April 13th, 2009 in Featured, Productivity

10 Affordable Pens Geeks Love

10 Affordable Pens Geeks Love

Look in the pocket or bag of any self-respecting geek and you’ll find a pen. Or two. Or 12. I have about 40 pens within a 3′ stretch of me where I’m writing this.

Of course, I don’t use all of them. They’re the detritus of years of experimentation, checking out new pens all the time, in my ever-present quest to find The Perfect Pen – or at least my next one.

The right pen is important, as Lifehack contributor David Pierce recently told us. As with all tools, the better it feels to use a pen, the more likely you are to do so.

And pens have personalities. Some pens might make you feel creative and free, while others make you feel formal and official — which explains why I take roll in my classes with a different pen from the one clipped to my Moleskine.

Now, it’s easy to spend a fortune on a pen — $200 is chicken feed in the world of premium pens, a world far beyond this poor writer’s means. But there are plenty of affordable pens out there that have gotten the “seal of approval” (signed with a flourish, of course) from pen geeks everywhere. Here, then, are ten decently-priced pens that bring a flush to the cheeks of even the snobbiest geeks.

(Note: All prices in US dollars.)

  1. Pilot G2: Cheap, comfortable, and wonderful to write with, the Pilot G2 is especially favored by Moleskine enthusiasts because its gel ink flows nicely on the notebook’s ultra-smooth pages and it doesn’t soak through to the other side. The G2 sells for about $2.00 each in black and comes in three thicknesses (0.5mm, 0.7mm, and 1mm) and a variety of colors (colored pens cost a little more). They’re even refillable! A variety of Pilot pens use the same refills, including models with much thicker barrels, metal barrels, and the G2 mini which is a little over half the size of the standard G2.
  2. Staedtler Pigment Liners: Often sold in the technical drawing section of the office supply or art store, pigment pens are fiber-tipped pens with archival-quality liquid ink. They’re available in a variety of widths, from 1mm all the way down to 0.05mm for incredibly detailed work. Preferred by artists and drafters, pigment pens are also great for things like writing “cheat sheets” of information onto index cards or Post-Its. They’re sold individually for a few bucks each, but are commonly available in sets of 4 sizes for under $10.
  3. Zebra Telescopic Brights: A comfortable pen with a wolid-feeling metal barrel, Zebra’s telescoping pens collapse to about half their length, making them great for keeping in a pocket or wallet. They’re refillable, come in 6 colors, and cost under $5 for a 2-pack.
  4. Lamy Logo Multi-Color Ballpoint: Most multi-color pens look like kids toys, but not the Lamy Multi-Color Ballpoint. Lamy pens are the height of style, and the Logo Multi-Color is no exception — it fits black, red, and blue ink cartridges into a barrel no wider than most single-color pens. It’s a tad pricey at $35, making itthe most expensive on this list, but Lamy pens are well-made and a joy to write with — a lot of cheaper multi-color pens (or multi-function pens, for that matter) feel cheap, even when they’re not.
  5. Inka: For people who don’t like to keep pens in their pockets, the Inka’s got you covered. This collapsible pen has a keyring at one end so you always have it with you. The two-piece design screws together to form a typical-length pen, with a pressurized ink cartridge that will write upside-down and on wet surfaces. The pen closes sexcurely (so the pen won’t fall out ofthe cap when notin use) and is even waterproof. Inka pens run $20.
  6. Fisher Space Bullet: Is there anything cooler than using the same pen that astronauts use? Designed to write in any conditions, the Fisher Space Pen’s pressurized cartridge write upside-down, across wet or greasy surfaces, and in extreme cold — perfect if you ever find yourself needing to add a “next action” while in orbit. The Bullet pen closes to about 3″ long, with round ends, so you can keep it in your pocket easily. Fisher makes other pens that use their special ink cartridges — I have a 4-function pen my brother gave me for my birthday last year — but the $22 Space Bullet is the classic.
  7. Sharpie Pen: Not just for packing labels and toilet stall graffiti anymore, Sharpie’s new line of pens get almost everything right. The ink doesn’t bleed (it’s not the same ink you find in Sharpie permanent markers), the barrels are not too thick nor too thin, and the fiber-tip draws a line that’s fine but not invisible. And they’re cheap — $6 or $7 for a pack of 4. The only drawback is that the writing on the barrel chips off if you keep it in your pocket for months. (Obviously not enough of a problem to keep me from keeping one in my pocket for months…)
  8. Flair: Often overlooked in favor of newer, fancier markers, Flair pens are great for tasks like mind-mapping and taking notes where several colors are useful. As always, they have that funky-feeling grooved body and quick-drying fiber tip that squashes flat over time. But if you treat them nice, they’ll treat you nice in return. A little over a buck a pop, the thing to do is to buy sets of 12 colors for around $15 and keep a handful in your bag all the time.
  9. Rotring Expandable Pen: The official GTD pen, this one is discontinued but is available exclusively through David Allen’s store. Like the Zebra pen above, but classy — a brass barrel with lacquered finish gives it that substantial feeling that I love. Rotring is a premium brand, but these can be had for $19.
  10. Pilot Varsity: I started with a Pilot pen and I’ll finish with a Pilot pen: the Varsity. This is a strange beast — a disposable fountain pen. Ilove fountain pens, but cheap ones tend not to write very nicely and and expensive ones are, well, expensive. Plus, nearly every fountain pen I’ve ever had has blackened my fingers something fierce — except the Varsity. For only a bit above $3 apiece, these little plastic pens write nicely (and the ink flows immediately every time) and don’t leak. Used normally, the line is about 1 mm, but you can flip it over and use the tippy-tip (I’m sure there’s a technical name for it…) for a great fine line, too. Be careful, especially if you’re left-handed – fountain pen ink smudges.

