44 ms·
Best Pens for 2022: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens
- getlawgdon 5y agoI picked up a Sheaffer Agio (yellow, nickel trim) on ebay recently, new in box, 10 bucks. I have some Parker Quink (blueblack) in it. It writes better than anything else I have, including a $550 Delta I picked up in Venice years ago. I highly recommend it if you can find it.
- kadoban 5y agoA year or so back I bought just a bunch of decently recommeded pens to try them out. I ended up with my favorite being the Pilot Hi-tec-c Maica 0.4. It's cheap enough, they last, it writes real nice and dries quick enough for me.
- yaur 5y agoI'm using a Kaweco Sport which came out of a subscription box my wife gave me last Christmas. I'm very happy with it and since it looks complicated and "basic" no one has walked off with it.
- Lio 5y agoSo many great products on that list. Since I started making my own pens I have a lot more respect for what’s involved. If this was my personal choice it would probably consist of Nakaya and Yard-O-Led models. I can’t really offer any supporting evidence except that both brands look like works of art to me.
- rzzzt 5y agoI am in camp Uni-ball Signo 0.5mm. Its ink doesn't smudge or "cut out" intermittently with left-hand writing, both of which I experience with ballpoint and other gel pens.
- dragontamer 5y agoThe "Pentel Kerry" is an excellent mechanical pencil. Anyone who wants good ol' erasable lead probably should go for the Pentel Kerry. Its not a "Pen", but Jetpens does sell it and did recommend it. The one downside is that Pentel's mechanical-pencil erasers are tiny. They are good quality rubber though and work well, but their small size wears out incredibly quickly.
- llaolleh 5y ago+1 for Kerry. It feels extremely smooth and it's probably the best mechanical pencil I've used.
- throwanem 5y agoI always favored the Twist-Erase III for exactly that reason. Not what anyone would call elegant, but extremely serviceable, and elegance seems more fitting a concern for pens in any case.
- analog31 5y agoAh, the big eraser looks like just the thing for me. And you can get them with 0.9 mm lead. I'm such a clumsy writer, and have pretty much given up on pens. We're not required to use them for lab notebooks any more.
- throwanem 5y agoIf you want to improve your hand, I've found fountain pens good for that - the way they work makes it easier to write well than poorly. A Pilot Metropolitan is inexpensive, handsome, pleasant to use, and steel-nibbed to hold up to inexperienced use; as a starter pen it's unmatched, and might be worth a try if you're not quite ready to give up on pens altogether.
- mangamadaiyan 5y agoI'm always torn between the Kerry and the Uni Kurutoga. I have both, and they are both a pleasure to use.
- john_moscow 5y agoI really don't get why using fineliners [0] for writing is so unpopular outside of a few European countries. You get consistent line thickness. You don't need to push the tip into the paper, just letting it hover on top. There is barely any friction/resistance. The ink won't escape if you stop the pen for a second... I switched to using them over a decade ago, and using any regular pen now feels like stone age tech. [0] https://www.staedtler.com/intl/en/products/products-for-colouring/fineliners/ https://www.staedtler.com/intl/en/products/products-for-colo...
- KerryJones 5y agoA housemate recently suggested a similar pen: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IFJN/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IFJN/ They replaced all my other favorite pens, my handwriting looks good, so little effort, it's a miracle
- yowzadave 5y agoI used to work as an architect, and these are the most common pens people used for sketching on trace paper. Nice and cheap, I love that they sell them by the box.
- oldsecondhand 5y agoA lot of fineliners have bad ergonomy. I also don't like that they feel cheap and disposable. I ocassionally use Marvy fineliners for writing, and the friction of the head sime low enough with 0.5mm+ nibs, and they seem to last quite long, but the above drawbacks still apply.
- itcrowd 5y agoI like them too, but I will say that: a) on very smooth paper, it will smear. Needs time to dry b) on rougher paper, I found it to "spread out" like a small inkblot. As if the paper "sucks" the ink in a bit. Perfectly fine for regular paper
- scotu 5y ago
- nnadams 5y agoI saw this post and came to ask for left-handers' recommendations. I'm glad this article actually has a section for it! Certain pens perform very poorly for me, like the ink stoping and starting. Pens are the only left-handed designed product I've ever found I really needed. Aside from scissors or computer mice maybe, but I grew up using my right hand for those activities.
- queuebert 5y agoYou could always write in reverse like Leonardo da Vinci.
- boogies 5y agoTIL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci#cite_ref-Polidoro_58-1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci#cite_ref-Pol...
- Foobar8568 5y agoTry a fast dry ink like the Noodler's Polar blue ink, you'll need a good paper and maybe a F nib as it has a tendancy to bleed through the paper as it's a really fast dry ink, but it won't smear. My daughter is left hand and has no problem writing with it with the occasional bleed with a M nib. It's like magic.
- GavinMcG 5y agoI'm a lefty, and I've tried an awful lot of pens. I agree with the Energel recommendation (and primarily use Energel refills) but I'd put Zebra Sarasa gel pens alongside them. There are other good options out there in terms of quick-drying ink, but Energel and Sarasa work especially well for me because I'm an under-writer, keeping my hand fully below the line, which lowers the angle at which the pen meets the page. Many pens don't tolerate the low angle.
- wslh 5y agoSomething like the Uni-ball 0.7 or 0.8 ?
- zppln 5y agoPersonally I find the Uni-Ball Vision Elite overrated, and favour the simpler and more understated Uni-Ball Eye over it. They're also better to chew on.
- newrotik 5y agoHave been using uni-ball eye for over 10y. As a left handed, this is the best pen I have ever used. Many other pens "scratch" on the paper or result in inconsistent line thicknesses. Writing with this is a pleasure. Also dries quickly enough on normal paper.
- zppln 5y agoYup, they're great. At work they've become almost legendary. Usually one can only find bic pens and the like, but occasionally these make their way to a cupboard somewhere and once word gets out it is immediately raided. I even bought green (colour not found in the office) ones once with my own money just to be able to swagger off with. Very well spent money indeed.
- kemitchell 5y agoAirplane cabin safety can mean a lot if you travel that way. I also find the broader Vision Elite 0.8mm doesn't collect ink around the rollerball, as the Vision/Eye 0.7mm does. Nothing wrong with the classic Vision/Eye pen. Or Pilot's V5 or V7, for that matter.
- sg47 5y agoWhere do people try out pens? I'm on the lookout for fine tip ballpoint pens but not sure how to look for them.
- eachro 5y agoKinokuniya (the Japanese bookstore) usually has a pen section where you can sample pens/other writing utensils.
- sg47 5y agoThanks! I'll check them out. Any recommendations for pens?
- eachro 5y agoI really like the uniball signo 207 for a smooth every day pen.
- glumreaper 5y ago[gestures Khabe Lamely at entire comment thread and article]
- sg47 5y agoHah. Sorry there's no guarantee that the pens in the article could be sold at that store.
