20 Best Lead For Mechanical Pencils (2023 Updated)

Smoothest graphite ever! Tikky Hi-Polymer leads are the smoothest HB graphite I’ve ever used. This is the mechanical pencil equivalent to Blackwing pencils. I love the intense, dark line, the barely-there feedback on paper, and the relative strength of this grade lead.

I’m heavy handed, so I truly appreciate the combined features. The drawback is there are only 12 leads per pack, so this is significantly more expensive than other brands. The trade-off for there qualities is they do not last as long as other brands, making writing with Rotring Tikky lead an expensive, but thoroughly enjoyable experience.

I never thought I would say this about a Rotring product. I have used their wonderful sketch pen for over a decade. But this is unusable. Even the strongest of leads break constantly, and I do not press harder than normal.

Is it because it lacks the metal sleeve that extends out of the bottom found on most mechanical pencils? Love the design, but handing it off to my niece and continuing my search.

This is the best feeling lead I’ve ever used, by a long shot. Smooth as room temperature butter and no scratchy feedback.

The old Pentel Hi-Polymer Super 2B leads were my gold standard in the past. They weren’t easy to find and I treasured them. But the Ain Steins are at a whole other level. I can’t believe how much better mechanical pencil leads have gotten.

These are really remarkable. It’s hard to describe what a visceral experience it is to write with this lead. I prefer the Pilot Neox overall because it’s a little smoother, but the Ain Stein is also superb.

What you give up in smoothness you gain in feedback on the page. When I go back and forth between them I love them both.

Writing of this lead from an illustrator’s perspective: This is one of the best leads available for technical precision. Due to it’s hard core it is really easy to draw sharp lines without fear of breaking.

Also, by swiveling and adjusting the angle as I draw it is possible to use the outer, softer graphite layer to create calligraphic like thin-thick effects. Now please note that what I describe above is very, very subtle.

For most, I don’t think it will matter or be noticeable. I had to really draw and work with the lead running it through multiple comparison tests, to notice the difference. For average writing use, I would recommend it if longevity is your goal.

Due to its hard core, it does not break easily. (So long as it is not extended too far out. There really is no lead that won’t break in that situation. ) It feels a little less smooth in comparison to some of the other pure graphite options, but it feels less squeaky and plastic like when compared to the pentel super hi-polymer/ain lead.

As noted in jetpens’ blog review comparing different leads, it is a little lighter. Again though for non-artistic use, I don’t think it will be noticeable or matter. For those who do care I would classify it as something between HB and F.

In conclusion: For artists I recommend it if you desire high precision. Ex: -Drafting such as done by architects or mechanical engineers. -Concept artists/illustrators doing clean up on their drawings who want a clean look, but want to maintain the rougher line quality of the pencil as to the hard line of either traditional or digital inking.

Lays down a thick, wet, smooth line consistently. It usually needs about 15 seconds for it to dry to the point where it doesn’t smear. Probably not suited for “Lefties”. Not the best in ergonomics as the body tapers to the top, fattens where it meets the “barrel” area, has a sharp edge wher it meets the barrel, then tapers at the tip after going past a seating ridge.

The barrel area is rubber coated, is smooth and soft, so no matter how hard you grasp it you can still apply little pressure to the tip. Tactile wise, though, some may find it disconcerting. The “wrapping the rubber band around the tip to screw it” tip should be printed on the barrel.

😀 VERY much appreciated to whomever submitted it. I find that I have to be more methodical when using this instrument; I have to write slower, otherwise lettering tends to get “smushed” together, resulting in tilted lettering.

But it isn’t just writing slower, I have to be conscious of timing and spacing as I lay down the ink so that the writing is evenly spaced, evenly tinted, evenly angled. In effect it forces me to write slower, as if I am using a Zen brush.

Ergo, I have to use a very light hold on the barrel. Using a hard grasping choke hold is non productive, for me, because if held very tightly lettering tends to bunch up. A big clicker-clip may have helped to stabilize it in the hand.

So, I have to install the cap on the body when writing. The point where the cap meets the body is not overly objectionable, so it causes little tactile irritation. A very light grasp and a higher hand hold helps.

The Red 0. 7 Pentel lead breaks very easy. I find that 1 click of the pencil extends the red lead a little to far and it snaps with just a little pressure. I tried it with two different pencils with the same result.

