Posts filed under Pen Reviews

Tombow MONO Graph Lite Gel Pen Review

What is the most underrated stationery brand on the market? There are many contenders, but my vote is going to Tombow - at least for today!

They have great name recognition, and one of the best logos in the business, so what’s the first stationery item you think of when you think Tombow? Markers, probably, including their excellent brush pens. Pencils and erasers, maybe, with the classic Mono 100 wooden pencil leading the pack, and their classic Mono eraser. But what about standard pens, such as ballpoint, rollerball, and gel? Not so much, but I’m here to tell you that you are missing out.

Tombow MONO Graph Lite Gel Pen is the latest to cross my desk (thanks Jacob!) and completes the trifecta of standards I’ve reviewed in their “Lite” series.

As best as I can tell, the Lite series is designed to be their entry level pen and pencil in several categories, each with a price point of $3.00. While Tombow sells more expensive rollerball pens, it’s only been in the last few years that they have leaned into this market - and have done a great job.

Tombow MONO Graph Lite Gel Pen Refill — *The refill is compatible* *with many uniball, Pentel, and Zebra pens.*

This 0.5 mm Black gel flows exceptionally well, and leaves a rich, dark line. Compared to some of the sharper tips in the category - the uniball Signo DX and Zebra Sarasa Clip, for example - the line is wider, rounder, and smoother. My preference lies with the pointy ends, but I’m impressed with the line consistency, flow, and ink darkness of this pen.

Tombow MONO Graph Lite Gel Pen Writing — *Wonderfully consistent writing from start to finish.*

The barrel design keeps with the Lite moniker. It’s almost airy, which can be a pro or con depending on your preference. The barrel and knock feel strong, but the clip feels less so. The grip is the standout, with alternating ridges and flat areas vertically around. It’s also rubberized, and very comfortable.

Tombow MONO Graph Lite Gel Pen Comparison — *It’s tough to tell in this image, but the same size uniball UM-151 refill has a thinner line.*

How does Tombow’s gel pen entry rate versus a completely stacked category? It's outside of my top three of uniball, Pentel, and Zebra, but I’d say it can hang with what Pilot, Sharpie, and others are doing on the store shelves. Until it gets more ink color options outside of Black, Blue, and Red, it is going to have a hard time moving up the charts, but it is excellent for what it currently is.

Tombow MONO Graph Lite Gel Pen Ink — *Impressive ink performance.*

Now I just need to try the 0.38 mm gel ink model so I can see how it lines up within the micro gel category.

(Thank you to Fudefan for sending me this pen!)

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Posted on March 2, 2026 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Tombow, Pen Reviews.

Writech Clictek Liner Pen Review

I’m always on the lookout for new fineliners, especially ones that offer something different, so you can bet I was looking forward to trying out the retractable Writech Clictek Liner Pen.

Retractable fineliners aren’t normally a thing, with the last one I can remember reviewing being the Sharpie Pen RT all the way back in 2009. I’m sure there have been other models that have hit the shelves in the interim, but nothing that has broken through into the mainstream of fineliner usage.

Why aren’t retractable fineliners more of a thing? I have no definitive answer, but my guess is that the tip does not seal as well, or for as long, as with a traditional cap. These tips are more prone to drying out than a ballpoint or gel ink, and need good closure.

The second issue is likely the added requirements of the mechanism. That bit of complexity isn’t necessary for a product that doesn’t need to be quickly deployed. Fineliners are more of a sit and draw product, not run and write. One good thing is that the click mechanism does allow the pen to be refilled, which is not a normal option for these types of pens (the tip often fails before a new refill is needed.)

From a sealing perspective, the Writech Clictek uses a trap door system, as seen in retractable fountain pens like the Pilot Vanishing Point or Platinum Curidas. Notice I didn’t say the Writech Clictek Fountain Pen, because that design in an abomination. Luckily, Writech keeps it internal on this one.

The knock is rock-solid, with a loud click when deploying the tip, which is a classic needle fineliner tip. This is the 03 model - which has an 0.35 mm line - and uses Black ink, which is the only option. The cylindrical barrel is a nice overall diameter at 10.2 mm, compared to the classic Sakura Pigma Micron, which is 10.4 mm in the barrel, dropping to 8.1 mm in the grip.

Writech Clictek Liner Pen Comparison — *L to R: Writech Clictek Liner Pen 03, Tombow Mono Drawing Pen 02, Sakura Pigma Micron 03.*

Comparison, as far as the writing experience, is where the Clictek Liner Pen falls short.

