Like a grownup crayon, the chunky Cosmonaut ($25) can help the shaky-handed navigate even tiny touch-screen elements on their iPads. While we prefer the Pogo Sketch Pro ($24.95, 4.5 stars) for nimbler fingers and the AppCrayon ($9.99, 4 stars) for little kids, we can see the Cosmonaut fitting firmly into the grasp of older iPad users.

Why use a stylus on your iPad? It gives you more precision when you're drawing or making handwritten notes, and it gets your finger out of the way. A stylus turns your tablet into a true sketchbook or notepad.

The Cosmonaut is the shortest of the four styli we tested at 4.5 inches, made of black rubber wrapped around a stainless-steel or wooden core. It feels very, very solid, and won't slip out of your hand. Studio Neat, the creators, say that it's similar to a dry-erase marker; that's selling the quality of the materials short, but the size comparison is right. 

The Cosmonaut's rubbery tip gripped the screen well, providing solid feedback, and it was especially good for clicking and dragging interface elements on the iPad.

Professional artist (and my wife) Leontine Greenberg said she found the Cosmonaut's thickness made it a bit hard to hold and clumsy, but she typically paints with very small brushes. It might be a better pick for people with arthritis, carpal tunnel, or other disabilities, she noted. I'd add to the list older children turned off by the AppCrayon's very little-kid look.

If the Cosmonaut's chubby body appeals to you, it'll be a solid companion for your iPad.

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