Standard Pens
30 July 2016Resources
There isn’t a vast amount of information out there for pens that aren’t fountain pens but
Pennaquod will let you search pen blogs for reviews of hundreds of pens of all kinds.
The wonderful Pen Addict podcast covers pens of all kinds and if your interest is more in pens for artwork then the Art Supply Posse podcast is excellent.
Rollerball Pens
Rollerballs use liquid ink, which is to say it’s water-based, much like fountain pen ink, which some of these pens can in fact use. A good rollerball can be a pleasure to write with, giving a strong and consistent line, but liquid ink isn’t usually waterproof and can have feathering issues on cheap paper and might skip on, for example, greeting cards.
Recommended
- BN Works Twiist Pen Review and GiveawayBN Works are a Taipei based company that makes ballpoint and rollerball pens. They asked me if I’d like to review their new Twiist pen and I said I would. These are my own honest opinions on this pen. As always, I don’t keep review samples and so am giving this away. Details at the end ...
- Karas Kustoms EDK Pen ReviewI have often been accused of being a bit awkward. There is a reason why this happens and it’s not unrelated to the fact that I am. Sometimes. Allegedly. This awkwardness means that I go out of my way to find things to like that are a little off the beaten track, which is positive, ...
- Lamy Vista Rollerball pen reviewThe Lamy Vista rollerball is a refillable pen that’s available with a medium tip with black, blue, red or green ink. It costs around £10 ($15) in the UK. The Lamy Vista is the same classic shape as the Lamy Safari only made with clear instead of coloured plastic. It’s very well made, as is always ...
- Pilot V7 Hi-Tecpoint rollerball pen reviewThe Pilot V7 Hi-Tecpoint is a refillable rollerball pen, available in a 0.7 size, writing a 0.5mm line, and also a 0.5 size (the V5), and in red, blue, green and red. The black version is properly black, which, sadly, makes a nice change from the grey you so often get. There’s a nice ink window ...
- Retro 51 Tornado rollerball reviewThere was a time when Myke Hurley used to talk about the Retro 51 Tornado so often that it became a pen-that-should-not-be-named on the Pen Addict podcast. Is Myke completely mad or did he know what he was talking about? Or, at least on the podcast, trying not to talk about. The build quality of the ...
- Schneider Breeze rollerball pen reviewThe Schneider Breeze is an ergonomically shaped refillable rollerball pen. The standard version is available in four different colours (orange, pink, green and blue) and comes with two blue cartridges. Replacement cartridges are available in a range of different colours. There is also a snazzy Breeze Neon range with some different barrel and ink colours. Ergonomic, ...
- Stabilo Worker Rollerball ReviewRollerball ink isn’t the most practical, tending not to be waterproof and prone to feathering. However I find them very enjoyable to write with and if I’m not using a fountain pen it’s more than likely it will be a rollerball of some kind that I pick up instead. I received this item as part payment ...
- Staedtler Triplus Roller, Fineliner and Color PensStaedtler make just about every kind of pen and pencil in this Triplus range. The range is distinguished, unsurprisingly, by the triangular barrel. I’m taking a look at the Roller, Color and Fineliner pens. Thank you to Staedtler for sending me, a very lone time ago now, these pens to try out. Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Staedtler have really ...
Others
- J. Herbin Black Metal Ink Rollerball Pen review
- Kaweco Ice Sport Rollerball Review and Giveaway
- Noodler’s Nib Creaper Rollerball review
- Now n Then Retro-Essential Pen Review
- Schneider Xtra Document 0.3 rollerball pen review
- Uni-ball Eye Needlepoint Rollerball Review
Drawing Pens
Most of these pens have a fibre tip, the OHTO Graphic Liner being a notable exception. They should give a strong and consistent black line that’s quick to dry and waterproof.
See below for colouring pens and brush pens.
