So how similar and different are these from the OG Stabilo Boss we've all known since heaven knows when?

This week, why don't we review a classic and see if it really was worth the hype or we just didn't have any other options back then. 🤷🏻‍♀️(Okay, I get it; this is a newer collection, but still, this is marketed as the pocket-sized version of the Stabilo Boss, so there.) 

Let's take it back to the late '90s. ⏳

My first introduction to Stabilo was the chunky highlighters my dad had in his office, then I saw the same ones in my mom's office. And then it just began popping around every adult I know's work space. It was what stamped in my head that probably this is the best highlighter brand out there. 

However, when I became an adult myself, I never really gotten around buying myself one or a couple. My Boss highlighters are almost always gifted or something I nicked from around our house. 

Then relatively recent, Stabilo Boss suddenly had a makeover, which was how the Stabilo Swing Cool came around. And I honestly think they look so adorable. 

The question now is, If not for the blog, would I purchase these for myself? And isn't this the longest intro I've written thus far? 

Let's begin the review. ♥︎

LAYOUT 

The Stabilo Swing Cool is manufactured by German stationary giant Stabilo. They're the ones responsible for the Stabilo Boss since 1971. The brand is known for their writing materials' unique shape, thoughtfully designed so they fall off a table or anywhere you leave it. 

The Stabilo Swing Cool is dressed in thinner, flatter plastic body, with white cap and white clip that makes the pastel body standout whilst being subdued. This collection is their pocket-sized, travel-friendly version to the chunky Stabilo Boss, all with the same impressive features: 

• anti-dry-out technology so you can leave the cap off for up to 4 hours without drying the ink
• chiseled tip so you can make broad lines to highlight and thin lines for underlining 
• comes in 6 different pastel shades: a touch of turquoise, hint of mint, creamy peach, pink blush, milky yellow and lilac haze
• water based ink :) 
• non-slip, matte-finish grip zone so your hand doesn't slide around even without a grip rubber
• 1mm, 4mm compared to the 2mm, 5mm from Stabilo Boss

QUICK NOTES

SWATCHES

from top to bottom: touch of turquoise, blush pink, lilac haze, milky yellow, hint of green, creamy peach

THE PEN-TO-PAPER TEST

THIN PAPER. To represent thinner papers normally used in books and most notebooks, we'll be using the Basic Steno Notebook from Plainpaca. This one has leaves of 80 GSM. 

Findings

1. I'm pleasantly surprised that it didn't bleed as much. Stabilo highlighters have really thick ink consistency
2. I like the colors and how they pop against cream paper. This means that the pastel colors would even be more vibrant on white papers.

THICK PAPER. For thicker sheets, we used the PaperNotes Classic A5 that has leaves of 100GSM. This should cover sheets at 100GSM and higher. 

Findings

1. It's no surprise that it didn't stain the back side of the leaf one bit. Bless this highlighter. 
2. You can still see the colors peeking through slightly, but really not something distracting. All good if you ask me. 😉👉🏻👉🏻

THE YELLOW LEGAL PAD TEST 

pros

1. They're pocket sized. I really appreciate how they're created slimmer counterparts of the Stabilo Boss. They spare more space for all the other pens in bags, pen cases, and pen cups. 
2. The colors are pretty, and there are so many to choose from. This particular blog only features the first set of the pastel colors, but the actual collection has 18 colors (pastel and fluorescent combined).
3. They're easily accessible. You can find them in all National Bookstore branches, department stores, educational supply stores, and online. 
4. They're budget-friendly. They're super affordable they will cost you no more than forty pesos a pop. 

con

1. It would ghost and bleed at the start and stop on thin papers when you press the highlighter on the page. (In the highlighters' defense, this happens on most highlighters. 😅)

VERDICT 

final rating: 4.9

RECOMMENDATION 

This review has taught me two things: (1) it doesn't have to be expensive to be impressive and (2) OGs are OGs for a reason. 

I guess the bottom line is, I think the Stabilo Swing Cool is actually cool. Yup, I'm confirming these ones are here to stay. They're the perfect for those who prefer to bring smaller bags or just prefers pocket-sized everything. Plus the ink and colors are everything. ♥︎

⚘ jls