Quick-drying markers

Quick-drying

— mostly alcohol-based, sometimes pigment or acrylic formulas that set on the surface in seconds, don’t smear under your hand, and let you work at speed: labeling boxes and cables, marking plastic and metal, stickers, glossy labels, warehouse and delivery tags. Compared with regular water-based markers, they hold better on slick materials and don’t transfer onto the next page, which is especially appreciated by lefties and anyone who writes a lot. The downside is a noticeable odor, possible bleed-through on thin paper, and a shorter cap-off life: close the cap right away, and for a clean edge on glass and plastic it’s best to degrease the surface.