Posts filed under Pen Reviews

Zebra Sarasa R Gel Pen Review

The Sarasa R is Zebra’s entry into the “more saturated” gel ink color market. Like the Uni-ball One, this gel ink is formulated for brighter and deeper colors than Zebra’s standard gel ink. Also like the Uni-ball One, I have to ask: Why?

On paper (figuratively, not literally - we will get to that in a moment,) who wouldn’t want deeper, richer colors in their gel ink pens? Makes sense, right? Gel ink pens became popular in the 1980’s because the ink suspension allowed for better color representation than traditional ballpoint and rollerball pens. Because of that, gel ink pens became a playground for color.

Manufacturers have been in a good place over the past decade-plus with the quality of their gel ink products. They continue to be some of the most beloved pens on the market. I also appreciate the fact that the big players in the space want to push ink technology forward. For example, I’m glad Uni-ball invested in R&D for their Super Ink technology. More simply, I’m glad Zebra makes a quick-dry gel ink for those who tend to smudge their lines when writing.

But highly pigmented gel inks for brighter color? Let me ask this: Were you missing brighter gel ink colors from your writing arsenal already? Manufacturers have done a great job at this for a while. Again, I do appreciate the fact that they want to push their products further, but with the Sarasa R and Uni-ball One, I wonder if it is simply a marketing exercise. One look at the aesthetic of both products says a lot.

From a writing and performance perspective, the Zebra Sarasa R is a good pen. That’s the same descriptor I used for the Uni-ball One. If you like good gel ink pens, you will like this gel ink pen. But, are they better than other gel ink pens? Does the “27% more color density” make a big difference on the page? Not in my book.

The one thing I can say about the Sarasa R in comparison to the One, is that the Sarasa R feels like a standard gel ink pen, while the One had a bit of a different feel on the page. If I had my eyes closed, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the Sarasa R and Clip, while I would be able to tell the difference between the One and the DX or RT1.

For an 0.4 mm tip size, the Sarasa R writes a slightly wider line than the Sarasa Clip. I’m a little surprised, but the Clip is one of the sharpest lines out there, leading some people to say they are too scratchy. I love that feel on the Clip, and the R does not have that same crispness. That’s a positive or a negative, depending on your preference.

The ink colors look great on the page, but are they better/different enough to be the reason why these pens exist? I don’t see it. Maybe? Who knows. Any rainbow of gel inks is going to look awesome on the page, and these do just that. And, with what I see as a wider line than the standard 0.4 mm, they are going to look brighter and more saturated in a side-by-side comparison by default.

Should you buy the Zebra Sarasa R? Yes, and the price is right, too. $1.75 each, or $10.50 for the seven color set in this review (don’t ask me why the 14 color set price is out of line - I have no idea.) Just don’t expect something different or groundbreaking. They are another good product from Zebra, which is what they always deliver.

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

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Posted on September 6, 2021 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Zebra, Gel, Pen Reviews.

Lamy AL-Star Ballpoint in Turmaline Review

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

It's been quite a long time since I've used any Lamy AL-Star pens that aren't fountain pens. The Turmaline version of the ballpoint AL-Star is a refreshing take on the old classic shape and design. While it feels familiar in the hand, the writing experience is quite different due to the ballpoint refill in place of a nib. But does that mean it's not as good as the nibbed version? Absolutely not.

The Lamy AL-Star ballpoint has been around for quite a while, but I really haven't used them very often. This bright color gave me just the kick I needed to pick it up and take it for a spin. Despite it not having one of my favorite refills on board, it's surprisingly good and competes directly with the Schmidt EasyFlow line. The M61 refill looks similar to a standard Parker refill, but there are several small alterations that make it unique and proprietary to Lamy's pens. This is unfortunate because this pen is such a great extension of the AL-Star design — it deserves to be used, and I don't think it's fair for manufacturers to lock people into proprietary refills.

Still, it's nice that Lamy provide an excellent refill in this case. The ink is dark, free-flowing, and smooth. The medium point I have is a great middle-of-the-road size and works well on all sorts of paper. It's oil based, so you don't have to worry about paper being too thin or being coated with something that the ink won't stick to. It works on just about anything, which makes it a great pen to have on you. It also lasts quite a while, which is good considering the price. One refill is just under $6, and you only have the option of black or blue — and only a medium point. Monteverde sell a few other options in terms of colors and tip sizes, but they're still fairly expensive.

I've always loved the chunky click mechanism on the AL-Star and Safari ballpoints. It's such a fun design that's reminiscent of an accordion or old-fashioned button, and it's so satisfying to press. There's a great amount of resistance, and the tactile feel of the mechanism is just perfect. You definitely know when you've extended or retracted the refill because of an audible click and a tactile knock from the mechanism. It's not loud, but it has a lower tone than the typical click of a pen. I attribute this to the rubber sleeve that surrounds the entire thing, but who knows what it really is. I just know I love clicking it.

