If you have been hunting for the best coloring pens for adults without stepping up to expensive alcohol markers, double-ended sets sit in an interesting middle ground. The STAEDTLER 3200 TB72 Design Journey pens review territory is crowded, but a 72-pen tray with two nibs on every barrel is a hard combination to ignore when you are filling in dense line work.
Each pen carries a broad 3.0 mm tip on one end and a fine 0.5 to 0.8 mm tip on the other, so you can block in a large shape and then outline its edges without swapping pens.
- One pen - two tips for narrow and broad strokes
- Line widths 3.0 mm and 0.5 mm - 0.8 mm
- Suitable for sketching, drawing, illustration, writing and colouring
The ink is water-based and washable, which matters more than it sounds if you color at the kitchen table or hand these to kids. They are well-rated by a large pool of buyers, and the tray keeps all 72 colors visible instead of rattling loose in a bag.
Bottom Line
For anyone working through detailed coloring books who wants fine outlining and broad fills from the same pen, this set covers both jobs at a sensible cost per color.
Check the current price on the STAEDTLER TB72 set here.
STAEDTLER 3200 TB72 Design Journey Pens Overview
Seventy-two fibre-tip pens arrive in a flat display tray, roughly 9 inches deep and 7.5 inches wide, weighing about 720 grams all together. The barrels are cylindrical plastic with a contoured grip, and the caps are color-matched, so you can find a shade at a glance.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pens in set | 72 |
| Broad tip | 3.0 mm |
| Fine tip | 0.5 to 0.8 mm |
| Ink base | Water-based, washable |
| Surface | Paper |
| Model | 3200 TB72 |
STAEDTLER positions these for sketching, illustration, writing and coloring, and the ambidextrous barrel shape works the same whichever hand you use. Nothing here is exotic; it is a large, well-organized fibre-tip set built for paper.
Dual Tips for Fine Details and Broad Coloring
Both ends earn their keep, which is the whole argument for a double-ended pen. The 3.0 mm bullet tip lays down a stripe wide enough to fill a mid-size petal in two or three passes, while the 0.5 to 0.8 mm end tucks into the thin gaps that a chisel marker would smear over.
Switching ends takes a second, and that convenience adds up across a page with dozens of small compartments. The fine tip holds its point reasonably well under normal pressure, though pressing hard on textured paper will splay any fibre nib over time.
If you want a direct comparison with a pricier alcohol-based option, the Prismacolor Premier dual ended art markers take a different approach to the same two-tip idea.
72 Bright Colors for Adult Coloring Projects
The palette leans bright and saturated, with enough close neighbors in each family to shade without reaching for a blender. Greens, blues and pinks all get multiple steps, which is where a 72-count set separates itself from a 24 or 36.
Layering two related shades gives you a soft gradient, since water-based ink reactivates slightly when you go over it while still damp. Work light to dark and you get more control.
Big palettes pay off most on busy artwork, so they pair naturally with a patterns coloring book or dense abstract coloring pages where repetition demands variety. For softer, muted schemes, a cottagecore coloring book will show off the mid-tones better than the neons.
How Do the Water-Based Pens Handle on Paper?
Water-based fibre tips behave predictably on decent paper and less predictably on thin book stock. On 100 gsm or heavier sheets, color sits cleanly with minimal feathering; on the flimsy paper used in many mass-market coloring books, the broad nib will show through to the reverse side and can bleed if you go over the same spot repeatedly.
A scrap sheet slipped behind your working page solves most of it. Keep the broad tip moving instead of parking it, and pull the fine tip in short strokes.
The ink is water resistant once dry but not waterproof, so a wet brush over finished work will lift color. That is also handy if you want a light wash effect on purpose.
Who Will Get the Most From This Set?
Adults working through detailed coloring books get the clearest benefit, because the fine nib handles outlines that a single-tip marker cannot reach. Journalers, bullet-journal users and anyone doing hand-lettered headers will find the two widths convenient for headers and body notes from one barrel.
