Shuttle Art 80 Colored Pencils review buyers usually want one thing: a large, easy-to-use set that feels reliable from the first page.
This one is built for smooth coloring, simple color selection, and everyday sketching.
Shuttle Art Pencils Review Summary
If you want a broad, organized colored pencil set that makes it easy to start coloring or drawing right away, Shuttle Art 80 Colored Pencils is a very smart buy.
It is especially appealing for adult coloring enthusiasts, beginners, students, and casual artists who want 80 unique colors without the confusion of duplicate shades or poorly labeled pencils.
The biggest selling point is how practical the set feels.
Each pencil is named and numbered, the barrel color matches the core, and the soft wax-based lead is designed to glide smoothly for layering, blending, and shading.
That combination makes Shuttle Art 80 Colored Pencils an easy recommendation for anyone who values convenience and a strong color range more than premium artist-grade prestige.
Quick Scorecard
| Category | Score | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Color variety | 9/10 | 80 unique, non-duplicated colors give you plenty of creative flexibility. |
| Blendability | 9/10 | Soft-core wax pencils are smooth, layer well, and mix easily. |
| Color vibrancy | 8/10 | Rich pigmentation delivers solid results for coloring and sketching. |
| Durability | 8/10 | Break-resistant cores and quality wood help with normal sharpening and use. |
| Organization and identification | 9/10 | Color names, numbers, and matching barrels make selection fast. |
| Safety | 9/10 | Non-toxic, acid-free, and compliant with ASTM D-4236 and EN71. |
| Value for beginners and hobbyists | 8/10 | A well-rounded set that fits many skill levels and use cases. |
Verdict: This is a well-balanced, buyer-friendly colored pencil set that is strongest for coloring books, schoolwork, sketching, and relaxed art practice.
If you are asking whether Shuttle Art 80 Colored Pencils is worth it, the answer is yes for most non-professional users who want range, ease of use, and good everyday performance.
Best for: beginners, hobbyists, adult colorists, families, and artists who want an organized dry-media pencil set with broad coverage.
Not ideal for: artists who need watercolor effects, ultra-premium lightfast performance, or accessories beyond the pencils themselves.
Key Features and Specifications of Shuttle Art Pencils
The spec sheet makes it clear that Shuttle Art 80 Colored Pencils is built for practical use rather than gimmicks.
Here is what stands out.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Shuttle Art |
| Product type | Colored pencil set |
| Color count | 80 colors |
| Color variety | 80 unique colors, no duplicates |
| Material type | Wax |
| Core | Soft, break-resistant |
| Body shape / style | Hexagonal |
| Grip | Smooth grip |
| Orientation | Ambidextrous |
| Identification | Color name and number on barrel |
| Special aids | DIY color chart included |
| Safety | Non-toxic, acid-free, ASTM D-4236 and EN71 compliant |
| Water resistance | Not water resistant |
| Age range | All ages |
The most important feature is the 80-color range with no duplicates.
That matters because many budget-friendly sets pad the count with repeated or near-repeated shades.
Here, the palette is broader and more useful for real coloring decisions, especially when you need a few different skin tones, blues, greens, warm neutrals, or shading steps.
Another practical advantage is the labeling system.
The pencils are named and numbered, and the barrel color matches the core.
For buyers who hate digging through a pile of pencils to find the right tone, this is a major usability improvement.
It is also helpful if multiple people share the set, since the pencils are easier to return to the right place.
The hexagonal body is a good design choice.
It improves control, keeps pencils from rolling away, and works well for both right-handed and left-handed users.
Combined with the smooth grip and soft core, the pencils feel approachable for newer users without becoming frustrating for more experienced hobbyists.
Pros and Cons of Shuttle Art Pencils
Every colored pencil set has trade-offs, and Shuttle Art 80 Colored Pencils pros and cons are pretty straightforward.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 80 distinct colors give you a wide and useful palette | Not water resistant, so it is not for watercolor-style work |
| Names and numbers make color matching easy | Soft cores may wear down faster under heavy pressure |
| Smooth laydown supports blending and layering | Best suited to dry-media techniques |
| Break-resistant construction adds everyday durability | No major accessory bundle beyond the DIY chart |
| Non-toxic and acid-free for broad age suitability | Not aimed at pro-level archival or specialty art demands |
Bottom line: the strengths are about convenience, organization, and smooth color performance.
The drawbacks are mostly about boundaries: this is a dry colored pencil set, not a mixed-media solution.
Color Range and Labeling
Color selection is one of the strongest reasons to consider Shuttle Art 80 Colored Pencils.
An 80-pencil set is large enough to feel versatile without becoming overwhelming, and the fact that every pencil is unique makes the set more practical than many lower-quality alternatives.
For adult coloring books, the value of a broad palette is simple: you can create more depth, better gradients, and more realistic transitions between tones.
That matters in floral pages, mandalas, animals, landscapes, and character art where you may need several shades of the same color family.
The labeling system is equally important.
Color name and number printing saves time and reduces guesswork, while the matching barrel color helps with quick selection at a glance.
The included DIY color chart is a smart touch because it lets you organize the set from day one.
For a buyer comparing colored pencil sets on Amazon, this kind of labeling is one of the clearest signs that the product was designed for actual use, not just shelf appeal.
Blend, Layer, and Shade Performance
If you care most about how the pencils feel on paper, the key detail is the soft wax-based core.
Soft pencils typically glide more easily, lay down richer pigment with less effort, and blend better than harder cores.
That is exactly the behavior Shuttle Art is aiming for here.
For coloring books, this is a strong fit.
