I’m not into fine point pens. I believe I said it when I originally reviewed this pen. However the line was so lovely and the color so brilliant I charged ahead and kept writing with it, until this past Friday.
The pen on the right fell apart when I depressed the clicker. I attempted to screw it back together to no avail. I moved on to the pen on the left which was writing fine momentarily until the tip broke and scratched the page so hard I thought it ripped.
I have never had two pens, back to back in the same sitting, break. So, the Pilot Precise and I are breaking up. The review is revised down to a ✍🏾.
Maybe it was a trend or something in the early seventies but there was this wave of interest in calligraphy and fountain pens. I might have begged my mom for a fountain pen to which she obliged, one with cartridges. Once those cartridges ran out, I was done with my fountain pen fascination and moved on to whatever fickle elementary school girls were into.
Having been writing non-stop and talking about pens just as much the last few years, I wanted something different. The memory of that fountain pen came to mind, so I started looking for a disposable set. The first set I found was the Zebra Fuente Fountain Pen set, assorted colors of course.
These pens could not have come in more disappointing packaging. A plastic baggie, really? This is not the packaging I saw in the photos when I ordered so I knew that these pens were going to janky but much to my surprise, they were not.
The barrel, cap and clip are made of translucent plastic reminiscent of gelatin. The pens are short and chunky much like the writer. The length of the pen however, is not a hinderance to writing.
On one side of the barrel is an ink level indicator, which could be handy or not. For those who plan ahead, an ink indicator could be useful for determining when to reorder. For others the indicator is for aesthetic purposes only.
The grip is a clear plastic so the ink flow to the nib is visible. The plastic grip for this pen works because it is, again, a thicker pen, so slippage is not a problem.
I thought that writing with the pen would be a scratchy affair but the experience was quite the opposite. The look of a fountain nib for me, adds to the visual experience of seeing words, symbols, or drawings on paper. The tip of the Zebra fountain rolls as smooth as any rollerball. The ink, at least so far has not come flying out in a blob-filled mess.
The Zebra Fuente Fountain Pen is a solid entry point for use as a daily writing instrument. Since it is disposable and relatively inexpensive, if you hate it, you can just pass it on to somebody who won’t. ✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾.5
I discovered the TUL .7 mm medium point retractable gel pens while looking for TUL Disc Planner refill pages at Office Depot (TUL is an Office Depot brand). I have purchased several sets of these pens for the ink color assortment and because some of the limited-edition sets are visually lovely. The question is, do they do their job as writing instruments?
The “basic” color set is all plastic except for the metal pocket clip and the pen tip i.e. the end of the cartridge from which the ink flows. What keeps the whole cartridge from flying out of the barrel is the nose cone, which for the TUL is plastic as well.
The grip is a perforated rubber (preferred) for no slippage and is of moderate size so there should be little hand fatigue when there is considerable writing to accomplish.
The clicker/thrust mechanism easily depresses and retracts when operated and features a clear flat-topped outer case, revealing the pen/ink color in the assorted color sets. The special edition black ink sets do not have the clear outer casing likely for aesthetic reasons.
When writing, the ink flow is smooth, and the tip does not skip nor leave ink blobs. Any skips observed would likely be from having a tad bit too much coffee when writing. The ink colors are rich especially in the solid barrel limited edition assorted set.
Though the colors are great and the tip rolls smoothly there are two issues with the TUL, ink longevity and overall construction. I have pitched at least one full set in the last year because the ink dried out. Critics may say that the pens are not being used enough and that is a possibility, however, there are sets from other brands that I have had multiple years that did not dry out as quickly as the TUL. In terms of construction, though the grip is quite suitable, the pen feels and sounds flimsy as one can hear the cartridge rattling around inside the barrel when writing.
The TUL is a basic pen, with great colors, think “great gowns, beautiful gowns”. If this is a writer’s pen of choice, I recommend keeping plenty on hand because they will run out quickly and if heavy handed, you may break a few. ✍🏾✍🏾.75
There is no escaping the Pilot G-2 gel retractable. I have written with them for years in various jobs because it is the standard work pen. Yet for personal writing, I steered clear since I had choices when using my own hard-earned cash. I may have been missing out in my rebellion.
The Pilot G-2 easily meets the physical specs of my favored pens as it has a ridged rubber grip and a clicker that does not stick.
The G-2 also comes in a variety of colors, point sizes, and finishes so one is not limited to the black, red and blue fine point of the office. Although the metallic variety is likely only practical for making art.
For writers of letters, notes, and journals, the bold variety G-2 1.0 with its rich color performs well, providing a smooth clean line despite its point size.
Not just for the office, the G-2 is highly recommended. These pens are long-lasting, reliable and a make a great edition to your writing instrument collection ✍🏽✍🏽✍🏽✍🏽.
Full disclosure, I purchased these pens because I thought they were cute. As a writing instrument, the Pentel EnerGel Pearl Deluxe RTX Gel pen outperforms said cuteness.
Writing is a smooth experience with a super clean line emanating from a .7 mm stable needle tip.
In general, a narrow tipped pen is not desired because I write hard and loopy and think the tip will break. Breakage is not an issue with the EnerGel Pearl. The non-slip rubber grip absorbs some of that pressure as well.