- klyrs 5y agoThe thing I miss about university is that the bookstore had an excellent selection of pens that you could try in the store. But as I type that, I realize that I'm a scant few miles from a university.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- kondro 5y agoJetPens have a number of sampler packs: https://www.jetpens.com/search?q=sample&v=2 https://www.jetpens.com/search?q=sample&v=2
- runjake 5y agoIf you lose pens a lot like me, I just buy the 10 or 20 packs of Pilot G3 gel pens from Costco and roll through them. If I'm down to 3 spares or so, next trip I purchase another pack. They cost a fraction of what they cost in retail stores.
- Paddywack 5y agoOddly, if I buy an expensive pen I seem to look after it a lot more than a generic cheep one…
- runjake 5y agoI don't. Hence, the procedure I mention above. There is much less guilt involved. I feel you, though.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- a_e_k 5y agoI tried that but paradoxically found that it worked better when I did the opposite: just get one gel pen and always know where it is like my keys, cell-phone, wallet, etc. These days it's more common for me to replace a pen because it's run out of ink than because I've lost it. Even pre-pandemic I'd always carry it with me for signing receipts and the like. (Since I found using a public pen by a register kind of squicky.) I learned quickly that a pen with a cap was a must for my daily carry; retractables are just too easy to accidentally engage in my pocket.
- runjake 5y agoI do this as well. My current pen sits next to notebook, Leatherman, wallet, and keys on dresser. But stuff falls out of pockets (I have to spelunk through buildings alot in job), or I leave it on some desk, etc. FWIW, my current pack of pens has lasted me well over 8 months now.
- CarVac 5y agoI really enjoy my TWSBI ECO.
- dkonofalski 5y agoNo love for the old Pilot G2? There is obviously a whole world of pen goodness that I'm missing out on.
- gdwatson 5y agoI used to use the G2 and I liked it, but I think the Uni-ball Signo DX (the UM-151 the article endorses) is a better pen in the same vein. It’s smoother and doesn’t skip, and I can still get a fine, dark line that makes my handwriting legible. (I like 0.38mm tips in both pens, personally.)
- dQw4w9WgXcQ 5y agoThere is, we just out here getting work done. Keep trying new pens and come back to old faithful (G2 0.7mm) every time. Writes well, spins well, cheap by the box. A real pen for the working man.
- yla92 5y agoI don't write a lot with pen these days but when I do, I always reach out to Pilot Juice up 04 [0]. It's incredibly smooth at 0.4mm. Can't recommend it enough for daily writing. [0]: https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Juice-Up-Gel-Pen-0.4-mm-Black/pd/18163 https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Juice-Up-Gel-Pen-0.4-mm-Black/...
- colechristensen 5y agoGlad to see my favorite everyday pen on here, the jetstream.
- jinto36 5y agoI like the Jetstreams, but had a few black refills that I had acquired over a few years in 0.5 and 0.7 prematurely stop flowing. The black cartridges in the newest Jetstream pens I've purchased have been fine. Not sure if they had a few bad batches that took a while to clear out of the market, but it was disappointing.
- Graziano_M 5y agoI had this same problem. About half my cartridges I throw away probably 10% empty.
- stevetodd 5y agoThe Jetstream has been my favorite for years.
- NelsonMinar 5y agoJetpens is truly a treasure of a website. I've gotten interested in plotter art in the last year and there's a whole lot to learn about how pens work and perform. Jetpens is the essential source for a lot of that information. Some good articles they've written: https://www.jetpens.com/blog/Types-of-Pens-How-to-Pick-a-Pen-with-the-Right-Ink/pt/334 https://www.jetpens.com/blog/Types-of-Pens-How-to-Pick-a-Pen... https://www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-Technical-Drawing-Pens/pt/436 https://www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-Technical-Drawing-Pens...
- capableweb 5y ago> I've gotten interested in plotter art [...] At first I thought it was just a typo, but there indeed something called "Plotter Art" (not to be confused with "Blotter Art", which I just confused it for).
- ImprovedSilence 5y agoYeah I stumbled upon them years ago just looking to get a nice drafting pencil. Then I got sucked into all sorts of pens, watercolors, and wooden pencils. Maybe I’ll try out some fancy paper next (I’ll take recommendations), but I never figured I could get so nerded out in writing utensils… their marketing is on point…. It’s the write ups like this that do it.
- jwong_ 5y agoDo you have any displays of what you were able to do? I have been eyeing plotters for a very long time, but have yet to dive in. A lot of uncertainty around what plotter might work for me, and what pens it would support, etc.
- NelsonMinar 5y agoLook at #plottertwitter on Twitter for inspiration. The AxiDraw V3 is a good small plotter for experimentation. It will support any pen with a vaguely normal shape. The biggest limitation of most plotters is they don't control pen pressure; it's fine for normal pens but won't work with a calligraphy pen that gives variable width strokes.
- willcipriano 5y agoA bit off topic but, I handwrite so little that after more than a sentence and a half my hand starts hurting and I have to take a break. Is that something that can be improved by one of these pens? I've only ever used the cheapest ones I can find.
- mangamadaiyan 5y agoTry writing with a pencil? If you find that your hand hurts even when writing with a pencil, maybe you're gripping it too tight. Anecdotally, I did go through a a few months of not writing anything by hand, and it did feel weird when I wrote again. Using a regular HB pencil for a while helped.
- rmellow 5y agoYou're likely pressing too hard. Look for pens that don't require force to dispense ink, such as a fineliner. Crummy ballpoint pens would be what you want to avoid if this indeed is the cause.
- smarx007 5y agoWhat @mellow said plus you (a) may need a bit of practice and (b) get a pen with a better grip. I usually write 2-3 A5 pages a day, so writing 5+ would make my hand a bit stiff. If you write less than a page a day, you may want to take it easy at the beginning. For example, try a 5 minute journaling practice. Grip is very important (saying as a leftie who uses fountain pens). You may want to look at a pen like Lamy Safari that has a grip that forces you to hold the pen correctly. Don’t use thin pens like Parker Jotter unless you have really petite hands. As @mellow suggested, using a pen that flows well is necessary but not sufficient to ease the pressure on the page. If you are a heavy writer, it will take some effort to break the habit.
- mikequinlan 5y agoI had similar problems and my doctor recommended using a very thick pen. That helped me a lot.
- aidenn0 5y agoOthers have mentioned you are probably pushing too hard. My 2 suggestions as someone with the same problem: 1. Before getting a new pen, you need to train yourself to write lighter. I would suggest practicing with a 0.5mm mechanical pencil; the lead will break if you push hard. When I first did this, I broke the lead at least once per sentence. 2. Try a few gel and/or rollerball pens. They tend to lay down ink with less pressure than ballpoints. Fountain pens do so as well, but tend to be more expensive and require more maintenance. I bought maybe a dozen different recommended rollerball and gel pens that were under $5 each, tried them out myself and then loaned them all to friends. We each liked different ones the best but liked all of them better than a cheap ballpoint.
