Posts filed under Ballpoint

Kaweco Frosted Sport Soft Mandarine Ballpoint Pen Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

The new collection of Frosted colors from Kaweco this year has been a fantastic edition that probably has many people scrambling to collect them all. The semi-translucent pastel body colors are perfect for spring and summer, and I doubt they'll be around long.

The particular model I have is the Soft Mandarine ballpoint, which is also available in five other colors. The Kaweco Sport ballpoint has been around for quite a while in all the regular colors and materials that you expect, but the soft pastel colors are refreshing. If you haven't used or seen one of these before, they're about the same size as a closed Kaweco Sport fountain pen, and feature a soft click mechanism at the top of the pen. The overall diameter is the same as the cap of a Sport fountain pen, but it's the same diameter for nearly the entire length of the pen, save the click button and cone. As you can imagine, writing with a chunky pen like this can take some getting used to. For the most part, it's a really comfortable writing experience, but I did find it to be slightly uncomfortable after a little while due to the short length. I like a bit more material on the pen to rest on my hand while I write, but this will vary from hand to hand.

The pen is very light, which makes it comfortable for short writing sprints, and I found it fairly easy to control even with the short body. Even though this pen is comparable in size to its fountain pen cousin, you have to factor in the cap on the fountain pen variant. Posting the cap gives you a good amount of extra length that makes it more comfortable to use and easier to control when writing. That's not to say that the ballpoint is difficult or uncomfortable, but they are much different writing experiences.

The included refill with this pen is a decent 1.0mm ballpoint with blue ink. It does skip a little and the lines aren't as crisp as I like, but it flows smoothly and always starts writing quickly after being unused for a while. As far as traditional ballpoints go, it's great. But, let's say you aren't a fan of ballpoints. That's okay, because I'm not either. Luckily, the Kaweco Sport ballpoint line uses a common refill format: the D1. This opens up your refill options by a lot, with over 60 choices on JetPens as of this writing. With that amount of variety, you can find a good combination of tip size and color to fit your writing needs.

Replacing the refill is an easy process, and I really enjoyed discovering the unique refill mount system on this pen. Instead of the traditional method of a spring in the tip of the pen that works directly against the refill to provide resistance, the spring is built into the nock mechanism. This means that there isn't a spring in the nose of the pen that is either stuck to the refill or can fall out when you remove the refill. I've never had good luck finding a lost spring on a carpet floor. The D1 refill is friction-fit into the nock mechanism, and requires a good amount of force to remove and replace. This is good because it means the refill won't fall out by accident in your pocket or bag.

Overall, I've really enjoyed using the Kaweco Ballpoint. It's a solid little pen that fits in a lot of small spaces, but is just big enough to be comfortable and usable. It's not something I'd use for long writing sessions, but it's a fun pen to use every now and then. On top of the that, the Frosted color options are so much fun. The translucent pastels are pretty and the price is very fair. And, the addition of using the popular D1 system means you have lots of color and size options!

The Kaweco Frosted Sport Ballpoint is available in Blush Pitaya, Light Blueberry, Natural Coconut, Soft Mandarine, Sweet Banana, and Fine Lime, and each one costs about $22. These make great gifts and personal treats, but once you have one, you'll want all six colors!

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on June 12, 2019 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Kaweco, Ballpoint, Pen Reviews.

Caran d’Ache 849 Claim Your Style Ballpoint Pen Review

I love a good ballpoint pen. There is something about its ease of use. Mainly, it's ability to function well in more situations than other pens. That makes me reach for one more than you think.

Ballpoint pens get a bad rap, and rightfully so on many occasions. Over the years I've figured out some of the good ones. The ones that I enjoy picking up and using. The ones I keep coming back to. The Caran d’Ache 849 is one of them.

I'll never forget the first time I used an 849. Not because it knocked my socks off and changed everything, but because I hated it. Specifically, I hated the refill. The Caran d’Ache Goliath ballpoint refill is supposed to be a big selling point, and mine was a turnoff based on its performance.

At the time, readers assured me I had a bad refill, and it turns out they were right. I've used the Goliath many times since and it works wonderfully. It happens sometimes, and I'm always open to second chances, especially when it seems like an outlier.

What made me stick with the 849 was the style of the pen. That's what drew me in, and that's what keeps me coming back.

