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Rollerball Pens of 2021
- chrisbennet 6y agoI really like TUL pens. They are a little more than $2 each when you buy 12 on Amazon.
- ghaff 6y agoI've sort of standardized on the Signo uni-ball 207s in either medium or bold widths. While I like higher-end pens, I scatter pens all over the house and (normally) leave them in hotel rooms, in various luggage, etc. so I really prefer something that's pretty disposable. Still, a nice list and maybe I'll give something else a try. (And I see there are a couple other Uni-balls on the list.)
- c17r 6y agoMy goto is the uni-ball Signo 207 in ultra-micro point. Been using them for probably a decade now. Great pen.
- ghaff 6y ago*And I just made a discovery. I have a Waterman pen in my office that someone gave me but I haven't really been using because the ink cartridge was kinda sucky. It turns out that the 207 rollerball cartridge can be taken out and used in the Waterman. (Though, honestly, the 207 is perfectly comfortable to write with by itself.)
- u678u 6y agoI went through a fountain pen phase where I used for everything. I still love fountain pens and all the different colored inks. The maintenance is getting a bit annoying though so I've started using good quality gel and rollerballs. Those cheap ballpoints really suck, its one of those things where a few dollars really makes your life better.
- timvdalen 6y agoWhat kind of maintenance do you do on your fountain pens? I have a bit of a 'habit' myself, but I can't say I experience any need for real maintenance.
- lb1lf 6y agoNot OP, but in my piston-filler pens I try to lube the gaskets with a tiny amount of silicone grease once a year or so.
- jelliclesfarm 6y agoNot the poster, but I flush the ink holder twice or thrice a year. And wash the nib under running water every few months. Also if you change the ink brand. Or colours.
- nextos 6y agoI still prefer fountain pens because I find good nibs superior to the best rollerballs. Furthermore, they generate virtually no waste. Ink comes in a recyclable bottle and it's water-based, so the paper I write in can be easily recycled without aggressive solvents. The pen itself can easily last a whole lifetime. If maintenance becomes bothersome, maybe you should look into good converters and simple water-based inks. You can easily use a fountain pen like this during many months before you need to go through one cleaning cycle. For cleaning, you can buy some special cleaning agents which you can use just like ink. Some other pen setups like vintage piston fillers and saturated inks can be high maintenance. It makes a big difference to choose a simple ink and a simple pen. The latter can be as easy to use as a rollerball.
- sandGorgon 6y agoUniball Signo 307 will fit a high-end Waterman rollerball. The Signo 307 refill has a fraud-proof ink formula - so if you are going to be signing documents, you better use this.
- Ftuuky 6y agoAs a left-handed person tired of smudges in the paper that never got used to pens specifically designed for left hand: what are the options for a really nice one?
- asciimov 6y agoUni-Ball Jetstream works really well for my lefty partner. Get the .7mm or the .5mm. Skip the 1.0mm.
- plttn 6y agoThe Pentel Energel mentioned upthread is also pretty good at not smudging.
- dole 6y agoAs a lefty and fountain pen fan who’s thrilled this thread hasn’t fallen back to a larger fountain pen discussion, I will say if smudges really bother you, looking for a fast-drying ink might help. WRT fountains, Noodlers [1] is pretty common and reliable. [1] https://noodlersink.com/product-tag/fast-drying/ https://noodlersink.com/product-tag/fast-drying/
- dwighttk 6y agoI like a .38 mm G2 pen
- hedora 6y agoDo these still like to leak on airplanes? That was the main problem old-style pilot pens had. (Which was ironic, given the name.)
- ghaff 6y agoI've never had a problem with the Uni-balls I use.
- michaelcampbell 6y agoMe neither. I also haven't flown in a year or more.
- bayindirh 6y agoUniball Vision Elite is specially designed to be airplane safe, even in fast altitude/pressure changes. It has a sponge-like core in the ink chamber and compensates the changes quite well.
