(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
Faber-Castell isn't a brand that I typically associate with ballpoint pens, but turns out they have a lot of options in that category. The one I've been trying out lately, the Grip X, is a ballpoint pen that does well against other popular ballpoint pen refills.
The Grip X is an odd-looking pen — let's get that out of the way. The light gray and silver plastic body and color-matched silicone grip section and clip aren't my favorite features. It looks similar to a fineliner, but upon closer inspection you can tell it's a retractable pen with a fairly low-cost plastic barrel. While you can definitely unscrew the nose cone of the pen and remove (and replace) the refill, I don't think these were meant to be refilled. Similar to Bic pens, these are disposable. You can purchases these pens in bulk to stock up the office supply closet. Durability and longevity are not a main consideration with this pen.
Looks and disposable build quality aside, this pen is a fantastic writer and compares well against other low-cost disposable ballpoint pens. The pack I have included three 0.7mm pens in blue, black, and red. I'm not sure there are other color options (at least not widely available), but these at least cover the basics for office use.
The Grip X is a three-sided barrel with a soft silicone grip section (that also has three sides). The tri-sided grip is subtle, but I can feel the edges when writing with the pen. This makes the pen easy to control and handle when writing. The barrel is fairly slim, so the silicone grip and three sides add just the right small amount of tactile grip that it needs to make it really comfortable. I've found writing with the Grip X for long sessions is quite comfortable.
Getting to the real attraction of this pen: the refill. The 0.7mm tip produces exactly the line width you'd expect when comparing to other ballpoint pens. It's a fine line with crisp edges and smooth flow. It can take a couple of scribbles to get the ink flowing after the pen has been sitting for a while, but it's really quick to start in most cases.
The low-viscosity ink formula makes for a smooth flow, easy starting, bold ink colors, and clean lines. All three colors are fantastic. The black is dark and thick, and the blue and red are both bold and bright. As far as basic ink colors go, these do a great job.
Comparing these ballpoints to others in the same price category, they stand up really well. I still prefer using a Pilot Acroball or Uni Jetstream over this, but it's a close call. When it comes to something like a Schmidt EasyFlow or Parker Quink, the difference is even smaller. Pretty impressive considering how much more the Schmidt and Parker refills cost!
Overall, I've been pleasantly surprised by these pens. At first glance, they look boring. Since they look boring and old, I expect them to have a sub-par writing experience too. In this case, I'm happy to be wrong.
The Faber-Castell Grip X isn't ubiquitous in stationery stores, so you might have to search local online retailers and stores to find some. In the US, you can find the three color pack on Amazon for less than $10. The Grip X has been a great reminder to me than cheap, disposable pens can still be surprising and exciting regardless of your level of addiction in this hobby. Give them a try if you find them!
(Faber-Castell Malaysia provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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