Pilot S20 0.5mm Review: Wood Body, 18g Weight and Trade-offs
Updated: Sep 23
The Pilot S20 is a 0.5mm wooden mechanical pencil for someone who wants a contoured barrel and a clear view around the tip. Its listed weight is 18g, so it is a different choice from a very light wooden pencil. Choose it for the shape and drafting-style tip; choose another model if you want a cushioned grip or automatic lead advancement.
What makes the Pilot S20 different?
Pilot lists a wooden barrel and an 18g weight for the S20 0.5mm. The grip narrows toward an extended metal tip, leaving more of the line or ruler edge visible as you place a mark. It advances lead with the top button. It does not rotate the lead like a Kuru Toga or feed it automatically like an Orenz AT.
That combination can suit writing, diagrams and sketches when you prefer to see exactly where the point meets the page. The barrel is firmer than a soft-gel grip, and the longer tip is worth protecting in a case when you carry it.
S20 or Tombow Ki Monogatari?
These are two different ways to get a wooden 0.5mm pencil. The S20 has a contoured shape and is listed at about 18g. Tombow Ki Monogatari keeps a slim, hexagonal wooden-pencil shape and is listed at about 6g. Both use ordinary click advancement. If you dislike a substantial pencil in your hand, consider the lighter Tombow; if the S20's shaped grip and exposed tip matter more, the weight difference may be worthwhile.
Who should choose another pencil?
For a soft grip, compare Pilot THE Dr. GRIP or Uni Alpha Gel Switch. For a rotating lead point, compare Uni Kuru Toga Metal. For automatic lead feeding, compare Pentel Orenz AT. Those mechanisms solve different problems, so the S20 is strongest when its wood body, shape and tip visibility are the actual reasons you are buying.
What this guide can and cannot tell you
The 18g and 6g figures above are published product specifications, not weights measured in a new side-by-side test. We have not timed long writing sessions or measured lead breakage. Grip comfort depends on your hand and how you hold a pencil; the model differences above are a more reliable basis for choosing than a universal comfort claim.
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