Uni Jetstream Edge 3 Color Multi Pen Review

In the world of multi pens, the Uni-ball Jetstream has long made one of my favorite ballpoint options. The Jetstream is my go-to ballpoint anyway, so the availability and pricing of their many multi pen options is a great combination when you consider the ultra smooth and crisp ink that comes in the refills. I prefer gel refills most of the time, but Jetstream still holds a special place in my stationery heart.

The latest multi pen I've tried from Jetstream is the Edge 3 Color Multi Pen. As the name implies, it features three different colors to choose from — black, blue, and red. Keeping with the Edge brand, the refills in this pen are all of the 0.28mm variety, which is extremely fine. Despite the ultra fine tips, they're still remarkably smooth and crisp. I don't think these feel any different than writing with a 0.38mm gel ink refill, which is quite a compliment to the Jetstream ink formula. Based on the packaging and seeing how small the tip was, I assumed it would be scratchy and unpleasant for regular writing, but I was completely wrong. It's actually quite easy to use, which can't be said for all ultra-fine refills. The black, blue, and red refills are all dark and crisp, and they write beautifully. They're the same size as the other Jetstream multi pen refills, so you could even swap out for a larger tip if you wanted.

The barrel shape is similar to the other Edge pens as well, but it's obviously a little wider to accommodate the extra refill options. The barrel width of any multi pen is usually wider than I prefer, but it's an easy trade-off for the added utility of having multiple ink colors on hand. I get used to writing with the larger barrel pretty quickly, and I hardly notice it unless I'm writing for more than a few minutes. The six-sided barrel looks great and I really adore the turquoise version that I have. The grip section is also nice, with a black metal finish and small grooves to improve the texture and feel. The nose cone is an odd shape, and the marketing material says this is done on purpose to allow you to see more of the paper while writing. That's true, but it took me quite a while to get used to it. I found that holding it so that the cone recess is below my thumb instead of my index finger (for a "standard" grip) works best. I grip pens fairly low and close to the cone, so this was a bit frustrating and difficult to get used to until I found that magic position. It's not so bad now, but I'd be happier if the nose cone was a symmetrical shape. I've never had issues with visibility on other wide multi pens, so I'm not sure why Jetstream decided to use this weird shape for this pen. Small complaint, but a worthy one.

Most Jetstream multi pens use a slide button along the upper body of the pen to control selecting and retracting refills, but this one uses a nifty dial at the top of the pen. Rotate the dial to cycle through the refills! There's a satisfying click when each refill is extended, and it's really easy to operate. If you want to retract the refills, just stop the dial when it's in between refills.

I do struggle to know which color is extended, though. There are color markers on the refill tips, but they're both small and faded, making it difficult to tell what color is extended unless you are in a well-lit area and hold the refill close to your face. It's been a little frustrating at times! There's also some very small color indicators on the top of the dial, but that involves changing your grip on the pen to see the dial properly. The color that lines up with the pocket clip is the color that is currently extended, so as long as you can see the little indicators on the dial, you're all set! The dial is a really nice touch, but I wish it was easier to see the colors — ideally, I'd like it to be obvious on the refill tip, and I think this is doable with darker color rings.

The pocket clip is a sleek wire design and is both strong and lightweight. It matches the other Edge pens in design and really enforces the overall aesthetic. I'm a big fan of the aesthetic of these pens, and really enjoy the smooth refills.

The turquoise version I have here is my favorite, but there are plenty of other options as well — Navy, White/Red, Black, and Red. At just over $32, this isn't a cheap multi pen, but I think it's a good price for the quality of materials and the smooth refills. After all, single refills cost $3 on their own. I'm still surprised by how smooth they are for the size, and the vibrant ink colors are the icing on the cake. Definitely worth checking out if you love ultra-fine ballpoint multi pens!

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

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Uni Jetstream 4&1 4-color .38 mm Ballpoint Multi Pen and .05 mm Pencil Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

I've stood firmly against multi-pens in the past. I had my reasons--they were too big to hold comfortably, all the moving parts seemed ill-fitted or would rattle when writing, pieces might break, there was never enough of some of the ink colors, refills were hard to source, and I generally preferred to just carry a variety of writing tools with me rather than mess with those inconveniences of the multi-pen. But those were the multi-pens of yore, and the more recent models I've tried have grown on me. And then when Uni starts putting Ghibli characters on them, well. Then they become must-haves.

The Uni Jetstream 4&1 Kiki's Delivery Service 4 Color 0.38 mm Ballpoint Multi Pen + 0.5 mm Pencil is by far the most multitudinous multi-pen I've tried. Black, red, blue, and green ink each have their own clicky tab, and then the clip, when pushed down, reveals a mechanical pencil. Underneath the finial cap hides an eraser. This is the writing tool equivalent of the Swiss army knife.