I need to do 1/2 click or push some of the red back in so it does not snap. It also does not erase. The easy snapping does not happen with the regular lead 0. 7 super hi polymer.

This led is not a sharp red , like i would of liked , and os more fragile than the typical led , so u can’t press too hard to make a more solid line.

Great red lead refill used in a mechanical pencil. A little broader than the 0. 5mm red lead refill making it easier to read. Hated the old fashioned wooden red lead pencil – this is perfect to use not requiring sharpening and doesn’t get dull.

The first day of use the pencil worked very well. By the second day, I found that the eraser was an issue. The eraser did not stay in its housing, the third time it came apart, the easer was lost as well as the spare lead.

The pencil is very well built and it is a shame that something as cheap as an eraser negates the fine engineering involved in the development of this product. This small part ruins the product and confidence in other products you offer.

Overall, I love the new mechanical pencil. But my one qualm is the doggone eraser. From my first day using it, I cannot tell you how many times the eraser fell out, whether on its own or while I was in the middle of trying to erase something.

My suggestion would be to make it a little wider so that it’s really in there. One other suggestion would be to improve its “erase-ability” a bit – it’s not terrible by any means, but my cheap PaperMate twist pencil still erases better.

Pencil is great but I no longer have an eraser. found it the first 2 times it fell out but third time not so lucky and I haven’t even used it. Also i need more lead and don’t know were to get it. Help with any of these problems would be much appreciated.

It’s in my Delguard. 5mm pen right now. It is just hard enough to resist snapping, but still soft enough to provide a readable black line. I use this grade for writing in pencil and it works very well.

The actual Neox formulation is great, it resists snapping better than the other brand I was using. Annoying is having three snaps in one sentence and you aren’t pushing that hard. It also seems less likely to break in the pencil itself.

I’m sold on this lead and will probably be using it exclusively from now on.

The Pilot Neox Graphite 2B is the softest lead available in 0. 9 mm. Neox Graphite leads are in general on the soft side for a given hardness rating. Compared to Pentel leads, Neox Graphite leads of the same hardness rating will be a bit stronger and usually look nearly a grade darker.

Comparing Pentel and Pilot leads that make lines of the same darkness, the Pilot generally smudges more. In the 0. 9 mm size (and also 0. 7 mm), the 2B is extra soft, about equivalent to a Pentel 4B.

I have a set of Foray. 7 mechanical pencils that I got from Costco a while back and though they are quite serviceable, I discovered that the HB leads are atrocious, especially when used to fill in puzzles published on lightweight newsprint.

The writing was too light to read, inconsistent in weight, and very scratchy. In short, they needed the old heave-ho and how! I discovered JetPen’s outstanding article on Mechanical Pencil Leads and eagerly lapped up every word.

I especially loved the table that compared Lead Smoothness, Darkness, Break Resistance, Longevity, Erasability, and Smear Resistance. With that, I was able to determine the ideal brand for what I needed: the Pilot Neox High-Purity line.

I got 2B’s, which are the darkest and smoothest for. 7 mechanical pencils (They are rated as such: Lead Smoothness: Very Smooth, Lead Darkness: Dark, Break Resistance: High, Longevity: High, Erasability: Excellent, Smear Resistance: Average).

When the leads came, my husband and I had some fun comparisons to do. The leads that came with the Foray pencils were very low-grade HBs. We found some Pentel High-Polymer B leads that we were using while we waited and actually, they were incredibly nice compared to the HB’s.

Quite smooth, darker, and overall, much better. However, when we swapped in the new Pilot Neox 2B’s, writing suddenly rose to a previously unknown level of buttery, dark, and rich smoothness! INCREDIBLE! Seriously, we didn’t know that writing with a pencil could feel like gliding over silk.

What an amazing difference! Now I can see everything I’m writing on my puzzle pages and the marks erase easily and completely. We couldn’t be happier!! (One other comment–we also purchased. 5 4B Pilot Neox leads for some nice mechanical pencils we have and as outstanding as these 2B leads are, the 4Bs are even NICER! It would be awesome if 4Bs were made for.

7 pencils, but as far as I can tell,. 7 leads only go to 2B. not that we’re crying, because the 2Bs are delicious!) Bottom line: you will be over the moon with these perfect leads! :).

