Ballpoint Pen Shootout!

The common ordinary everyday ballpoint can be exciting too - here are some of my favorites, and a new one I'm going to try out. Enjoy!
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[@warsurplus]

Love a good writing instrument. Simplicity is a virtue. Complexity is a cost. Thanks for bringing this comparison to your audience Fran.

[@CrimeEnjoyer]

Keeping half a Field Notes with a space pen is so boomer engineer coded I love it

[@krwd]

space pens are nice, Zebra makes a compact pen as well

[@BRUXXUS]

I agree with everyone saying they want more writing and art supply videos. :) You inspired me to get into the fountain pen hobby way back, and I got a Lamy Safari, which has been treating me well for years.

[@EEVblog]

Most of my DaveCAD's have been done with the Pilot G2. Agreed that it's pretty good but not great. I like the faster drying aspect.

[@FranLab]

Yea, I was always annoyed by the ink 'globs' that would stay wet and smudge but I think I got into the G-2 just because they were so space age, cheap, and widely available.

[@Flapjackbatter]

All the best stuff is made in Japan. I've heard said.

[@warsurplus]

Maybe in a future installment you can speak to the difference of Ball-Point vs Roller-Ball. They're usually marketed with different types of ink but would love to hear your thoughts. Or maybe this is just marketing speak and they're essentially the same. Love your channel Fran.

[@winstonsmith478]

Pentel EnerGel Deluxe RTX Retractable Liquid Gel Pen, 0.7mm. Posted about that in a technical forum and got a confirmatory, enthusiastic response from another fan.

[@flymypg]

When I was in the US Navy ('75-'81) I relied on the Fisher Space Pen because it would write on ANYTHING, even paper with oil on it. As I recall, the ball was described as "rough", in that it ground off some ink and shoved it into the writing surface. To me, it had very high drag: Great for short notes, giving hand cramps for anything longer. In university ('81-'86), I switched to the Uniball Micro (pre-gel days) and Pentel mechanical pencils. And Casio calculators. I still have so many Casio calculators. These days, I just type everything. I use a pen only for brief reminders. And a pencil only for sketching, when I'm not using a graphics tablet.

[@darrensmith6999]

Parker Jotter for me!

[@fburton8]

I have conducted my whole adult life - work and leisure - using a Parker Jotter (with fine black refills). It's a great pen!

[@pamharris9746]

Thanks!

[@GinoACosta]

Fran., this is a seriously helpful video. Thank you! I love your reviews, especially this one!!

[@goodun2974]

At my age and having arthritis/hand-cramp issues, a cushioned non-slip grip is an absolute must.

[@ehosack.rocketlad]

I have three pens in my regular arsenal - G2 07 for writing and journaling, an 05 for computation, and a Vision for art. I'll have to give the Zentos a try!

[@goodun2974]

" The line I shoot, will never miss....." Muddy Waters

[@hevc6649]

Uniball is my favourite by far

[@CARLiCON]

I have an older Fisher Bullet, love that pen & you're right, it's the best to carry on you if you don't have a shirt pocket

[@CARLiCON]

Just looked again, it's actually an Eversharp Astronaut with a Fisher refill

[@gerald5344]

Black ink G2 with the 0.38 tip for me, carried in a shirt pocket clipped to a piece of copier paper folded into eights for notes. I've done this for years. Oddly enough, a few months ago I discovered one of the new young doctors at a practice I go to prefers an identical setup for his own casual note taking. For pencils I've tried many, from Ticonderoga to Tombow to Blackwing, but I keep going back to the Mitsubishi 9850 HB.

[@MrBillmcminn]

Absolutely love the uniball vision, Another Pilot pen that’s amazing is the Hi Tecpoint V5 liquid ink just like the Uniball Vision

[@CrimeEnjoyer]

16:43 I bet the pen industry has a cool name for those little protective ink caps

[@glennmorrissey5309]

I use an Artline Ikonic 1.0 as my note writing pen. It is quite an inexpensive pen, yet has a consistent line and feels good to write with hour after hour, and doesn't tend to smudge. Thank you for the video Fran!

[@chrisharper2658]

I use the Uniball 207 series pens that have the so called 'uni Super Ink' which is pigmented for higher security.