Recommended
- Aristo GeoCollege Pigment Liner Drawing Pen ReviewAristo in an Austrian company that’s been making drawing instruments since 1862. Price: £2.20 Tip size options: 005, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 08 Barrel options: black with different coloured tips, according to the tip size Ink type: waterproof, lightfast pigment ink The GeoCollege Pigment Liner is a drawing pen with a fibre tip protected by a metal sleeve. ...
- Copic Multiliner SP drawing pen reviewThe Copic Multiliner SP is my favourite drawing pen. It’s also pretty good for writing with. Copic make disposable Multiliners and refillable Multiliner SPs. The SPs have aluminium barrels that are a pleasure to hold and use. They are light but feel well constructed, making them perfect for extended periods of writing or drawing. Replacement tips ...
- Faber-Castell Ecco Pigment Drawing Pen ReviewFaber-Castell is better known for the Pitt drawing pen but if you look hard enough you can find this alternative: the Ecco Pigment Liner. I was able to get this pen at a discount thanks to Cult Pens’ support of the site. These are my own honest opinions. Price: £2.80 (UK) Tip size options: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, ...
- OHTO Graphic Liner pen reviewThe OHTO Graphic Liner, beloved of pen addicts everywhere and beloved by me. It’s a pen that draws you back. I find excuses to use it. It lives in my pocket.
- Sakura Pigma Micron drawing pen reviewThe Sakura Pigma Micron is an excellent drawing pen that is also pretty nifty for writing with. It’s my pen of choice for sketchnoting primarily because it dries quickly and tends not to smudge when I’m filling in with colour. There are a range of tip sizes from 005, writing a 0.2mm line, to 08, writing ...
- Staedtler 308 Pigment Liner drawing pen reviewThe Staedtler 308 pigment liner is a fibre-tipped drawing pen available in 9 different line widths (0.5mm to 0.8mm) with black ink. I’ve found it difficult to find very many good drawing pens. The Copic Multiliner is a great and so is the Sakura Pigma Micron but apart from those I’ve not found any that I’ve ...
Others
- Artline Drawing System drawing pen review
- Edding 1800 Drawing Pen Review
- Edding 1880 Drawing Pen Review
- Faber-Castell Pitt Drawing Pen Review
- Kuretake Zig Millennium Drawing Pen Review
- Magnetips Drawing Pens Review and Giveaway
- Pilot DR Drawing Pen Review
- Rotring Tikky Graphic Drawing Pen Review
- Uni Pin Drawing Pen Review
Multipens
Recommended
- Pilot Coleto multipen reviewThe Pilot Coleto is a multipen like no other. There are refills available in 15 different colours: Brown, Black, Blue Black, Violet, Aqua Blue, Blue, Clear Blue, Orange, Red, Pink, Cherry Pink, Baby Pink, Apricot Orange, Apple Green and Green and in three different sizes (0.3mm, 0.4mm and 0.5mm). There are refillable pencil and eraser units. There are four different ...
- Platinum Double Action R3 Multipen ReviewPlatinum make a few different multipens and I reviewed one of them way back in October 2014. This pen is a step up from that plastic version but costs only a couple of pounds more. I was able to get this pen at a discount thanks to Cult Pens’ support of the site. These are ...
Others
Ballpoint Pens
Ballpoint pens use an oil-based ink. They will write on most paper (including glossy greeting cards) without any significant issues. They can be used to produce some amazing art because it’s possible to get some shading from them (unlike just about any other kind of pen). However, they tend to skip and aren’t as pleasurable to write with as a good rollerball or gel pen.
