Prang Colored Pencils

Pros:

Decently Varied Color Variations

Pretty Good Vibrancy

Great Price

Cons:

Lead is Overly Hard

Blending can be Difficult

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Prang Colored Pencils Review

Updated by Brandon F. on July 8, 2020

The budget line of Prang Colored Pencils overall fairs quite well in most regards, especially for their ridiculously cheap price.  They produce decently vibrant colors and this can be intensified with some extra pressure and, with the thick 3.3mm hard wax core, will be able to hold up to that extra pressure.  However, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, and the extra hard core can be prone to breakage during sharpening if you aren’t careful. 

The blending is not quite there on these compared to much more expensive lines, but they are overall still a great pencil for someone starting out or even honing on their color and shading skills to give a go.  These have a round shape and are available in quantities from 12 to 50.

Visual appeal – 3/5

Overall the color palette is on-point and is well representative of the color wheel, especially in the larger sets.  In particular, we are happy with the greens and blues to choose from.  The color vibrancy is acceptable for the price and can be altered depending on the method of application.

Blending is rather difficult with these (as is often the case with budget pencils), so you are better off anticipating this issue beforehand and not hoping to create the desired color that you don’t have a physical pencil of, to begin with. 

In other words, if you want a complex piece with tons of colors then plan on using some other sets.  And this is another good reason to look into purchasing one of the larger sets for the increase in color choices.

Usability and Durability – 3/5

For being a budget offering, the Prang Colored Pencils are durable with their hard inner core, but there are complaints that it might be “too” hard to the point where sharpening can be difficult.  There have also been some complaints that the points simply break apart because of being too brittle. 

This means that you will need to be extra careful while applying and if you are prone to pushing down hard, try to teach yourself to let off a bit.

These hard points can also leave lines on the paper when pushed down hard so that is something that needs to be considered while using these.  There is also somewhat of a grainy feel during application but it isn’t a major issue.  It is just that people who typically prefer softer pencils may be turned off a bit.

Packaging and Presentation – 3/5

These come in a standard cardboard box which, for the price, isn’t all that bad.  While we always like to see tin cases, it is also something that will drive up the price.  The pencils themselves have a color-coordinated round outside with gold Prang lettering around the center area.  The letting displays the Prang trademark as well as the color of the pencil in three different languages.  Overall not a bad looking design but it doesn’t blow us away, either.

Cost – 4/5

Depending on the set purchased, these are some of the cheapest pencils you can get on the market.  They can potentially be found low in the budget range, and for that price, they are an excellent deal.  While no particular area of them stands out as being exceptional or even overly great, there are no major issues other than the fact that the wax can be a bit too hard at times and the color isn’t super intense. 

But for this cost, those issues can be overlooked.  The real competition to these will be Crayolas, lower-end Derwents, and various knock-off brands.  And compared to those, these perform just fine.

Overall Review – 3.5/5

A good starter set at a great price, Prang Colored Pencils are recommended for the casual artist or the student starting out.  They are durable enough to last through some wear and tear (which is helpful in classroom settings or around kids) and will fulfill most needs, especially with the larger sets that provide a better array of colors.  

But for those after a set of colored pencils with more advanced blending ability, you will probably have to look elsewhere (and likely be forced to pay a bit more).