Moving around to the clip, it's the iconic Lamy clip that you find on all their AL-Star and Safari pens. It's strong, stylish, and also plays double duty by keeping the pen from rolling away on flat surfaces. The only branding on the pen is on the body opposite to the clip — the outline of the Lamy logo debossed into the pen body. It's actually easy to miss unless the light is right.

Moving down to the grip, something else you'll find on nearly every other AL-Star and Safari: the unique Lamy grip structure. The ballpoint grip is a little different since there isn't a traditional "up" orientation like fountain pen nibs. Instead of the two planes and round belly that makes up the traditional finger placement on the fountain pen version, the ballpoint version is a symmetrical design with three planes so that the grip feels the same no matter how many times you rotate the pen in your hand. It's a comfortable grip for me, and if you've ever used a Lamy AL-Star, Safari, or Vista, you already know how this grip feels in the hand and whether it works for you.

The Lamy AL-Star ballpoint pen is $24, and I think that's a great price for something so well-designed and produced. It makes a great gift and an excellent addition to your desk or carry. It's a shame that there aren't many refill options, so you'll have to settle in that area, but I think the design and materials make up for that shortcoming at this price. Plus, the Turmaline colorway is a knock-out!

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

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Posted on September 1, 2021 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Lamy, Safari, Ballpoint, Pen Reviews.

Faber-Castell Grip Fountain Pen - A Quick Look

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

Faber-Castell’s Grip fountain pens are one of my favorite entry-level, budget-friendly fountain pens. There is already an excellent writeup of the Calligraphy set which contains the Grip fountain pen with calligraphy nibs, so this post is going to take a quick look at the non-calligraphy version.

The Grip Fountain Pen is part of Faber-Castell’s Grip line of pencils, erasers, and pens which all have subtle dots or bumps on the barrel for easy gripping (hence the name). Two versions of the Grip fountain pens are available, the 2010 and 2011, with the former sporting a glossy finish while the latter are matte. The snap cap is very secure, but also easy to open/close with one hand. The barrel is very subtly triangular, making it less likely to roll off one’s desk when uncapped.

*From left to right, 3 - 2011s and 3 - 2010s. Can you tell the difference between pens’ finishes?*

The fountain pen has a slightly triangular grip section as well. The pens come in EF, F, M, and B sizes and include a standard international Faber-Castell blue cartridge. The nib and feed are friction-fit into the barrel (there is no housing or nib unit) and can be swapped with the Faber-Castell Loom (and probably other models too), though you would need to pull the nib/feed out of the Loom housing to fit the Grip. I would equate the writing experience to be similar to a Jowo steel nib in its stiffness and line width. I like the Medium and Broad nibs for smoothness and flow, the Fine is nice too. The EF felt a bit too nail-like and borderline scratchy for someone with a high writing angle like me and is more sensitive to pressure. If your writing angle is closer to 45 degrees (versus 70-80 degrees like me), it will feel smoother.Prices range from $20-30 USD, depending on color and finish, which makes it a good value.

*Left to right: Kaweco Sport, Pilot Metropolitan, Faber-Castell Grip, TWSBI Eco, Lamy Al-Star.*

*TWSBI Eco T, Faber-Castell Grip and Lamy Al-Star - The washi tape shows the Grip’s shape to be less angular/sharp compared to the other two.*

Pros

Pen takes readily available standard international cartridges or converter.
Slight triangular grip is more forgiving than other triangular gripped pens.
Secure snap cap makes quick note jotting a breeze.
Two finishes and a variety of colors are available.
Reliable steel nibs that are also swappable with other Faber-Castell models including the Loom.
Solid writer at a decent price.

Cons

The Grip is a very light pen. If you prefer heavier pens, this might not be the right pen for you.
Slight triangular grip still might not be comfortable for all users.
The glossy 2010 cap/barrel can feel a bit “cheap” compared to the matte 2011, but this is personal preference.
Converter not included (but also not expected at this price point).

*EF-B nibs with Sailor Ink Studio 252 on Clairefontaine 90gsm Triomphe paper.*

So why is it one of my favorite pens? Because the snap cap makes it quick and easy to use but doesn’t feel flimsy, despite being a very light pen. The gentle triangular grip feels more like a suggestion rather than a mandate, making it more approachable than other triangular gripped pens like the Lamy Safari/Al-Star. The nibs are pleasant to write with, right out of the box. And the dots on the barrel make it look and feel interesting (in a good way), and the variety of colors and textures makes it easy to find one to match your style. All this in a budget-friendly price range, what’s not to love?

(All pens in this review were purchased with my own funds and I received no compensation from Faber-Castell for this review.)

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