Posts filed under Rollerball

Lamy Swift Rollerball Racing Green Review

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

The Lamy Swift rollerball pen is one that I've seen and thought about picking up so many times in the past. For some reason, I just never went through with the purchase — now that I have one, I can really appreciate the thoughtful and unique design of this pen.

The Swift is unlike any other Lamy design, and it certainly stands out. The sleek metal barrel and shiny chrome accents compliment the unique shape and complete an overall style that is hard to put down. On top of that, the unit I have is one of the limited Racing Green editions that Lamy has been releasing for many of their pen lines recently.

What really sets this pen apart is the unique slip design. The Swift has a trick up its sleeve, and the secret is that the clip retracts flush into the barrel when you extend the refill with the nock. When the refill is extended, the clip is totally flush with the pen barrel, which just looks really cool. When you retract the refill, the clip slides back out again for normal use.

Aside from being a cool trick, this means you can't accidentally clip the pen to a garment pocket or a bag while the refill is extended, and it also can't extend while in transit since the clip wouldn't be able to retract. No more accidental ink stains on your clothes and bags! I have to guess that a lot of work went into this unusual design, and it really shows in how smooth the clip action is in practice. The clip mechanism also necessitates a shift in where the nock is located, so this is probably the only pen I've ever seen that has a nock that isn't centered on the diameter of the barrel. It's off-center enough to make room for whatever mechanism is handling the clip movement, but I think it also just looks cool.

Moving further down the pen barrel, you'll notice a cool dotted grip section that adds some visual interest as well as a pretty sturdy grip. Since the outer barrel is just an aluminum sleeve, the machined holes allow the shiny chrome material to shine through. It's a great visual feature, and feels great in the hand!

The nose of the pen is nothing special, but it keeps the shiny chrome accent going to the very tip of the pen. Something about it seems different from the rest of the pen design, but I can't decide what it is. Maybe it's the sharp chamfer that contrasts poorly with the otherwise straight and round lines of the pen? Whatever it is, it always catches my attention (in a bad way).

Aside from that one complaint, I think this pen is quite attractive! It definitely gets a lot of comments.

Writing with the Swift is also pretty nice. The included M66 refill is the same one that's included with the Lamy Tipo rollerball, so it's no slouch. The ink is a rich, dark black with plenty of flow and easy movement. It's a smooth writer and is very pleasing to use. On the odd occasion, I had some very minor issues with skipping, but it never persisted for long. It's not as good as the Schmidt P8126/7 that many of us know and love, but it's certainly a great refill. One thing that I'll have to investigate a bit more is the possibility of using a G2-style refill in this pen. The Lamy Tipo, which uses the same M66 refill as the Swift, easily accepts a Pilot G2 refill with no modification. It makes the Tipo a great pen for me simply because of how it accepts so many refills. For some reason, the Swift doesn't quite work correctly with the Juice refills I was trying to use. It seems like the refill doesn't have enough clearance at the very end of the nock depression to allow the mechanism to finish its path. I wonder if a little razor work could fix the problem, but that's a time commitment I can't make right now. Has anyone else out there tried hacking a G2 refill to a Lamy Swift?

Overall, the Lamy Swift rollerball is a great little pen. It's an attractive package with a cool trick up its sleeve that will prevent ink leaks on your clothes and bags, and it looks cool while doing it! The machined grip is comfortable and sturdy, the refill is bold and reliable, and the price is still reasonable at just over $50. This would make a great gift for someone who could appreciate the clever clip design and who also may not be comfortable with fountain pens or other specialized pens just yet. If Racing Green isn't your thing, you can also choose from Matte Black, Imperial Blue, Graphite, or Palladium for the same price. Keep in mind that Racing Green is a limited color!

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

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Posted on January 8, 2020 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Lamy, Rollerball, Pen Reviews.

Tombow Zoom 505 META Rollerball Pen Review

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

In a world that's absolutely full the brim with excellent gel ink, hybrid ballpoint, and fountain pens, it can be easy to look over the humble liquid ink rollerball category. This category isn't as full as its relatives, but there are some really strong contenders to take note of.

One I've been using quite a bit lately is the Tombow Zoom 505. I reviewed the standard model a few months ago, and I was impressed with the build quality and writing experience that the Zoom offered. Today is a similar review, but this one is a special Zoom 505 - the META in Hairline Black.

The shape and feel of the META is identical to the standard Zoom 505. That means it's very comfortable in the hand, it looks more premium than it costs, and the included refill is dark and crisp. The additional cost of the META, however, is due to the increase in material quality.

The Tombow Zoom 505 META features an anodized, brushed aluminum body and cap that is paired with a matte black brass section. The section is also covered in a luxurious rubber grip that makes using this pen a delightful thing.

To quickly recap, the META uses the same refill as the standard Tombow Zoom that I wrote about a few months ago. The refill contains a good portion of ink, comes in several sizes, is affordable, and is also available in black and blue. The refill that came with this META is a bit scratchy, but I'm confident that it's a one-off issue. I have a few other refills for the Tombow rollerball pens, and they don't have any issue with being scratchy. What they do all have in common, though, is the dark, crisp lines that they produce on paper. There's not much that's more satisfying than the lush dark lines that a liquid ink rollerball produces, and the META is no slouch. I love writing with this refill. While it's not the ubiquitous Schmidt P8126/7 refill that we all know and love, it's a pretty close second, and much more affordable to boot.