- Slackwise 6y agoAs a lefty, I can recommend the "Pilot Precise V5 Rollerball Pen" on the list, in 1.0 BOLD tip. Bold tips are a must so the left-handed angle-of-attack doesn't leave us scratching and gashing the paper. This one is particularly smooth.
- billfruit 6y agoAs mentioned in the article, the refillable variant HiTec point V5, may be the better choice, it being a tad thicker in diameter of the pen as well.
- Slackwise 6y agoNeat, but I'm talking about experience as a left-handed writer. I don't see anything indicating it writes better for lefties.
- teraflop 6y agoAlso left-handed, and I'm a big fan of the Pilot Juice gel pens: https://unsharpen.com/pen/pilot-juice-gel-pen/ https://unsharpen.com/pen/pilot-juice-gel-pen/ They're cheap, feel pretty good to write with, and the ink dries almost instantly (although it depends a bit on what kind of paper you're writing on).
- steve_adams_86 6y agoI love all of my tombow and stabilo pens. They’re total workhorses. I unexpectedly started using some tombow fine liners for pretty much all writing last year, especially for journaling. I love how clean thin pages end up, and using both sides of pages remains clear and clean. This was a fun read. Not sure why, but I could buy one of any nice pen despite having plenty already. I just love nice tools. I’ve skipped on the uniball vision elite for a while now. After reading this and the comments it seems like I need to give it a shot.
- billfruit 6y agoPentels are decent and inexpensive rollerballs too.
- candiddevmike 6y agoSomewhat related, any recommendations for a LCD or similar writing tablet? I had a boogie board but I wish it was bigger and possibly supported erasing or uploading. reMarkable any good?
- ruph123 6y agoI recently bought the Onyx Boox Note Air for writing and reading and I am really liking it. Syncs with my server, has a front light, allows to install apps like kindle or pocket and is just super well build. The default pen is crap but the Lamy All-Star EMR or the Staedler Norris Digital Jumbo are superb.
- superbaconman 6y agoIn terms of practicality, I've never found anything as good as a sharpie pen.
- philshem 6y agoI’m very happy with the Pilot Frixion Rollerball with a 0.5 mm tip, mostly for crossword puzzles. It’s erasable, and the color is sharp and stands out against the black & white of the grid better than pencils. https://www.pilotpen.eu/en/collections/must-have/frixion-family/frixion-ball-fine-tip.html https://www.pilotpen.eu/en/collections/must-have/frixion-fam...
- runlevel1 6y ago+1 for the Pilot Frixion, but I'd specifically recommend the Clicker version. The cap on the capped version covers the eraser during use. Why on earth didn't they just put the eraser on the cap?
- mynegation 6y agoPen preferences are very personal. I prefer thinner roller-ball lines and two of my favourites are Uni-ball Onyx micro and Pilot Hi-tecpoint V5. I tried Uni-ball Vision needle (not Elite) series and did not like them.
- newdude116 6y ago"Pen preferences are very personal. I prefer thinner roller-ball lines" Me too. "two of my favourites are Uni-ball Onyx micro and Pilot Hi-tecpoint V5" I used uni-ball an others I found in Europe or China. Once I bought a pen called BE-α-DX5. Not sure where I bought it the first time, just bought it by chance but really liked it. They are produced by a Japanese SME company: https://www.zebrapen.com/ https://www.zebrapen.com/ No idea if they are famous or not. "My" pen is available at Amazon in packs of 10: https://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Dx5-Liq-Ink-Rollerball/dp/B000TK56MI https://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Dx5-Liq-Ink-Rollerball/dp/B000T...
- mywacaday 6y agoWhile I love writing and trying different pens the quality of my handwriting has degraded as I get older and is occasionally illegible. Has anyone found a good method for improving their handwriting?
- tamentis 6y agoI write cursive, and I felt the same way. I had to slow down and force myself to write the way I was taught in school. You don't need to caricature the characters (charicature?!) but get back to very plain, school-style letters for a few weeks, and it seems to have reset my handwriting.