What are your favorite pens? Feel free to share your own favorites, and the reasons why, in the comments — like I said, I’m always on the lookout for a new great pen.

WRITER'S BIOGRAPHY

Dustin Wax

Dustin M. Wax is a freelance writer and project manager at Stepcase Lifehack. He is also the creator of The Writer's Technology Companion, a site devoted to the tools of the writing trade. When he's not writing, he teaches anthropology and gender studies in Las Vegas, NV. He is the author of Don't Be Stupid: A Guide to Learning, Studying, and Succeeding at College.

Follow him on Twitter: @dwax.

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  • Maurice Cherry says on April 13th, 2009 at 10:13 am

    I also love the Marvy Uchida Le Pen series. They write like the Staedtler Pigment Liners, but are much cheaper (I usually pick them up at Utrecht for about $1.80).

  • Chuck Frey says on April 13th, 2009 at 10:15 am

    I’m a huge fan of the Lamy 4-color pen. It’s a bit on the pricey side (about US$50-60), but well worth it for hand-drawn mind maps, highlighting action items in your notes – and ensuring that your pen doesn’t run out of ink in that important meeting!

    What gives it geek cred? Its simple, elegant design doesn’t require a complex mechanism to select the ink color. Rather, it’s designed to let gravity do the trick. Read my review of it to learn how.

  • Cody DeHaan says on April 13th, 2009 at 10:20 am

    It’s worth noting that the Pilot G2 also comes in .38mm, my favorite, and shouldn’t be that hard to find in the US.

  • Paul Ehrenreich says on April 13th, 2009 at 10:57 am

    I like Tul’s pens http://tul.com/ . I keep a couple on me for class and I like the way they write. I also like the G2’s as well. I been meaning to try out the new sharpie pens, just haven’t gotten around to it yet.

  • Larry says on April 13th, 2009 at 11:26 am

    Uni Power Tank is my hands-down favorite. It is pressurized like a space pen, so it will write at angles, upside down, on wet paper, etc. The ink flows smoothly like a gel pen, every time. And it’s plastic so it’s very affordable. I switched to the power tank a few years ago and never looked back. I hightly recommend.

  • Brian Sexton says on April 13th, 2009 at 11:28 am

    I like Uni-Ball Rollers from Sanford. Sometimes they get leaky, but when they aren’t leaking they are nice pens. They have fairly clean lines that are heavier than many other pens. They come in at least black, blue, and red and in different weights. I buy them from office stores in boxes of 12.

    The Papermate G-Force, also from Sanford, has a nice feel too the pen itself and it works well enough for a clicker-type pen, although the rubber grip may come lose. The line is pretty standard and you can expect to squiggle-start it now and then since there is no cap. It looks and feels nice, though, with a silver and black appearance and a wire clip rather than a sheet or molded clip.

  • Slam says on April 13th, 2009 at 11:29 am

    Pilot G2 deserves its spot at the top of the list. Though if you’re looking for a good colour palette to choose from, HI-TEC-C is a pretty sweet line of pens.