[@michaellitscher9456]

Uni-ball Signo Gel for check writing.

[@richardbrobeck2384]

I use both of those Pens I love the uniball !

[@SupraWes]

If you use them outside the G2's tend to leak in the heat. I have been buying Frixion pens ever since you showed them years ago. They are my go to, they write well, work on difficult papers, and the party trick is killer!

[@kenhukushi1637]

Pilot Precise V5 - Needle tip great for drawing

[@scose]

💯

[@aksela6912]

Before I got into fountain pens I was almost religiously wedded to these and the Pilot Vball 0.5 (the ones with the round ends), to the extent I refused to have any other ball point pens in my bags and pen case. I still think they are about as perfect as ball point pens can be.

[@grandmasterb7458]

I have the vision and g2 on my desk, too funny. I always go for the vision.

[@KeritechElectronics]

I use gel pens all the time for taking notes and drawing schematics. Never failed me. Soft and smooth is the good kind... otherwise I'll use it only when I have to. Using Uni-ball UM120 at the moment, they're fine but I seem to go through them like Godzilla. Space pen? It doesn't take too much space after all, haha! Looks indestructible too.

[@sambrose1]

I found a Uni Ball in some old high school stuff at Mom's and have been using it at work! I graduated in 02 😮

[@goofyrulez7914]

I've been using "Paper❤Mate" Profile Ball 1.0 for years. It writes as smooth as silk and I keep enough on hand so that I never run out.

[@lactobacillusprime]

Love wet ink pens. And I am prone to using 5x5mm (math) graph paper to write on. I love fine tip Parker ballpoints as you can draw with these and actually create different shades with it with the drawings ending up almost looking like Delft Blue :)

[@DaliwolfBacon]

I use those pens! I have never tried a fountain pen. I am scared I'll get ink all over the place :)

[@RReese08]

Suggestion: Auction off the paper you made your scribbles on. I’m sure there’s a fan or two who’d buy it. Even if it’s ten bucks, that’s ten dollars you didn’t have before. Otherwise: I have a Uniball Vision and it’s the *ne plus ultra* of pens for everyday usage before you get into the really expensive stuff. But for most situations, I have a bag of Bic pens for the times I need just a pen for basic writing. Which is most the time.

[@ericwalks1]

I carry the G2-07 and a Fisher key chain pen. I have found that the bold refills feel a lot better then the stock medium tip on the Fisher.

[@lorensims4846]

We tried the G2 when gel pens first became popular, but yeah, that clip. It looks interesting, but it's uncomfortable in use and it is fragile. My current go-to is the Uniball Jetstream. I bought a couple of boxes of these a while back and I'm glad I did because I can't seem to replace them now. They have purple-black ink. I saw blue-black ink described years ago in either Perry Mason or Dragnet. The pen writes blue but after several days the color fades to black. I think that's cool, especially with my purple pens. They're retractable and have a black rubber cover that covers most of the pen and is quite comfortable with a good strong metal clip. They also come with the little rubber tip, but on my pens they're clear colored. If you try to write with the tip still on it will usually come off right away. I haven't seen that Zento pen before but it looks nice. Yes, I agree, as far as gel ball-point pens go. Uniball has the best.

[@willschmit436]

I love the pilot G-2 pens too. The clip never used to fail, but in the last year or so they are trash. I modified one by carving a tiny groove around the clip and body, then wrapping wire-wrap wire around it. Until I find my enameled transformer wire, it will have to do...

[@lIlIIlIllIIIllIIllIlIllIllI]

I like my "nerd pen," a bic 3-color pen with a mechanical pencil insert, and I also use regular supercheap bic pens. All in all, I prefer my nerd pen the most but I'll grab my pilot G2 for writing down haphazard phone numbers on the phone

[@lIlIIlIllIIIllIIllIlIllIllI]

i love my nerd pen :)

[@lokinya]

Zebra Sarasa Speedy gel pen won as my favorite from all the the pens I tried as a left handed writer.

[@DAYBROK3]

as a visual artist i have a thing about pens and pencils. for years i used the yellow school pencil and ball po8int pens, mostly bics. i use better these days.