- psd1 5y agoYou'll have to prise my Parker Vector fountain pen out of my grasp. Writes beautifully, never leaks, choice of ink colour, simple and pleasing design. And dirt cheap. Absolute icon of 20th century design.
- Nursie 5y agoThey remind me of my school years, I had a bunch of them over the years, and they are great little pens. I wonder if I would find them too narrow these days. I usually write with a cross Century II, and have a Century I as well, which I do find a little narrow.
- getlawgdon 5y agoThe Parker 51, to me, is the icon.
- avian 5y agoI was looking if anyone will mention Parker Vector here. I've been writing with these daily since forever. I've tried some much (much) more expensive fountain pens and none came close to the comfort of writing with the Vector. Might be just me being so used to it at this point though. "Never leaks" is maybe pushing a bit in my experience. I certainly had these leak ink sometimes. I also think that the design could be nicer. Many other pens are more comfortable to hold. The nib however is just perfect.
- laserlight 5y agoSchneider One Business [0] is one of the best rollerballs I've ever used. It has a saturated blue color. It has low friction with enough tactile feedback and a nice grip. I wish it had more consistency between units. I had lemons, ink of which doesn't flow well or flow too much resulting in thicker lines. [0] https://schneiderpen.com/en_us/rollerballs/one-business-blue-b-4004675098597/ https://schneiderpen.com/en_us/rollerballs/one-business-blue...
- neilfrndes 5y agoI love the Pilot vanishing point fountain pen that has been my daily driver for the last three years. It writes beautifully and is 'clickable' like most ball point pens. I don't have to worry about buying refills and seems like the ink pot will last me a decade. https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Vanishing-Point-Fountain-Pens/ct/3876 https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Vanishing-Point-Fountain-Pens/...
- ianbicking 5y agoThey seem to really like the Uni-Ball pens, which I've used a lot and are OK, but I've switched very happily to the Inc R2 Rollerball [1]. Really dark and even line, very light pressure, and low friction. Just a very comfortable pen, cheap enough to have around the house by the dozen but feels like a high-quality pen. [1] https://www.amazon.com/ROLLERBALL-Comfort-Flowing-Writing-Premium/dp/B07R5BLZWL https://www.amazon.com/ROLLERBALL-Comfort-Flowing-Writing-Pr...
- b215826 5y agoSurprising to see that this article has snubbed Chinese FP manufacturers. I own over 20 FPs and some of my favorites are ones made by Jinhao and WingSung. One might even say that the WingSung 300x [1] is better made than the pens that it is a copy of, i.e., TWSBI's Eco and Diamond. The Eco's body is made out of cheap plastic that decomposes when it comes to contact with many household chemicals (e.g., isopropyl alcohol). The Diamond's body is ostensibly better made, but IMHO it's still not worth the price. In comparison, I've used a <$5 WingSung 300x for over 3 years now and it's one of the best pens I've used hands down. [1]: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=wingsung+piston https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=wingsung+piston
- smarx007 5y agoChinese manufacturers have a great value but the output quality is not 100% reliable. Couple it with difficult returns on Aliexpress and you get the picture. I watch FP vlogs and saw people get 5 Jinhaos and only 3 would have a nib with aligned tines. Sure, getting 3 good pens for the cost of 5 Jinhaos is still a steal but if you order one and get one of the remaining two. Well, it’s a perfect opportunity to learn how to do nibwork :)
- BeetleB 5y agoThe super cheap Chinese pens like Jinhaos have large variations from one pen to the other, but if you go for pricier brands like PenBBS[0] you'll get good quality. [0] https://www.etsy.com/shop/PENBBSOfficialStore?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1120856448 https://www.etsy.com/shop/PENBBSOfficialStore?ref=simple-sho...
- wenc 5y agoJinhaos seem to have leakage problems. I bought 3 because they’re beautiful but I couldn’t use any of them. All of them leaked. From reading pen forums, most people buy Jinhaos for their aesthetics but replace the nibs with third party ones.
- 45ure 5y agoI have several Jinhao and WingSung pens. Although, they invariably fail, however, they are generally good when you find a working one. There is no comparison with TWSBI Eco/T or Diamond range, at least not when it comes to the nibs and/or the choice available i.e. F/M/B/Stub/1.1, notwithstanding the ability to work with different kinds of ink and the amount a reservoir can hold. Also, they work nicely with most good quality paper e.g. Rhodia (Clairefontaine), Tomoe River et al. I have also tried the TWSBI 'clone' Lanbitou, which can only be found in F nib -- it was scratchy af and as cheap as it was, it was a waste. I have been thinking of getting some Jowo nibs to try out in one of the failed Jinhao pens, to see how they behave.
- evil-olive 5y agomy current go-to pen is the Zebra G-402 [0] because I like the durability and heft of a stainless steel pen. they're $3.50 a pop if you buy them in bulk on Amazon [1]. but, the real "where has this been all my life?" game-changer for me was finding that Zebra also makes permanent markers that are stainless steel and refillable [2, 3]. I can never go back to regular Sharpies. 0: https://www.zebrapen.com/product/g-402-retractable-gel/ https://www.zebrapen.com/product/g-402-retractable-gel/ 1: https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0771YTM9C/ https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0771YTM9C/ 2: https://www.zebrapen.com/product/pm-701-permanent-marker/ https://www.zebrapen.com/product/pm-701-permanent-marker/ 3: https://amazon.com/gp/product/B079NR6HFJ/ https://amazon.com/gp/product/B079NR6HFJ/
- Seattle3503 5y agoI love the zebra F-701. It has a heft to it that makes it feel durable.
- kemitchell 5y agoHave you tried the new G-450 or G-750? Both are 0.7mm gel, rather than ballpoints. The G-750 has a metal knurled grip, like the 701s. But for what it's worth, I find myself preferring the lesser weight of the G-450. Its harder plastic grip doesn't pick up lint or melt like the older G-series pens.
- kemitchell 5y agoHave you tried the newish G-450? I like it very much.
- 650 5y agoDoes anyone know any good sites for pencil reviews? Or great pencils in general?
- tennisflyi 5y agoUh, OG, Ticonderogas?
- charcoalhobo 5y agoThis same site has recommendations on pencils. If you're looking for mechanical pencils I'm a huge fan of the Uni Kuru Toga Roulette, which came in second [1]. I like it because it rotates the lead as you write. Some people find the little bit of squish it has off-putting but I can't use other pencils without snapping the lead constantly. 1: https://www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-Mechanical-Pencils/pt/809 https://www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-Mechanical-Pencils/pt/...
- yeetaccount4 5y agoThe Blackwing 602’s are pricey but I like them. Good lead, doesn’t squeak or smudge, really. Not too hard but not too soft.
