# Great pens **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225 "2013-02-03T16:39:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/21 "2013-02-08T20:49:45Z")
I am deeply devoted to the Uniball Vision, and fond of roller ball pens in general. I hold my pen in an unorthodox fashion, which means dragging the blade of my hand across the page. While roller ball ink takes a few seconds to dry, ball point ink NEVER EVER DRIES. Which means that I’d always have smeary text. The roller ball is crisp and clean, never mind that it feels better, no blobs, etc. I’m a bit unhappy right now because the Vision doesn’t seem to have the green ink that I used to like–it was one of my little trademarks, and I’d like to bring it back. Perhaps time to start flirting with other pens. For a while in college I used a fountain pen. Very nice, once you get used to it, but far too fiddly for daily use at work. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/22 "2013-02-08T22:19:09Z")
I use a Pentel RSVP pen that’s worked very well. I don’t think I’ve ever had to scratch it out, and it doesn’t bleed or spill ink all over the place. > **[Amazon.com : Pentel® R.S.V.P.® Ballpoint Pens, Fine Point, 0.7 mm, Clear Barrel,...](https://www.amazon.com/Pentel-BK90A-R-S-V-P-Ballpoint-Barrel/dp/B00006IEAK)** > > Amazon.com : Pentel® R.S.V.P.® Ballpoint Pens, Fine Point, 0.7 mm, Clear Barrel, Black Ink, Pack Of 12 : Ballpoint Stick Pens : Office Products ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/23 "2013-02-08T22:23:37Z")
The Pilot V-Ball Extra Fine, Black is the pen that got me through high school and five different university degrees. You have to mail order them nowadays, but they’re smooth and reliable. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/24 "2013-02-08T22:32:47Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > I am deeply devoted to the Uniball Vision, and fond of roller ball pens in general. Yes. My [one and only pen](http://www.amazon.com/uni-ball-Vision-Stick-Roller-60126/product-reviews/B00006IE8J/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1), since high school. Nothing else will do. There is also the [Vision Elite](http://www.amazon.com/uni-ball-Vision-Roller-Blue-Black-67182PP/product-reviews/B000JKR4FU/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1), which is a close second. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/25 "2013-02-08T23:17:52Z")
I’ve been a fan of the [Bic Z4](http://penaddiction.blogspot.com/2007/12/review-bic-z4-porous-tip-10mm.html) for several years now. It’s a very smooth-flowing porous tip with a rubber grip. Two points: 0.5mm (my normal everyday go-to pen) and a 0.7mm point for a heavier line. ---
**Author:** ![Shiloh2013](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@Shiloh2013](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shiloh2013)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/26 "2013-02-08T23:19:15Z")
I’m a pen collector and am surprised to see them discussed here. I have a LOT of vintage fountain and ballpoint pens. Do you think there is enough interest here to offer a few on the marketplace page? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/27 "2013-02-08T23:33:30Z")
> [@Shiloh2013](#): > > I’m a pen collector and am surprised to see them discussed here. I have a LOT of vintage fountain and ballpoint pens. Do you think there is enough interest here to offer a few on the marketplace page? Maybe, but note that the vast majority of pens mentioned here are the cheap/disposable types that actually write the best, not the looks-good-but-writes-crappy fine writing type. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/28 "2013-02-09T00:09:43Z")
[Uniball Signo](http://www.costco.com/uni-ball-Signo-GRIP-Stick-Rollerball-Pen,-Medium-Point,-Black,-12ct-SAN-65450.product.11251848.html) are at Costco for $16 for a 12pk…you won’t cry or be pissed off if you lose one. Great disposable pens that are great for the price. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/29 "2013-02-09T00:10:29Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > > [@Shiloh2013](#): > > > > I’m a pen collector and am surprised to see them discussed here. I have a LOT of vintage fountain and ballpoint pens. Do you think there is enough interest here to offer a few on the marketplace page? > > Maybe, but note that the vast majority of pens mentioned here are the cheap/disposable types that actually write the best, not the looks-good-but-writes-crappy fine writing type. Also, note that you need to be a paid member to advertise stuff in the Marketplace. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/30 "2013-02-09T01:48:38Z")
