Zebra Regal Liquid Ink NR5 Review

(This is a guest post by Brian Gushikawa)

Zebra is best known for their Steel series of pens and pencils, but they also make a full line of gel and ballpoint pens. This pen is an entry into their rollerball line and directly competes with offerings from Pilot and Mitsubishi/Uniball. The Regal Liquid Ink NR5 is a needle point rollerball with a large ink reservoir and a good feel to it. It's a disposable way to carry around a good daily writer that won't let down its user.

Smoothness: Wonderful! Feels like a fountain pen! This pen doesn't suffer from the scratchiness that most fine point pens do.

Grip and Balance: The front section is ridged plastic which offers tactile feedback, but isn't soft elastomer like some other grips. The balance when posted is average and adequate.

Ink Flow: A standard finned flow regulator with (most likely) a fiber core flow controller provides a consistent flow with no skips or blotches.

Build Quality: Very good! Surprising, considering the disposable nature of this pen. The heft is good and the pen feels a little bit better than a Pilot Precise V5.

Capacity: The entire back of the pen is an ink tank, so there's a LOT of ink there!!

Clip: Very strong metal clip attached to a plastic cap. It's not as durable as a fountain pen clip, but it's fine for everyday use.

Post: The friction-fitted cap posts well and doesn't rattle.

Overall: You'd be hard pressed to find a nicer rollerball at the price point than the NR5. The needle tip allows for precision writing and the ink is a nice, dark shade of black. I'd say that this pen is a definite recommend as a backup for a fountain pen.

Zebra Sharbo X LT3 Multi Pen Review

It is a well known fact that I am a big fan of the Zebra Sharbo X multi pen. I first tried the ST3 model over two years ago when I bought it used from a Pen Addict reader. I was impressed by the build quality, functionality, and customization options available. It is a great pen, and has enjoyed high placement in many of my Top 5 Pens lists over the years.

The ST3 is just one of the many barrel styles of the Sharbo X, and I am happy to now get the chance to review the LT3 model. The primary difference between the ST3 and the LT3 is the diameter of the barrel. The LT3 is more of a normal width barrel at 9.3mm in diameter, while the ST3 is a wider body at 11.1mm. The barrel finish on the LT3 is also a matte style and comes various colors like Orange Flame and Azure Blue. The ST3 is smoother and comes in basic black, white, and silver. The functionality between the two is the same, with both containing one slot for a pencil cartridge, and two slots for gel or ballpoint ink cartridges.

When comparing the two side by side, I can tell a difference between the pens in how the pencil and ink cartridges are moved into the writing position. The twist mechanism works the same on each - you twist the top half of the barrel from station to station to expose the tip - but on the LT3 there is more or a “grab” on the inside of the barrel when moving from slot I to slot II.

Opening up the pen and looking at the issue, I think the gasket where the pencil cartridge connects is pushing against the pen cartridge in slot II causing it not to eject as smoothly. This doesn’t happen in the ST3 model, and I’m guessing the wider barrel is the difference. The cartridges have more room to move. It isn’t a deal breaker for me, but after using the ST3 for so long it is noticeable.

The one thing that doesn’t change between the pens is the performance of the ink cartridges. If you like how Zebra gel ink pens like the Sarasa Clip write, then you will love the Sharbo X refills. The lines are clean and sharp, and come in a ton of cool colors. The downside is the refills don’t last very long, and they are expensive to replace, so be aware of that commitment if you are going to take the plunge.

The Zebra Sharbo X is not a pen for everybody. Do you research, check out all the body styles, and decide if the barrel cost plus future cost of refills are for you. I love my Sharbos, but then again, I am a Pen Addict.

Zebra Surari 0.7mm Blue Review

(This is a guest review by Thomas Newman. You can follow Thomas on Twitter @ThomasNewman.)

Hello everyone, my name is Thomas, and Brad has been so kind as to let me contribute some guest reviews. I work as an ad copywriter currently, and worked 3 years as an office supply department head at a college bookstore, so needless to say, I love a good pen. (and run-on sentences)

Even though Mr. Pen Addict himself, and another guest writer have reviewed the Surari, I felt I had to share my thoughts on it as well. Brad sent me a few different pens to review, but since I love this pen so much, I decided to do it first. If I had to describe the Zebra Surari 0.7mm in one word, it would be “fantastic.” Not only is this pen easy to write with, it’s well made, an super cheap. When I throw out words like “fantastic” in reference to a pen, it isn’t without serious consideration.

I like to think that everyone has a favorite writing utensil, but few people spend as much time deciding what to carry, or can list several reasons why they choose a particular pen or pencil as I do. Not only does the Surari’s ink dry quickly like a ballpoint pen, it writes as if it were a gel pen. Now I don’t know how “revolutionary” (according to Jetpens.com) it is, but it sure does rock. I write in a fairly weird way in that I constantly rest the side of my hand on the paper and it drags across the page as I write. Due to this, I am constantly cursing pens that leave an ink smear on my hand at the end of the day. The Surari’s “Emulsion Ink” alleviates this problem.

I mentioned earlier that this pen is quite cheap. I mean that of course in price terms, not in quality. The Zebra Surari will cost you a mere $1.65. You read that right; it’s not a typo. This is especially great for users who want various colors of ink. Speaking of multiple ink colors, JetPens offers a plethora of ink choices that even include florescent colors, and different barrel colors. The tip sizes provide even more options as you can purchase the Surari in 0.5, 0.7, or 1.0mm versions.

I have changed my writing instrument of choice tons of times while I was in college, but I have never stuck with one as long as I have with this Zebra. If you want a great, affordable, everyday use pen, look no further.