I use both the Uni NanoDia and Pentel Ain Stein colored 0. 5 leads in blue and red. I prefer the NanoDia over the Stein, but I use both regularly. Compared to the Pentel Ain Stein colored leads, the Uni NanoDia lead is a bit softer and bolder, a lot more like a softer colored pencil than a hard H drawing graphite.

It erases much more easily, but then it also smudges far more easily than the Stein colored leads. I usually start with the Stein leads for a very light sketch, as it’s easier to erase if you keep it light.

Then the NanoDia works for refining a sketch with the bolder/darker lines, especially when going from red to blue. From there, either graphite or ink to follow it up.

SO, you’re probably wondering what’s the difference between this and the “Uni Color” lead of the same color. At least, that’s what I was wondering when bought this to try out. I’d been using Uni Color “mint blue” in.

5 and Pilot Eno “light blue” in. 7 for non-repro sketching, and wanted to see how this compares. Well, the NanoDia basically acts like a slightly different hardness grade from Uni Color, but in a sort of split way.

It’s slightly less “slick” or “crayon-y”: the sensation of friction against the paper feels a little closer to graphite lead, making it feel like it’s maybe 2 hardness grades up from Uni Color. However, it also deposits a denser line, sort of like it’s 2 grades or so below Uni Color.

I like both of these traits. I draw with a very light touch, and with the Uni Color lead that means the lines are much fainter than they would be with graphite lead, forcing me to press harder. The NanoDia lead lets me use more of the same muscle memory as with my regular graphite leads, so it makes things easier.

I also prefer the more graphite-like sensation, as I feel it gives me better tactile feedback. With my more lightweight. 5 sketching pencils (Alvin Draftmatic, Staedtler 925, and Zebra M-103), I will be replacing the Uni Color lead with this Nano Dia stuff.

I have a couple of heavier all-metal pencils I use occasionally (Steadler 925-35, Platinum Pro-Use II), and in those the Uni Color lead is better. Because those are heavier, they press down a little more regardless of whether I’m manually doing so or not.

That causes the above dynamic to be reversed: the Nano Dia becomes too dark with too little pressure, and the Uni Color becomes closer to “just right”. If you already have or use the Uni color. 5 lead, I hope this info helps.

If you have never used either, and are looking to try a. 5 non-repro blue lead for the first time, I highly recommend buying one of each to test for yourself.

These eraserable leads are nice and soft, but the darker colors are not so cleanly erasable, often leave a faint outline. That’s not an issue with me, because I don’t buy them for their erasability, but expressly for their ability to softly highlight.

A lot of highlighters are so dark they ruin the area you are highlighting or bleed through some paper. I got tired of having hit or miss with highlighters. I use them to color-code on my calendar as well as highlighting study materials.

The set of Pilot Color Eno pencils is a good match for these colors.

Always great service from JetPens. And finally a much softer lead (in this case 4B) for Pentel mechanicals. Love this new, softer form. Tossed everything prior to, eg. B, 2B (except for 0. 9mm since 2B is the softest in that size).

Also have had great service and experience on the fountain pen/ink side but that’s another feedback share.

I’m a fan of tactile feedback when writing or drawing, so these leads are great. They’re smooth, but not annoyingly so, even in the soft 4B. They are a bit easy to break, but I am a heavy handed writer sometimes.

If they were a bit stronger these leads would be perfect, and while they do smudge a little the writing is dark enough that it remains plenty legible, even if you’re rubbing your hands across the page.

This item has been hard to find in stores. Glad to find it. Works great!!

Good quality lead, sft material. The benefit of buying the correct leads made by cross for cross pencils.

As always Cross products are of excellent quality.

These are my favorite leads. They write nicely – good darkness but still a smooth stroke. They fit perfectly into the Pentel mechanical pencil that I purchased them for. Leads last a good amount of time and don’t break under a normal amount of pressure.

These leads are smooth and consistent in application. They can take a bit more pressure than some leads from other premium manufacturers without breaking. They lay down more like an H to HB in tonal range, as the tonal values they produce falls short of what I expect from a 2B.

I do like the way they lay down on paper, so will be using them instead of HB from other manufacturers. My search for the perfect 0. 5mm 2B lead continues.

