LYNKtec recently released the TruGlide Duo Stylus Pen. It’s a well balanced, sufficiently long stylus with a microfiber tip on one end and a ballpoint pen on the other. While expensive, it exudes weight, class and quality. It’s a great way to pamper yourself or someone else with a gift. Think of it as a fine instrument rather than a dollar stylus.
This stylus was released on July 27th, 2012 and comes in carbon (the color) or platinum. Its principle feature is a microfiber nib instead of a rubber nib. LYNKtec claims that this provides 10 times the durability and the strongly woven microfibers eliminate dragging or skiping.
My Campaign
If you’ve been following this series, you know that I have been on a quest for the perfect stylus in terms of length, heft, balance and tip quality. (The previous reviews are linked at the end of this article.) My crusade has been for a stylus that has the look and feel of a fine fountain pen, and that means a length of at least 5 inches. Styluses with cheap plastic caps, that don’t feel solid or have non-replaceable nibs haven’t made the cut.
Out of the Box
This new stylus comes in handsome packaging, an inner black box with a soft bed and an outer paper label. It’s a gift grade package; something you’d be happy to give to a friend, family member or employee. I’ve said before that pride in the product is reflected by pride in the packaging, and part of the hefty price here goes to that handsome black box.
Inner black box is gift-grade
Microfiber Technology
I’ve been using this stylus for a day or so and what I’ve found is that the feel of the stylus as it glides across the surface is superior to all the rubber nib styluses previously reviewed. You still have to press lightly, as with any conventional stylus, but it feels better. That is, it grips when there’s pressure, but doesn’t drag. The exception is the GoSmart Stylus 200 or 300 which doesn’t drag at all and has the best surface response of any stylus I’ve reviewed. But that’s because it’s Teflon impregnated stainless steel.
Features & Handling
Other nice features of this pen include s smaller 6 mm tip as well as a tip design that allows a lower writing angle. For example, the Pogo Sketch has to be held almost vertically in order to catch. However, none of the other styluses I’ve reviewed had a problem with being at a low writing angle.
At 25 grams, this stylus is between the Wacom Bamboo or the Kuel H12 (19 grams) and the Griffin Stylus + Pen + Laser (47 grams). I think 25 grams (0.88 oz.) is just about the perfect heft for a stylus. I also like the length at just a little over 5.5 inches (including the nib). Styluses much shorter than 5 inches don’t feel natural to me. Some feel like using one of those tiny wooden golf score pencils.
Compared to GoSmart 200 (on the bottom)
Another feature here is the ball point pen (black ink) under the cap. (The cap fits nicely and symmetrically over either end — which I really like.) The ballpoint is replaceable and compatible with Parker pen refills. However, the nib itself isn’t replaceable. LYNKtec claims that the microfiber technology is so durable that it’s not necessary to have a replaceable nib. However, there is a one year warranty on that microfiber tip.
The pocket clip, while not removable, as with the Wacom Bamboo, is of the same caliber and craftsmanship. This is one of the few styluses I’ve reviewed that has a well crafted mental pocket clip that doesn’t look like a cheap ballpoint pen and looks like it will last and last. It’s similar to the Wacom Bamboo.
Pocket clip is well crafted metal
The nib itself is visibly different than any other rubber nib previously reviewed. It has a patented, textured surface that will glide through debris rather than stumble over it, according to LYNKtec. Here’s a close up, taken with my olloclip lens system.
Wacom Bamboo (left), TruGlide (center), GoSmart 200 (right)
The outside of every stylus I’ve tried has a slightly different surface grip. The TruGlide is most like the Wacom Bamboo, a smooth but not slippery metallic feel that’s not overly shiny. Rather it’s a subdued, technical feel of an instrument as opposed to the plasticky, reflective, cheap feel of some fountain pens. It’s a good feel, and because the diameter of the pen is larger than the Wacomm Bamboo, it’s easier to grip, at least for my somewhat larger hands.
Wrap Up
At just about 40 bucks, this is an expensive stylus. I don’t think that the average user of an iPad would spend that kind of money unless, by following this series, he or she concluded that the very best is in order. It’s certainly a gift-grade item thanks to the materials, craftsmanship and packaging. But then all great things are a treat.
Personally, I have moved on from the Wacom Bamboo and this is my co-favorite stylus, along with the GoSmart 200 and 300. Those styluses have that advanced technology, a stainless steel tip (with Teflon) that will last forever. But sometimes, I have a hard-to-describe feeling using the GoSmart, as if I were Buzz Lightyear in an alternate reality, with magnets* and the little antenna tip that feels so fragile it might break. But, of course, it’s too sturdy for that.
On the other hand, this microfiber tip of the TruGlide is comfortable and feels good on the iPad surface. The pen part is well balanced, is long enough, hefty enough and the feel is just what I’ve been looking for. No doubt, the internal ballpoint hardware contributes to the desired heft.
I don’t know that I’d ever experience that if I had to pay $40. But now that I have it, it’s like having an iPad. I’m hooked. You probably would be too, if you’re on the same crusade I am.
Then of course, there are those dollar styluses from Amazon that come in three-packs. Here’s one comment I saw: “Durability is an issue, will only last a few months, swipes are sometimes missed, tips can come off.”
Is the TruGlide overpriced? Consider that the Griffin (with a laser is $50). The Wacom Bamboo, a fine but smallish stylus, is $30. So, this stylus fits right in between. In that context, you’re also getting what you pay for: a fine instrument.
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* And they keep sticking to the other styluses on my desk.
Previously Reviewed
The rating is in parens.
GoSmart Stylus Duo: a Technical Leap Forward (4.5/5)
Targus Stylus: Inexpensive, No-frills & Colorful (3/5)
Kensigton Virtuoso Stylus & Pen: a 2-in-1 Solution (3.5/5)
Bamboo Stylus Solo for iPad: Almost Perfect (4.5/5)
Rocketfish Stylus for iPad: The Long and Short (3/5)
Kuel H10 Stylus for iPad: Not so Cool as a Pen (3/5)
Kuel H12 Stylus for iPad: Almost Perfect (4/5)
For The Multitasker: Griffin’s Stylus + Pen + Laser Pointer (4/5)