The pencil is as expected, sturdy to hold with a weight that supports steady drawing. The Staedtler HB lead is much darker than the Faber Castell 2B (though harder too, as expected). This is a worthy addition to my sketching supplies. It feels better/easier than the traditional pencils, e.g., the corresponding Staedtler Lumograph pencils- the larger diameter in the 2mm leads helps sketch better.