  • Brian Sexton says on April 13th, 2009 at 11:31 am

    Papermate G-Force has a nice feel *to* the pen itself, that is, and the grip may come *loose*. Oops! Sorry about the typos, folks. I’d edit them if I could.

  • Anonymous says on April 13th, 2009 at 11:38 am

    Uniball 207. They start off better than G2s, but tend to stutter near the end of their lives.

  • Karl says on April 13th, 2009 at 11:40 am

    Two recommendations to add to the list:

    1. Uni Vision Elite. You need good quality paper for it, but the available colors and the smoothness are unmatched.
    2. Uni Jetstream. Best ballpoint pens ever.

  • Nate says on April 13th, 2009 at 11:43 am

    What…no mention of the Pilot Precise V5?

    Large tank, cheap price, writes like a dream, fine point — what’s not to love?

    I was at a conference recently and noticed that all of the scientists seem to be using them. Which shouldn’t have surprised me as I have one clipped to my lab note book, too. :)

  • John says on April 13th, 2009 at 12:06 pm

    Optiflow pens from Staples are my favorite. Tried Pilot G2 but it would blot.

  • Jonny says on April 13th, 2009 at 12:22 pm

    Zebra Serasa in a 0.5mm.

  • Andrew Lindsay says on April 13th, 2009 at 12:24 pm

    I only use two pens… Pilot G2 (0.5mm) and Mont Blanc Rollerball both with blue ink. Having been using these for years.

  • Erik Deckers says on April 13th, 2009 at 12:25 pm

    Great article. I looooove my Pilot G2 pen (blue .05 mm). I got a box nearly two years ago, and have used the same one the whole time. When a cartridge runs out, I just take a new one out of one of the other pens. I’ve managed to hang onto it this long by never letting other people borrow it.

    It’s the only pen I use in my beloved Moleskine notebooks. When I first started using Moleskines, I was searching for the best pen to use. Moleskinerie.com had a big discussion about it, and more people raved about the Pilot G2s, so I took a chance and tried it. I haven’t picked up a ballpoint since then.

    I also have a Sakura .01 mm, because I write so small, but I rarely use it.

    Thanks for the great article.

  • Daryl [WhiteHatBlackBox] says on April 13th, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    What about the Dr. Grip Mont Blanc hack? The Pentel RSVP is also a really good pen. I like ball point pens over gel because I am left-handed and the ink smears. These two have excellent ink flow and you never have to scribble around before it begins to write.

  • OXM says on April 13th, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    A second comment of love for the Uni-ball Sanford Roller and Onyx.

    http://www.uniball-na.com/main.taf?p=2,3,7
    http://www.uniball-na.com/main.taf?p=2,3,8

    I stole so many of these from my previous job, I should be in Guantanamo.

  • SaraKate says on April 13th, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    I’m with Nate on the Pilot Precise. I love Pilot for lots of pens. They do wonders with black and colored inks.

    I also really like the Sarasa Zebra pens.

    Surprised neither of these was on this list.

  • faizal says on April 13th, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    wow my fav pen was there in no 1. pilot g2 rock! for sure black color.

  • Brian says on April 13th, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    Two of the coolest, smallest and lightest keychain pens are the stainless steel and titanium Valiant Concepts EDC pens.

  • TikiMexican says on April 13th, 2009 at 2:16 pm

    If you haven’t tried the Pilot Dr. Grip series you’re missing out. The apex pen IMO is the center of gravity models, balanced to perfection. Also the Hi-Tec-C didn’t make the list? You must not have enough japanese connections.

  • Pablo G says on April 13th, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    I like the Zebra Clip-on Multi with four colors and a pencil. It’s the only multi-color pen that I like. Writes like a champ and changes color without sticking – much, much better than the Bic.

  • Reese says on April 13th, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    I used to only use Uni-ball Vision, now it’s Pilot G2 both the .5mm and .38mm, black only.

  • Reese says on April 13th, 2009 at 2:44 pm

    Forgot the name until I looked at the website, the PaperMate Flair used to be a favorite too. I always had bleeding and leaking problems with them though.

  • David Cain says on April 13th, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    Wow, such a geeky topic.

    I like my Zebra Sarasa.

  • chris ullrich says on April 13th, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    Uni-ball 207 for the win! The regular one is great and I’m now using a few of the Premiere ones s well. The best inexpensive pen I’ve ever used.

