Honest Review: Ohuhu Honolulu 120 Colors Dual Tip Alcohol Markers

     From painting with acrylics to sculpting with polymer clay, I always encourage myself to try new mediums and techniques. I had heard about alcohol markers several years prior when I was in middle school, but hadn't had the chance to actually use any until a few months ago in my Studio Art class at school. My friend had brought in her set, and noticing the vibrant, smooth colors they produced, I decided to try them. 

    I instantly fell in love and ordered my own set on Amazon when I got home. After some debate, I settled on the 120-color marker set from the Honolulu collection, which was the same set my friend had. My rationale was that there was enough variety of colors where I wouldn't have any trouble finding the right shade to use, but also compact enough to bring it with me on-the-go. The set includes a black carrying case, empty swatch cards, a plastic sheet to put under your paper to prevent marker bleeding, a user's guide pamphlet, and, of course, the markers. The set costs a total of $114.99, which seems pricey at first glance but is actually on the cheaper end of alcohol markers compared to other brands like Copic. 

    But does the quality still hold up like the expensive markers, or do they match Ohuhu's cheaper price? Although I've never used the high-end, expensive alcohol markers, this is my two cents when it comes to the functionality, quality, and overall worth of the 120 Ohuhu Honolulu alcohol marker set. For each item included in the set, I will rate it 1-5 based on the criteria previously mentioned, with 5 being the highest.

Carrying Case - Rating: (4.5/5)

    When unboxing the markers, everything is already inside the carrying case, which has an adjustable strap. If you look closely into the carrying case, you can see that it is compartmentalized into four sections, one for each color group for the markers (note: they do not arrive pre-organized; you must do that yourself). On the side of the case, it tells you general information about how many are in the set, what Ohuhu collection it's from, and the types of tip on the markers. There is also a cute lizard printed on the side (see photo)! The case makes the markers easily portable, but it is not the best when it comes to storage. Alcohol markers last longer when you store them horizontally rather than vertically because if they are standing upright, the ink tends to accumulate more on one end than the other due to gravity, which makes the marker more prone to having one end prematurely dry out. However, this issue can be easily remedied by storing the case on its side, which is what I do.

User's Guide Pamphlet - Rating: (3.75 / 5)

    In the pamphlet, you can find the origin story for the Ohuhu brand as well as the different collections of markers they offer. There are also a few pages dedicated to FAQs and tips on how to make your markers last longer. While the pamphlet does contain helpful information regarding marker maintenance and usage, the majority of it consists of advertisements for other Ohuhu products. Although there's nothing wrong with that, it would be better to see more information on the purchased product.

Swatch Cards - Rating: (5/5)

    Because alcohol marker colors tend to appear different on paper than they do on the cap of the marker, the 120 Ohuhu Honolulu set provides two color swatch cards where you can fill out each box with the respective marker. These were extremely satisfying to fill out and provide a good future reference on what colors actually look like on paper for each marker. The swatch cards are small and fit very easily into the side of the carrying case. They are made of high-quality cardstock, ensuring that the bleeding is very minimal and the absorbency is just right for alcohol markers.

Plastic Anti-Bleed Sheet - Rating: (4/5)

    A thin, plastic sheet is provided with the set. It is meant to be placed under the sheet of paper you are using the markers on to prevent bleeding onto the next page or your table surface. Usually, paper meant for alcohol markers is at least cardstock quality and is quite thick, making bleeding less likely. However, if you prefer layering colors onto the paper or are using thinner paper, this plastic sheet is very useful. To clean any bleed spots from the sheet, use rubbing alcohol and any residual pigment will come off. My only complaint is that this sheet is quite small, measuring about 6 x 8.5 inches, so if you are working with larger paper and forget to move the sheet under the area you are working on, you may discover some unexpected bleeding.

Markers - Rating: (4.5/5)

    The markers are vibrant, smooth, and easy to blend. There's honestly not much to say, besides that the markers function like they're supposed to. Because they are from the Honolulu series, they have a soft brush on one end and a chisel tip on the other. If you prefer your markers to have a fine tip on one end and chisel on the other (or anything other than chisel and brush tip), Ohuhu offers other collections that provide that. The markers do emit a faint smell of alcohol when the caps are off, which personally becomes slightly bothersome after using them for a long time, but most alcohol markers smell like—surprise—alcohol, which isn't anything shocking. As mentioned previously, the markers aren't organized when you first unbox them. I organized them according to their order on the swatch cards, which worked well and made sure each marker ended up where it was supposed to be.

Overall - Rating: (4.5/5)

    If you are debating on whether or not to purchase these markers, I'd say GO FOR IT! If you are a beginner with alcohol markers but have previous knowledge on how to shade and blend with other mediums such as paint, these markers are a great way to get started with alcohol markers. The markers are very vibrant on paper and are extremely smooth, and the set also comes with a carrying case, swatch cards, and a plastic sheet, all of which are extremely useful. 

    Additionally, Ohuhu offers a wide range of products, and even from their Honolulu markers collection, you can choose between how many you want to buy. Personally, I don't see any point in buying a set of markers with anything less than 104 count because it becomes challenging to find the right shades when blending. However, it really all depends on what you plan to use these markers for. If you want to use these markers as a colorful addition to make your bullet journal entries pop, then a smaller set might be a better fit. If you want to use these markers to color lineart, then a bigger set will help you find the right shades for each nook and cranny.