The Pen Addict

Top 5 Pens - Fall 2011

Time for an update to my current Top 5 pens list. As I always state about this particular list, it is a snapshot of the pens I am currently enjoying the most, not a list of what I think are the best pens of all time.

One thing I am finding now that I am working from the house full time is that I haven’t been using multi pens as frequently. I’m not exactly sure why, but for my daily note taking requirements, there isn’t as much of a need to mix up the colors as there was when I was in the IT field. My pen needs have definitely morphed to fit my work needs.

On to the list…

1) Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.3mm Grip Black

This pen (and #2) have far and away made the most appearances on this list. I keep going back to the well time and time again - why is that? Quality never goes out of style. From short notes, to page after page of details, I never get tired of how this pen writes. Black ink, micro fine 0.3mm tip, and a rubber grip. I reach for this pen constantly. It’s crazy how often I use this pen and don’t have a review on The Pen Addict of this exact model. Same with #2 - I must correct this asap!

2) Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.38mm Black

As much as I enjoy #1 on the list, this is the pen that leaves the house with me the most. It is a more durable and less sensitive to the environment choice. I don’t have to worry about banging it around, and it writes great outside when I’m watching soccer practice. I have said it a million times, but this is the pen I recommend the most to new micro tip users.

3) Kuretake Fudegokochi Brush Pen Super Fine

The lone shocker on this list. I never would have thought that a brush pen would be good for note taking, but this one is extremely versatile. I find myself reaching for it more and more, and while I keep waiting for it to break down, it is showing no signs so far. If you want to mix it up a bit, this is the way to go.

4) Pilot Acroball 0.7mm Blue

My lack of color ink use is disturbing. I have historically been a fan of writing with non-standard colors, but I have gone back to basics recently. The Acroball not only has supplanted the Uni-Ball Jetstream as my go to ballpoint, it is the lone non-black ink pen I have been using recently.

5) Uni-Ball Signo 207 Micro Needle Tip Black

A long time standby, now in a not so easy to find needle tip. If the exact same pen comes in both a conical and a needle tip, I am going to pick the needle tip 100% of the time. The only problem you might have with this 207 is finding it. Some readers are able to find them in their local office supply stores, I have only been able to find them on Amazon.

Pilot Acroball 0.5mm Blue Review

For regular readers of The Pen Addict, you know what type of pen I am referring to when I talk about hybrid ballpoints, but for the uninitiated, let me recap real quick.

Traditional ballpoint pens are oil-based inks, which gives them certain properties that aren't so great. They tend to be messy and have a faint smell, but they write very smoothly. They are also very low-cost to manufacture, which is why you see them everywhere you go.

Hybrid ballpoint inks have gained in popularity over the past decade with the Uni-Ball Jetstream line of pens. The Jetstream ink proved to be smoother, darker, and more consistent than traditional ballpoint ink. The cost was greater, but the results were worth it to many people.

In the last two years, all of the major pen manufacturers have jumped into the hybrid ballpoint category. Zebra has the Surari, Pentel has the Vicuna, and Pilot has the Acroball (called the Easy Touch Pro in the US), each with their own ink formulation. All of these rank as some of my favorite pens to use on a daily basis. The Jetstream has topped my personal chart for as long as I can remember, but there is a new sheriff in town.

The Pilot Acroball impressed me from day one with its smooth, dark ink and exceptional grip. You would think the grip wouldn't play into the equation that much, but it can be a very important piece of the puzzle. I use the 0.7mm Acroball in both blue and black ink quite frequently, but the Jetstream 0.5mm was still my favorite hybrid ballpoint. I love the super fine line!

When I saw the 0.5mm Acroball released at JetPens, I couldn't get my hands on one fast enough. The lines I can write with this pen are very fine and tight, and it has the same grip as the original, which I love. The real question is will this pen replace my beloved Jetstream Sport 0.5mm?

Yes.

