Nicpro 35PCS Art Mechanical Pencil Set Review – Is It Worth It?
Nicpro 35PCS Art Mechanical Pencil Set, 3 PCS Metal Drafting Pencil 0.5 mm & 0.7 mm & 0.9 mm & 3 PCS 2mm Lead Holder (6B 4B 2B HB 2H 4H Colors) For Sketching Drawing With 20 Tube Lead Refills Case
Nicpro
- 35PCS Upgraded Version Artist Set：Come with 6 PCS drafting pencils and 20 tubes of lead refill in 0.5 mm & 0.7mm & 0.9mm & 2.0 mm, 3 pcs 4B erasers, 1 pcs kneaded eraser, 18 pcs cap eraser refills, 2 pcs lead sharpener, a storage case.
- 4 Line Size & 6 Hardness: This awesome pencil set come with several size of lead refills for various line widths:0.5/0.7/0.9/2.0,the 2mm graphite pencil come with 6 hardness lead 2B HB 2H 4H 4B 6B to create different darkness, perfect for your daily use,they don't break easily, and write smoothly,there are also 2 tube of color lead for highlight or coloring
- Ergonomic, Comfortable Design :The full-metal body provides ideal weight balance for fatigue-free writing and drawing or sketching, It brings you more effective and high quality tasks. The lead advances easily at the touch of a click. There is a sharpener in the cap of 2.0 mm mechanical pencil.
- Two Type Anti-Slip Grips: Rhombus textured rubber grips and metal threaded anti-skidding, these pencils adopt different grip design base on pencil weight and applicable scene, only for better experience
Quick Verdict
Pros
- Complete 35-piece kit covers every drafting and sketching need in one purchase
- Four lead sizes (0.5mm to 2.0mm) with six hardness grades for precise line control
- Full-metal body delivers satisfying weight balance that reduces hand fatigue
- Organized storage case keeps everything sorted and protected between sessions
- Includes color lead refills for adding highlights or accents to drawings
Cons
- The 2.0mm mechanical pencil feels noticeably heavier than the slimmer 0.5mm and 0.7mm versions
- Lead refills are adequate but not premium-grade — occasional scratchiness on heavy shading
- Some users may find the textured rubber grip adds slight bulk to an already substantial pencil
Quick Verdict
The Nicpro mechanical pencil set delivers serious value for anyone who sketches, drafts, or draws regularly. With six pencils, 20 tubes of lead, multiple erasers, sharpeners, and a storage case all bundled together, it covers more ground than most competitors at this price. After three weeks of testing across architectural sketches and figure studies, I'm giving it a 4.3 out of 5. It's not perfect — the heavier 2.0mm holder won't suit everyone, and the lead quality is middle-of-the-road — but the versatility makes it easy to recommend for students and working artists alike.
What Is the Nicpro 35PCS Art Mechanical Pencil Set?
I pulled this set out of its packaging on a drizzly Tuesday afternoon, half-expecting the usual budget-kit disappointment: flimsy plastic, bent clips, lead that crumbled on contact. What I found instead was a surprisingly solid collection of metal-bodied pencils that actually felt like tools rather than toys. The Nicpro 35PCS Art Mechanical Pencil Set centers around six drafting pencils in four different sizes, backed by 20 tubes of lead refills ranging from 6B (soft, dark) to 4H (hard, light), plus erasers, sharpeners, and a zippered storage case to hold it all.
The standout is the 2.0mm lead holder — a chunky, satisfying pencil that takes the full spectrum of graphite hardness. Unlike your standard 0.5mm mechanical pencil, this one lets you shade with broad strokes or fine-tune details depending on which hardness you load. The set also throws in two tubes of color lead, which is a nice touch for anyone wanting to add quick highlights without switching to colored pencils.