- jherdman 6y agoI definitely agree with this. I've noticed that the more time I spend away from handwriting the worse my handwriting gets. The only way to improve is to write more. As a developer, this is sadly not something I get much opportunity to do throughout the day.
- vlod 6y agoI get frustrated how long it takes to get my ideas onto paper, so I write really-really fast, mostly giving up quality for speed. I find if I conscientiously try and write slower, it markedly improves.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- bluenose69 6y agoThis is probably the wrong place to say this, but ... use a fountain pen.
- lb1lf 6y agoNot bad advice at all; while anecdotal, I learned to write properly using a fountain pen - my grandfather handed me one as I started primary school, claiming that this would learn me how to write properly, doubly so as I am a leftie. It took a while, but I believe he was right - as the fountain pen forced me to write slower and more deliberately, it did improve my handwriting. (I still (35 years later) mostly write with a fountain pen, always carrying my grandfather's Souverän 400 in my shirt pocket - it was gifted to me once I had learned to write properly.)
- rxm 6y agoI got through graduate school and over a decade of research with my inexpensive but very smooth Uni-ball cylinders (or classic roller) micro, 0.5mm pens. They were light, with a minimal and elegant design, inexpensive, and wrote great. Then, about a decade ago, something happened to them. I now go between a Jetstream (a ballpoint) and the Uni-ball Eye (which feels identical to the Vision to me).
- layer8 6y agoI swear by the Uni-Ball Jetstream (SXN pen, SXR refill) for its smoothness and great contrast (black color).
- telecuda 6y agoTip if you're looking for a quality pen as branded swag/supplies for your business: When you find a pen from another vendor/restaurant/etc that you LOVE, take a few minutes to find who ordered them and get the same supplier/SKU. They'll gladly share that info in my experience. Bulk pen quality is so over the map, even when it claims to be the same model number, I've found it to vary among suppliers. All that being said, I've lost who we got ours from and can't recommend one myself!
- bonestamp2 6y agoOn this note, the best free pen I've ever received was from a Marriott in Japan. The body is square instead of round, and it's made from a soft matte black plastic. If anyone knows where to order these bulk pens, please leave me a reply!
- aasasd 6y agoBy that description, apparently ‘rollerball’ pens are the default where I am. The staple experience all through my youth was of having to doodle with the dry pen for a few seconds before it begins to emit ink properly (my language even has a word for this act). Spare pens or cartridges were a must, in case the first one just gives up. Then I discovered oil-based Pilot pens: those can lay around unused for months or years and then will write as soon as I need that. So after moving out, I bought a couple dozens of them and sprinkled them around the apartment and in my backpack. Never even knew if anyone else makes pens with oil-based ink. I did, however, encounter one of such pens leaking. But one in about fifteen years seems pretty good.
- mssundaram 6y ago> doodle with the dry pen for a few seconds before it begins to emit ink properly (my language even has a word for this act) That's so cool, can you share the word?
- aasasd 6y agoIt's Russian ‘расписывать’, specifically ‘расписывать ручку’. Vaguely translated as ‘make-write the pen’, and derived from ‘писать’—‘to write’. Notably, I don't think any other instrument needed that action, so the word is only used with pens. The word has another meaning of decorating something with paint. But despite the identical constituent parts, the underlying etymology is slightly different, as far as I understand: ‘make-write’ is closer in meaning to the similar ‘расписываться’—either ‘to sign’ or ‘while writing a text, get in the flow of writing’. This inflectional derivation is pretty much identical to how English has hundreds of compound words where simple verbs are smacked together with adverbs, e.g. ‘put on’, ‘put up’ and such—most of them with entirely idiomatic meanings.
- mssundaram 6y agoThanks very much for explaining!
- jbaber 6y agoI went through every pen phase including fountain pens and have found sub-.3mm gel pens perfect: https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-ball-Signo-RT1-UMN-155-Gel-Pen-0.28-mm-Black/pd/10680 https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-ball-Signo-RT1-UMN-155-Gel-Pen-0...
