STABILO Highlighter Deskset Swing Cool Review

Reviewed by Sian Manning

Highlighters are not on my to buy list but they are on my children’s, for some reason they love a bright, bold colour, that is probably going to end up where it shouldn’t and make me question all my life choices, but here we are, and only slightly off topic.

STABILO make great pens and pencils, they are quality, it’s a name we all trust and one I would gravitate towards when purchasing stationary, these highlighters do not disappoint. The box itself is cute, designed by Marina Hoermanseder, a bright, colourful fashion based design showcasing the highlighter colours and usability. The box has windows punched out all along the front so that you can see the pens inside and what colours they are. On the bottom, front, right of the box is a little note and image, this carton is made from responsible sources – this is what I like to see. Also on the front of the box are images of what is inside, how the box slides open and how the box itself folds to form a desk pen holder.

On the reverse of the box are numbered images on how to turn the box into the desk pen holder. There is an image of a highlighter being ‘used’ and it shows the line thickness drawn. The product information is also included on the back in a number of languages – 18 highlighters, 8 fluorescent colours and 10 pastel colours. Also advertised here is anti-dry-out technology where you can leave the lid off for up to 4 hours without them drying out.

Opening the box you slide out a perfect pastel stationary rainbow of unicorn level epicness, they are beautiful just sat in the box, almost too pretty to take out and use. No wonder they made a box that can display them, that might be all you ever want to do with them – live out your organised stationary dreams.

Any way – back to the pens, they are highlighters so as you would expect they are chunky, but these are thinner and longer than your average highlighter and have decent lids that fit on the back of the pen. They have the normal little clip on the back so that you can hook it around a lanyard, piece of paper or book etc. They are colour coded for the colour of the ink, the flourescent pens are translucent and coloured and the pastels are opaque and coloured, each with a white clip and white lid. They draw smoothly and lay down a decent colour, even the light pastels that you would’t expect to give off much colour, they definitely give enough pigment to highlight work or colour a picture. They also aren’t super wet so don’t soak the paper and make it peel or fragment, they also don’t bleed, or haven’t at least on any paper or card that I have used them on.

Folding the box into the desk holder is quick and easy, there is an image on the back of the carton and a little pop out catch to hold it in place, this importantly is also quick to undo, so you can pack the pens back up and slide them into the sleeve, pop them back into your bag and off you go.

The nice thing with these highlighters is that they can be used for a really practical purpose, marking, highlighting, writing etc, but they can also be used in a more artistic way, as colours for a drawing, a sketch or a rainbow. They really are multifaceted and great for all range of people and ages.

These highlighters would make a lovely Christmas, birthday or study gift, for a teacher, a student, anyone in an office or for anyone else in your life that you know has a secret – or maybe not so secret love for stationary and all the pretty things they bring.

Rating: 5/5

RRP: £34.34

You can purchase this item here.