Review of Crafter's Companion Spectrum Noir alcohol markers?

I tried them a few years ago when they had their big redesign (when they had a lot of leak complaints and changed the barrel shape). At the time, they didn't come with brush tips, so I had to buy those separately. I liked the idea of six-marker colorway sets, but I didn't think they blended very well, even with brush tips - the leaps between some of the colors in the sets were just too wide.

In the end, I sold them and went back to buying Copics. I mean, they would be fine for small images and stuff, but I just thought the extra expense and hassle of buying brush nibs separately just made it not worth it. I dunno what the math is like now, but I seem to recall the Ciao was slightly cheaper than a SN+nib, and better quality too, so for that money, may as well just get the best, you know? There are so many art supplies where I think you can cut corners for budget reasons (watercolors especially), but I don't think this is one of them.

I was going going to buy a set when HSN had them on special a couple of years ago. I checked the reviews and several people said some of the pens arrived already dried out so I passed. You might check out the current reviews on their site.

I a have a few sets of SN that I bought just to try out alcohol markers with out paying the Copic price. I honestly didn't like them and they are sitting on a shelf in my room.

I recently bought a set of Copics. There is no comparison. Copics are so much smoother.

Do you have a local art store you can go to to try them out before buying?

I have Spectrum Noir and agreed with everyone here that they do not blend well. I love my copics. I also bought altenew ones when they came out with markers because they were good price. But they were terrible. Since then I save my money for copics and slowly building a collection. I have my pennies together and eying on few copics. Hoping for some online store to have a good sale for copics during thanksgiving.

Thought people might like this review of ultra inexpensive Ohuhu alcohol markers:

I have been very happy with my Tombow markers for my level of usage. I like the water wash look of the Tombows, plus the cap can go on the end for Tombows.  I think the Tombows blend better without bleeding into each other. Tombows are water based and copics are alcohol based, correct?

One thing I forgot to add to my post above is regarding cardstock. A lot of how they blend is what cardstock you are using. They blend so much easier on the Crafter's Companion cardstock, Bristol smooth, or even the Simon Says Stamp white. I didn't find that they blended well on Neenah at all. This information may not make you anyone want to go out and buy the markers, but if you already have them on the shelf, it's worth trying to use them on one of those cardstocks before you give up.