Review: Uni-Ball Jetstream 4+1 0.7mm Ballpoint Multi Pen

More Jetstreams?  More multi pens?  Well, for me the answers are unequivocally yes and yes!  I am as big of a multi pen fan as they come, and the Jetstream line from Uni-Ball is one of my favorites, so combining all of that into a four ink cartridge plus pencil package - a sleek black package at that - I am all in.  And the best thing about it is something that I have never tried before, nor actually seen before - green Jetstream ink.

Has anyone else seen green Jetstream ink available in a single cartridge barrel?  I personally haven't, but I would love to know if that combination exists.  As a general rule, I am not a big green ink user, but like red recently, I am coming around to using it more often.  This green is nice and solid, and a very good shade.  It compliments the blue Jetstream ink very nicely.  I use the black and red in conjunction a lot as well, but the pencil only gets rare action.  If you have ever used a Jetstream pen before, you can rest assured that the performance is at the same high level.

I do have two minor quibbles with this pen, and they kind of work in conjunction.  The barrel is wide and the grip is firm.  I use a lot of pressure to write with, so that combination doesn't always work well for me, but this pen is set up perfectly for someone with a nice flowing handwriting.  At $15 it is not cheap, but you can justify it at $3 per cartridge, right?  ;)

Click here for the XL review.

Products used:
Uni-ball Jetstream 4&1 4 Color 0.7 mm Ballpoint Multi Pen + 0.5 mm Pencil - Black Body from JetPens
Writing Pad from Doane Paper

Review: Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.4mm Gray

So are you as disappointed with the Sharpie Liquid Pencil as I am, but still wouldn't mind trying out a lead coloered gel ink pen?  Well, the Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.4mm Gray may be something for you to check out.

I have reviewed a plethora of the Zebra Sarasa Clip pens already, but I keep coming back for more since they are such good pens (try the Viridian Green).  They feel just right in the hand, have a great grip, and have a crisp, clean line from start to finish.  I personally have zero complaints - especially at $1.50 each - but some people do find them to be a bit scratchy.  Unless it is absolutely terrible, that is something that doesn't phase me on sub-0.5mm pens.

The gray ink color is a little light for me, but as I mentioned in the written review, this is one pen that would probably work better on a plain white page as opposed to the grid+lines of my Doane Paper.  It does have a pencil lead quality to the color, so if the Sharpie Liquid Pencil left you high and dry you may want to give this a look.  Just don't attepmt to erase it or take a Scantron test with it.

Click here for the XL review.

Products used:

Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.4mm Cool Grey from JetPens

Writing Pad from Doane Paper

Review: Ohto Pieni Wooden Body Mini Needle-Point Ballpoint Pen

Similar to the Sharpie Liquid Pencil in the fact that it is not a completely unique idea, the Ohto Pieni is still the first pen I have used where the barrel is made in the traditional wood case pencil style.  The sleek design was a definite selling point, as was the 0.5mm ballpoint ink cartridge, but would this pen stand up to the test?

Performance wise, the 0.5mm refill did a nice job, but a decent amount of ink would collect near the tip when writing.  It didn't often transfer to the page, but I did have to wipe off the tip six or seven times when writing the review.  (I'm not the only one that keeps a napkin or the like next to where I'm writing just for that purpose, right?)  Overall it was a good writing experience, but not without flaws.

The wood case barrel is skinny just like a pencil, and while that size has posed a problem for me in the past (see the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleur), this one worked ok because I was able to get a good grip on the hex shape barrel.  It actually ended up being comfortable to write with, and lightweight to boot.

From a design perspective, its great looks are marred by one flaw - the soft wooden barrel is going get dinged and scratched pretty easily, just like a traditional pencil would.  That may not be a big deal to those who go pretty easy on their writing implements like myself, but it would take away from the overall aesthetic of the pen if the barrel started to go downhill.

There are tons and tons of wooden barrel pens available on the market - especially from custom pen manufacturers - but this pencil style is a unique one to me and has been fun to play around with.

Click here for the XL review.