- annoyingnoob 6y agoGreat site. Helped me home in on some professional pens for my wife.
- eachro 6y agoAny list of top rollerball pens cannot be complete without the uniball signo 207(ideally the needlepoint tip): https://uniballco.com/207-needle/ https://uniballco.com/207-needle/ My only complaint about it is that the clip and casing are not great. The Pilot G2 actually has the perfect case but is too inky for my tastes (and stores usually dont carry the 0.38/0.5 widths). The dream pen would have the Pilot G2 case with the uniball signo 207 needle cartridge. EDIT: It turns out the uniball signo 207 is actually a gel pen, not a rollerball!
- ghaff 6y agoOh, interesting. I never realized there was a distinction and it may explain one reason I've preferred the 207 to some "other rollerball" pens that I've tried. (I do prefer a wider tip for most purposes though.)
- ghshephard 6y agoWhat a wonderful site. I love their description of the Pilot G2: "The Pilot G2 is a retractable gel pen. It’s famous for being one of the best office pens of all time as well as being of the top “gateway pens.” A gateway pen being one of the pens who don’t generally care about pens use, grow attached to, and start to realize that not all pens write the same. Many offices, restaurants, banks, and other venues had purchased Pilot G2s in bulk, people have used them them, and started to realize that they are smoother and write better than a normal bulk pen. " Exactly my experience - I first used the Pilot G-2 07 in 2005, and have spent the last 15 years refusing to use nothing else. I have friends in Australia who, after borrowing my pen, used to raid the office supplies for them every time they visited the USA, and they were a great present to bring.
- gkop 6y agoJust over 15 years ago, I arrived late for my student orientation, realized I forgot a pen, and whispered to nearby students to borrow one. That’s when Pete passed me a G-2, and said “keep it”. I had no idea then, but quickly discovered: this was a Better Pen. Thank you Pete!
- praptak 6y agoI switched from G2 to Pop'Lol. It has a slightly smoother line and I like it's springy clip.
- navbaker 6y agoThis is just the sort of positive affirmation I needed to assure me that I’m not irrational in my love of 0.07 G2s!
- Toutouxc 6y agoHere I am, thinking about how the pen I'm currently using surely feels nice and wondering whether it could be too considered a "gateway pen". I reach for it, lo and behold, it's a G-2.
- Wistar 6y agoI really (really) like the Bic Velocity Bold. At 1.6mm, they certainly lay down some ink and are incredibly smooth. They are my favorite, by far. The 1.0mm is good, too, but the 1.6mm is great. https://us.bic.com/en_us/bic-velocity-bold-retractable-ball-pen-black-4-pack.html https://us.bic.com/en_us/bic-velocity-bold-retractable-ball-... The Uniball Signo (gel) is notable for its ability to write well on a lot of different surfaces. I use them for line work when painting rocks.
- japhyr 6y agoI know this is about pens, but if anyone is looking for a pencil recommendation I have been doing most of my writing lately with a rOtring: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZWYUA4/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZWYUA4/ It's nice and heavy, with a good knurled grip. I can write all day with it, and it makes me want to work.
- loganlinn 6y agoI picked up a 2mm rOtring lead holder on a whim during a visit to Japan. Absolutely love using it and I've even come to enjoy sharpening the lead.
- kevindong 6y agoTo date, I've never found a better pencil than the Pentel Twist Erase III (0.5mm). So simple, so affordable, yet so great. https://www.jetpens.com/Pentel-Twist-Erase-III-Mechanical-Pencil-0.5-mm-Black-Body/pd/9248 https://www.jetpens.com/Pentel-Twist-Erase-III-Mechanical-Pe...
- vzidex 6y agoSeconding the rOtring 600 - I got mine at the start of university, and it doesn't show any signs of stopping near the end of my bachelor's now. Though, you do need to carry it in a case of some sort, because the tip doesn't retract.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- JosephRedfern 6y agoI recently got the rOtring 600 Ballpoint, and have enjoyed it for similar reasons.
