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Some 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/c

Some 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 ago
As 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 ago
Smudge 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 ago
I 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...
- ghaff 6y ago
  >The surface is too slick I was complaining in another comment about the ink refill that came with a Waterman pen I was given not working well. And, yes, it was specifically on the Moleskins I use that I was having a problem. I'd have to get the pen "started" on another piece of paper to write reliably. (The Uni-ball gel pens are fine.)
  - wglb 6y ago
    I gave up on the Waterman pens as the skipping was everywhere and just too annoying
  - sonofhans 6y ago
    I've had that experience, too. I couldn't write reliably on Moleskine paper with my Waterman, regardless of what ink I used.
- foobarian 6y ago
  One thing I don't get is, why this obsession with roller/fountain/gel pens when ballpoints have none of the issues and arguably have better ink properties?
  - CarVac 6y ago
    The writing experience and the line quality is better. Ballpoints feel rough, take a decent amount of force, and have fairly weak and uneven-looking lines.
  - sonofhans 6y ago
    If by "ballpoint" you mean something like a Bic pen or a Fisher Space Pen, it's an easy answer for me. In a typical day I cover several pages with text and sketches. I want a pen that works well for both. I don't believe that ballpoints have better ink properties. Quite the reverse. I believe they make more predictable marks on low-quality paper, but that's one of only a few benefits. Ballpoints tend to have large balls and produce a fat line. I like finer lines with more detail. Ballpoints tend to have thick ink. It doesn't dry quickly on the page. Ballpoint ink tends to accumulate on the edge of the ball, and leave periodic ink turds on the paper. Ballpoints tend to require a lot of pressure to produce a line. I want to use as little pressure as possible. Put another way, I want a pen that with little pressure produces a fine line that is easy to modulate (thick or thin, dark or light) and dries fast. I've yet to find a ball point that comes close to those properties.

lb1lf 6y ago

As 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 ago

Smudge 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 ago

I 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...

ghaff 6y ago
>The surface is too slick I was complaining in another comment about the ink refill that came with a Waterman pen I was given not working well. And, yes, it was specifically on the Moleskins I use that I was having a problem. I'd have to get the pen "started" on another piece of paper to write reliably. (The Uni-ball gel pens are fine.)
- wglb 6y ago
  I gave up on the Waterman pens as the skipping was everywhere and just too annoying
- sonofhans 6y ago
  I've had that experience, too. I couldn't write reliably on Moleskine paper with my Waterman, regardless of what ink I used.
foobarian 6y ago
One thing I don't get is, why this obsession with roller/fountain/gel pens when ballpoints have none of the issues and arguably have better ink properties?
- CarVac 6y ago
  The writing experience and the line quality is better. Ballpoints feel rough, take a decent amount of force, and have fairly weak and uneven-looking lines.
- sonofhans 6y ago
  If by "ballpoint" you mean something like a Bic pen or a Fisher Space Pen, it's an easy answer for me. In a typical day I cover several pages with text and sketches. I want a pen that works well for both. I don't believe that ballpoints have better ink properties. Quite the reverse. I believe they make more predictable marks on low-quality paper, but that's one of only a few benefits. Ballpoints tend to have large balls and produce a fat line. I like finer lines with more detail. Ballpoints tend to have thick ink. It doesn't dry quickly on the page. Ballpoint ink tends to accumulate on the edge of the ball, and leave periodic ink turds on the paper. Ballpoints tend to require a lot of pressure to produce a line. I want to use as little pressure as possible. Put another way, I want a pen that with little pressure produces a fine line that is easy to modulate (thick or thin, dark or light) and dries fast. I've yet to find a ball point that comes close to those properties.