It’s back-to-school time and that means it’s time to stock up on those school supplies. With so many options out there, how do you know which ones are the best? We’ve decided to put a few school supplies brands to the test. In this demonstration we tested products from PRANG, Cra-Z-Art, Treesmart, Dixon Ticonderoga, Wexford and Crayola. We’ll tell you what we liked and didn’t like about each brand to help you make better decisions when it comes to school supplies.
Disclosure: We received product from Treesmart and Dixon Ticonderoga for review. Our opinions are honest and our own and may differ from yours.
Colored Pencils Test
Brand: Treesmart
Product: 12 Pack of 7″ Colored Pencils in a Tube
Price: $5.95 at Treesmart.com
About: Made from 100% recycled newspapers. Pre-sharpened. Carrying case included.
Our Thoughts: These are great colored pencils for on-the-go use. Small enough for toddler’s hands. During our test, we noticed some of the colors started to slip through the slots which made some of them impossible to use. The colors go on smoothly and lightly. If you put a piece of tape at the top of the colored pencil, it will prevent the color from slipping through.
Our Photos:
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Brand: Crayola
Product: 12 Pack of Colored Pencils
Price: $2.99 at Crayola.com
About: Made with thick, soft leads, so they won’t break easily under pressure. The smooth colors are perfect for color mixing and blending, as well as practicing more detailed techniques.
Our Thoughts: Love the price. Color goes on smoothly. Lead is too thin and goes on lightly. Takes a long time to color large images. Pencils not comfortable to hold.
Our Photos:
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Brand: PRANG
Product: 12 Pack of 5.5 mm Triangular Colored Pencils
Price: Around $5 on Amazon
About: Large triangular shape is easy to grasp and assists with proper pencil grip. Pre-sharpened and ready to use right out of the box. PMA and AP certified non-toxic.
Our Thoughts: These are our favorite colored pencils we’ve tried. The triangular shape keeps them from rolling off the table. The colors go on smoothly and are very vibrant and bold. The price is a bit higher than Crayola because they are better quality. They are comfortable to hold and have soft, thick leads so it’s easier to color large spaces. Love that the box includes a sharpener, too.
Our Photos: 
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Watercolors Test
Brand: PRANG
Product: 8 Color set with No 9 Brush
Price: $4.99 at Office Max
About: Ever the gold standard in watercolors, Prang® Watercolors offer smoothness, perfect blending, intense pigments and the best tone palette of its kind. Each Prang Semi-Moist Oval Pan Watercolor Set features extra-deep pans that can easily be replaced by refills, a wood-handled paintbrush and a strong white plastic case with built-in mixing area. Available in 8ct and 16 sets in a clamshell packaging. AP certified non-toxic. Conforms to ASTM standards.
Our Thoughts: Thick brush holds a lot of water but the brush sheds. Long bristles on the brush make it hard to do little details. Love the bold colors and the color options.
Our Photos:
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Brand: Crayola
Product: Washable Watercolors 8 ct with brush
Price: $2.99 at CrayolaStore.com
About: The Crayola Washable Watercolors Set contains 8 different washable watercolor paints and a paint brush. Let young imaginations flow with Crayola Watercolors. This is a great starter set for the little artist in the family!
Our Thoughts: The colors weren’t as bold as the PRANG watercolors. The brush was nice and thin which made it easier to paint thin lines, but you constantly have to dip the brush in water. Brush sheds slightly.
Our Photos:
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Markers Test
Brand: Cra-Z-Art
Product: 10 ct Bold Washable Broadline Markers
Price: $3.89 on Amazon.com
About: Bold Washable Broadline Markers
Our Thoughts: The ink tends to dry out as you are coloring which is really frustrating. The tip on the pen is nice for lines and the sides are great for coloring large areas. The colors go on lighter than PRANG’s markers. Overall, not bad for toddlers, but not good for adults.
Our Photos:
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Brand: PRANG
Product: Washable Art Markers
Price: $10.86 on Amazon.com
About: Prang® Washable Art Markers deliver bright colors without the mess. Washable formula easily washes off skin and most fabrics. Features a durable bullet tip for fine and broad lines. Inks won’t bleed through and won’t dry out even if the cap is left off for over 24 hours! Ventilated cap ensures safety. AP certified non-toxic. Conforms to ASTM standards.
Our Thoughts: Love the PRANG markers. The colors stay moist for long periods of time which is great when you are coloring large areas. This is also great when your child leaves the caps off. The colors saturate very well and go only boldly. The price is right on for the quality of these markers.
Our Photos: PRANG vs. Cra-Z-Art
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Pencil Test
Brand: Dixon Ticonderoga
Product: The World’s Best No 2 Pencil 30 pack
Price: $7.88 on Amazon.com
About: The Ticonderoga is the world’s best pencil. Satin smooth finish enhances writing comfort. Exclusive graphite core formula gives you extra smooth performance. Crafted with premium wood from well managed forests. Top quality, latex-free eraser provides easy, clean corrections. Finish contains Microban® anti-microbial protection to inhibit the growth of odor and stain causing bacteria on the pencil. PMA certified non-toxic.
Our Thoughts: These pencils come pre-sharpened so they are ready to go right out of the box. They are inexpensive but boast great performance. The erasers are great and mess-free.
Our Photos: Wexford vs. Dixon Ticonderoga right out of the box.
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Brand: Wexford
Product: No 2 Yellow Pencils 8 ct.
Price: Priced per store (Walgreens)
About: Yellow no. 2 wood barrel pencil with eraser.
Our Thoughts: I don’t like that these pencils aren’t sharpened. The eraser isn’t very good and is very messy.
Our Photos: Dixon Ticonderoga vs Wexford
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Brand: Treesmart
Product: Recycled Newspaper Pencils 24 ct.
Price: $8.00 at Treesmart.com
About: A perfect starter set of TreeSmart recycled newspaper pencils for the school, office or a gift! Made from rolled-up recycled newspapers. Both the ferrules and erasers (latex-free and smudge proof) are MADE IN USA.
Our Thoughts: These are great pencils. Love the fact that they are made from recycled newspapers. Eraser works well, they write soft and smooth. They are soft and comfortable to hold. The only downside is the fishy smell. The smell comes from the sharpened area so your hand won’t smell when holding the pencil. Overall, a great pencil and a fun story to share with friends at school.
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Rulers
Brand: Treesmart
Product: 6″ Recycled Newspaper Rulers (set of 6)
Price: $5.50 at Treesmart.com
About: 6″ Recycled Newspaper and Plastic Rulers.
Our Thoughts: These are great rulers for the classroom. Slightly flexible but not as breakable as the classic wooden rulers. No metal or sharp edges. Overall, a great choice.
Our Photos:
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This concludes our test. We hope our experience helps you make educated decisions about your school supplies this year.
-The NapTime Reviewer