Key Features
- Six drafting pencils: 0.5mm, 0.7mm, 0.9mm, and three 2.0mm holders with different hardness leads pre-loaded
- 20 tubes of lead refills covering 0.5/0.7/0.9/2.0mm sizes and six hardness grades (6B to 4H)
- Full-metal body construction with weighted balance for reduced hand fatigue
- Two grip styles: rhombus-textured rubber on slimmer pencils, metal threading on heavier holders
- Three 4B erasers, one kneaded eraser, and 18 cap eraser refills
- Two lead sharpeners sized for 2.0mm leads, one built into the 2.0mm pencil cap
- Organized zippered storage case with elastic loops and compartments
- Two tubes of color lead for highlights and accent work
Hands-On Review
The first thing I noticed was the weight. The 0.5mm and 0.7mm pencils are light and precise — exactly what you want for technical line work or detailed illustration. The 2.0mm holder, by contrast, is a different beast entirely. It's nearly twice as heavy, and holding it felt like switching from a ballpoint pen to a carpenter's pencil. At first I thought this would bother me. By the end of my first sketching session, I actually preferred it for rough compositional sketches where I wanted to lay down big shapes quickly.
Lead quality is where I have to be honest. The included refills write smoothly enough for practice sketches and classroom work, but they don't quite match the feel of premium brands like Pentel or Pilot. I noticed occasional scratchiness when I pressed hard with the 6B lead, and the darker grades have a slightly waxy quality that can affect shading gradients. For everyday use, it's perfectly fine. If you're a professional illustrator who demands pixel-perfect graphite behavior, you'll likely swap these out for higher-end refills within a week.
The anti-slip grips are functional rather than luxurious. The rubber-textured sections on the slimmer pencils provide decent traction without feeling sticky or accumulating lint. The metal-threaded grips on the 2.0mm holders serve a different purpose — they're more about the aesthetic and structural connection than pure grip. I didn't experience any slipping during extended sessions, which is really the only metric that matters.
What surprised me was the case. I almost skipped testing it, assuming it would be the throwaway part of the kit. Instead, it's genuinely well-designed. The elastic loops hold each pencil securely, the lead tubes sit in a dedicated pocket, and the whole thing zips shut without catching. I've tossed it into my messenger bag twice now and nothing has shifted or broken.
Who Should Buy It?
- Art students and design students who need a comprehensive sketching kit without piecing together individual purchases
- Architects and engineers who regularly switch between fine technical lines and broader shading during conceptual work
- Illustrators and sketch artists who want the versatility of multiple lead hardnesses in one organized set
- Gift buyers looking for a complete art supplies bundle for a teenager or creative adult
Skip this set if you already own premium drafting pencils and are picky about lead feel — the included refills will feel like a downgrade, and the pencils themselves don't offer any unique mechanism or feature you can't get elsewhere. It's also overkill for casual doodlers who just want one reliable 0.5mm pencil for occasional use.
Alternatives Worth Considering
- Staedtler Mars Lumograph set — if you prioritize lead quality over quantity and don't need the bulk of a multi-pencil case, this traditional graphite set delivers professional-grade shading performance at a similar price point.
- Pentel GraphGear 500 set — a strong alternative if you want premium 0.5mm mechanical pencils with a more refined drafting feel, though you'll sacrifice the 2.0mm holder and the comprehensive bundle approach.
- Alvin DraftingMatics set — worth considering for serious technical draftspeople who want industrial-grade build quality and don't mind paying more for a smaller, more focused selection of pencils.
FAQ
The set includes four line sizes: 0.5mm, 0.7mm, 0.9mm, and 2.0mm. The 2.0mm holder uses six hardness grades (6B, 4B, 2B, HB, 2H, 4H) for varying darkness. The thinner pencils use standard HB lead.
Final Verdict
The Nicpro mechanical pencil set earns its place on my desk — not as a permanent replacement for my premium drafting tools, but as a well-rounded kit I grab when I need versatility without digging through multiple pencil cups. The metal body construction is genuinely satisfying, the variety of lead sizes and hardnesses covers nearly every sketching scenario, and the storage case keeps everything organized between sessions. It's not for everyone: the heavier 2.0mm holder and middle-tier lead quality will put off some users. But for the price, this set punches well above its weight class.
Will I keep using it? Probably — mainly for quick compositional sketches and as a travel kit when I don't want to carry my full setup. The value proposition is hard to argue with at this price point.