- lb1lf 5y ago-Mitsubishi Hi-Unis in H/2H are wonderful for writing in my experience; lead is almost unbreakable, holds its point for a long time, very smooth to write with even for lefties like me.
- bmj 5y agoI am a fan of the Musgrave Tennessee Reds. Dark graphic that doesn't require a lot of pressure, and a fine looking pencil. Be warned, however: Musgrave hexagonal pencils have a very crisp shape, and some people find them uncomfortable. The Musgrave 600 News is a unique pencil (and has a round barrel) that lays down a heavy, dark line. I picked up a box of Blackwing 602s a few months ago (thanks to a gift card). They are more comfortable in the hand than the Musgraves, but I prefer the graphite in the Tennessee Reds. I may try one of the darker/softer Blackwing models in the future. As for review sites, I've really found the Polar Pencil Pusher to be helpful (https://polarpencilpusher.home.blog/ https://polarpencilpusher.home.blog/).
- neom 5y agoI don't particularly enjoy handwriting, but have learned to enjoy it somewhat more through Caran D'ache, I was gifted a Ecridor Chevron and it's really a fantastic pen to use (+they look cool). This guy does a good review of an EDC Caran D'ache https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvXpqaX1ul8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvXpqaX1ul8
- underlines 5y agoHaving a "best pens" article and not mentioning the Caran d'Ache 849 either Fountain or the famous ballpoint pen somehow invalidates the article for me. For technical staff in the field as well as in the office, a Caran d'Ache 849 ballpoint can be used for years and years, as refill tubes are available for decades.
- neom 5y agoNo Lamy either. A pen list without Lamy is weird imo.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- umvi 5y agoPaperMate InkJoy 300RT 1.0M is my favorite (https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Mate-1945925-Retractable-Ballpoint/dp/B01EB4JD30/ https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Mate-1945925-Retractable-Ballpo...)
- lr1970 5y agoJust 8 days ago a story on HN about jetpens: Japan's Paper Culture (156 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29709551 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29709551
- pryelluw 5y ago$59 after and now I’m making another order … sigh
- beermonster 5y agoThat was about Japan’s Paper Culture but was very well written and liked. Regarding JetPens, they’re great at mixing valuable information with a superb product line and customer service - very rare in 2022. It’s I used to like going to brick and mortar shops in the first place. I find it’s becoming less and less common to find a salesperson that knows anything about the products they’re selling (outside of niche shops). Which means although I do try to use local shops where possible, to support them, inevitably I end up doing my own research and shopping online/elsewhere.
- v1l 5y agoThe best ballpoint pen ime is Parker. https://www.jetpens.com/Parker-Jotter-Ballpoint-Pens/ct/2052 https://www.jetpens.com/Parker-Jotter-Ballpoint-Pens/ct/2052
- hnrj95 5y agoanyone use the pentel orenz? i’ve used the kuru for a while and love it
- wrp 5y agoI have all models of the Orenz and the sliding sleeve mechanism works very well. It is particularly useful for colored leads, which are typically much more fragile than graphite leads.
- salamanderman 5y agoI think it's really creative that the Pilot FriXion Gel Pen basically just uses disappearing ink.
- jmspring 5y agoInteresting list. 2021 brought back a desire of using fountain pens. It also found me splurging. I like heft in pens. I have a Cross and a german brand - from my ex-father-in-law. That got expanded. I prefer the german one (can't recall brand at the moment, as it's in my truck) for day to day use. I picked up two Visconti pens. The Homo Sapiens is amazing. My other one was a "oh I did actually order that" over the top pen. It's beautiful, but super austentatious and thankfully was well below cost.
- rileyphone 5y agoLamy? I have a Safari and like it.
- mangamadaiyan 5y agoThere's also Kaweco, Schneider, Pelikan, and a few other German FP brands. Hard to guess :)
- dfan 5y agoWell over a decade ago, I spent an afternoon in a stationery store trying out as many pens as I could. I fell in love with the Pentel EnerGel NV 0.5mm (smooth, dark, consistent, feels nice in the hand) and haven't looked back since. I'm glad to see that this website has a high opinion of it too.
- jimmar 5y agoSomebody in a previous HN threat recommended the Pentel EnerGel .7mm pens and I picked some up at WalMart. Best pens I've ever used and they're like $1.50 each.
- hellbannedguy 5y ago
- naikrovek 5y ago"best pens for 2022" is a BOLD claim for an article dated 4 January 2022.
- danachow 5y agoThe preposition “for” as opposed to “of” makes the meaning distinct and correct as it implies something you might get to use during 2022. Imagine if it’s “best calendars for 2022.” You’re not going to be interested in them at the end of the year.
- naikrovek 5y agobut I can buy a pen in 2022 that was released in 2022... being released in the middle of 2022 doesn't make it an invalid pen... pens aren't calendars; pens don't have a window of applicability. The article does. not only that, it proclaims to know the best pens released in this year or before, on the 4th day of the year. it won't be long before we see "best of" lists weeks before that year begins. I mean just admit that the article is a commercial, already. it's an ad. and that's fine, just don't try to hide it or pretend it's something else.
- danachow 5y agoYou seem to be having delusions, since nowhere did anyone "pretend" this was something other than a piece of marketing produced by a pen retailer. I was only addressing the grammar of the statement and the fact that "x for 2022" is a future looking statement, so it isn't wrong just because it is early in the year - which your complaint seemed to be directed at. The calendar sentence was to point out a more clearer example of this. I don't care to address whether it is reasonable to rate things for the coming year or not - that seems to bother you quite a bit.
- diffeomorphism 5y ago> it proclaims to know the best pens released in this year No, not at all. Did you misread the headline? > being released in the middle of 2022 doesn't make it an invalid pen... Yes it does. This article is about what you might want to buy right now to start into the year 2022. Unless you give me a time machine your hypothetical pen is an invalid choice.
- rramadass 5y agoSurprisingly not many people know about the classic Tombow Zoom 505 series: Mechanical Pencil (0.5mm & 0.9mm), Rollerball Pen, Ballpoint Pen and Multifunction Pen - https://www.tombow.com/en/products/zoom_505/ https://www.tombow.com/en/products/zoom_505/ and https://www.tombow.com/en/press/180312/ https://www.tombow.com/en/press/180312/
- jszymborski 5y agoTwo of my favourite pens are here: the Twisbi ECO and the Zebra Sarasa. If you're a regular, gel pen user, I'd really encourage you to check out Zebra Sarasa pens. Some folks think they're a bit scratchy, but they're way less scratchy than the Muji pens I've tried and they write consistently and smoothly. I started using fountain pens in an effort to reduce plastic waste (and because they're cool), and of the many, many pens I've tried, the Twisbi ECO is heads and shoulders over the rest. It also is quite affordable. Word to the wise though, skip the TWISBI GO, it looks similar to the ECO and is cheaper, but I've found it to be a disproportionately worse experience.
