Sakura Pigma Calligrapher Review

I feel positively evangelical about this pen, which I think is unknown and underrated. At under $3 per pen when you buy a pack of 6, they're cheap enough to stash everywhere. I keep them at the office, in the car, in the kitchen, because at that price point I can afford to misplace them as often as I do.

I've been able to buy these locally as single pens (I live in Minneapolis) but I've only found the 6-pack online via Amazon. There are colors I'm less fond of than others - I find I almost never need to write in purple - but even the less loved colors get used as for quick jottings around the house.

The pen I'm using here is a 1mm. You'll see you can get some line variation, though not a ton. For me, it's just enough variation to make my writing look a little nicer while not being such a prominent italic tip that I feel like I need to slow down to write with it. The pens also come in 2mm and 3mm sizes. I've used the 2mm, but I just find it a little too thick for daily writing.

If you're looking for a cheap way to see if you'd like to write regularly with an italic point, this is probably your best bet. The chisel tip doesn't get soft and spread out like many, many other markers I've owned, and the colors look vibrant on every type of paper I've thrown at it.

The Sakura Pigma Calligrapher is available in packs of 6 at Amazon.

Morning Glory Mach 3 Roller Ball Pen 0.38 mm Review

The Morning Glory Mach 2 Roller Ball was a popular pen in its day. It was one of the few options if you were looking for a fine point, needle tip, liquid ink pen. Unfortunately, its run was short lived, despite its many fans. Morning Glory has stepped up with a replacement though: Enter the Mach 3 0.38 mm Roller Ball.

At only $2.00, the Mach 3 is priced as an entry level pen but plays above its weight easily. It's not often you get to use a sub-0.5 mm liquid ink pen and this 0.38 is very nice. I was continually impressed at how sharp and clean my lines were when testing it out. You may have to click on the picture above and enlarge it to see what I am talking about since lime green isn't the most photogenic ink color, but trust me when I say it is exceptional.

The barrel design is unique, not in that it brings something new to the table, but rather borrows from several existing pens for its look. The body is very similar to the new Pilot FriXion Point 04 (minus the eraser) mashed up with the grip of the discontinued Zebra Regal Roller and the cap of the similarly discontinued Uni-ball Signo Bit. In total it is fine, but the grip does end up being a little slick.

While it is not going to replace my gel ink pens in the same price and size range, the Morning Glory Mach 3 can certainly hold its own. If you are looking for a micro tip liquid ink pen this is the way to go.

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

Zebra Arbez Eo Ballpoint Review

The Zebra Corporation holds a competition each year for young designers where the winner gets their product produced under the Arbez name. The 2011 winner was the Piirto, an icepick-shaped ballpoint from a Finnish designer. In 2012, the British winner designed a set of pens around the London transportation system, with the double decker bus styled Eo 0.7 mm ballpoint taking center stage.

The design of the Eo is fantastic. It is unique and eye-catching, but may not fit everyones grip comfort needs. One side of the barrel is flat, the opposite side is rounded, and the other two sides gradually connect the two. Essentially, a capital D shape. For me it works well, but others may not like it.

If that doesn't bother you, then this is a fun pen to own. The bright red barrel features a slick white racing stripe running the length of the barrel, and both the tip and end caps sport a translucent ink color section. I find myself continually marveling at how well designed this pen is.

For a standard ballpoint it writes well. The lines are clean and sharp and very little white shows through. I enjoyed it but I wonder if the Arbez competition would be better suited to design around the Sarasa gel ink refill instead?

Regardless, a part of London's transportation system now resides on my desk. Time to take a ride!

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