The Pen Addict

Pen Rankings Update - Top 5 Pens

It has been a while since I updated my Top 5 pens list.  The list is always in a state of flux, but it gives you a good idea of what pens I have been using the most of late.

The current list is:

1. Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.38mm

2. Pentel Slicci 0.3mm

3. Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.4mm (Coleto Model)

4. Sharpie Pen

5. Uni-Ball Signo RT 0.38mm

The Pentel Slicci had been my #1 for all of last year, but the Uni-Ball Signo DX has won me over for now.  I love the brightness of the new colors, and the regular sized barrel diameter does make a difference over time when compared to the Slicci's thinner barrel.  I think the Slicci has a sharper line by a hair, but I find myself reaching for the Uni-Ball Signo DX first more times than not.

The Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto is a great product.  You can mix and match colors, barrels, and line widths to your hearts content, and I am doing my best to try them all.  The Coleto is far superior to the regular Hi-Tec-C single cartridge pen, mainly for consistencies sake.  Too many stops and starts on the regular Hi-Tec-C give me fits when I'm jotting down notes.

When I need a break from one of my steel tipped gel ink pens, I usually grab the plastic tipped Sharpie Pen.  It is really smooth, and always fun to write or doodle with.  The newer colors of the Uni-Ball Signo RT have brought me back to this pen more frequently of late.  Lavender/Black is the best - I'll have to do a review of it soon.

I'll try to do a better job this year in keeping this list up to date

Top 10 Pen Reviews of 2008

I started The Pen Addict in late 2007, but it was early in 2008 before it really started to take off.  Since the site has picked up a lot of new readers along the way, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the top pen reviews of the last year.  I pulled the numbers from Google Analytics, and here are the results.  (Note - some of the posts are from the old blog address, so I have linked the original post and comments since the comments didn't make the transfer over to the new site.)

1. Sharpie Pen

Easily the most popular review of the year, the Sharpie Pen spawned 42 comments on the original thread and dozens of emails asking where they can be found.  Fortunately, these pens are now on store shelves almost everywhere, and remain one of my favorite pens.

2. Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.38mm
One of the best all-around micro-tip pens, the Uni-Ball Signo DX is a workhorse.  I probably have a dozen of these now in various colors and sizes.  (Original Post)

3. Pilot FriXion Erasable Gel Ink Pen
The Pilot Frixion is a pen you are either going to love or hate.  For me, it was hate, but for many of you, it was love.  (Original Post)

4. Pilot G-3 0.38mm Black
This is a really popular pen, and I always have a place for it in my arsenal.  It just flat out works.  (Original Post)

5. Muji Gel Ink Pen 0.38mm Black
After hearing repeatedly about this pen, a reader was kind enough to send me this Muji Gel.  It works really well, and the price makes them one of the best bangs for the buck - if you can get your hands on them.  (Original Post)

6. Uni-Ball Kuru Toga Mechanical Pencil
Given enough time, the Uni-Ball Kuru Toga review may take over the Sharpie Pen in the top spot.  It is impressive that this review has only been up for two weeks and is in the #6 spot overall, and #1 since I moved to my new domain.  This is the pencil that took the blogosphere by storm.

7. Zebra Sarasa Stick 0.4mm
The series of pens I have been reviewing from Pen Addict reader Bryan in Japan has been a hit, and the Zebra Sarasa Stick has been tops so far.

8. Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.28mm Brown/Black
Readers told me time and time again to try the Uni-Ball Signo DX Brown/Black, and once I finally did, I loved it.  I ordered the 0.38mm the next day.

9. Lamy Safari
My first foray into non-disposable fountain pens was a hit with this Lamy Safari.  The Lime Green body with chrome clip is a real looker, and I am ready to give more fountain pens a shot in 2009.

10. Zebra Disposable Brush Sign Pen - Super Fine
Brush pens are not my forte, but artists, sketchers, and doodlers alike all sing the praises of them.  This Zebra Disposable was my first, and I can see why they are so popular.

Thank you to everybody who made 2008 such a great year for The Pen Addict.  Here's to another great year in 2009!

Updated Favorite Pens Ranking

I updated my favorite pen rankings on the sidebar to reflect what I am using and enjoying the most these days.  All of the entries are linked to the post where I review the pen.  After repeated use of both the Uni-Ball Signo DX and the Zebra Sarasa Clip, I have jumped them both from off the list to into the top five.  They replaced the Pilot G-2 0.38 and the Pilot Precise V5 RT.

Labels: Coleto, Hi-Tec-C, Pentel, Pilot, Rankings, Signo DX, Signo RT, Slicci, Uni-ball, Zebra Sarasa

Current Favorite Pens

I have added a field to the right sidebar which I plan on keeping up to date with my current top 5 favorite pens.  Since I switch pens so frequently, I thought you may like to see which models are currently striking my fancy.

The current list is:

• 1. Pentel Slicci 0.3mm
• 2. Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.4mm
• 3. Pilot G-2 0.38mm
• 4. Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.28mm
• 5.  Pilot Precise V5 RT 0.5mm

The links go to the page where I reviewed the pen, or a model similar in the case of the Uni-Ball (the review was on the 0.38mm model, but I prefer the 0.28mm and will be reviewing it soon).  Also,  for the Hi-Tec-C, I very much prefer the Coleto barrel to the standard barrel, so that is what I am basing my ranking on.

Labels: Hi-Tec-C, Pens, Pentel, Pilot, Precise V5, Rankings, Signo DX, Slicci, Uni-ball