Once upon a time, there existed a National Aeronautics and Space Administration who desired a pen that could perform in the vacuum of space. More than a billion dollars later, Paul C. Fisher developed the SPACE® PEN. What did the Russians do?

They used a pencil.

While the preceding anecdote may fall short of the truth, it does little to detract from how great the Fisher Bullet SPACE® PEN is for the modern traveller. When capped, this 95 mm long pen slips easily into a pocket. Remove the cap, slide it onto the back, and you have a 133 mm writing tool that sits comfortably in your hand. This alone would be enough for me to carry one of these around on a regular basis, but it’s the technology that ultimately sold me on it.

The cartridges of conventional ball point pens are open to permit ink to be fed to the point. The secret behind the Fisher Space Pen lies in the unique design characteristics of the ink and the high manufacturing tolerances of the ball point and socket. The ink is fed to the ball point by gas pressure permitting the pen to write in any position.

That means the SPACE® PEN won’t lose pressure when you’re lying in a hammock and writing with your notebook propped up against your bent knees. It also gives reliable performance in extreme heat and cold, and when combined with something like a Rite In The Rain® notebook, works just fine in wet conditions. The weight and balance do take some getting used to, but once you adjust to the feel of the pen, the ink flows smooth and consistent every time.

While a touch expensive in the $25-30 range, Fisher offers $7 refill cartridges in a variety of points and ink colours. If you’re not one of those people who seem to be constantly losing things, the Bullet SPACE® PEN is a worth addition to any traveller’s pocket or bag.