One thing I noticed and it may not be as clear in the photo, is that the manufactured date on the ink chamber says 2019. The pen was purchased in 2021 and is still writing in 2022👍🏾.
The clicker does the job and the clip bends out and snaps back into place when clipped to a notebook or shirt pocket.
The ink color stays true regardless of the paper color. The paper on the left is a grayish blue while that on the right is white.
If there is one thing that precludes the Pentel EnerGel Pearl Deluxe RTX from receiving that perfect rating, it is that thing it does similar to white clothing. The grip yellows over time. Otherwise this pen is a go to and highly recommended for your writing needs ✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾1/2.
These pens were purchased over two years ago and are still writing so that would be a +1 for the Uni-ball Vision Elite BLX .8 mm “bold” rollerball pen.
The Vision Elite BLX is obviously a stick pen, with a tight cap that snaps firmly into place.
The grip is fairly small and made of a hard etched plastic to prevent slippage.
The rollerball does its job providing a smooth no-skip ride against the paper. The ink on the tip is an indication of usage, not ink blobs.
The barrel and tip colors give some indication of the ink color, which is bold but not bright.
The lines are bold and the colors are deep and blackish.
Overall the Uni-ball Vision Elite BLX is serviceable and I will write with them until they dry up, but they are not preferred by this writer. The line is a tad heavy, I did not like the small plastic grip, and pens with caps are just another thing to keep up with. ✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾
A fave early on in the pandemic, I ran them so hard, the few I had were spent quickly. I had to re-up on the BIC Gel-ocity.
The BIC Gel-ocity is a .7 mm (fine-ish) medium point gel pen, which translates into lines that are clean and crisp. The colors are brilliant and are easily the richest of any pen reviewed here thus far.
The barrel is almost pliable, a thick rubber, that renders a really nice non-slip grip anywhere on the pen.
The thrust mechanism, i.e. “the clicker” clicks. When the pen is in its detracted position there is no sliding up and down of the casing over the clicker.
The Bic Gel-ocity, checks all the boxes and is great for any kind of writing, whether it is note taking for meetings, or journaling. This one is a fave, highly recommended! ✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾✍🏾
The juicy .7 mm medium in assorted colors is my go-to pen for journal writing, work and general note scribbling. In an effort to stretch out (again) I went for not only a rollerball, but a fine rollerball at that, the Pilot Precise V5 RT.
The grip is rubber and has a nice firm feel in the hand.
The clicker is the clickiest so there is no question as to whether the pen is depressed or not. The casing over the top of the clicker does slide, but that is not a deal-breaker.
The tip is really a thing of beauty, so much so that as a heavy-handed writer I was scared that I might bend it. No need to fret, the tip is solid and did not falter under pressure.
This fine tip makes a fine, clean line with no ink blobs and rich color. There was one skip noted in the sample below, however skips were never an issue when the pen was used as a daily writing instrument.
Overall the Pilot Precise V5 is highly recommended, is excellent for daily writing, and is well-suited for those who prefer a finer, cleaner line ✍🏾 ✍🏾 ✍🏾 ✍🏾.
Who hasn’t used a Sharpie? The pointed felt tip permanent marker has graced many a paper, posterboard and football (think T.O.). I have used the felt tips and even the Sharpie highlighters but never a gel pen from the brand, not until Amazon suggested it of course.
The S-Gel is built like a tank and is almost as impenetrable as one due to the little rubber piece on the tip when the pens are packaged.
Those bad boys were hard to remove and I basically had to write them off because prying off was so difficult. Look at the second pen from the right.
Once past the tip shenanigans the Sharpie S Gel performed well with the clickiest of clickers, and a juicy smooth line from the .7 mm medium point.
Since writing the sample on the left, many a journal page has been filled by the Sharpie S-Gel. They write smooth like butter every time.
So, if you are in the market for a new gel pen with a juicy line, the S-Gel should be a go-to choice. 🖊🖊🖊🖊
These pens ended up in the grab and go pen cup for my beloved to use. OMG the blobbiness of it all! I had to cut them loose. If you have these pens make sure you’re not writing on a public facing document or are anywhere near something that you can’t clean. These are now rated 🖊1/2 for emergency writing only.
I just refuse to let this ballpoint pen situation rest. I mean manufacturers are making them for a reason. I just haven’t seen compelling evidence for their sustainability in my stash until now, maybe. So let’s talk about the Pentel RSVP RT.
A medium ballpoint at 1.0 mm, the RSVP RT is another pen that the manufacturer claims gives a smooth, no skip experience.
The Pentel RSVP RT is a well constructed, almost beefy pen, with an indented rubber grip that feels great in the hand. The clicker (push button) is the clickiest and the in/out position is obvious.
The barrel is a clear thick plastic with the barrel colors reminiscent of Jell-O.
The question of course is, does the Pentel RSVP RT ballpoint live up to what the packaging says. The answer is for the most part, yes.
The Pentel RSVP RT is a smooth writing experience. It is not skip free, however the ballpoint rolls nicely on the page and the ink blobs are minimal. The feel is nice and the colors are truly representative of the barrel color. This pen is a keeper, that knocks one of its lesser competitors right out of my pen holder. 🖊🖊🖊🖊
If you use the Pentel RSVP RT, let me know your experience in the comments.
Not An Expert 