TOY BOX: Pen lovers will be addicted to the Vice

The Vice, coming to stores this holiday season, is the latest addition to A.T. Cross Company's product line. It is a dual-function pen that can be made pocket-sized by folding in half. When extended, the Vice rotates and locks into a full-sized ergonomically designed pen with a writing tip at each end.

Packaged in a stylish gift box, the Vice comes with one gel ink refill and one highlighter, but it can be loaded with two ink or two highlighter tips, if preferred. Gel ink refills are available - for $3.50 each, or $16.50 for a six-pack - in orange, blue, black, green, red and purple. Highlighter refills come in yellow. The pen itself is available in a bright chrome and red combination (pictured), and satin chrome with purple or green. Once I got used to having two exposed pen tips (i.e., stopped writing on the inside of my palm), being able to switch between ink colors with such ease proved highly useful. The verdict: A perfect stocking stuffer. (Not to mention a welcome alternative nervous habit to biting pen caps.) Any questions? Write us at toybox@prweek.com

Sara Calabro writes Toy Box. She is a New York-based staff reporter for PRWeek ----- Price $25 Available at cross.com, and specialty paper or office-supply stores that carry Cross products (in November) Specs The Vice pen is 6.5 inches long when fully extended, and folds in half, to 3.25 inches, with both ends side by side.