10 mm (0.40") to 9 mm (0.35"), which doesn't sound like a lot but it's easily noticeable when you hold them side by side. They also cut the weight by 4 grams, from 24g to 20g. Overall the differences are relatively small, but surprisingly they create a very different experience in use.

The Click lost a little weight around the front of the pen

Whereas the regular Squire is IMHO a 'comfortably slim' pen, the click is a bit narrow for my taste. I did get used to it after a while, but I won't say it's the most comfortable pen ever. The size makes it ideal as an agenda pen, and it fits perfectly into a journal pen loop without adding bulk. 

Now here's the weird part: after a good while of use, the Squire Click actually grew on me...a lot! So get this, the size may make it a bit less comfortable, but it also makes it extremely versatile in use: Throw it in a backpack, pants pocket, notebook pen loop,... it's small and thin but still long enough to sit comfortably in the hand. 

Frankly, the stock Schmidt knock mechanism is a lot easier and faster to operate than the custom machined twist mechanism on the Squire. The obvious trade-off is that it doesn't look as clean and minimal.

The Schmidt Easyflow 9000 may be one of the greatest parts about the Click!

Surprisingly, the Click comes with a different refill, which helps differentiate it from the regular Squire in the Baron Fig lineup. Inside the Click, you'll find a Schmidt Easyflow 9000 ballpoint refill (instead of the rollerball refills in the regular Squire). I really enjoy the change, especially because the Easyflow 9000 is a fantastic refill that combines the good sides of both ballpoint and rollerball refills. It lacks the bleedthrough issues that rollerball refills sometimes have, but the medium line is dark, consistent and smooth. Only issue I found is that it sometimes seems a bit more prone to smudging.

It honestly took me a while to make up my mind on the Squire Click. The slimmer barrel is not my favorite, and the design is a bit less sleek because of the standard knock mechanism (maybe something to custom-machine in the future?).

On the plus side, the slimmer form factor makes it even more portable than the regular Squire, and the knock mechanism is more practical in use. Oh, and the ballpoint refill it comes with is straight up fantastic. The price point of the Squire Click is very reasonable too. At 45$ it's not too precious for everyday use, and it's an ideal pen to throw into your bag, purse, pants pocket...

This product was sent to me by Baron Fig so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affilate links.