- queuebert 5y agoTwisbi ECO is great, but for me the medium nib gushes and the next finer nib down is slightly starved. They need something in between.
- wenc 5y agoI have both the Twsbi ECO M and ECO F, and the sweet spot is the ECO F. You just have to gently press the nib on a piece of paper a few times (deforming it ever so slightly to slightly separate out the tines), and the flow will be between the M and F.
- cbm-vic-20 5y agoI'm so happy I stockpiled a bunch of Pilot Execugel pens about a decade ago.
- s0rce 5y agoI really like the SKB pens.
- codazoda 5y agoBecause of shipping shortages, and the realization that we need to make more of our own stuff, I recently decided to switch to “made in the USA” writing tools. I’m using a Fisher Space Pen and a homemade pocket notebook that is similar to the Field Notes brand (which is also made in the US). I’ve been surprisingly happy with the fisher space pen and I keep it in my pocket 24/7.
- jimmySixDOF 5y agoThere is no substitute for the Space Pen (I personally use the bullet style pocket size). It uses a pressurized gasket to push the ink in any position so will writ upside down all day long. It has a great backstory as being an unsolicited proposal to NASA to write in zero gravity [1]. The very best pen gift for any Engineer. [1] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-nasa-spen/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-n...
- rakwoelq 5y agoI hated the Space Pen because the ink always felt sticky and it wrote poorly. Schmidt 4889 is a substitute pressurized refill that is compatible with the Space Pen, although I have not tried it yet.
- fajarsiddiq 5y agoI love the pilot pen for many years
- owenversteeg 5y agoThe Pentel EnerGel Alloy, at $5 a pop, is by far my favorite of the accessible pens. They write smoother than anything else I've tried, which is the most important factor in my mind. The silver barrel ones (combination of aluminum and plastic) are by far classier than any other $5 pen, but they're also $5, which means you never have to stress about losing one or giving them out. They're also sold at Walmart and the refills are plain old Pentel EnerGels, so very easy to use. Absolute 10/10 pens.
- anduru_h 5y agoTo be honest, $5 per pen is above the range where I wouldn't stress about losing one or giving them out. My opinion is, that's an expensive pen!
- owenversteeg 5y agoWell, I don't lose them very often, can't remember the last time, but losing a $5 pen isn't the worst thing in the world, while losing a $100 pen (several pens mentioned in this thread are above that) would be painful. Also, I don't just give them out to strangers, I've just given maybe three out over the years (to writer and artist friends.) It's true that they're pricier than a Bic, but they have a beautiful feel when writing that I feel is worth the extra few bucks. If you want to save a few bucks, you can also get the non-metal ones, the plastic EnerGels are $9.97 for a pack of 8 at Walmart, but I lose them so infrequently that it would work out to maybe a couple bucks a year tops to write with the metal ones.
- kyleblarson 5y agoI am a chronic pen twirler so the weight of the pen and the distribution of said weight makes a big difference to me as well. Pens that are too light feel too flippy (technical term) when you twirl them.
- dlehman 5y agoWow, a fellow twirler! I too strongly consider the weight distribution and "twirl-ability" of my pens. In fact, I have my favourite writing pens, but I always keep a Pilot G2 because it's been my favourite twirling pen for many years.
- kumarvvr 5y agoI use the Platinum Preppy 02 pen. Bought it when I went to Japan. Kicking myself now because can't find it here in India. I love the pen because, writing with the nib in normal position gives a smooth writing experience and a great smooth flow. Flipping it allows me to write razor thin lines, perfect for my drawings / notes / etc. (But flip side is a lot more rougher). Also, the flip side of the nib allows me to write on paper that blots. I am from India. Any info on where I can buy quality fountain pens online?
- mangamadaiyan 5y agoTry https://makoba.com/ https://makoba.com/ for one. They have a decent selection of quality fountain pens. You get fountain-pen friendly stationery there as well.
- robofanatic 5y agoCheck out this article https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-55314701 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-55314701
- BeetleB 5y agoDepends what you mean by quality. Unfortunately, PenBBS[0] has suspended shipments to India temporarily due to COVID, but for their price they are quite good. You may want to keep an eye on the page to see when they will resume. In the US, there are sites like Goulet Pens, but that probably won't help someone in India. As someone else pointed out, India does make some decent pens. Fountain Pen Revolution[1] has gotten quite popular for their flex nibs (much cheaper than other good flex nibs), and is very likely a relabeled Indian pen (they are manufactured in India). You can Google to find the manufacturer in India - they have their own line of pens sold locally. I'm not sure I would recommend FPR for non-flex nibs, and you probably don't want to use a flex nib for daily writing. [0] https://www.etsy.com/shop/PENBBSOfficialStore?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1120856448 https://www.etsy.com/shop/PENBBSOfficialStore?ref=simple-sho... [1] https://fprevolutionusa.com/ https://fprevolutionusa.com/
- tushar-r 5y agoAmazon and William Penn are my gotos for pens. Tata Cliq Luxury has some, but most of them are from William Penn anyways.
- idoh 5y agoI’ve spent way too much money on fountain pens, and these are the ones I like the best: https://www.muji.us/products/aluminum-fountain-pen-e5a2 https://www.muji.us/products/aluminum-fountain-pen-e5a2 - less than $16 bucks too. Only Muji sells them so you won’t find them on the list here. But do buy ink and paper from jet pens.
- desireco42 5y agoMuji notebooks are amazing. Get a nice cover and enjoy them, especially if you use fountain pen like me, but other pens work just as fine because paper is awesome.
- dotancohen 5y ago> Description: WARNING: Cancer From an aluminium product? Or is it the ink?
- idoh 5y agoI saw that too. Who knows where the risk is from? In CA they have really strict rules around cancer labels so basically everything and every plance has them now.
- LeonidasXIV 5y agoI really enjoyed reading the cancer sign on the LinkedIn building in SF, I think they should put this warning on the website too.
- perryizgr8 5y agoI have discovered during my undergraduate studies that I learn better when I write down what I am trying to understand. I need not read back what I have written. Just the act of putting it to paper will drill it in my brain. For this purpose, I need a pen that can keep up with my thoughts. And the only kind of pens that can do that are ball pens. They last forever, they write from any angle, you don't have to worry about tilting it, just scratch away. I must have used ball pens by the dozen. However, now later in life, I find that ball pens are unpleasant to write with. I would much rather use a gel pen or whatever type is the pilot pen. I can actually read back what I wrote (slower speed means I take the time to properly form the letters) and it does not feel like I am scratching the paper.
- robbintt 5y agoI have exactly the same experience and daily practice. I use gel pens for comfort. I keep four journals for topics. My writing is terrible, but I have to keep up with thoughts.
