I don't know what the hype is. I can't get these pencils to sharpen correctly. They are constantly breaking after sharpening. I've used all different kinds of sharpeners. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but if that is the case, I had some pencils that I sharpened wrong that were way better than these. I don't usually write reviews but after several boxes I bought all at once, I'm irritated.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Really pleased with these pencils, my daughter goes through them alot with homework and I just loved that these arrived sharpened! This is such a treat to have 12 pencils ready to use when needed. #2 is what most schools prefer which is what these pencils are also so they are a perfect fit for our family

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I never put much thought into the quality of a pencil until I started using Ticonderoga. Suddenly, I'm comparing every pencil in my arsenal - which, as a teacher, is a pretty big thing. These pencils come pre-sharpened, which is always a plus in my book. They're also very comfortable to hold, the graphite writes smoothly and the pencil erases all errors easily. Even my son has started looking to make sure he picks up the Ticonderoga pencils for his writing assignments. We are not very brand-loyal in this household, but I have definitely given exception for these pencils. They truly do make a difference.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] These pencils are top notch! They stay sharp and are easy to resharpen. The wood doesn't chip and flake and the lead doesn't fall out like cheap pencils. The erasers keep the paper clean, they are perfect for my kids for school!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] My daughter was so excited when I handed a box of these pencils to her (the joys of being a 7 year old, haha). She absolutely loved that they were pre-sharpened! She said that they write very smooth and the eraser didn't leave streaks like some of her other pencils. She is really enjoying these pencils and I think they are her favorite so far! I can also vouch for the smoothness of these pencils. I wanted to test them out myself as well, and I honestly enjoyed the way they wrote and enjoyed the eraser on them as well. All in all, happy with this little pack of pencils!

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I got this a month or so ago, this is my first time using this brand and let me tell you it is the best. Sharpens perfectly, writes perfectly and last longer than I expect, I wish I knew before would have changed long time ago. My son is prek is using these and it is great.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I received the sharpened pencils for free to review and began using them immediately. They don't crumble while writing and sharpen perfectly. They are sturdy and the erasers work amazingly well too, no smudges left behind like some other brands. As a pen fanatic I didn't think I would use them as frequently as I find myself using them so I would say if you are looking for some great pencils these are definitely for you.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] These pencils are the best! The lead always writes smoothly and rarely breaks off at all. They sharpen super easy whether using an electric sharpener or manual sharpener. The erasers don’t snap off either.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I was so excited to try these pencils. These are always in my kids list for their necessary school supplies and I always wondered why. Now I know after buying them and using them with my children. They write so smoothly and such a dark color lead.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The pencils are great and I love the fact that they come sharpened. They feel like a better quality compared to other brands that I have used. They are easy to sharpen and you don't have to struggle to get a good point without breaking off the lead.