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!

Think I’m wrong? What’s your favorite design magazine?