- BeetleB 5y agoIf anyone reads this submission and wants to buy a Pilot Metropolitan, do note that Japanese pens like Pilot tend to be finer than their European counterparts. So a Pilot Medium nib is like a Fine nib in other brands. I've use both a Pilot medium and fine - both produce good output, but the fine nib will definitely feel scratchy compared to the medium. The Pilot Metropolitan was my favorite for a number years - I liked it more than more expensive pens that I had bought. What finally dethroned it was PenBBS[0] 309[1]. Their nibs are fairly good, although I did eventually replace it with a Goulet nib[2]. On top of that, I smoothened the nib with a micromesh and it's super smooth! She had stopped shipping to the US because of long shipping times due to COVID and too many customers complained - I don't see the notice on the page any more so she may have resumed shipping to the US. Do expect long shipping times, though. For those looking to get into fountain pens: The choice of paper will matter as much as the pen! If your city has a Japanese store (e.g. Kinokuniya) you'll get a good selection of notebooks/paper there - fountain pens are quite commonly used in Japan, so their papers are designed to handle them well. [0] https://www.etsy.com/shop/PENBBSOfficialStore?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1120856448§ion_id=23650161 https://www.etsy.com/shop/PENBBSOfficialStore?ref=simple-sho... [1] Note that almost all the PenBBS pens use the same feed/nib, so the choice of model is mostly about the filling mechanism and external design. At the moment, it seems they don't have my particular 309 model, so you may want to try some other model. [2] https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/goulet-nibs https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/goulet-nibs
- Ancapistani 5y ago> Japanese pens like Pilot tend to be finer than their European counterparts ... except the Vanishing Point (and variants that use the same nib unit, like the Decimo). Those are pretty much use the European scale. > Note that almost all the PenBBS pens use the same feed/nib Yes, but it's a standard size - a #5 or #6, I believe. The few PenBBS pens I have mostly have Jowo nibs fitted to them.
- BeetleB 5y agoMost are #6, I believe. Be careful when swapping - some of the pen's caps are not long enough to accommodate 3rd party #6 nibs. You have to Google to see if yours can.
- vgeek 5y agoNo one has mentioned the masterful interlinking to both existing sharable content (that may also rank for frequently searched queries) and product detail pages. They 100% understand SEO and do it correctly by providing objectively useful content. If you like TWSBI Eco fountain pens, the Pilot Prera is similar in styling with Pilot's great quality. The lid's sealing vacuum like feel and click is one of the neatest of any pen I've had.
- youniverse 5y agoI had a phase where I bought a ton of pens to actually find some I like so I'll list some here in no order: S-Gel Sharpie / Uni-Ball Signo 307 / G2 Pilot / Pentel RSVP 0.5-0.7mm (I get these for the office, also good balance for pen spinning) If you're into pencils these are my personal favorites: Uni Alpha Gel (shake for lead to come out, most gel cushion) / Any Rotring / Graphgear 1000 / Uni-Ball Air Micro / Zebra DelGuard
- ta666 5y ago
- ta666 5y ago
- torstenvl 5y agoI am shocked and disappointed that there isn't even a mention of the TUL GL1, which is far and away the best gel pen ever made. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096ENBP2/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096ENBP2/ If you read the reviews, you'll see that the only negative ones relate to particular experiences (missing pens from the shipment, pens were used and had low ink, etc.) rather than the product itself.
- chrisbennet 5y agoI love these pens (TUL). I was also surprised that they weren’t mentioned.
- infologics 5y ago[dead]
- gonzo 5y agoMy goto is still the Rotring 600.
- kseistrup 5y agoFor those who consider buying a fountainpen and need advice I recommend r/fountainpens on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/ https://www.reddit.com/r/fountainpens/ Not only is the subreddit very helpful, the hive mind also has a vast knowledge of fountainpens, nibs, inks, papers, …
- keehun 5y agoDoes anyone have a list like this but for pencils?
- beermonster 5y agoJet Pens to the rescue https://www.jetpens.com/blog/The-22-Best-Pencils-for-2021-Wooden-and-Mechanical-Pencils/pt/30 https://www.jetpens.com/blog/The-22-Best-Pencils-for-2021-Wo...
- lb1lf 5y agoIf you intend to use them for writing, my go-to writing pencil for years has been the Mitsubishi Hi-Uni in H or 2H; the lead is virtually unbreakable, it holds its point for a decent amount of time and is smoother to write with than just about any 2H pencil I've ever used. I'm a leftie, but the Hi-Unis aren't as prone to digging into the paper when pushed across the paper as most other pencils I've tried - despite the excellent point! Get a KUM sharpener, too, while you're at it, and chances are you'll never look back. (Anecdotally, all the kids in my son's class (2nd grade/7yo) now use Hi-Unis after his teacher realized that his handwriting was more legible than most because of the consistent, fine line -and that she hardly ever needed to help him sharpen his pencil; the wood in the Hi-Unis is very dense and well assembled, so it doesn't catch in the sharpener like a lot of cheaper pencils does.)
- bmj 5y agoGet a KUM sharpener, too, while you're at it, and chances are you'll never look back. This. You can spend a lot of money on a sharpener, but the KUMs are more affordable and work very well.
- brenainn 5y agoHad a Kaweco Sport for all of university and several years after until it finally broke. I now have a Sailor Pro Gear Slim that I'm very fond of. I use Sailor Seiboku ink but my favourite is Pilot Tsuki-Yo. If you do a significant amount of hand writing, do yourself a favour and buy a good pen. It turns the otherwise thoughtless physical act of writing into something pleasurable.
- clement_b 5y agoI've been completely addicted to Pilot Frixion pens. Perfect for sketching UIs or drawing charts (when like me you need several tries to get them right!). Not always reliable and ink not lasting long, but the ability to erase proper ink (black AND colors) is a godsend.
- pjerem 5y agoInteresting. I tried them multiple times in my life and I don’t know if I misuse them but they always rapidly felt like they are drying and not providing enough ink, if sometimes, at all. It’s sad because I really want to love them.
- syotos2 5y agoI love the Frixion pens. I use a lighter to erase larger amounts of ink or when I feel like showing off :) You just need to move quickly so you don't burn the paper
- dotancohen 5y agoWith 50+ tabs open it's hard to be sure, but as soon as I opened that webpage my browser (Firefox 95, Kubuntu 20.04) locked up. After maybe 15 seconds I was then prompted to choose a location to save to. I didn't save, so I don't know what would have been saved. Maybe the incident had nothing to do with this site, but the incident happened as the page was loading.
- bloopernova 5y agoSince you're on Firefox, may I suggest using vertical/tree/nested tabs at the side of the Firefox window? "Tree Style Tab" is the extension I use. Here's a quick screenshot showing its organizational capabilities: https://imgur.com/gallery/wsHSfSt https://imgur.com/gallery/wsHSfSt Mine uses a user style CSS so looks a little different to the default install, but I highly recommend it! If you want to see my CSS, I can share it, just let me know! https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tree-style-tab/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tree-style-ta... https://github.com/piroor/treestyletab https://github.com/piroor/treestyletab
- dotancohen 5y agoI do use Tree Style Tab. That and Vimperator are what keep me on Firefox - well that and the fact that I don't want to see another browser monopoly. But thank you for suggesting it, TST is a wonderful tool.