Now, getting into what makes this pen unique to the standard Zoom, the materials and aesthetic of this blacked-out edition is something I really enjoy. The black brushed aluminum is sleek but still professional. It has an unassuming look while also looking unique, which is a hard line to balance. The logo is a dark color as well, adding to the allure of the pen. When you see it on a desk, you're not really sure what it is, but you are certainly tempted to pick it up and use it for a bit.

The clip on the cap is really strong and also features a matte black finish to tie into the rest of the unassuming theme. Even the cone and grip section are blacked out. If you're a fan of that sick blacked-out look, this pen is entirely in your alley. The only non-black thing on this pen is the refill tip.

Uncapping and capping the pen is fairly easy as long as you line it up correctly. Since the grip section is a rubber material, it tends to stick and drag against the inside of the cap if there's too much of an angle. This isn't a big deal once you practice the motion a few times. Securing the cap on the pen produces a nice tactile "slide and bump" when it's in place, and pulling the cap off feels equally smooth. I can tell there's a specially-designed mechanism inside the cap that accepts the grip and cone perfectly, which means there's a good seal around the open refill when the pen is capped. This prevents it from drying out when it isn't being used.

The cap can also post on the back of the pen, but it produces a metal on metal feeling which puts me off. This isn't a big deal, but I can't help but cringe when I feel it, and I have to wonder if repeated use would leave any markings on the back of the pen body after a while.

Overall, writing with this pen is incredibly pleasing. The refill is crisp and dark, and the grip is cushy and comfortable while also providing a firm place for your fingers to rest while you write. The blacked-out aesthetic is definitely a perk with this model, but it doesn't have that cheesy "tactical" look that some all black products try to achieve. This pen is at home in a military-style bug-out bag, but it also looks equally at place in a suite pocket or leather folio.

At $33, the Tombow Zoom 505 META is a bit more expensive than the standard model, but that extra bit of cash is worth it for me. The all-black look is classy and awesome, and the matte aluminum materials are a big bump for the longevity of the barrel over the standard lacquered version. This makes a great gift or daily carry pen!

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

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Posted on November 13, 2019 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Tombow, Rollerball, Pen Reviews.

Lamy Safari Powder Rose Rollerball Pen Review

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

Every year, it's exciting to see the limited edition colors and options that companies roll out for their various product lines. In the case of the Lamy Safari line, we have the lovely Powder Rose color, which is a light, light pink that has no trouble sparking a smile. While I'm normally more of a fountain pen user when it comes to the Safari line, I have to admit that the rollerball version is a close contender to which I like more. I'm not stranger to the Lamy M63 rollerball refill, but it has been a while since I've used one.

The Lamy Safari Powder Rose Rollerball is the latest in my Lamy collection, and I've been really enjoying my time with it. With as awesome as fountain pens and inks are, I have to sometimes force myself to use other pens. With the Safari, it's been a really easy task. The grip section is completely familiar to me since it is identical to the fountain pen Safari, and the weight and handling are also instantly recognizable once it's in my hand. If you've ever used a Safari, I imagine the same will be true for you — it just feels right. Similarly, if you've used a Safari and didn't care for it, the same will hold true here as well.

Aside from a few minor differences from the fountain pen version (like the single notch in the top button of this pen versus the cross-hatch notch button in the fountain pen cap), the rollerball variant is a strong performer. The rollerball refill that Lamy use in this pen is a behemoth — there's just so much ink in here. While you might think that it will last a really long time, don't forget that this is a liquid rollerball refill, which tends to go pretty quickly compared to ballpoint or even gel refills. Still, the extra capacity in this refill is definitely appreciated — especially considering the price. At $5 per refill, it's a little on the expensive side, but not by much considering the brand and the size. It definitely lasts a long time, but that price is still a little cringe-worthy.

Mostly, I've been really happy with the rollerball refill, but there are plenty of times where I'm also wishing to replace it with a trusty Schmidt P8126 or similar refill. Why? Well, the M63 does have some issues with skipping mid-line. To its credit, it usually starts writing like a champ, with zero stuttering no matter long it's gone unused. But, it suffers from an unpredictable issue that causes the line to skip or disappear entirely, meaning you have to scribble somewhere to clear whatever blockage or issue that is causing the skip. It always recovers, which is great, but it's something I wish didn't exist in the first place, especially considering the price of the refill. For example, the Schmidt P8126 is similarly priced, but it operates like a charm. You get a similarly bold and smooth line, but none of the skipping issues that the Lamy exhibits. Like I said, the Lamy refill mostly behaves, but the skipping occurs a little too frequently for my tastes.

Everything else about the Safari rollerball is perfectly in line with the rest of the Safari line. The build quality is fantastic, the color is gorgeous, and the cap and clip system are strong and secure. If I had an abundance of extra obscure refills, I'd definitely try to find a replacement for this one! But I'm not getting my hopes up as this is a unique length for a refill — especially a rollerball. If only the quality and dependability were just a little higher on the M63!

The Lamy Safari Powder Rose Rollerball is available from JetPens for $20 as a limited edition color. If this is your thing, grab one before they're all gone!

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

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