The pencils should work well for building color in light layers, smoothing transitions, and mixing adjacent shades without heavy pressure.
That makes the set useful not just for filling shapes, but also for adding dimension and depth.
At the same time, soft cores have a trade-off: they can be used up faster if you press hard or use them aggressively.
That does not make them fragile, but it does mean they reward a lighter hand.
If you are a heavy-handed artist, you will want to sharpen carefully and avoid grinding the lead against the page.
In practical terms, Shuttle Art 80 Colored Pencils is strongest for controlled coloring, shading, and hobbyist sketch work. It is less about technical precision and more about a smooth, forgiving drawing experience.
Core Softness and Sharpening
The construction includes a break-resistant core and a high-quality wood body, which is reassuring for a set in this category.
Colored pencil buyers often worry about leads snapping during sharpening or mid-stroke, and Shuttle Art clearly addresses that concern in its design.
The hexagonal wood casing should also help with grip and sharpening stability.
In daily use, this matters more than many shoppers expect.
A pencil that sharpens cleanly and holds together well simply feels better to use, especially during longer coloring sessions.
Still, this is a soft-core product, so sharpening discipline matters.
If you use a very aggressive sharpener or apply too much pressure, you may see more wear than with a harder pencil line.
That is not unusual for this style of colored pencil, but it is worth keeping in mind if you are comparing it with harder student sets or specialized artist pencils.
For most buyers, the balance is good: smooth enough to be enjoyable, sturdy enough for regular use, but not built as a heavy-duty industrial tool.
Safety and Age Suitability
One of the most reassuring parts of the package is the safety profile.
Shuttle Art lists the pencils as non-toxic and acid-free, and they conform to ASTM D-4236 and EN71 standards.
That makes the set easier to recommend for families, classrooms, and homes where different ages may use the same supplies.
The “all ages” positioning is useful, but it should be interpreted realistically.
This is still a smooth, soft colored pencil set, so younger children may need supervision depending on how they use art tools.
For older kids, teens, and adults, the safety and usability balance makes sense.
If you are buying a coloring set for shared family use, the safety profile is a major plus.
It helps Shuttle Art stand out as a practical option instead of a niche art-only product.
How It Compares With Similar Colored Pencil Sets
When evaluating colored pencils, it helps to compare the set to familiar Amazon-friendly alternatives.
The most obvious comparison points are Prismacolor Premier colored pencils, Crayola colored pencil sets, ARTEZA colored pencils, and Faber-Castell colored pencils.
Prismacolor Premier is the obvious step-up choice if you want a more premium, artist-oriented feel and are willing to pay for it.
The trade-off is that Shuttle Art is usually the more approachable option for casual buyers who simply want a large, organized set.
Crayola is a sensible comparison for families and younger users, but Shuttle Art feels more appealing if you want a broader palette and a smoother blending experience for adult coloring or hobby art.
ARTEZA often attracts buyers looking for a creative middle ground, while Faber-Castell is a trusted brand if you prefer a more established art-supply name.
In that lineup, Shuttle Art stands out for being easy to use and nicely organized rather than ultra-premium.
If your main priority is smooth everyday coloring with a wide, easy-to-manage palette, Shuttle Art competes very well.
Who Should Buy Shuttle Art Pencils?
This set is a strong match for several buyer types:
- Adult coloring fans who want a large, labeled set for detailed pages and relaxed coloring sessions.
- Beginners who need color names, numbers, and an intuitive layout to reduce frustration.
- Students and hobbyists who sketch, shade, and color without needing professional-grade specialty pencils.
- Families that want a non-toxic, all-ages art supply for shared creative time.
- Casual artists who want an affordable-feeling workflow and a broad palette rather than niche performance.
Who should skip it?
If you specifically need watercolor effects, highly specialized lightfast materials, or a pencil set built for intensive pro illustration work, this is probably not your best match.
You will likely be happier with a more advanced artist line.
The best buyer fit is clear: someone who wants an organized, smooth, and versatile colored pencil set for dry-media art.
Performance Tips for Getting the Best Results
To get the most out of Shuttle Art 80 Colored Pencils, use them the way they are intended.
Light pressure, gradual layering, and controlled blending will produce the cleanest results.
Because the pencils are soft, they respond well to building color in passes instead of trying to reach full saturation all at once.
It also helps to keep your pencils organized using the included chart.
Since each pencil is numbered and named, you can quickly recreate color combinations later, which is useful for ongoing projects or matching pages in a coloring book series.
If you use a lot of dark layering or frequent sharpening, it is smart to work on good paper with enough tooth.
That will help the pencil cores perform more efficiently and reduce waste.
For mixed-media artists, remember that this is not a water-resistant set, so it is better paired with dry techniques than with wet brushwork.
Is Shuttle Art Pencils Worth It?
Yes, Shuttle Art 80 Colored Pencils is worth it for the right buyer.
It delivers the kind of practical experience most people want from a colored pencil set: a large palette, smooth laydown, easy identification, and safe, everyday usability.
The value comes from thoughtful design choices rather than flashy extras.
The colors are unique, the pencils are labeled, the barrel colors help with selection, and the soft wax core makes the set enjoyable for blending and shading.
Those details matter far more than packaging for most buyers.
Buy it if you want a dependable, beginner-friendly, family-safe set for coloring books, sketches, and casual art.
Skip it if you need watercolor compatibility or a more advanced professional pencil system.
Final verdict: Shuttle Art 80 Colored Pencils is a smart, well-rounded purchase for hobbyists and casual artists who want strong organization, smooth performance, and a wide color selection without unnecessary complexity.