Writech Clictek Liner Pen Writing — It is difficult to see in the image, but I switched pens each three lines in this order: Writech Clictek, Tombow Mono, Sakura Pigma Micron. The Clictek is more of a Grey tone when compared to the other two. It’s also a drier writer. The blocks on the left show the difference well.

From the first click, I could tell the Black ink wasn’t as black as most other fineliners. This is a pen type I use almost daily, so it was noticeable to me from the jump. On it’s own it may seem fine, but side-by-side with my other two testing pens - the Sakura Pigma Micron 03 and the Tombow Mono Drawing Pen 02 - the Clictek has a Grey/Brown tint. On top of that, it is drier than the other two. So it’s lighter in color, and more difficult to put that color down on the page. That type of performance isn’t going to cut it.

As I mentioned earlier, the one saving grace of the Clictek Liner Pen is that it is refillable. But $1.65 for a sponge-filled ink stick for a $2.45 pen is not compelling. That does not include a tip replacement, which, again, is the larger durability issue for fineliners.

For the price, it was worth the test, but there is no reason to use it over any other name brand Black ink fineliner on the market.

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

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Posted on February 23, 2026 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Writech, Fineliner, Pen Reviews.

Esterbrook Estie Fountain Pen - Back to the Land Button Fill Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

Esterbrook's popularity continues to grow in the pen community, and this series, Back to the Land, gives 110% energy on its retro theme. I honestly don't know how something can be this loud and still be classy at the same time. But it is.

The pen comes in a box with the series name in giant gold foil letters, and the back of the box tells you everything you could ever want to know about the inspiration for the three colors in the set. A pull ribbon opens the box like a drawer.

Inside are a few small extras. Each color comes with a different gift, and this one, Incredible Rock, comes with a car air freshener shaped like the US. That might seem like a super strange thing to receive inside a pen box, if you skipped the novel printed on the outside of the box describing its road trip inspiration.

The pen is held in place with a fuzzy faux-suede magnetic loop that can be removed from the ruler-marked backing and used as a pen clip in your notebook. The magnet clip is quite strong, so it holds securely to most notebook covers, and it holds the pen well without a risk of scratches. It is a bit thick, though, and creates a big lump in the notebook. I do like this concept, though, and it's nice to have useful, functional packaging.

Esterbrook Estie Back to the Land Barrel

The pen itself is made from smooth resin with gold-colored accents. This Incredible Rock version is an earthy clay brown with a turquoise cap band. It screams southwest 70s retro. But it screams it in a dignified, understated way. The pen is cigar shaped with a nice springy clip. The cap has Esterbrook's delightful spring-seal Cushion Closure, which keeps the pen from drying out. The grip section is smooth and slightly tapered, with a flair at the end to keep your fingers from slipping onto the nib. There is a clear ink window behind the grip section so you can see your ink level.

Esterbrook Estie Back to the Land Button

Esterbrook Estie Back to the Land Filling

This is the button filler version of this series, so the end of the pen has a gold-ringed end cap that screws off to reveal a push-button piston fill plunger. So if the design itself wasn't retro enough for you, the filling system takes it up a notch. This system is based on the Parker Piston Vacumatic from the 1940s. To fill the pen, you push in the spring-loaded button, dip the nib in your ink, then release the button so the pen draws in ink. The ink fills a tube inside the pen. The tube is visible through the ink window, but it does not fill the whole inside chamber. It's not as much of an ink tank as I thought it would be, but it's a fun filling system to try, and it still holds more than a standard converter.

Esterbrook Estie Back to the Land Needlepoint

My favorite thing about the pen, though, is the nib. I was lucky enough to get this model with a Needlepoint grind, available from Dromgoole’s for an extra $54 (along with other specialty nib grinds like Mini Stub, Journaler, Scribe, Techo, and Fude). If you look closely, you can see the grind to the steel Jowo tip, where some of the gold finish has been removed. It writes very well. It's a nice extra-extra fine line without being too dry or scratchy. It's still not as fine as a Japanese extra fine, but it's dreamy to write with. It's crisp without ever snagging the paper, and the fine lines make the ink supply last longer.

Esterbrook Estie Back to the Land Writing

The Back to the Land standard Estie sells for around $175, with the Button Filler edition selling for $225 (plus extra if you want a fancy nib). In today's pen market, that's a very good price. This is a very well-made pen and nothing about it feels cheap. It's all precise and balanced. Esterbrook is making some of the best pens at their price point, and I've enjoyed all the ones I've tried. If you dig a retro road trip, this series might be a winner for you.

(This product was purchased from Dromgoole’s at regular price.)

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