The 849 is perfectly sized for all-day, every-day use. The aluminum body gives it a sturdy, yet lightweight, feel, and the knock mechanism works smoothly and quietly.

The Caran d’Ache 849 Claim Your Style ballpoint was created to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of their famous ballpoint. To allow these pens to standout from the other 849 pens, the Claim Your Style models are available in six colorways, each featuring an eclectic mix of shades on every part of the pen.

With all of the great options, claiming my style proved to be a difficult task. I would have been happy with any of them, but I was able to narrow it down to two before claiming the Turquoise model for myself over the Green. I’ve been very happy with that choice. And no, I don't need a second one.

In fact, this is the only true 849 I own right now. Others have crossed my desk, and I made sure to send them out into the world as gifts or giveaways because I want others to experience this excellent pen. For me, I upgraded to the fancier silver-plated Ecridor model. Same 849 shape, more Caran d’Ache classic style.

With the Ecridor, I use the medium blue Goliath refill with great success. For my Turquoise 849 I swapped out the stock Goliath refill for the Jetstream SXR-600-07. I knew they were somewhat compatible, but I thought I would have to trim down the end of the Jetstream for a good fit. I didn't. It fit perfectly with no modification whatsoever.

Swiss-made Caran d’Ache products fall under the luxury stationery category, with price tags to match. Standard model 849’s are around $25, with this special edition Claim Your Style priced at $38. Other editions run the pricing gamut depending on materials and availability. And, if you get hooked on the Goliath refill, those will set you back anther $9 a pop.

I'm ok with all of this. The 849 is an enjoyable pen for me, and I use it frequently. With the addition of the Claim Your Style models, I can match my aesthetic to my writing experience even more. I love this pen.

(Goldspot provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on June 10, 2019 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Caran d'Ache, 849, Ballpoint, Pen Reviews.

Zebra SL-F1 Mini Ballpoint Pen Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

I've been on a small pen kick recently, and I've been using the Zebra SL-F1 for the past couple of weeks. It's an interesting little pen that has a unique open/close mechanism, and it is certainly a solid performer with plenty of refill options for stowing in bags, cars, purses, and other odd places where you might need a pen in a pinch. But, similar to other small pens I've used, it just isn't sensible for normal use.

A few weeks ago, I reviewed a mini mechanical pencil (also from Zebra), and I had the same complaints. I have many small and uber-portable pens that I love, but it seems a killer (not the good kind) combination is a short pen with a very slim profile. There just isn't enough to grip! One thing my favorite portable pens share in common is a short size, but normal width.

Even though the Zebra SL-F1 Mini isn't practical for an everyday note-taker, that doesn't mean it's unremarkable. If you approach this pen with the mindset that I believe Zebra designed this pen for, there's a lot to like and enjoy. This is another of those pens that falls into a specific category for me: backup situations. After all, a short, slim, uncomfortable pen is better than no pen!

Being as small as it is, this pen can really fit anywhere and go unnoticed. The clip is strong enough to keep it stowed on a pocket or interior bag flap, and the color options make it stand out against dark backgrounds if you want. Even the black model has chrome trim that easily catches what little light is available.

The aspect I enjoy most about this pen is the open/close mechanism. It's very similar to the Lamy Pico (which I can't recommend enough), and it's equally as enjoyable. To open the pen, simply pull on the two ends of the pen. The pen expands and the refill pops out of the front. To close it, simply push the two ends together and the refill disappears. It's an incredibly smooth action with a satisfying click on both ends. And, unlike the Fisher Bullet, there's no cap to lose.

Possibly one of the most attractive aspects of this pen is the refill type it uses. I'll be honest: the refill that comes with the pen isn't that great. It's a 0.7mm Zebra ballpoint with a dull black ink. It works great for what it is, but it's no gel ink. But, if you want to swap it out for a gel, your options are vast since it takes the popular D1 size. The D1 is known for it's diminutive size but excellent color and tip options. It's a popular choice for multi pens, but many small pens use it as well for the size advantage.

As a backup pen to stow in areas or pockets where you might need a pen in a pinch, the Zebra SL-F1 is a great option. It's incredibly affordable (less than $5), incredibly small, and incredibly flexible given the refill compatibility. It's available in black, navy, silver, white, light blue (featured here), and pink. All colors use the same 0.7mm black ballpoint refill. Pick up a couple to stow away for when you need a pen.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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