# Preferred Ink Pen Brand?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 12, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410 "2014-11-12T03:09:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/21 "2014-11-12T15:34:54Z")
Papermate or Bic stic _fine_ point.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/22 "2014-11-12T16:05:01Z")
> [@jellyblue](#):
>
> Pilot G2 1.0 ONLY. I like a bold line.
> You’ve got to watch them like a hawk though. Everybody wants to steal them.
Have any problems with it smearing? I tried Gel ink a few years ago and it always transferred from the paper to my hand. I’ll try it again if they’ve improved the Gel.
I’m a lefty that was made to write with my right hand. It always rubs the paper that I just wrote on.
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### Author:  [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/23 "2014-11-12T16:20:44Z")
Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens! Love them!
But they’re hard to find nowadays. They also have a relatively small ink reservoir compared to other ink pens, so they don’t tend to last very long if you’re writing a lot.
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### Author:  [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/24 "2014-11-12T16:20:45Z")
> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> Have any problems with it smearing? I tried Gel ink a few years ago and it always transferred from the paper to my hand. I’ll try it again if they’ve improved the Gel.
>
> I’m a lefty that was made to write with my right hand. It always rubs the paper that I just wrote on.
Yeah, I can see that being a problem. The appointment cards I hand my patients are a little glossy and it does smear. I figure it’s payback for all the pens they steal from me ;). Lefties definitely get the short end of the gel pen stick.
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### Author:  [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/25 "2014-11-12T16:27:59Z")
At work I have a Rotring rollerball that I’ve been using for around a decade. I prefer the blue ink with a medium tip. I also have a red ink cartridge that I switch out if I’m doing a lot of editing. At home it’s whatever we have handy, nothing special.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/26 "2014-11-12T16:29:27Z")
Bic “Ion” pen, available only as a promotional item in bulk. I even made [a thread about them](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=712125) earlier this year.
BTW in the off chance anyone is wondering what I did about that, I just resolved to get a new ink refill when the current one runs out, and should I lose it, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find someone giving them away.
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### Author:  [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/27 "2014-11-12T17:16:20Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#):
>
> I had received a Cross pen as a graduation gift twenty-(mumbly) years ago. It still works flawlessly. My only complaint about it is, as the arthritis in my hand progresses, it gets harder to grip.
I’ve recently started using the Pilot G2 Pro-Grip which is the G2 with a wider barrel and a thicker, plusher, hand grip. It’s not as cushy as the Doctor-Grip, but still softer than the default barrel. I find the Doctor-Grip to be a little too soft. for now. The Pro grip has changed the way I hold a pen and it’s much more comfortable now.
The Pro-Grip and the Doctor-Grip both use the G2 refills.
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### Author:  [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/28 "2014-11-12T17:50:29Z")
> [@jellyblue](#):
>
> Pilot G2 1.0 ONLY. I like a bold line.
> You’ve got to watch them like a hawk though. Everybody wants to steal them.
Love those. At work I hide them in my desk.
I’ll also use a Paper Mate felt-tip if I need to. I really, really hate ball-point pens, especially blue ones. It’s irrational.
At home I use a fountain pen. A friend of mine left me one of his [Viscontis](http://s995.photobucket.com/user/salleggieri/media/DSC01742.jpg.html)when he passed away. It’s gorgeous and exactly like the photo, but it needs a visit to the Fountain Pen Hospital. I also use a [Levinger](http://reviews.levenger.com/2450/AP16000/reviews.htm?page=3&sort=reviewTextLength) “sea glass” fountain pen – it’s VERY nice to write with.
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### Author:  [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/29 "2014-11-12T17:51:09Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#):
>
> As an aside: Did you need to say “ink pen” in the title? What other kind of pens are there? Epi?
>
> ETA: Not trying to be snarky or anything, it just struck me as an ATM Machine/GPS System kind of phrase
Pig pen.
(The first dictionary definition for “pen” is a small enclosure for animals. Ink pen is number two.)
Papermate is my favorite [ink] pen.
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### Author:  [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/30 "2014-11-12T17:53:43Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#):
>
> My go-to work pen is the Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pen.
I LOVE THOSE!
Used them throughout college (which tells you how old I am; no laptops yet).
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### Author:  [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/31 "2014-11-12T18:01:03Z")
I like using the Cross or the Waterman when I have time to write, but for my current favourite for day to day stuff, Papermate Inkjoy has my vote especially the retractables as I tend to lose caps.
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/32 "2014-11-12T18:05:41Z")
I’m partial to the Uni-Ball Vision Elite and Jetstream RT lines of pens, and in particular to their BLX inks- supposedly “Black ink infused with color”, but in actuality just really dark versions of normal blue, green, red and purple inks.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/33 "2014-11-12T18:13:08Z")
Interesting thread. I use a pen every day at work and at home as well. If you held a gun to my head I couldn’t tell you the brand.
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### Author:  [@jayrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayrey)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/34 "2014-11-12T18:23:22Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> Pilot G2. Once you use one, you’ll never go back to the cheap ones that work “good enough”.
Yep. I love the Pilot G-2 (10). Good color, smooth ink flow, thickish line.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/35 "2014-11-12T18:29:26Z")
Whatever is free.
When you go to conferences, everyone gives you pens. I haven’t had to buy one for 17 years.
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### Author:  [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/36 "2014-11-12T18:40:07Z")
I go by the refill cartridge. I use Schmidt medium blue. A pleasure to write with.
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### Author:  [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/37 "2014-11-12T19:53:26Z")
Put me down for the Pilot G-2 .05 as well. There was a gel pen pilot put out prior to those that had a mottled grey look on the barrel and a metal clip on the clear lid - overall looked cheaper, but I enjoyed writing with those just as much. I absolutely loathe non-gel ballpoint pens, so I guard my pilots jealously from being taken at work.
At home I’ve taken to using my cross fountain pen as much as I can. The line’s a bit thick for my taste, thinking about getting a new nib.
EDIT: I might as well mention that a staedtler .05 mechanical draftsman’s pencil is the only pencil I’ll bother using these days. I’m not even sure they make the style I use any more, looking around the internet.
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### Author:  [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/38 "2014-11-12T20:04:06Z")
> [@bump](#):
>
> I’m partial to the Uni-Ball Vision Elite
Exactly what I was about to type. I use black most of the time, but it’s nice that they also sell color variety packs, as sometimes I’ll need a red or other visible color to mark up proofs and for copyediting-type tasks.
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### Author:  [@Obnoxious\_Hood\_Ornament](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obnoxious_Hood_Ornament)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/39 "2014-11-12T20:29:23Z")
Pilot Hi-Tec-C, 0.4mm.
I’m pretty sure I’m sold for life on those.
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### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-ink-pen-brand/704410/40 "2014-11-12T20:31:33Z")
Bic blue clear case medium point.
Nothing better than flicking your Bic.
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