- bloopernova 5y agoExcellent! I feel like an itinerant evangelist, always trying to convert people to the Tree Style Tab way ;)
- noufalibrahim 5y agoI practice calligraphy regularly and use a fountain pen and a mechanical pencil for all my daily notes. I used a Waterman expert for a long time till a "friend" dropped it and destroyed it. Since then, I bought a Noodlers Ahab. The company had a quirky sense of humour and with a black ink called "heart of darkness", who can resist? I bought it primarily because the nib is flexible and you can use it for pseudo Copperplate and Spencerian scripts (which I use for headings). https://www.amazon.in/Noodlers-Ahab-Flex-Nib-Fountain/dp/B0065R2RKS https://www.amazon.in/Noodlers-Ahab-Flex-Nib-Fountain/dp/B00... The mechanical pencil I use is a Pentel Graphgear 1000. It's easily the Mercedes Benz of mechanical pencils. Pentel is generally good at this but the Gg 1000 takes it to the next level. It's very well balanced, comfortable to hold and has a few small features that protect the delicate parts quite well. https://www.amazon.in/Pentel-Graphgear-1000-Drafting-Pencil/dp/B0013NE3PQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=pentel+graphgear+1000&qid=1641451338&s=office&sprefix=pentel+graph%2Coffice-products%2C242&sr=1-1 https://www.amazon.in/Pentel-Graphgear-1000-Drafting-Pencil/...
- phreeza 5y agoDoes the Pentel have a mechanism to rotate the lead? I use a Kuru Toga for that reason, and quite like it, though the machining tolerance could be a bit better, i might try a Pentel for that reason but worry about the lead getting flat on one side as I write.
- noufalibrahim 5y agoGood question. I used to used cheap ones back in the day and developed a habit of manually rotating as I write. It's become instinct and part of my muscle memory so I don't need this as a feature though I see its value.
- cik 5y agoNo. Unfortunately this is where Kuru Toga shines. It's the only pencil I have for this reason.
- woolion 5y agoOnly the Kuru Toga have this system. You might want to try the Pentel Orenz which is another approach, with the (retractable) metal sleeve following the lead. Both features seem to me to "get inbetween" me and the pencil while drawing, that control over sharpness is nice, even with 0.5 leads. So ultimately I prefer to go with the Graphgear or the Pentel 120 A3DX (cheap, light, comfortable, reliable, but no retractable tip).
- notagoodidea 5y agoI switched back to foutain pens a year ago, wanting to reduce the crazy amount of ball pens I had laying around. I did not wanted it to be another rabbit hole niche hobby and after passing way too much time reading and watching stuff about it, I decided to go the pratical road : * 1 TWSBI Go with an Extra-Fine nib * 2 Lamy Safary with a Fine and Bold nib (and two extra nibs Extra Fine and Medium) The Lamy are nib-swappable. All are in transparent plastic (demo pen) because I liked it. For the inks, I picked the Diamine brand that is a good balance between choice, quality and affordable. It was the affordable, low-maintenance and pragmatic road. If someone wanted just a more fancy foutain pen, I would advise to look at the Lamy Studio. It use the same nibs than the Safari and are also nib-swappable. This journey made me realize that Moleskine notebook paper is from perfect to meh with a high-variability in quality. I think my next step would be to pick my next notebook either from Rhodia or Leuchtturm or something with Tomoe River paper (probably Rhodia, simply because it is easier to find). The best site I found showcasing and reviewing ink is https://mountainofink.com/ https://mountainofink.com/ I always check the feedback there to pick up my inks even if I focused on one brand by convenience. EDIT: I also draw a little bit with my pens.
- neilfrndes 5y agoThis has been my experience with notebooks as well, both Moleskin and Leuchttrum (much less) cause feathering with fountain ink pens. I've been using Rhodia web notebooks for a couple of years and they have been great consistently. The only thing I find lacking in Rhodia is a pen loop, so I buy adhesive pen loops separately.
- beermonster 5y agoI have a Rhodia with a pen loop so might be worth checking again as they may have extended their range
- beermonster 5y agoMoleskine paper is horrible which is a shame as the rest of the product is good. Sadly that’s one of the most important parts for me - especially if using a fountain pen or rollerball
- porker 5y agoI discovered the Unipin fine line pens recently and am really digging how dense the black is. Better than the Pilot ones I've used before.
- hutzlibu 5y agoSlightly offtopic: How is the state of art for digital pens and hardware? Are they slowly about to get to the level of real pens? Because I would much rather prefer doing straight digital notes, but the combinations I tried out(some time ago), were not really satisfying. Which is why I also still am using a real pen. But with the right tech, I might switch, even though I am aware, that the real feel of a pen on a paper will likely not be achievable.
- jrib 5y agohttps://remarkable.com/ https://remarkable.com/ is there in my opinion. It feels very similar. I'd like to get to the point where I can ocr and index my notes. The software is not there yet but there is a hacker community around the device and they do provide ssh access at least. There's some backlash recently because they switched to a subscription model for some features. When I ordered a year ago they had a generous return policy. I kept mine after trying it. If they still have that policy, I'd suggest at least giving it a try to see if you like it.
- bnastic 5y agoI wish there was a bit more overlap between US and UK writing supplies. For some reason, certain Japanese pen companies will sell Pen A in the US only, while having Pen B for European markets. Eg. Pilot C4 0.25, you can still only find it from one small boutique seller in the UK (at one point I thought I bought all of their stock of 025). I had to order notebooks with Tomoe River 52g paper (well, “had to”…) from JetPens some years ago, as no one in the UK had them. (The situation has improved somewhat in recent years, on both fronts)
- jokoon 5y agoIsn't ballpoint generally the least fragile? Although I often have ballpoints that "dry" out, and I never know how to fix them: should I heat them? Put the tip in water?
- ycombinete 5y agoBallpoint pens use an oil-based ink. So I’d think that warm soapy water would do the trick. Or a solvent like acetone.
- jaclaz 5y agoNot particularly scientific, mind you, but often works: 1) heat the refill slightly (NO flames, NO heat gun, some friction rolling it in your hands or a hair drier or run some hot water on it) you want around 40° or maybe 50° C, not more 2) try writing on your shoes (rubber) sole or on one of those largish rubber bands or even on the side of your car wheel (the idea is that there is more friction on rubber and the ball will start rotating again) Acetone and similar solvents risk to affect the plastics (if any) in case you want to try with a liquid (immerging just the tip in it for a few minutes), alcohol might do it.
- zepn 5y agoThe best pen is the Muji gel. 0.38, 0.5 and 0.7mm, about £1, multiple colours, refills sold separately.