  • Paula Dauncey says on April 13th, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    I love my Lamy fountain, it’s bright yellow so I can never lose it, supposedly.. :/

  • Carl Zulauf says on April 13th, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    Uniball Vision Micro (0.5mm). As others have stated they can get a little flaky towards end-of-life, but until then they are the best disposable pens I have used. Plus, the pen is nearly perfectly balanced for pen-twirling tricks :-)

  • Jim Thompson says on April 13th, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    I really love the Pilot Razor Point II, but I can’t find it at places like Office Depot and have to order it online. The RP2 writes well in a Moleskine, and especially well in my on-the-job notebook of choice, a National Brand Computational Notebook – 43-648 (brown cover, numbered green graph-paper pages, the kind you probably used as a lab notebook in high school).

  • Jayme Maultasch says on April 13th, 2009 at 3:43 pm

    The best pen EVER – Uniball Jetstream

  • Josh says on April 13th, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    You’ve never written until you’ve written with a STAEDTLER Liquid Point 7. Sharp, strong, fluid point.

  • Shane says on April 13th, 2009 at 4:53 pm

    The Uni-ball eye micro is nice, but nothing holds a candle to the feeling of a Rotring Rapidograph gliding across the pages of my pocket moleskin.

  • MacWebDev says on April 13th, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    The Pentech Syntech is a great pen. Cheap (around $3 or $4 for one barrel and 2 refills) and has a great weight to it. Very comfortable to write with.

    Unfortunately I can’t find them at any store in Canada, and even in the USA I’ve only been able to track them down at CVS and Walgreens. Every time I travel in the US, I take a take a few minutes on a mission to stock up.

  • Markus says on April 13th, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    I’ll cast a 3rd vote for the Pilot Precise V5. I always carry one in my front pants pocket next to my Skeletool. It’s cheap enough that I don’t care if the Skeletool eats it, the clip can be popped of and bent back into place unlike some others, the clip is flush with the top of the pen so it doesn’t snag, and the lid is very secure (no ink stains in years of use).

  • Monica says on April 13th, 2009 at 5:28 pm

    I have, since 8th grade, been using Pentel R.S.V.P. pens. My favorite forever.

  • matt says on April 13th, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    what about an ERASABLE pen? The Pilot Frixion is a reasonably nice blue pen that can be rubbed out using the other end. It seems to erase better than a pencil and doesn’t leave eraser debris everywhere.

  • rainskei says on April 13th, 2009 at 9:42 pm

    Ditto on the Uni Jetstream.
    Beautiful flow, no priming needed, no soak through, and dries incredibly fast. PLUS never, ever smears!

  • michele says on April 13th, 2009 at 11:31 pm

    My absolute favorite is the Uni-Ball Signo RT 0.38. I used to be able to find them at Staples, but now I have to order online. It’s totally worth it.

  • Jean says on April 14th, 2009 at 1:24 am

    Many year. Many, many pens.

    Uni-ball 207 .5mm is my current go-to pen for everything except glossy paper, on which I think it takes a little too long to dry.

    I used to like G2, but they take too long to dry on everything.

  • Jeroen Sangers says on April 14th, 2009 at 3:50 am

    The most underappreciated pen is the Bic. Everybody has one, it`s very cheap and it simply works.

  • Camiel says on April 14th, 2009 at 4:31 am

    I recently took a step back from gadgets for getting my things done, bought a pack of index cards, a moleskine and a Lamy Pico pen. I really love the pen: it’s small and sturdy, so I can put it in my pocket with some index cards all the time to put down my thoughts. I’m not a novellwriter, and the pen probably isn’t suited for that, but for some quick notes: great pen!

  • dave says on April 14th, 2009 at 4:38 am

    Heh, my three favorite pens made the list! G2-Mini, Space Pen, and the Varsity.

    I’m rough on pens. I carry a battered G2 mini in the side pocket of my Leatherman sheath, with a mini sharpie on the other side.

    I lost my space pen awhile back and haven’t had a chance to replace it. It went through the washer and dryer more than once, never leaked, wrote first time, every time.

    The varsity was pretty nice – it’s the only fountain pen I’ve ever used, so I can only compare it to ball and felt pens. It gives a nice bold black line, and almost floats over the paper.

    The crap part is that not one of them is stocked in any of the stores I frequent. (You can get G2-minis, but only in multicolor packs, or 1 mini and 2 regular G2s)

    So, I just ordered a bunch from Pilot, threw in some Varsities, and discovered a G2 mini mechanical pencil.

