PenReview.com

Paper Mate Liquid Expresso

maxx photo — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:47:24 -0700

The Paper Mate Liquid Expresso is a felt tip pen with very smooth writing that keeps up with fast writers, not with thinning ink in fast strokes like a lot of other felt tips.

Paper Mate PhD Metallics

maxx photo — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:28:58 -0700

The Paper Mate PhD has one of the best feels around, and I believe, was the one that started the ergonomic grip for pens. The PhD is a bit thick, but the ribbed, triangular grip is endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association.

Paper Mate Flexgrip Ulra

maxx photo — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:01:16 -0700

The Paper Mate Flexgrip Ultra has a good feel to it with a full rubber barrel and inverted ribbing for grip. It has a medium point that seems to be a .7 mm equivalent.

Bic Click Stick

maxx photo — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:32:08 -0700

The Bic Click Stick is retractable version of the Bic Round Stick. All have a white barrel, but the cap, end cap and tip match the ink color.

It uses a brass medium or fine point and is one of the cheaper pens you will find.

Bic 4-Color Pen

maxx photo — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:15:08 -0700

The Bic 4-Color pen is almost every kid's favorite for cramming four colors into one pen... with plenty of buttons for ADD...

The pen has a white top and a blue barrel for medium point and an orange barrel for fine point.

Pilot FriXion Ball Erasable Gel Ink Pen

maxx photo — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:57:34 -0700

The Pilot FriXion Ball Erasable Gel Ink Pen has a good look and concept, but isn't right for everyone.

The new "thermo-sensitive gel ink formula" is easily erased with the rubber tail cap providing friction. The gel ink doesn't come out as easy as gel should, more like a regular ball point, and seems light or faded when you lay it down. As Pilot advertises though, there does not seem to be any damage to paperwork at all when it's erased, and because it's a rubber tip instead of a standard eraser, it doesn't seem to deplete at all.

Uni-Ball Vision

maxx photo — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:10:35 -0700

The Uni-Ball Vision is a plain pen that writes pretty well. It is called the vision because you can see the ink supply, but not that well. There is no special grip and a very thin graphic coat that scrapes off all too easy.

Helix Fine Line Markers

maxx photo — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:39:57 -0700

The Helix Fine Line Markers were designed primarily for draftsmen and artists. They are also good for picky writers who want a consistent, quality line.

Pilot Precise Grip Rolling Ball

maxx photo — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:44:25 -0700

The Pilot Precise Grip Rolling Ball is a fancier version of the Pilot Precse V5 Rolling Ball. If you can do without the grip and updated look, you can save money on the V5. Instead of .5 mm with the V5 or .7 mm with the V7, the Precise Grip comes in extra fine (.5 mm) and bold (1.0 mm).

Uni-Ball Gel RT

maxx photo — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:21:45 -0700

The Uni-Ball Gel RT is available in medium (.7 mm) and micro (.38 mm) widths. It comes in black, blue and red with matching barrels with rubber grip.

Pilot G2 Retractable Gel Ink Rolling Ball

maxx photo — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:19:47 -0700

The Pilot G2 Retractable Gel Ink Rolling Ball is a consistently smooth writing pen. The ink can come out a bit heavy at times, and the rubber grip can come loose when it gets hot. The tip is good, but if you drop it on the floor, the balance is likely to make it hit tip first and ruin the pen. Have some refills available if you're clumsy.

Pilot P-500 Precise Gel Roller

maxx photo — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:51:01 -0700

The Pilot (P-500) Precise Gel Roller comes in extra fine (.5 mm) only. It comes in black, blue, red, purple and green with matching smoke design barrels with ribbed grip.

Pilot P-700 Precise Gel Roller

maxx photo — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:53:25 -0700

The Pilot (P-700) Precise Gel Roller comes in fine (.7 mm) only. It comes in black, blue, red, purple and green with matching smoke design barrels with ribbed grip.

Pilot The Better Ball Point Pen

maxx photo — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:08:19 -0700

The Pilot Better Ball Point Pen is a very smooth, especially for a ball point. It comes in black, red, blue, green and purple with matching barrels for quick recognition.

Pilot The Better Retractable Ball Point Pen

maxx photo — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:59:55 -0700

The Pilot Better Retractable is a very smooth, especially for a ball point. It comes in red, blue and black with matching barrels for quick recognition.

Uni-Ball Jetstream

maxx photo — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:04:44 -0700

The Pilot Jetstream is the closest to perfect that I have found. The smooth writing is astounding. The only real trouble I've had with this pen is comedy. When most people first see it, they try to twist it until I get tired of laughing and pull the top off for them to use it.

Administrator — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:53:23 -0700

Writability

Handling

Looks/Design

Overall

out of 10

by Administrator on Mon, 04/07/2008 - 8:53am

Administrator — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:52:42 -0700

Writability

Handling

Looks/Design

Overall

out of 10

by Administrator on Mon, 04/07/2008 - 8:52am

maxx photo — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:22:53 -0700

bad (Staedtler liquid point 5 and 7)
This pen started skipping the first time I used it. I tried to continue to "break it in," but it didn't help any. There was a multi-pack, and they were all horrible. The pens also wrote a lot thicker than I expected for their size rating.

Writability

Handling

Looks/Design

Overall

out of 10

by maxx photo on Mon, 04/07/2008 - 7:36am

maxx photo — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:27:28 -0700

not very durable (uni-ball Signo 207)
The pen has a touchy point. The slightest bump kills the pen. It's also not very durable. After about a week, of playing with several, then top loosened and then came off each time I clicked it.

Writability

Handling

Looks/Design

Overall

out of 10

by maxx photo on Mon, 04/07/2008 - 7:36am