Review on 🖌️ Tombow 56621 Dual Brush Pen, N15 - Black, 1-Pack. Blendable, Markers with Brush and Fine Tip by Doris Tran

I'm torn between 4 and 5 stars. As much as I want to give it 5 stars, the ink is holding me back. Considering the price and all the hype (authors love this brush pen), I was expecting the ink to be 1) darker (opacity), 2) not smearing, and 3) not smearing as much. See attached photos of arm stains and bleeding on plain paper. That said, this is still my favorite brush pen that I've used for large lettering. I also tried the Sakura Brush Pen and the Kuretake Brush Pen. See photos for comparison. I would not recommend Sakura Brush Pens (although I love their Micron Pens!) as mine dried out very quickly and also wore out badly as you can see from my writing. I really like Kuretake's brush pens - their nib is stiffer and has a 'harder' feel so I'm not worried about nib wear and the ink is nice and juicy. The downside to harder tips is that you don't get the nice thick swabs that you get with a softer tip like the Tombows. I prefer tombow with a bit of kuretakes because my handwriting comes out a little better with tombows. However, if you're just starting out, I'd recommend Kuretake brush pens - they're cheaper and a bit stiffer. a point that gives you more control over your labels. Update: downgraded to 3 stars. I've had the pen for about a week and the tip is wearing out; The pen isn't as inky as it used to be. I've only used it 3-4 times. Meanwhile, my Kuretake pens (which I've owned for about a month) are still sturdy and the nibs show no signs of wear. ) written today. Photos may be blurry but the Tombow lettering has streaked/dry strokes to the top.