  • MIke says on April 14th, 2009 at 5:56 am

    - Pilot Razor Point !!!!!
    - Sharpie Pen
    - Pilot G2

  • timgray says on April 14th, 2009 at 8:41 am

    I’ve tried all those. I’ll never give up my diplomat.

    It’s an incredible pen, nobody borrows it, it’s the only pen I have ever owned that is a true joy to write with.

    Granted a $80.00 pen is sneered at by most geeks, but when you use one in the meeting room, the execs take notice. And honestly being noticed by the executives is far more important than impressing the geek in the next cube.

    But then that’s why I also carry a moleskine instead of a $1.29 notebook.

  • Perry says on April 14th, 2009 at 8:48 am

    I love my Papermate PhD Multi. It’s got a black ink cartridge (which I usually swap out for blue), a mechanical pencil, and a stylus for my PDA phone. Unfortunately, I believe they’ve been discontinued and are getting really hard to find. There’s a newer version that substitutes a red ink cartridge for the stylus, but I prefer the original.

    It’s nice and thick and comfortable in the hand and it’s got a great rubber wrap on the lower half which is nice to hold.

  • Catherine Cantieri, Sorted says on April 14th, 2009 at 9:56 am

    Ah, man, I used the Varsity all the time in high school! So many of my favorites are on here. I’m also quite fond of the Pilot V Razor Point, the Pilot Precise V5 and, for some reason, burgundy Le Pens.

    This is an awesome post!

  • Francis Teo says on April 14th, 2009 at 10:22 am

    Parker Jotter with Gel refill. Smooth.

  • Joe says on April 14th, 2009 at 11:32 am

    I’ll toss my preference for the Pilot “V” Razor Point extra fine into the mix (not the same as Jim’s Razor Point II). I love it because it needs less pressure than any pen I’ve tried – just graze the paper with it and it writes. I doubt there’d be a way to achieve this without being just a little bit sloppy, but it’s not too bad. It also has a huge reservoir – I feel like I’ve never had to toss one (but I must have).

  • Bill says on April 14th, 2009 at 12:12 pm

    I agree with Francis: Parker Jotter with gel refill. Under $4 at Wal-mart; gel refills are about $2 each on eBay in quantity. The Jotter was the first mainstream ballpoint pen in the 1950s — it’s still great, even better with the gel refills. You can pay a lot more for a Parker pen — I certainly have — but they’re all the same ballpoint/gel/rollerball refill inside.

    Also: Sailor Innovations RT. Well under $1 if you shop around. Great 1.0 thick line.

  • Luigi says on April 14th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    Two comments:

    1) I have a couple sub-$200.00 fountain pens, and not so much for the luxury end of it. The ink just flows nicely. That’s not so say I haven’t used other nice pens, but I’ve gotten used to putting almost no pressure on the nib.

    2) nobody mentioned the old joke about the Space Pen, so here it is:

    American astronauts needed a pen to write with in space, so America spent tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars on developing a pen that would write upside down, under water, in freezing cold temperatures and so forth.

    The Russians? They use pencils.

  • Scott Myers says on April 14th, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    Pilot V Ball extra fine, black (link: http://bit.ly/3CiGA). My favorite for years.

  • Chris says on April 14th, 2009 at 8:31 pm

    I love my Retro Tornado Fountain pen. Stay away from the wide nib if you don’t want to wait around for the ink to dry… :) Shop around for prices, they vary widely, but there are deals to be had!

  • kaezi says on April 15th, 2009 at 5:59 pm

    I was a Pilot G2 guy for a long time till I discovered the Uniball Jetstream. My biggest problem with the Pilot is the ink smears easily, and quite often you have to wait for it to dry. The Jetstream has arguably a better feel to it and no ink smear.

  • Enrique S says on April 16th, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    I always keep a Fisher refill in my wallet, you never know when you’ll need a pen. It takes up almost no extra room. For work, I like the Dr. Grip.

  • Gwuinifer says on April 16th, 2009 at 5:56 pm

    I can’t believe there’s not more love for the ultra-fine Uniball Signo here! Only one other comment mentions Signo at all. I like the 0.28 in black for the majority of tasks– but I also keep an assortment of colors in the 0.38 thickness (the color shows up more nicely with a very slightly thicker line). I order my pens online from Jetpens– they rock! :)

  • Kim says on April 17th, 2009 at 10:24 am

    I can understand why only one fountain pen made the list – it is awfully fiddly to use them, though not as messy as people think. I’d recommend, though, not disposing of your Varsity when it’s empty, instead taking a cloth and a leatherman, pulling out the nib and feed, and filling with the FP ink of your choice!