Recommended
- Blank Forces Pocket Bolt Ballpoint Pen Review
This summer I was running a guest house for the first time. Summer by the seaside is a busy time and in between cooking bacon and servicing rooms the beach and the sea calls to you. I spent little time luxuriating in different fountain pen nibs and interesting inks and instead got down to basics ... - Blank Forces X1 and X2 EDC Pen Review
Blank Force’s X1 and X2 pens are the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign from last year. I interviewed Kevin Hayes, the person behind Blank Forces, back in November. Now that the pens are available to buy online I thought it would be a good time to review them. Rather excitingly, I have a follow ... - BN Works BNdot Ballpoint Pen Review
BN Works are just about to launch an Indiegogo campaign for what they describe as the One & Only Retractable EDC Pen. They sent me a review sample back in the middle of August so I’ve had a little while to try it out. Price: $65 early bird price on Indiegogo Tip size options: fine Barrel options: stainless ... - BN Works Twiist Pen Review and Giveaway
BN Works are a Taipei based company that makes ballpoint and rollerball pens. They asked me if I’d like to review their new Twiist pen and I said I would. These are my own honest opinions on this pen. As always, I don’t keep review samples and so am giving this away. Details at the end ... - Karas Kustoms Galaxie Pen Review
I reviewed the two fountain pens from Karas Kustoms’ new Reaktor range a little while ago. The Galaxie and Galaxie XL make up the other half of the range. The Galaxie is a ballpoint and the Galaxie XL a gel ink pen. These pens were sent to me by Karas Kustoms for the purposes of this ... - Karas Kustoms Render K Pen Review
Karas Kustoms now make a comprehensive range of machined metal pens but it all started with the Render K, launched on Kickstarter four years ago. I can’t count how many times I almost bought a Render K but the price of shipping one from the USA to the UK and then paying customs charges made it ... - Retro 51 Tornado Touch Ballpoint review and giveaway
Retro 51 are well known for making wonderful full-sized rollerball pens. This pen, the Retro 51 Tornado Touch, is a relatively new product and it continues the same excellent quality, albeit with a ballpoint refill. The design of the pen is stylish, even to the point of just about getting away with the little moustache at ... - Schön DSGN Pen Review
Ian Schön has many lovely variations of his pen but this is the basic model: the Classic. They’re manufactured in small batches in Massachusetts. Price: $60 for this version Ink type: ballpoint Barrel options: polished aluminium, black anodised aluminium (this one); brass, steel, copper and titanium available at extra cost; clip available at extra cost Refill options: Fisher Space ... - Tombow Airpress Ballpoint Pen Review
When most people think of a pen that will write on just about anything, just about anywhere, they think of the Fisher Space Pen. There are, however, some alternatives, such as the very reasonably priced Tombow Airpress. I bought this with my own money at the usual consumer price. These are my own honest opinions. Price: $10 ... - Uni Jetstream 0.7 ballpoint review
The Uni Jetstream SX-217 is a hybrid ink ballpoint with a 0.7mmm tip. It’s available with black, blue, blue-black or red ink. It’s also available with a 1.0mm tip but that feels so different to use it might as well be a different pen. The Jetstream costs about £2.50 in the UK and $3 in ...
Others
- 529 Duo Pocket Ballpoint Pen Review
- Apollo Technical Pen review
- e+m Allwood Ballpoint Pen Review
- Faber-Castell CX Colour Ballpoint Pen Review
- Faber-Castell Grip 2011 Ballpoint pen review
- Monteverde Poquito pocket pen review
- Muji Erasable Ballpoint Review
- Now n Then Retro-Essential Pen Review
- Pentel Kachiri Ballpoint Pen Review
- Retro 51 Hex-O-Matic Ballpoint Pen Review
- Schneider Slider XB Ballpoint Pen Review
- Steel and Flint Pen Quick Look
- Tactile Turn Mover pen review
- Yoropen Z3 Ballpoint Pen Review
- Zebra PenPod ballpoint pen review
Gel Ink Pens
Gel ink consists of pigment suspended in a water-based gel. This gives a really strong line and many many colours are available. Some gel pens are able to write with incredibly thin lines. They can have issues on glossy paper and are sometimes a little slow to dry. On the whole, though, gel ink pens are excellent all-round choices.
