When Baron Fig announced that they were about to launch a clickable Squire, I jumped at the chance for a review. The original Squire is a fantastic pen, but the twist mechanism will always be second place to a good clicker in my book. I’ve spent several days using the pen by now, so let’s take a look at the new addition to the Baron Fig family, and see where it fits in.
The Pen
The Squire Click pen, currently available in either Charcoal or Fig Wine finishes, is very similar to the original Squire in its design. The body of the pen is a single piece of aluminum with a polished aluminum clicker up top. The pen measures 5 inches long by .35 inches around, making it just .05 inches narrower than the original. The Squire Click is also slightly lighter, coming in at .7 ounces.
Just like the original, the barrel of this pen is very slightly textured. The matte metallic finish of the Fig Wine color provides a very attractive contrast to the polished shine of the clicker. Where the original Squire dazzled with its uniformity, the Click stands out while still remaining subtle.
Also notable is the absence of a clip or roll-stop. This is a very specific design choice that may not go over well with some users. Personally, I like the look of a clipless pen, but this one has rolled away from me more than a few times.
The Refill
While the original Squire uses the incredibly popular Schmidt P8126 rollerball refill, the Click’s slimmer profile requires something in the Parker-style variety. Baron Fig has selected the Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 .7mm rollerball refill for the Click, which is also very popular in the community. The EasyFlow refill is compatible with a huge range of pens, including the original Squire, and is readily available from a wide range of retail and eCommerce suppliers.
The EasyFlow refill lays down a solid black line fairly consistently, but I have experienced some skipping depending on the writing angle. Overall, the Schmidt refill is smoother than most rollerball refills, but not as smooth as a gel. I tend to prefer gel when I’m not using a fountain pen, but since the Parker-size gel refill market is so slim, this feels like the best of limited options.
Using The Pen
Since the Click is made of the same quality aluminum as the original Squire, writing is a very comfortable experience. The flat texture of the finish is comfortable to grip and easy to slide into a pocket or sleeve. The materials used also inspire confidence in the instrument. One of my favorite qualities in a Baron Fig pen is knowing that it was built to last.
Baron Fig had an uphill battle going into this one for a couple of reasons. For one thing, I am very particular about the feel of a click mechanism in my pens. The Click’s clicker mechanism is very similar if not identical to the one used by Karas Kustoms for their Retrakt, and it is a soft one. When you press down on the button of this pen, I wouldn’t even say there is an actual “click” as you would typically expect. Instead, the mechanism goes down as far as it can and then the pen is ready to write. When you are done, the button goes in as far as it can and pulls the refill back in when you release. It’s really more of a “glide” mechanism than a “click.”
The other thing is the refill. Now I know that this refill, like the P8126, is incredibly popular. I just don’t love it. It’s usable, it writes smoother than any other rollerball I’ve used, but I’m a gel man. And I prefer finer lines. There are a few options available to fill that need, but that really comes down to personal preference. I’m sure that a majority of users will be happy with the Squire Click as is. While testing this pen, I found that the EasyFlow refill sometimes runs into some scratchy situations if your angle gets too shallow, which is surprising considering the .7mm size.
Conclusion
Overall I have enjoyed using the Click. It’s comfortable, portable, and easy to take out and use at a moment’s notice. And, at $45 retail, it’s a very solid alternative to the original Squire.
While the refill type and the propensity for roll-aways are technically strikes in book, they are incredibly subjective strikes. There are other pens on the market that use the same refill, but I’m a fan of Baron Fig’s minimalist style. The Squire Click takes the solid base design of the original, and produces a slimmer more streamlined experience. If you’re in the market for a new pen that will last a long time, the Baron Fig Squire Click is a very solid competitor.
If you enjoyed this review, and want to check out the Baron Fig Squire Click for yourself, use this affiliate link to get a $10 discount on your order of $20 or more. Using that code will also directly assist me in bringing more products in for review.
Disclaimer: Baron Fig provided this product to The Poor Penman blog free of charge for the purpose of review. All opinions stated are those of the author.
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