Swingline Stapler, 40 Sheet Capacity, Optima 40, Jam Free, Reduced Effort, Soft Grip, Metal, Orange and Gray (87845)

Since moving up to Delaware, my home office has become my command center for all things work-related. Between managing business travel receipts and organizing thick project reports, my old "standard" stapler was basically waving a white flag every time I tried to put together anything over ten pages. I finally got fed up with the constant jams and decided to pick up the Swingline Optima 40. I was looking for something that could actually handle a thicker stack of paper without requiring me to put my entire body weight behind it. The Good Stuff The "reduced effort" claim isn't just marketing—it really does make a difference. It has a sort of spring-loaded mechanism that does the heavy lifting for you. Whether I'm stapling two pages or a full forty-page report, the force required feels exactly the same. For someone who spends a lot of time prepping documents before a big trip, it definitely saves my wrist from that end-of-day fatigue. I also really like the "flat clinch" feature. If you’ve ever had a pile of documents that leaned to one side because the staples were all bulky and curved, you’ll appreciate this. The staples lie completely flat against the back of the paper, which makes stacking and filing a lot neater. Plus, the orange and gray design is a nice change from the boring office supplies I usually see. The Not-So-Good It’s not perfect, though. The most annoying thing about this model is that it’s a bit top-heavy. If you’re not careful when you set it down, it has a tendency to topple over sideways. It’s a minor thing, but after the tenth time it knocks into your coffee mug, it gets old. Also, be warned: this thing is picky about its staples. I tried using some generic staples I had left over from my old Florida office, and it jammed almost immediately. To get that "jam-free" guarantee, you really have to use the specific Optima premium staples. It’s an extra expense, but if you try to go cheap on the staples, the performance drops off fast. Finally, it’s quite a bit larger and heavier than a standard stapler, so it takes up more real estate on your desk. Practical Uses Report Preparation: Perfect for those 30-40 page business proposals that usually choke a standard stapler. Travel Organization: I use it to staple all my printed itineraries and hotel confirmations together into a slim, flat stack that fits easily in my carry-on. Handheld Stapling: Because of the soft grip and the way the lever works, it’s actually easier to use handheld than most traditional desk models. Final Thoughts Did it meet my expectations? For the most part, yes. I wanted something that would stop jamming on my thicker reports, and as long as I use the right staples, it does exactly that. The "flat clinch" is a bigger benefit than I realized, and it has made my filing cabinet a lot more organized. While the tipping issue is a bit of a nuisance, the overall ease of use makes it a solid upgrade for any busy office. It’s a fair value for the money, especially if you deal with more than just a couple of pages at a time.

As a clerical employee, I deal with paperwork all day long, and unfortunately my employer rarely provides quality office supplies. When they do, it’s usually the cheapest option available. After getting tired of flimsy staplers that jam or struggle with anything more than a few pages, I decided to purchase this Swingline Optima 40. This stapler has been amazing. The soft-grip handle is comfortable to use, and it takes much less effort than standard staplers. Best of all, it can actually handle thick stacks of paperwork. It definitely can staple 40 sheets together with a good slap, and I’ve had very few issues with jams. The solid metal construction makes it feel durable and built for everyday office use. If you spend your day processing paperwork and stapling large packets, this is one office supply that’s absolutely worth buying yourself.

When ejecting the staple tray, it pops out about an inch, and you have to pull it out all the way - which take a bit of strength. Not an issue; I don't know if made purposely like this, but I'd think it would be better if it slid out more easily. Also, if the stapler falls, the eject button in back has cracked off, necessitating pressing down the little metal tab inside with a scissors. But the stapler works well. (Swingline does give a lifetime warrantee.) Ideally get the staples with the sharper chisel tip - as they wrote in eth specs 'Works best with Swingline Optima Premium or S.F. 4 Premium staples' which they recommend to more easily go through a stack of 40 sheets. Though it'll work with any standard size staples. Another thing I'd suggest to all stapler manufacturers is to print clearly on them the exact staples size it takes - they are very specific (standard, high capacity etc.), and any other size - whether larger or smaller - will jam. It is also helpful to know the maximum number of sheets they can handle. It is sometimes engraved on the staple tray, but having it printed prominently on the handle would be much more helpful. Bearing in mind, staplers are often at copy machines with other size staplers, and people need to know both pieces of info for refilling and how many sheets it can handle. Perhaps Amazon can get this message out to them!

This stapler changed my life aty desk I love how smooth the mechanics are and the face the staples come out smoothly. It's heavy duty and perfect size.

This is the best stapler for 20-40 sheets - super smooth, not much effort and a cleanly bent staple on the back of the paper stack. We use this in an architectural office and it is great. Requires minimal effort.

Great stapler, but it is heavy and takes a lot of strength

Love it! Excellent for work with a crew that is hard on things! Staples 15 pages without a problem. Just needs a firm hand & yelled at employees for "pounding" it as it is pricy but worth it if handled and loaded properly!

This Swingline Optima 40 stapler is fantastic. It easily handles large stacks of paper without jamming, and the reduced effort design makes it very comfortable to use. Highly recommend!

Súper resistente. Me gusta la marca es la 2 da que compro.

High quality and perfect

I have one at work, and now the same one at home. Only gripe is that it doesn't quite take a full clip of staples, have to break ~10 off. Love this stapler almost as much Milton loves his red swingline in office space.

Essential when you need to staple a large stack of documents. Does the job when smaller staplers fail.

I've owned numerous staplers over the years, but this is by far the best. To load staples, push the dark plastic knob at the back end of the top of the stapler (see image) - the stapler tray springs out.