Kids can use them too, since the ink is washable and the pens are rated for both adults and children. Sketchers and illustrators who need alcohol blending or refillable nibs should look at the best coloring book markers for adults roundup instead, or at a studio set like Copic Sketch markers.
If you color mainly to unwind, these suit coloring books for mindfulness and stress relief where speed and color choice beat archival permanence.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Two usable widths per pen, 3.0 mm and 0.5 to 0.8 mm, cuts the number of pens you juggle
- 72 colors give real shading range within each color family
- Washable, water-based ink is easy on clothes, hands and tables
- Contoured barrel is comfortable for long sessions and works for either hand
- Display tray keeps colors sorted and visible
Cons
- Broad tip shows through thin coloring book paper and can bleed
- Water-based ink is not waterproof; wet media will lift it
- Fibre nibs soften with heavy pressure over time
- No refills or replacement nibs, so dried pens are done
- Bright-leaning palette is light on muted earth tones
Customer Reviews and Buyer Feedback
Buyer sentiment sits solidly positive across thousands of ratings, with most of the praise landing on color range and the practicality of the two nibs. Complaints cluster around paper performance and long-term nib durability.
What Customers Appreciate Most
Reviewers repeatedly call out the value of getting 72 distinct shades that are vivid on the page. The dual tip draws consistent praise from people coloring intricate designs, since they stop swapping pens mid-section.
Owners also mention that the ink washes off skin and most fabrics without drama, and that the pens lay down color evenly when capped properly between uses. Several note the tray makes selecting shades faster than digging through a pouch.
Common Concerns From Buyers
Bleed-through is the most frequent criticism, particularly on single-sided-unfriendly coloring books printed on thin stock. A backing sheet is the standard workaround buyers recommend.
Some report that a pen or two arrived dry or ran out faster than the rest of the set, and a handful mention the fine tips flattening after heavy use. Others wish for more browns and greys, since the palette skews bright.
Conclusion
The TB72 set earns its place for anyone who wants broad fills and fine outlines from the same pen without paying studio-marker prices. The 72-color spread is the main draw, and the washable water-based ink makes it an easy set to keep on a shared table.
Plan on a scrap sheet behind thin pages, and treat the nibs gently. If you want alcohol blending, refillability, or archival permanence, budget for a different category of marker and browse more reviews before you commit.
See current availability for the STAEDTLER TB72 set on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are STAEDTLER 3200 TB72 pens good for adult coloring books?
Yes, particularly for books with intricate line work, since the fine end reaches small compartments the broad end would flood. On thin book paper, slide a scrap sheet behind the page you are working on to protect the artwork underneath.
Do the STAEDTLER double-ended pens bleed through paper?
The broad 3.0 mm tip will show through and can bleed on thin coloring book stock, especially if you go over the same spot several times. On 100 gsm or heavier paper, show-through drops sharply and the fine tip rarely bleeds at all.
Are STAEDTLER 3200 TB72 pens washable?
The ink is water-based and washable, so marks come off skin and most fabrics with soap and water. Once dry on paper it is water resistant, though a wet brush will still lift pigment.
Can these pens be used for writing as well as coloring?
The 0.5 to 0.8 mm end writes cleanly for notes, journaling and headers, and the broad end suits titles and highlighting. Keep pressure light so the fine nib holds its point through long writing sessions.
Are STAEDTLER pens a good choice for beginners?
They are, because there is no blending solvent to learn and no technique penalty for going slowly. Newcomers who want softer control over shading may prefer starting with colored pencils and adding markers later.
What is the difference between the two tips on these STAEDTLER pens?
One end has a 3.0 mm broad nib for filling areas and laying down wide strokes. The other is a 0.5 to 0.8 mm fine nib for outlines, small gaps and writing. Both ends draw from the same ink reservoir, so the color matches exactly across widths.
