Kaweco Squeeze Fountain Pen Converter Review

The long sought after Kaweco Squeeze Fountain Pen Converter has finally arrived!

This mini converter gives users much more ink flexibility with the popular Kaweco Sport series of fountain pens. I had been saving my old empty cartridges and syringe refilling them if I wanted to use other interesting inks in my Kaweco's, but this converter will likely replace that. I think I need more practice with it though because I am only able to get about 1/2 the converter full so far in limited testing.

Let me know if you pick one of these up and what your filling experience is like.

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)

Uni-ball Jetstream 0.38 mm Ballpoint Review

I have seen a lot of pens, pencils, and paper in my day, but I am still capable of getting my mind blown and acting giddy like a school child. And unlike my recent several hundred dollar fountain pen purchases, this is for a pen that costs less than $3.00.

Say hello to the Uni-ball Jetstream 0.38 mm Ballpoint.

This pen caught me off guard. Jetstream already had one of the finest-tipped ballpoints on the market in the 0.5 mm (which lays down a line of 0.4 mm or less) so I didn't really see the need, but I am oh so happy they produced this.

My original fear that this pen would be too scratchy to use - a common refrain with the 0.5 mm - was swept away the first time the pen hit the page. It is shockingly smooth, even more so than the 0.5 mm in my mind. It also requires almost no pressure to leave a solid, consistent, skip-free line. There isn't much more I could have asked for.

The 0.38 mm Jetstream is an immediate Top 5 Pen and will take up permanent residence in my daily arsenal of pens.

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)

Pilot FriXion Ball Slim 0.38 mm Orange Review

If you didn't know this already I am a big fan of orange. Orange pens, orange barrels, orange inks, orange detailing, pretty much anything orange. There is no real reason why, other than the fact I am not a fan of red, so I use orange as my red replacement.

What I have never been a huge fan of is the Pilot FriXion line. They are completely fine pens, but usually not for me. They are growing on me though, especially as the product line matures. I think the turning point for me was the FriXion Biz, which is the only FriXion I use regularly, but the recently released Pilot FriXion Ball Slim may join the club.

The Slim has two things going for it: An ultra-fine 0.38 mm tip, and a slim but comfortable barrel design. I like these slim single cartridge barrels more than I ever thought I would, starting with the Uni-ball Style Fit. The FriXion Slim feels great in the hand and is very manuverable. The knock is placed subtly on the side of the barrel allowing for the eraser to be placed properly on the top of the pen.

I think the 0.38 mm tip is even finer than that. It writes more like a Uni-ball Signo DX 0.28 mm to me. That means there is some scratchiness when writing, which should be expected on a pen this fine.

Where the FriXion runs circles around other pens in this category is erasibility. No other company can hold a candle to Pilot in this area, so if an erasable gel ink pen is what you need, look no further than the FriXion.

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)