- solidist 6y agoSome things to rate next time: 1. "smudge factor" - does this ink dry quickly? 2. "dropped pen on point from distance" - is the pen resilient when dropped on/close its point? 3. "consistency factor over time"- does the pen deliver flow throughout its lifetime? For #1, the experience is immediately soured if the pen is lifted onto my hand seconds after writing. Some brands have this problem - and it sucks. Ex: if writing quickly in a pocket moleskine, close it, and then open to find lifting on the other page. For #2, most pens dropped on their head distorts the roller ball action. I've lost a few pens to this problem. #3 some pens I've had in this list will not last the whole way through - either the ball rolls too much ink, or jams over the lifetime, rendering the remaining experience less than ideal. I've been journaling for a few years, daily, and always carried a roller pen of various brands. My go to continues to be the uniball vision, which is good, but still is subjected to all above.
- lb1lf 6y agoAs for #1, if my experience is anything to go by, substitute your Moleskines for Leuchtturm notebooks. (I've used Moleskines as my go-to field notebook for fifteen years or so, until making the switch to Leuchtturm a couple of years ago - the paper is vastly better, ink dries faster, less bleeding, pages are even numbered - overall an even better product than the moleskines (which I am still very fond of, mind)
- bonestamp2 6y agoSmudge factor is a really important point. I think that should be measured in seconds. Maybe call it "smudge time" or "drying time"? Test it at different intervals until it doesn't smudge: 20lb paper, a 1 cm straight line and a kleenex for smudging.
- sonofhans 6y agoI agree with you about #1; it bothers me, too. I have a suggestion which you may not like: switch away from Moleskines. I have a stack of used Moleskines. For years I used them exclusively, buying them in bulk. Honestly, I gritted my teeth a little each time I picked one up. I love the ergonomics and the size, but the paper is awful. I'm not alone in this opinion[0]; an unopinionated Google search turns up plenty of similar criticism. The surface is too slick and hard to absorb ink well, so nearly everything smears. It's also oddly prone to ghosting through to the other side, especially with felt tip pens. It's hard to win. [0] https://www.google.com/search?q=moleskine+paper+quality https://www.google.com/search?q=moleskine+paper+quality I tried everything with them: fountain pens, gel ink, liquid rollerballs, fat and fine felt tips, space pens. What worked best were cheap-ass Bics, but only because the ink is basically colored glue, and they're punishing to write with. I've since switched to artist sketch books, like Pentalic Nature Sketch[1]. I don't care about the brand. I just go to my local art supply store and buy something in the right size with good-feeling paper. There are some ergonomic compromises (e.g., maybe you don't like spirals), but the paper is first-class, and that's become my priority. I get my Hi-Tec-C refills from JetPens, and they have some good notebook advice[2]. [1] https://www.pentalic.com/nature-sketch/ https://www.pentalic.com/nature-sketch/ [2] https://www.jetpens.com/blog/the-best-notebooks-for-every-use/pt/647 https://www.jetpens.com/blog/the-best-notebooks-for-every-us...
- TomMasz 6y agoI love the Uniball Jetstream series, they're kind of hybrids between oil and water-based ink pens. Perfect for use in journals like Moleskines or Mnemosynes since they don't smear.
- mberning 6y agoI can’t get pathologically obsessed with something that I lose dozens of times a year. It’s not worth the time or money spent over picking up a bulk pack at the local office store.
- nwotnagrom 6y agoI really appreciate this article actually. I am very picky about my pens and have very specific criteria before buying a pen. I like the detail here. There are so many factors into buying the right pen.
- dunefox 6y agoI have tried many pens and this is the one for me: https://www.pentel.com/collections/energel/products/energel-deluxe-rtx-gel-pen-1541 https://www.pentel.com/collections/energel/products/energel-... With good paper it writes like a dream.
- jtth 6y agoPut a Montblanc rollerball cartridge in a Pilot G2.