Recommended
- Ateleia Brass Pen Review
- Ensso Pen Uno Review
- Karas Kustoms Galaxie Pen Review
- Machine Era Original Brass Pen Review
- Pilot Juice gel ink pen review
- Stabilo pointVisco Gel Rollerball Pen Review
- Ti2 TechLiner Gel Ink Pen Review
Others
- A Review of Three Pentel EnerGel Gel Ink Pens
- Apollo Technical Pen review
- Paper Mate Biodegradable Gel Pen Review
- Pentel Energel 07 gel ink pen review
- Pilot Choose gel ink pen review
Brush Pens
Recommended
- Platinum Fude Brush Pen ReviewI’ve been enjoying dipping my toes into the world of refillable brush pens. I’m a long way from ever being able to use them to write with but they’re so much fun for drawing. You can get lovely little sketches done in just a few moments. It was therefore either a happy coincidence or a ...
- Tombow ABT Dual Brush Pen ReviewI’ve been slowly building up my collection of Tombow ABT Dual Brush Pens for a few years but I have to admit it wasn’t until quite recently that how to use them properly really clicked. They’re a combination of felt-tip pens and watercolour paints but require a different approach to both to get the best ...
Others
Colouring Pens
Recommended
- Paper Mate Flair Pen ReviewThe Paper Mate Flair has been around since 1966 and you can see that in its design. It’s got that classic 60s feel to it: no bad thing at all. Price: £1 (UK) $1.70 (USA) Tip size options: it’s called the M but the tip is actually quite broad. There is a version with a finer tip Barrel ...
- Pilot Frixion Colour Pen reviewWhen I was at school, many many moons ago, I remember how an erasable pen felt like some kind of holy grail. We had to write in pen, we made many many mistakes, and we wanted to obliterate all those mistakes so our teachers would never see. All we got, though, were pens with granite-like ...
- Staedtler Triplus Roller, Fineliner and Color PensStaedtler make just about every kind of pen and pencil in this Triplus range. The range is distinguished, unsurprisingly, by the triangular barrel. I’m taking a look at the Roller, Color and Fineliner pens. Thank you to Staedtler for sending me, a very lone time ago now, these pens to try out. Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Staedtler have really ...
- Tombow ABT Dual Brush Pen ReviewI’ve been slowly building up my collection of Tombow ABT Dual Brush Pens for a few years but I have to admit it wasn’t until quite recently that how to use them properly really clicked. They’re a combination of felt-tip pens and watercolour paints but require a different approach to both to get the best ...
Others
Pens that use the D1 refill
D1 is a standard size for a pen refill that many multipens and machined pens use. Here’s a guide to D1 refills to help you find one that you might like.
Recommended
- Blank Forces Pocket Bolt Ballpoint Pen ReviewThis summer I was running a guest house for the first time. Summer by the seaside is a busy time and in between cooking bacon and servicing rooms the beach and the sea calls to you. I spent little time luxuriating in different fountain pen nibs and interesting inks and instead got down to basics ...
- Blank Forces X1 and X2 EDC Pen ReviewBlank Force’s X1 and X2 pens are the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign from last year. I interviewed Kevin Hayes, the person behind Blank Forces, back in November. Now that the pens are available to buy online I thought it would be a good time to review them. Rather excitingly, I have a follow ...
- Platinum Double Action R3 Multipen Review
Platinum make a few different multipens and I reviewed one of them way back in October 2014. This pen is a step up from that plastic version but costs only a couple of pounds more. I was able to get this pen at a discount thanks to Cult Pens’ support of the site. These are ... - Retro 51 Tornado Touch Ballpoint review and giveawayRetro 51 are well known for making wonderful full-sized rollerball pens. This pen, the Retro 51 Tornado Touch, is a relatively new product and it continues the same excellent quality, albeit with a ballpoint refill. The design of the pen is stylish, even to the point of just about getting away with the little moustache at ...
- Schön DSGN Pen ReviewIan Schön has many lovely variations of his pen but this is the basic model: the Classic. They’re manufactured in small batches in Massachusetts. Price: $60 for this version Ink type: ballpoint Barrel options: polished aluminium, black anodised aluminium (this one); brass, steel, copper and titanium available at extra cost; clip available at extra cost Refill options: Fisher Space ...