The leads arrived intact. Should last a fair while and I like the handy dispenser. Only downside is that I feel the leads are a bit hard and feint for HB leads. It may just be my preference bit Im sure I have had better leads for writing.

These seems rather scratchy and drag on the paper when writing dont seem to wear in. They certainly dont seem like the Faber lead supplied with the pencil. Perhaps these are more for technical drawing in which case I wonder if Faber do another type of lead.

I didnt think there was a difference. O well, these will have to do for now.

This Faber-Castell mechanical pencil is exactly what I’ve needed for doing my preliminary sketches for my watercolor paintings. It fits my hand perfectly and I really like the rotary lead advancement system.

The 1. 4mm lead is the perfect size for doing detailed sketches without the annoying breakage.

These were the leads recommended when I first started as a fashion student. I find 0. 7 is the perfect width for pattern drafting and the HB also is the most preferable for it. I have never found the lead to break easily and it creates clear concise lines.

I have continued using these leads ever since and do not plan on using any other.

ok

TranslateShow in original languageElles sont vraiment trop petites. Je ne peux même pas les voir quand elles ne sont pas dans leur boîte! Leur matière n’est pas agréable au toucher, et on ne peut même pas cuisiner avec.

Un objet qui mérite amplement des améliorations.

Truthfully I didn’t buy this from Jetpens. rather, from a local art store, but I thought it might be worth mentioning my experience with this lead. 2H or anything higher is what was recommended for doing rough sketches and the initial basis for planning out a drawing, and I can see why.

It’s easier to erase with afterwards when prepping for inking or after the process as it leaves a light mark compared to a standard HB lead. However. One thing about this particular lead that I think should be worth noting, is that you need to be careful with it when using it on smooth paper.

If you are a heavy handed person like myself, and like to use smooth paper like Strathmore Bristol or X-Press It Blending card, then 2H mechanical leads may not be the best as they can still leave indents in the paper after the lead has been fully erased.

The lead is quite hard but produces a light line, but that’s simply the properties of the lead and not at all a fault. The natural thing for someone to do who is use to using a softer lead will want to add pressure to add a dark line.

DO NOT DO THIS OR YOU WILL GET INDENTATION! :/ Using 2H leads require the reconditioning of using a lighter touch. After all, if you laying a rough outline, you don’t want something too dark to erase anyhow.

I hope what I have said can help someone out there. 🙂 So many people think the 2H+ for mechanical lead pencils are lacklustre, but they just require a different method. The four star rating I have given is mainly to demonstrate its versatility.

It is good for what it is intended for. But try to do anything outside of that, and you may find yourself frustrated or disappointed.

I use this product to refill my mechanical pencil’s. These leads come in a lightweight cubed tube with narrowed necks To make getting these tiny leads from the cubed tube and into the mechanical pencil easy.

A small, but powerful packaging design to make our lives easier. The leads themselves are great for adding small details to sketches and with a mechanical pencil I don’t have to sharpen as often. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this product.

Professional illustrator here. I just want to chime in to raise the rating on this product — these leads (all of the Mars Micro leads) have been my favorite graphite for YEARS, and I was thrilled when JetPens added them to their stock, because they’re impossible to find in stores! With the *possible* exception of the harder grades (I’m about to order some to see, as I tend to stick to the softer leads myself), there is something magical about this stuff: I don’t know what Staedtler adds to their leads (or maybe their graphite is extra finely ground? I’d be interested to find out), but drawing with it is almost like drawing with a gel ballpoint pen or something, it’s SO smooth.

There is virtually NO drag on the paper or any of that annoying chalkboardlike squeak you get with some mechanical pencils. It’s also more smudge-resistant than many leads I’ve used. It is maybe a little on the fragile side, but I wouldn’t say any more than any other 0.

5mm lead, and I rarely break one of mine. Every time I hand my pencil (the 774 pencil which JetPens also carries) to another artist to try it out, they boggle at how smooth it is and threaten to steal it.

I can’t recommend it highly enough.

The lead is fine, but for my purposes I would rather have a thicker, softer lead. I didn’t see that option.

Excellent lead! Very, very smooth, smoother than Pentel Ain Stein HB soft, but with a not so good point retention. The reason I gave only 4 stars is because it comes only with 12 leads, making it much more expensive than it’s competition.