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

Across mainstream reviewers and verified-purchase commentary, the Swingline Optima 40 is positioned as the ergonomic option in this lineup. Walmart.com buyers describe it as "so easy to use" at "40 sheet with so much ease," and the swingline.com product page claims roughly 30% less effort than a standard desktop stapler — a claim echoed in a Swingline product video on YouTube. A staples.com product summary similarly highlights the soft-grip handle and reduced manual force.

The failure mode reviewers do flag shows up in an r/fixit thread ("how to fix swingline 40 optima stapler button"), where the spring/reset mechanism stops cycling correctly after multiple presses. That's a known maintenance pattern rather than a dealbreaker, but it suggests the Optima is mechanically more complex than the all-metal 747 and has more parts to go wrong. r/pharmacy commentary about reduced-effort staplers in general ("as soon as they were used much at all, they would get grindy") also applies as a long-term concern.

For anyone with hand strain or heavy daily stapling, the reduced-effort action is what reviewers actually praise. For buyers prioritizing tank-like longevity, the all-metal classics elsewhere in this list are the more conservative choice.