Despite its complexity, it is fairly well made, though it hasn't done away with all my multi-pen woes. The body is sturdy, and not as thick as one would think for all the refills it contains. The rubber grip does a lot to help the writing comfort level. And while the refills are small, they're filled with Uni's excellent ink--a ballpoint that feels and acts with the smoothness of a gel pen. Replacement refills (Uni XSR 80-38) are easily obtained at JetPens. The mechanical pencil works well also, though it's a little fiddly to depress the clip for more lead, and the eraser is miniscule. The clip feels like the weak point of the pen. It does rattle a bit, and its springiness (necessary for it's pencil-deploying function) detracts from its clip functionality. I do worry that it will get broken or jammed if I toss the pen in a backpack or pocket without some kind of case or padding--and having it in a case does defeat some of the always-readiness that is the main benefit to a multi-pen. But only time will tell on its durability, and so far all is well.

While it may be big and rattly, I've never felt so prepared for any writing situation. It has everything I need to carry for work, AND it has Gigi on it. I've used it more than I thought I would, and even contemplated a backup copy. It isn't inexpensive for a pen at $24.50, but it's not expensive for four pens and a pencil. Overall I'm very pleased with it.

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

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Uni Jetstream Edge 0.28mm 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 Uni Jetstream has been around long enough at this point to become a stationery staple and an all-around excellent recommendation for anyone in search of a good pen. How can you improve on something that's already so good? Well, one way to do this is by making it smaller. Another way is to provide exciting new pen bodies. In the Jetstream Edge, Uni have accomplished both of these things.

Let's look at the pen body of the new Edge first. If you've ever seen a Rotring, then this pen will likely look very familiar. It's not visually close enough to look like a blatant copy, but more of an homage to a timeless design. The drafting pencil aesthetic is definitely a good look for this pen, and you'll probably fooling into thinking it's made of metal before you pick it up. While the textured grip section is made of metal, the rest of the pen is a sleek plastic, which keeps the weight fairly low. Another added benefit of the metal grip section is that it keeps the center of gravity close to the tip of the pen, allowing you greater control when writing.

The clip is unique, with a bent metal wire that looks like a frail paper clip at first glance. In practice, this clip is incredibly strong and secure. There's nothing frail about it! The nock also produces a very pleasing feel and sound when extending and retracting the refill. The nose of the pen also borrows closely from the drafting pencil aesthetic, but also provides a good view at what you're writing since the cone tapers off dramatically from the grip. This same trick is used in the needle-tip of the refill, giving you more sight around what you're writing since the exposed part of the refill is so small. If you aren't looking carefully, you'll mistake this for a mechanical pencil when the refill is extended. They look very similar!

In the hand, this pen feels well-balanced and secure. The textured grip isn't knurled, but the grooves that reach from end to end on the grip provide a great feel and stability when writing. The overall lightness of the pen also complements the writing experience.

The real star of the show, however, is the refill that debuts alongside this pen body. This pen features a 0.28mm needle-tip refill that uses the Jetstream hybrid ink system. Uni have made a 0.38mm Jetstream refill for quite a while now, and people have been impressed by that as well.

As an aside, these ultra fine refills are probably something you already know you like. And, if you don't like them, then this one certainly won't be for you! That being said, you can swap out the refill for any size tip that works with the Jetstream multipen bodies.

While the 0.38mm refills produce an incredibly thin and crisp line, I guess someone wanted something even smaller. The 0.28mm refill produces a line that is so satisfyingly thin. It feels so precise and accurate due to the extreme crispness of the ink formula. There are no stray specks or light splotches of gray ink. These lines are crisp, and they are dark. It's incredibly satisfying.

Like most ultra-fine writing instruments, you can normally expect a somewhat scratchy writing experience since you're effectively writing with a hypodermic needle. Believe it or not, this is not the case with the Uni 0.28mm refill. It's surprisingly smooth when writing, which is a great testament to the Jetstream brand. Even at such small sizes, the ink formula is still incredibly smooth. It's an absolute joy to use.

If you're a fan of the 0.38mm, you'll love the 0.28mm. Like I mentioned before, this new SXR-203-28 refill is the same form factor as all the other Jetstream refills that work with the Jetstream multipens. This means you can easily install one of these refills in a multipen, or use a different size and color in this unique Jetstream body. At the moment, Uni only offers black, blue, and red in this size, but I'm sure they'll add more at some point if it becomes popular enough.

The Uni Jetstream Edge comes in four colors, from Black, Navy, White/Red, and Champagne/Gold. The pen is $15, which is a pretty good deal considering the excellent aesthetic and build quality of the pen, plus the inclusion of a fantastic refill. If you're at all interested in trying out one of the best 0.28mm pens I've ever used — let alone the best ballpoint pen of this size — you should definitely add this pen to your next order!

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

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

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