- olliej 5y agoThis could possibly be the right comment thread: when I was a kid I went to school in the UK for 6 months while my mum worked there, and I found a reasonably thin fountain pen. They didn't seem super uncommon then/there, but I haven't ever found anything similar in stores in NZ or the US. Does anyone have any suggestions of what brands/models I should look at nowadays?
- frereubu 5y agoI got back into fountain pens recently, and one of the slightly humbling things about it is having to re-learn to write. It had been so long since I wrote much beyond "Happy Christmas, lots of love" and my name, that my writing, which wasn't great to start with, had become an almost unreadable scrawl. The first pen I bought was a Kaweco Sport and I really enjoy writing with it. For nostalgia's sake I then bought a Lamy Safari (they were all the rage at school), but found that, unlike the Kaweco Sport, it dried out pretty quickly because I still don't write that much. After reading through this I've just bought the clear TWSBI Eco-T Fountain Pen - one downside of the Sport is that its small size means that you don't get much ink in one fill (I prefer to use piston fillers to reduce the plastic waste of disposable cartridges).
- odiroot 5y agoMy handwriting is absolutely horrible so I'm not a "writing enthusiast". Still, I love rollerballs so much. Water-based ink IMHO looks much nicer and is easier to write with. I do buy cheap Schneiders off Amazon. Not sure if getting anything more expensive makes any sense.
- bradwood 5y agoFisher Space Pen [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Pen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Pen
- jrichardshaw 5y agoI'd like to add a bit of love for the timeless classic, the Bic Cristal. Reliable and consistent, and sufficiently cheap you can have them scattered all over home and office so there's one nearby when you need it. Apparently ~5 billion are sold each year. Thinking about it now makes me a little sad that I've switched entirely onto an iPad instead of paper and pen.
- AndrewOMartin 5y agoTotally agree, I love living in a sparse cloud of Bics. Favouring a tool because of its ubiquity should be called the "bic/vim strategy".
- jrichardshaw 5y agoThat's a great description.
- bloopernova 5y agoI too have switched from my big hardcover Leuchtturm1917 A4 to using "just" Emacs and org-mode for all my notes and TODO items. I used to have a really nice system for writing bullet points that described the item: dot for new item, arrow for pushed to next day, check/tick for done, star for important, cross for cancelled, etc etc. I just really wish all that stuff would appear automagically in my Emacs org-journal folder. I haven't tried an iPad pro for writing, I just have the 10.4" normal iPad and don't like trying to write on that. It's compounded by my preference for super-fine pens, so tablet-based writing just feels so clunky. I'm not sure what point I was trying to make there. Maybe my need for more coffee this morning?
- jrichardshaw 5y agoSounds like you moved from one nice system to another! I pretty much moved over to a 12.9" iPad Pro + Pencil when they first came out. It replaced my "system" of doing derivations on the blank side of the leftover cover pages from the department printer. They were then "filed" into a giant pile in the corner of my desk. Some part of the chaos of this system was deliberate - unbound sheets that you only write on one side of are great for derivations as you can lay out many of them on a desk to see what you wrote a few pages ago. Still the iPad is a vast improvement for me, even if you can't see everything at once. Also I don't think the iPad Pro would improve things for you, it's great if you're used to the wonderful Bic Cristal, but you definitely won't get the precision of a super fine pen, though maybe the newer generation is better on that front.
- eternityforest 5y agoThe only good pen for me is a pressurized pen, either rite in the rain, fischer, or similar. No other pen stands up to being left unused as long as I leave them in between actually needing a pen, and still is ready for action instantly.
- wombatmobile 5y agoI still have my beloved Parker 45s but the squeeze reservoirs perished. I tried quite a few screw and pull piston reservoirs but all have the problem of not venting or something so the ink only runs for a short while then is held back by vacuum (or something). Has anyone found a source of Parker 45 reservoirs that work?
- darthrupert 5y agoAw jeez. Every time a thread like this hits the front page, another increasingly expensive gets added to my collection. This time, Tactile Turn Bolt. If past is any indication, I will be fascinated by it for a month and then it will just travel alongside everything else, with my 10 other pens and pencils and 3 notebooks (all 5% filled and then forgotten). Oh well. Whoever receives my inheritance will have an interesting time with all these. I hope they don't just immediately discard them.
- mattowen_uk 5y agoI use: https://www.cultpens.com/i/q/PL00019/pilot-g2-07-gel-ink-rollerball-pen-blg207 https://www.cultpens.com/i/q/PL00019/pilot-g2-07-gel-ink-rol... Perfect for my scrappy always-upper-case chicken scratch. I've tried so many other types of rollerball pens (as a leftie with dyslexia, fountain pens are completely off the menu), and how found these to be the only type of pen I can actually write with.
- bloopernova 5y agoShoutout to a very niche Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalheadpens/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalheadpens/ That's a subreddit for people who like mechanical keyboards, headphones, and pens. :D I haven't yet posted there, but only because I need to clean my desk to properly display everything!
- panda88888 5y agoFor those interested in fountain pens, inks, and papers, I’ve found Fountain Pen Network to be a great resource. https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/ https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/
- panda88888 5y agoI love the Uniball Signo .38 mm gel pens. They are smooth and doesn’t gum up at the tip. https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-ball-Signo-UM-151-Gel-Pen-0.38-mm-Off-Black-5-Color-Bundle/pd/19905 https://www.jetpens.com/Uni-ball-Signo-UM-151-Gel-Pen-0.38-m...
- Schroedingersat 5y agoThis is a marketing blogspam toplist. How did it get upvoted?
- globular-toast 5y agoI've tried different pens and even learnt calligraphy. I was quite good at it, to the extent that people didn't believe I did it. But I don't enjoy writing quickly with pens with no friction. My preferred writing implement is a pencil. But if I'm going to use a pen, my favourite has always been a simple Bic ballpoint. When I come across any other type of pen, it is a gamble whether it will work properly or not. When I come across a Bic, wherever it might be, I would put money on it working first time with no fuss at all.
- greeklish 5y agoAre the Xiaomi pens any good? For 0.40 Euros per pen they seem quite economical.
- splix 5y agoI had bought a bunch of different pens a year ago. Different brands and different models. My goal was to find a good pen for notetaking and basic diagram drawing. The first thing I learned was that most of the fancy pens are more suitable for drawing, not writing. One I liked that may work for me is Micron 03. But in the end, I stopped with Pentel Hybrid Technica 0.5. It's more like a high-quality mechanical pen that is comfortable to handle and smooth to write, without dirty marks on paper, etc.
- peatmoss 5y agoMildly OT, but does anyone know of a good source for pen hardware for pen turning that is any good? I have discovered that turning wooden pens on my lathe is a good "easy win" project on days that I don't feel like doing larger woodworking projects. Unfortunately, I've found that most of the pen kits are mediocre from a writing perspective.