- dm319 6y agoMy frustrations with roller balls is that they seem to break very easily. Writing in on a single sheet of paper on a hard surface seems to break mine without fail. I'm currently using a Lamy Swift with the medium refill.
- fletchowns 6y agoMy new favorites are the Sharpie S-Gel 0.7mm: https://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-S-Gel-Medium-Point-0-7mm/dp/B082PN4X5J/ https://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-S-Gel-Medium-Point-0-7mm/dp/B... I liked some of the other gel pens I've tried but they all smudge like crazy. This Sharpie one writes great and doesn't smudge at all.
- 2Gkashmiri 6y agoi have been using a uniball eye pens for so long now..... the only thing the tip gets destroyed if impacted
- signalfish 6y agoI thought a rollerball pen was a kind of skating ring with banked sides, and bleachers all around! "Whoa, is that a thing now? Cool!" I never knew ball point was different from roller ball.
- Finnucane 6y agoAfter all we've been through, I clicked on the link expecting an article about dystopian gladiatorial games.
- e40 6y agoWas disappointed not to see the Pentel EnerGel Alloy RT Premium Liquid Gel Pen (0.7mm). It's been my favorite been for 5+ years. EDIT: well, they do like it: https://unsharpen.com/pen/pentel-energel-alloy-gel/ https://unsharpen.com/pen/pentel-energel-alloy-gel/
- nix23 6y agoForgot Fischer SpacePen!!
- canada_dry 6y agoIt would be great if their ratings included whether the pen worked reliably well in freezing temps i.e. a pen that I can leave in the car when temps are below zero and still have it able to write immediately. Anyone have a recommendation?
- ggm 6y agoDye vs Pigment Oil carrier vs Water carrier (a serious concern if you are signing a long lived document like your passport, is: how durable is this signature?)
- munawwar 6y agono one in here tried uniball laknock? 0.7 and 1.0 gives nice writing experience. doesn't spread ink around or to underneath paper. ink doesn't jam (once? in last 5 years..) doesn't get damaged on light/few falls (on heavier falls the retractable action could get damaged). overall lasts long for the price tag (the one I am using now is close to 1 year old, still writing well)
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- nbzso 6y agoDesigner here. I have tried unimaginable versions of pens. After years of testing, nothing can compare to Rotring 600 fountain pen (M Size). If you have to buy one go for the vintage ones. Preferably in silver. You can thank me later:) https://unsharpen.com/pen/rotring-600-fountain-pen/ https://unsharpen.com/pen/rotring-600-fountain-pen/ --------------------- https://clickypost.com/blog/2014/2/10/so-you-want-to-buy-a-rotring https://clickypost.com/blog/2014/2/10/so-you-want-to-buy-a-r... --------------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1311&_nkw=rotring+600+fountain+pen&_sacat=0 https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m...
- godelmachine 6y agoI have been mulling over a pen to finalize as my primary pen, and after much trial and error, and many rounds of testing, I have finalized on Uniball Gel Impact. Let me tell you my requirements - My first and foremost need is thickness, as thicc as it can be. I won’t settle for anything less than 1.0 mm nib and black color, so that the writing should stand out in contrast to the white page. Last year a similar discussion [1] had cropped up on HN, and based on the suggestions I got there, I finalized Uniball Gel Impact. It's smooth, has good thickness, and feels like an almost 1.0 mm thicc pen. The writing stands out on the paper and also the contrast is unmissable. The only downside I feel is that I runs out quickly, within a couple of hours. It's quite a departure from my used to feeling of having ball pens which last for weeks and even months. Smudge is there, and the ink takes about 4-5 seconds to dry. The only other gel pen which I find competitive to Uniball Gel Impact is Pilot V10 and Baoke. Pilot V10 ain't that smooth but lasts longer. Baoke is almost as same as Uniball, just 10% less. If Uniball Gel Impact = 10/10 then Baoke = 9/10. If anyone here knows any other decent black gel pen that's 1.0 mm in nib thickness, please let me know. Ref. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24963031 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24963031