Posts filed under Uni-Ball

Uni-ball One 0.38 mm Gel Ink Pen Review

Let me get this out of the way right up front, because as I start typing this review up I don’t know where it is going to go: The Uni-ball One is a good pen.

I wouldn’t expect anything less from Uni-ball. They make some of my favorite pens and refills on the market, after all. But with the introduction of the One, they are confusing me more than ever.

Yes, I’m old, so save your memory jokes, but the options and overlap they now have in their gel in pen lineup would boggle even the smartest minds. Here is a short list of choices, and their primary ink formulation:

DX - Super Ink

RT1 - Super Ink

Signo 207 - Super Ink

Signo 207 Plus - Cellulose Nanofiber Ink

Signo 307 - Cellulose Nanofiber Ink

One - One Ink

What’s the difference in those features?

Super Ink is Uni’s standard archival gel ink. It’s amazingly good, and used in the most popular pens in their lineup. Per Uni-ball, this ink embeds itself into the paper, making it permanent, and uses larger ink particles for more legible handwriting.

Cellulose Nanofiber Ink is designed with smaller ink particles for better ink dispersion and a smoother feel, while retaining the permanence features of Super Ink.

One Ink sounds a lot like Super Ink. Large gel ink particles designed for more vibrant colors and fast drying. But, instead of embedding into the paper fibers for permanence, it sits on top of the page. I’m assuming it is archival like the rest.

I think I got all of that right.

When you lay out the specs like this it makes some sense, I guess. But in reality, the everyday consumer cares very little about any of it. They want to know if 1. The pen gives them an enjoyable writing experience, and 2. Is it worth the price. I’d answer yes to both of those questions for most of Uni-ball’s products.

For myself, I am not your everyday consumer of stationery goods, so I want to know more than that. Things like 1. What is the difference between these pens? And 2. Which one would I recommend to which type of user?

The answer to both of those questions is “Heck if I know!”

That’s the confusion the Uni-ball One brings. Objectively, it’s a great gel ink pen. I think it is Uni’s best barrel design in ages, and the ink does have a certain richness about it when gliding across the page. Really, no complaints whatsoever.

But the One Ink feels different. Or at least I think it feels different. And I prefer the Super Ink feel over the One Ink. What I want to do next is get one of each of the pens listed above, in the same ink color and tip size, and do a true side by side comparison with several different paper types. I think I can tell the difference between One Ink and Super Ink in my random testing, but I want to even the playing field more to be sure.

In the end, I think anyone who uses the One will enjoy it for what it is, and what it offers. But for avid gel ink pen users, especially on the micro tip side of the scale, I think you can do better.

And so can Uni-ball, by presenting a more coherent, cohesive picture of what each pen they sell offers. There is far too much overlap. Narrow down the product line, and tell a better story for each individual product.

Until then, enjoy the Uni-ball One for what it is. Just don’t ask me to explain it.

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

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Posted on May 24, 2021 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Uni-Ball, Gel, Pen Reviews.

Uni Jetstream 4&1 4-color .38 mm Ballpoint Multi Pen and .05 mm Pencil 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 Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

I've stood firmly against multi-pens in the past. I had my reasons--they were too big to hold comfortably, all the moving parts seemed ill-fitted or would rattle when writing, pieces might break, there was never enough of some of the ink colors, refills were hard to source, and I generally preferred to just carry a variety of writing tools with me rather than mess with those inconveniences of the multi-pen. But those were the multi-pens of yore, and the more recent models I've tried have grown on me. And then when Uni starts putting Ghibli characters on them, well. Then they become must-haves.

The Uni Jetstream 4&1 Kiki's Delivery Service 4 Color 0.38 mm Ballpoint Multi Pen + 0.5 mm Pencil is by far the most multitudinous multi-pen I've tried. Black, red, blue, and green ink each have their own clicky tab, and then the clip, when pushed down, reveals a mechanical pencil. Underneath the finial cap hides an eraser. This is the writing tool equivalent of the Swiss army knife.

Despite its complexity, it is fairly well made, though it hasn't done away with all my multi-pen woes. The body is sturdy, and not as thick as one would think for all the refills it contains. The rubber grip does a lot to help the writing comfort level. And while the refills are small, they're filled with Uni's excellent ink--a ballpoint that feels and acts with the smoothness of a gel pen. Replacement refills (Uni XSR 80-38) are easily obtained at JetPens. The mechanical pencil works well also, though it's a little fiddly to depress the clip for more lead, and the eraser is miniscule. The clip feels like the weak point of the pen. It does rattle a bit, and its springiness (necessary for it's pencil-deploying function) detracts from its clip functionality. I do worry that it will get broken or jammed if I toss the pen in a backpack or pocket without some kind of case or padding--and having it in a case does defeat some of the always-readiness that is the main benefit to a multi-pen. But only time will tell on its durability, and so far all is well.

While it may be big and rattly, I've never felt so prepared for any writing situation. It has everything I need to carry for work, AND it has Gigi on it. I've used it more than I thought I would, and even contemplated a backup copy. It isn't inexpensive for a pen at $24.50, but it's not expensive for four pens and a pencil. Overall I'm very pleased with it.

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

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Posted on March 25, 2021 by Sarah Read and filed under Uni-Ball, Jetstream, Multi Pen, Pen Reviews.

Uni-ball One Gel Pen 0.38 mm 8 Color Set Giveaway Winner

Will the Uni-ball One Gel Ink Pen take off and usurp some of Uni’s other offerings with it’s highly pigmented ink formulation? Time will tell, but they are off to a good start, that’s for sure. I have one set of pens to give away, and the winner is: