It’s a big EDC market out there, and tons of awesome gear is released all the time. We made The Drop to help you discover the latest and greatest essentials worth a spot in your EDC.
Every quarter, our friends at Tactile Turn put together a Seasonal Release version of their extremely-popular everyday carry pens. Each of these special edition releases has been massively popular; they offer EDC enthusiasts the opportunity to add a touch of flair to their gear and a highly-practical precision-machined metal pen to boot. This quarter, Tactile Turn introduces the 8-Bit, a beautiful EDC pen based on their Side Click and Slim Side Click models.
The 8-Bit‘s design harkens back to when you needed quarters at an arcade cabinet to play video games unless you were lucky enough to have a newfangled game console at home. The drab grey, bright orange clip, and red click button are most reminiscent of the revolutionary Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and its light gun accessory.
These colors have been Cerakoted onto the pens’ titanium bodies, ensuring they’ll stand up to the test of time with the bumps a pen endures when carried daily. The pocket clip has an engraved zapper gun motif, and the deep red side click mechanism is labeled “RESET,” completing the overall retro video gaming aesthetic.
At its heart, the 8-Bit retains everything that makes Tacticle Turn’s Side Click and Slim Side Click such great options for EDC pens. Each precision-machined titanium pen is manufactured in Tactile’s machine shop in Texas. It’s available in a Standard 5.8″ extended length, a Short 5.3″ length, and a Mini 4.6″ length that saves the most pocket space. Each pen length determines the kind of cartridge it works with, like the venerable Parker and G2 refills the community loves.
What we like: This is, figuratively, one of the most playful seasonal releases Tactile Turn has put out thus far. With the resurgence of retro gaming these days, this is sure to be a popular EDC pen.
What to watch out for: Like all Tactile Turn seasonal releases, while the pen itself is not limited, meaning you will get one if you order within the season, once Tactile Turn moves on to their next seasonal release later this year, there’s no chance to get this design again.
Final verdict: If you’re looking to add to your collection of Tactile Turn seasonal releases, or you’re looking to get your hands on one of their quality everyday carry writing implements for the first time, the retro-inspired styling of the 8-Bit is a compelling choice.