  • K says on April 17th, 2009 at 11:46 pm

    I used to be a big fan of the G2 as well, but the ink always seem to run out quickly. I then discovered the Pentel EnerGel. The colors are rich. The ink doesn’t smear easily. And, it’s easy on my little hands.

  • heidi says on April 18th, 2009 at 4:11 am

    My all time favourite is HI-TEC 0.25mm, it gives you a clean and fine line and i am no longer using any others.

  • I like this blog says on April 18th, 2009 at 4:36 am

    I think, a more deserving of a number 2 spot is this Pilothttp://www.pilotpen-store.com/product_detail.asp?T1=PIL%20BBP-SF%20BLK

    A regular ballpoint pen, great for both writing and doodling. Especially the fine pointed one.

  • Tom says on April 18th, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    Total agreement here about the Pilot Varsity. They’re hard to get sometimes, and my entirely broke university won’t buy them for me any more (not that the cheapo Staples Bic-knockoffs are all that bad). But I am willing to spend out of pocket.

    Best fountain pens I’ve had are the big steel Rotrings. A fellow student dropped mine right on the nib. I wanted to cry right there. But I love my Lamy Safaris, but refilling from an ink bottle is messy.

    How many of us spent four years in college (and/or more in grad school) trying to find the best pen? It’s an ongoing quest, but this is a great list.

  • Danny P says on April 20th, 2009 at 1:38 pm

    Love my:
    1. Zebra Stainless Steel F-301 (Ball-Point) — and the G-301(Gel) & M-301(Pencil) are nice, too.
    2. UniBall Signo Micro 207

    Anyone who is a pen nut — you’ll have lots of company over at DIYPlanner /dot/ com!

  • J says on April 20th, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    Papermate PhD Multi. It’s a black ink pen, red ink pen, and pencil in one. The barrel has a comfortable rubber grip, the ink is adequate, and the pencil lead is the perfect width. The pen is refillable to cut down on waste. Love ‘em.

  • Dave says on April 20th, 2009 at 2:45 pm

    Not really in the same price bracket as the ones in the original article, but the Pilot Vanishing Point is an amazing pen. It clicks like a ballpoint, but it’s actually a fountain pen.

    http://www.amazon.com/Namiki-V.....B001K4RT40

  • Matt says on April 20th, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    I can’t stand the Pilot G2. I don’t know why everyone raves about this pen. I find it uncomfortable and “scratchy” to use.

    The Pentel EnerGel pens, on the other hand, are wonderful. There’s a retractable that’s nice, but I’ve come to prefer the capped Liquid Gel Ink ball in 0.7 mm. Nice and smooth to use, with a rich black ink. Great pen.

  • Tripp Southern says on April 21st, 2009 at 12:12 am

    I use the Pilot Dr. Grip Gel with the newly designed Pilot Precise V7 RT gel ink cartridges (they fit perfectly). I don’t carry it in my pockets for fear of ink stains though. Instead I carry a green, black and blue G2 mini at all times.

  • Saskia says on April 21st, 2009 at 6:45 am

    I just wanted to let people know that Pilot also produce a version of their G-2 pen made from recycled plastic – it’s called the “G-knock”, and uses the same refills as the G-2. So now you can have your favourite affordable pen & reduce your environmental guilt at the same time!

    UK link: http://www.pilotpen.co.uk/begr.....nk_03.html

    US link: http://www.pilotbegreen.us/products/index.php

  • bob says on April 26th, 2009 at 10:13 pm

    tul
    tul tul tul
    beats the g2 and the uniball. though i love the mini-G2 for the size.

  • Cranestr says on May 13th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    I can’t believe that the Zebra 301 didn’t get more mention. I bought 2 ten packs at Sam’s Club for about $10 for ten pens. I have tried some pilots, but didn’t care for them. The Zebra is the best cheap pen if you can find them.

  • Ann says on June 21st, 2009 at 12:51 pm

    Are you trying to insinuate that the 40 pens in the bottom of my bag classify me as a geek??

    Oh well…you forgot to make any mention of Office Depot’s Foray pens – both gel and ball point are beautiful.

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