Posts filed under Jetstream

Uni SXR-600 Jetstream Ballpoint Refill Review

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

It wasn't that many years ago that the Uni Jetstream ballpoint pen revolutionized the humble ballpoint pen, but that doesn't mean it can't strive to continue being exciting. There's always new pen bodies and cool new multi-pen designs that will further the line, but what about different refill shapes? That doesn't sound very exciting until you hear about the particular shape refill that Uni is experimenting with for their SXR-600 refills: Parker-style.

The Uni SXR-600 is very plain — it's a single refill that is available in only one color and only two tip sizes, black and 0.5mm or 0.7mm, respectively. I prefer availability of color and tip options over everything else, but I'm still excited about this particular black refill simply because of the refill shape. The Parker-style refill is fairly ubiquitous, and possibly one of the most common refill types you come across in ballpoint pens. Up until now, my favorite refill has been the Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 due to its smoothness and crisp, dark lines. But, if I could swap in a Jetstream refill of my preferred color and size, I certainly would. That's why the Uni SXR-600 is so exciting: the possibility.

The concept is very simple: if your pen accepts a normal Parker-style refill, the SXR-600 will fit. Aside from the fit, though, does this new form factor feature the same great writing experience as the normal lineup? Yes, it absolutely does. That was my concern before trying this refill out. There was a possibility that the new refill shape could require a different ink formula or something that might negatively affect the writing experience, but that isn't the case here. Whatever Uni did to make this work, I can't tell any difference between this refill and any other regular Uni Jetstream refill when writing.

I chose the smaller 0.5mm refill for my tests, and it features the same ultra-fine and crisp lines that I expect. In every way, it meets my expectations based on using other Uni Jetstream pens. If your concern is that this uniquely-shaped refill won't feel the same as your beloved Jetstream pens, you can go ahead and file that worry away for good.

Now, that doesn't mean it's all roses and good times. This refill is expensive. At $7.25, it's a good deal more expensive than my lovely Schmidt EasyFlow refills, which are five bucks a pop if you buy them individually. I'm not sure why the refill is so much more expensive. Sure, it uses a metal cartridge over plastic, but I can't see that driving the price up by multiple dollars. Still, this isn't completely out of the ordinary for Parker-style refills. Five to ten dollars is a fairly common price per refill in this category, so it's not so hard to swallow when put in that context. What is hard to swallow, however, is that normal Jetstream refills are less than a couple of bucks.

The other current problem with this product is the lack of color and size variety. I'd be willing to spend a lot more money on several of these refills if there were (any?) more color options. Offering only black and only two size options feels like a market experiment more than a full-fledged product launch. Maybe Uni is seeing how these do before they invest more in building out the line? Maybe the availability in Japan is much larger and it's just the US market that they're experimenting with? I'm not sure what the reasoning is behind this, but I hope they decide to ramp it up soon!

With all that in mind, you really can't go wrong with the Uni SXR-600 refills as long as you like black and either a 0.5mm or 0.7mm tip. These refills can quickly spruce up an old ballpoint pen you have laying around, providing that lovely hybrid ballpoint ink writing experience that we've all come to love so much because of Uni and the marvelous Jetstream.

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

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Posted on April 1, 2020 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Uni, Jetstream, Pen Reviews.

Uni Jetstream Slim Multi Pen 0.38 mm Review

Multi pens have long been one of my favorite categories of pens. When I learned that not only do gel ink pens come in micro-tip sizes, but I can get a single barrel with multiple colors of micro-tip goodness? My pen world view was complete.

As quickly as I fell in love with multi pens, I feel like they were solved pretty early on in my journey as well. The Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto was, and is, still my favorite. The Uni Style Fit came along a few years later and is equally as lovely with as many, or more, refill options. For premium barrel multi pen options there is the Zebra Sharbo X and the Lamy 2000 4 Color Ballpoint. And while new colors and styles and options of these pens have been released over the past few years, nothing has moved the needle for me.

Uni Jetstream Slim Multi Pen 0.38 mm doesn’t move the needle either - sorry to burst your bubble - but what this pen did was remind me how great multi pens can be. And this is a great one.

The minute I grabbed this pen out of the package I was impressed. The barrel looks and feels great, with a comfortable rubber grip and light herringbone pattern in the upper barrel. The knock mechanisms add to the design with their angular buttons, and the silver clip adds to the clean look. And it is Mint Green!

Looks only take you so far with writing instruments. How does it write? The 0.38 mm Jetstream refills are what sent me head over heels with this pen. The line is sharp and fine, and somehow, incredibly smooth. It’s one of those things that shouldn’t happen, and I don’t understand. A tip this fine with ballpoint(-ish) ink should feel like writing with a shard of broken glass. It’s wonderfully smooth, which makes me want to have this pen handy all of the time.

There are other Jetstream multi pen options on the market. Uni-ball even offers options in the Style Fit lineup to use a combination of gel and Jetstream refills in the same barrel. But none of them nail the writing experience for me better than this one.

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

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Posted on April 29, 2019 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Uni-Ball, Jetstream, Multi Pen, Pen Reviews.

Uni Jetstream Stylus 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.)

Over the years, I've come to really enjoy the Jetstream line of hybrid ballpoint pens. The ink is extremely smooth, the colors are vibrant, and the lines are crisp. When I received a Jetstream with a touchscreen stylus attached to the top, I was intrigued. In my experience, a stylus on a pen is a gimmick. I don't mind it if the stylus stays out of the way, but if it hinders my ability to use the pen in any way, I'll never use it again. Thankfully, the stylus on the Jetstream stays out of the way until you need to use it.

Since this pen uses the same refills found in the Jetstream multi-pens, you can expect the same level of performance and quality. A black 0.7mm refill is included with the pen, but there are a variety of sizes and colors available to guarantee you have a great writing experience.

The bright blue exterior of the model I have is a really great color. There's a slight hint of green in the color under certain light, giving it a hidden depth that you wouldn't expect for a pen in this price range. The cap, clip, and nozzle are all black plastic and are fairly well-made. The nozzle has an excessive number of threads, which means it can take about 10 full turns to unscrew or screw on the tip after replacing the refill. It's not a deal-breaker, but just odd. Another potential problem is the weakness of the clip. It doesn't offer a strong grip when clipping it to things. Luckily, the pen is light and doesn't need a massive amount of grip to stay put. The clip also serves as the mechanism that extends the refill for writing. There's a small notch/button on the opposite side of the barrel to retract the refill. It works, but it's not the best system for a retractable pen because it feels clunky. Still, it works dependably.

On top of the pen where the nock usually sits, there's a black stylus dome. You'll probably recognize this little piece as the same type of stylus tip used on a number of cheap styli. It gets the job done, but it's incredibly squishy and imprecise. For signing an iPad at a coffee shop, it's perfect, but I can't imagine it would be great for technical drawings, coloring books, or other forms of art that iPads and other devices are capable of today. At the end of the day, it's a functional stylus that is convenient in a pinch, but it also stays out of the way when you're not using it. If you intend to use the stylus a lot, you can even pick up a pack of replacements. The sleeve around the stylus unscrews, allowing you to pull the old tip off and replace it with a new one.

All things considered, this pen is exactly what it says it is. It's a known quantity (the Jetstream refill) with a stylus stuck on the end. It's also available in a handful of colors, like the blue featured here, black, silver, and pink gold. At the $6 price point, it's not a bad deal considering the inclusion of a touchscreen stylus. If you like the Jetstream and also need to use a stylus from time to time, this is a perfect match.

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

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!