One thing I was looking forward to most when I placed my iPad pre-order was using the iPad for drawing. The idea of having an endless sketchbook with plenty of tools and colors at my fingertips seemed too good to be true. What better way to sketch out concepts as they randomly pop into my head, or doodle thoughts during a meeting? Yes, my iPad was going to be my sketchbook, my canvas, and my creative outlet. Coloring? Check. Drawing? Check. Doodling caricatures of speakers during conferences? Heck yes!

After I got my iPad, I realized that finger drawing wasn’t for me. I’m still working on it, and maybe I’ll get the hang of it eventually, but there was no way around it: I needed a stylus.

And so the search began.

Pogo Sketch

I started with the Pogo Sketch by Ten One Design. The Pogo Sketch is probably one of the most popular choices for iPad users. It’s small, aluminum, and comes in a variety of colors. It comes with a price tag of $14.95, which is midrange for the styluses I’ve researched.

I liked this stylus because it felt good in my hand and it worked well with the iPad. It wasn’t perfect though. I felt like I had to push harder than I wanted to create a mark. And, because the tip is made of something similar to the sponge you would use to wash pots, I felt that with enough scrubbing, I may start to damage my iPad screen. To be clear, the Pogo Sketch NEVER left a mark on my screen — I just felt uncomfortable with the pressure I was using to draw. I was also hoping for a finer, more structured tip. The tip would bend independently of the pen — almost as if I was dragging a brush, not writing with a pen. When attempting to draw with detail, the Pogo’s tip left me wishing for a sharpened pencil tip rather than a rounded nub.

The Good: Lightweight, feels good in my hand, nice variety of colors
The Bad: Needs pressure to work, soft rounded tip less than ideal for detail

Mi-Stylus

I finally came across an iPad stylus with a tapered edge. The Mi-Stylus by Milano seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. The tip was tapered, which I thought would provide the ability to draw a finer line, and the tip appeared to be more structured so that it would maintain its shape as I drew. The price was great, under $10.00. I emailed the company to double-check that the sturdier tip wouldn’t damage my iPad, and they were exceptionally responsive assuring me that the stylus was safe for drawing. I ordered two.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The Mi-Stylus is good for selecting things, pointing at things, and typing. It is a traditional Palm-style stylus. I found it almost impossible to draw with. I had to press very hard to get a line, and the iPad didn’t respond to the thin tapered edge at all. I had to use the flat portion for the iPad to recognize the stylus. It is obviously well made, and feels great in my hand. But, this high-quality stylus just doesn’t cut it when it comes to drawing, sketching, or painting on the iPad. It was back to the Pogo Stylus for me.

The Good: High quality, great price
The Bad: Unresponsive for drawing, tapered edge doesn’t work on iPad

Capacitive Styra

Finally, I came across the Capacitive Styra by BoxWave. It got good reviews, but I was expecting the worst. The tip seemed large and rounded like the Pogo Stylus, and looked tough and unresponsive like the Mi-Stylus. I paid a seemingly ridiculous $26.95 and waited for the mail.

The Styra was worth every penny. I’ve finally found a stylus to keep me satisified until someone comes out with something pressure-sensitive. They styra is slightly bigger than my past styluses, a benefit, I think, when drawing for long spans of time. The version I ordered also has an old-school pen on one end, which I think will come in handy since I don’t carry a pen and paper anymore. What I really love about the Styra, though, is the way it works with my iPad. The tip is very soft, so I don’t worry about damage to my screen, but it’s structured enough that it doesn’t move around as I draw. It’s the only stylus I’ve used that is as responsive as my finger on the iPad screen. I am able to draw using a light touch, and I never feel as if I’m scrubbing my screen to paint or sketch. And, even though the tip is still rounded, I feel as if I’m able to draw with detail and accuracy just because I don’t have to press hard to make a mark. The Styra is a joy — and I’m done stylus shopping for a while.

The Good: Extremely responsive, the best stylus I’ve tested for drawing
The Bad: More expensive than competitors (worth the cost, in my opinion)

So, in conclusion:

If you are looking for a stylus for drawing on your iPad, purchase the Capacitive Styra by BoxWave. You won’t be disappointed.

Of course, I’ll continue to test styluses and update this page as I do, but I’m not seeing anything currently on the market that will force my new Styra out of my iPad case and into a drawer. If you have suggestions for a better iPad stylus, please share your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear your opinions!