There is one thing to remember about 0.5mm ballpoint pens before you jump into them blindly - they are scratchier than most pens. This doesn't bother me one bit because the actual output is more important to me, but I have recommended the Jetstream 0.5mm several times only to have readers tell me it was too scratchy for them. Compared to an 0.7mm gel ink pen or 1.0mm ballpoint, sure, they are scratchy. But all things considered, they write very well, and the Acroball 0.5mm may be the best of the bunch.

Review: Pilot Acroball 3 Color Multi Pen

The first time I used the Pilot Acroball, I loved it.  From the smooth, clean lines to maybe the best grip in the business, my love for the Acroball hasn't waned at all since that time.  In fact, I keep one within reach at all times, and find myself going to it more frequently than my Jetstreams.  So when JetPens started carrying the Acroball 3 Color multi pen, it was a no-brainer order for me.

The multi pen version is just as great as the single barrel originals.  The ink cartridges write just as well, and the grip is identical.  But you know what?  I can't get into ballpoint style multi pens as much as their gel ink counterparts.  The is really nothing wrong with this pen at all, but I prefer the single barrel Acroball (and Jetstream for that matter) much more than the multi pen.  This isn't the case at all with my gel ink multi pens.  I like them as much, if not more, than the single cartridge versions.  Why is that?

I don't have a great answer, but for me, I think it boils down to my writing form.  Ballpoints lend themselves to a looser, more flowing writing style, and the wide barrel doesn't allow me to write as cleanly.  But I don't seem to have this issue with wide barrel gel ink pens.  I don't know if I am making any sense at all (I am writing this while watching Tosh.0 so my brain has shut down), but I have noticed this for a while.  My ballpoint multi pens just don't get a lot of use despite being nice pens.

Click here for the XL review.

Review: Pilot Acroball 0.7mm Blue

I reviewed an 0.7mm black Pilot Acroball this past summer, and I recently picked up and reviewed the Americanized version - called the Pilot Easy Touch Pro, but I think this blue ink 0.7mm Acroball is the best of the bunch.

Anytime I have reviewed this pen, I always mention how much I like the barrel design.  It has the proper feel and weight, and the grip is fantastic.  Seeing a few of the Pilot G-2 elements in the design, I would love it if the G-2 was updated to this style and grip.  How long has the G-2 been around in its current form?  Even the Pilot G-Knock BeGreen (the eco-friendly G-2) has a better barrel.  Sorry for the digression, but this is simple barrel design done right.

As nice as the barrel is, the writing performance really shines.  Generally with gel or liquid ink pens, I prefer black ink, but with ballpoints and other hybrids, I choose blue more often than not.  The blue ink of the Pilot Acroball is a great color, and lays down perfectly clean and smooth.  I think the only other similar pen I use more is the Uni-Ball Jetstream Basic Series 0.5mm blue.  If that isn't enough, this pen will only set you back $2.25, so if you like the Jetstream, the Acroball is definitely worth checking out.

Click here for the XL review.

Product Links:
Pilot Acroball from JetPens
Idea Journal from Doane Paper

Review: Pilot Easy Touch Pro

I finally came across the Pilot Easy Touch Pro on a recent Staples run after having my eyes peeled for it for the past few months.  This pen is the boorish American cousin of the hip looking Japanese Pilot Acroball.  Fortunately, some of the basic design elements translate.

If you happen to own both versions of the pen, you will notice right off the bat that they both share the same overall design.  From the molding of the barrel to the wonderful herringbone style grip (best grip ever?), they are essentially the same.  The only real difference is that the Easy Touch Pro has a more professional looking color scheme, as opposed to the fun colors available in the Japanese market.  This seems fairly standard for the Americanized version of pens - make them appealing to the everyday office worker, or the company supply orderer.

From a performance standpoint, I don't have an exact comparison, since the Acroball I have is 0.7mm, and the Easy Touch Pro is 1.0mm.  I can tell that the writing properties are the same - both write very smoothly and have the same feel - but the 1.0mm Easy Touch Pro comes off just a slight bit messier when compared to the squeaky clean line of the 0.7mm Acroball.  Compared to other similar pens though, the Easy Touch Pro is an excellent ballpoint alternative.  If you like the Uni-Ball Jetstream line, then you will like this pen as well.

Click here for the XL review.