I’d just like to offer a vote for a very nice 0.5mm mechanical pencil - the [Pentel Kerry.](http://www.pentel.com/store/sharp-kerry-mechanical-pencil) Despite the impression you get from the image, the pencil is in 2 parts. The back half come off to cover the tip as a cap and that reduces the size overall by about 1cm. An eraser is under the silver end cap. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/31 "2013-02-09T02:06:51Z")
I got a free sample of a Paper Mate Ink Joy and like it a lot. It’s just a retractable medium ball point pen, but I am a little picky about how smoothly and cleanly a pen writes, and I hate fine-points. I like this one more than I thought I would. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/32 "2013-02-09T02:10:40Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#): > > [Uniball Signo](http://www.costco.com/uni-ball-Signo-GRIP-Stick-Rollerball-Pen,-Medium-Point,-Black,-12ct-SAN-65450.product.11251848.html) are at Costco for $16 for a 12pk…you won’t cry or be pissed off if you lose one. Great disposable pens that are great for the price. I like those in Red, Fine point. I can get quite a few months from one, and that’s with lots of writing. Edit: oops, the ones I get are the Uni-ball 207 Micro. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/33 "2013-02-09T02:21:08Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Maybe, but note that the vast majority of pens mentioned here are the cheap/disposable types that actually write the best, not the looks-good-but-writes-crappy fine writing type. That’s a false dichotomy ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/34 "2013-02-09T03:30:10Z")
There are a lot of fine opinions here, and I really don’t have much to add, but I don’t think I could live with myself if I passed up the chance to direct you to Pen Island: [http://www.penisland.net/](http://www.penisland.net/). ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/35 "2013-02-09T03:41:36Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > There is also the [Vision Elite](http://www.amazon.com/uni-ball-Vision-Roller-Blue-Black-67182PP/product-reviews/B000JKR4FU/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1), which is a close second. These are my favorite in med. point and blue-black ink. They’re airplane safe, they write great, and the ink color is just flat-out cool and kind of distinctive in this day and age. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/36 "2013-02-09T03:45:55Z")
I always liked the Fisher Space pens, but I haven’t used one in years. When I was in college (a long time ago), they were the only pens I could find that reliably worked while sitting up in bed. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/37 "2013-02-11T00:27:27Z")
I managed to find a set of grey Jotters on eBay. It’s a set of the ballpoint pen, a felt tip pen, and a mechanical pencil. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/38 "2013-02-11T00:40:59Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I managed to find a set of grey Jotters on eBay. It’s a set of the ballpoint pen, a felt tip pen, and a mechanical pencil. Your hand is so going to thank you! …I don’t mean that the way you think I mean that though… ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/39 "2013-02-11T01:01:04Z")
Another vote for the Pilot G-2; the G-2 Pro if you want a nicer, thicker body. I use the same body for years and buy refills. Many of the other pens mentioned are good too – Zebra, Pilot V-balls, Vision Elite, Uniball Signo. I buy the office supplies for my workplace, so I’ve tried most of those. G-2 is best though, especially for crosswords. They used to make a similar but superior pen called the Q-7, but I haven’t seen those for years. The body was the size of a G-2 pro, but it had a needle cartridge. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225/40 "2013-02-11T03:02:18Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Your hand is so going to thank you! I prefer to write with my fountain pen, but it is impractical for many things. For times when I have to take lots of notes, I still like the Skillcrafts. They write forever, and are so cheap I don’t care when they do run out of ink. The pen I carry in my pocket is the fountain pen; or starting Monday, a Parker (until I want the fountain pen again). The new jade-coloured pens do have the rounded buttons I remember as a pre-teen. I guess they changed back in 2004. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-pens/649225.md?page=3)