Disclaimer: Sotteranea Officina Sperimentale sent me this Sostanza free of charge for review purposes. Be sure to keep your other hand under the lead holder to stop the lead at the preferred length and prevent it from falling out completely.

The Sketch Up serves as a nice, compact refillable highlighter that’s a more sustainable option than woodcase drylighters or plastic highlighter markers.There is a lead pointer in the knob which is accessed by un-screwing the end cap, gently tap out any excess lead dust after pointing. Whether you're drafting the next great piece of architecture or simply sketching a quick picture on the train, a trusty lead holder will help get the job done. For this reason, I gravitate towards lead holders that mimic the look and feel of a round or hexagonal woodcase pencil, including Caran d’Ache’s iconic “Fixpencil” pictured above. While I don’t really bother with sharpening when I’m using clutch pencils for highlighting because I like a broader edge, the cap contains a good lead pointer. Despite its small size, it's comfortable to use—the metal body has a solid feel in the hand, while the knurled grip section helps keep it in your grasp.

My sense is that things will loosen up a touch as I use the PENXO more, or I figure out the perfect spot to apply pressure. i haven't found a lot of good resources online to look through a lot of them, if you know any good ones, please share.When you need to sharpen your lead, just remove the top button to use the lead pointer inside of it. The one drawback to the Sostanza is that it's definitely a "desk tool" for me: there's no clip, so it can't easily be transported around, and it's a touch long to fit comfortably in a pen case. Initially, I worried that the metal ring might make for an uncomfortable grip, but I've not had any issues based on how I hold the pencil. Standard lead holders accommodate 2 mm size lead, but there are lead holders that hold lead up to 5. Though it lacks a textured grip section, the hexagonal shape of the barrel helps you grip it securely and control your work.