[@Pytchblend]

My goto is the Bic 'orange original' in fine with green ink (0.8mm)

[@jfwfreo]

I use the OG Bic Cristal.

[@McTroyd]

Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've never had a Pilot G2 clip break. Of course, my pens tend to stay at the desk, so that probably makes a difference.

[@scottwolf9914]

I love the G2. I use the limited metal-body version and replace the cartridge when they run out. I used the plastic bodied ones for years, never once did I break the clip. Never lose them, but they are frequently stolen by other people when they find out what a great pen they are.

[@scottthomas3792]

I use the G2 a lot...cheap and reliable. These pen and pencil videos are are excellent, by the way.

[@CrimeEnjoyer]

The G-2 is great though I will say they get very scratchy in the smaller diameters. I stick to 07 as shown

[@roberttower8059]

Uniball Signo 0.7 for me as a daily writer. I'm not crazy about the plastic clip but it's primarily a desk pen so it doesn't present much of a problem. I love the way it writes, but you do have to watch for smudges as it requires time to dry. For signing important documents I use a Parker Big Red that I've had for nearly 40 years now (yikes!).

[@krwd]

Bic Gelocity 0.7 blue pretty nice

[@radiosnail]

I like gel pens when I can get them. Still have my Parker 25 Fountain pen. The PArker 25 ballpoint biro spring failed. When posh I used a parker ballpoint, but more often than not "slum it" with Bic Biros.

[@jeffdayman8183]

In my working days I always used Uniball medium width, black ink, as you showed at 5:40 ish. Top quality and long lasting pens, reasonably priced locally. Fantastic for sketching mechanisms, as well as calculations and note making, these were big parts of my job. Never had space for a space pen...sorry worst pun ever...8^) Cheers

[@mbberry135]

(Without watching the Video, and only from experience) Gold goes to Uniball Silver goes to Pentel, that EnerGel is amazing Bronze to Papermate for Ink Show is awarded to BIC especially for Gel-ocity Zebra for their Fountain Pens, there mechanical pencils and pens to have rust issues. The End. Sincerely Mike B. B. From Philly, P.A. U.S.A.

[@heathwellsNZ]

The Pilot explorer is my go to pen... not cheap though

[@elHippieSupremo]

A piece of pocket lint in the tip of the G2 will definitely bleed some ink out in your pocket.

[@bobair2]

An enjoyable video I like it.

[@alistairblaire6001]

I’ve sworn by Pilot Precise V5 since high school and I’m nearly 40 now. The degree of smudging/wetness is acceptable and the writing feels unmatched but I’m not a pen enthusiast or anything. The only problem is I’ve had several of them leak over the years and I’ve destroyed probably 2 lab coats because of it. I’ve tried nearly every department store pen and haven’t found a replacement that I’m satisfied with. But maybe there are some better specialty ones out there.

[@RocRizzo]

I remember back in the 90s, there was a Japanese store in Midtown Manhattan, where they had all sorts of pens and such. I usually went there for their great selection of origami paper, when I was making christmas ornaments.

[@Broken_robot1986]

I gotta get that Kento, just for the clip!

[@mycatsandcardigans1480]

More pen and paper videos!! 😊

[@nickpalance3622]

This video isn’t like the others that claim to be about “pen testing”. 😂 Fran is actually testing pens! How refreshing.

[@ASilentS]

I'm a pencil guy, Pentel Quicker Clicker all the way!

[@mgancarzjr]

Try a Uni Kuru Toga. I like their Roulette model.

[@zachwistuk549]

Hey Fran! You are an inspiration to an aspiring ‘everything-er’. I’m a young (well, 25… Relatively young) gay man an hour outside the Philly area who has a love for pens and all the electronics you post. I’ve been using the G-2 for close to a decade now, but I’ve been considering switching to fountain pens lately. Any pros/cons, or things I’d need to keep in mind when switching? I’m using your review of fountain pens to help choose my ideal one, but any extra help I’d love to hear. You are an icon for some of us younger LGBT electronically gifted people, I hope you know the impact that you have on people like me. Thank you for all you do, and goodness golly if I had two cents to my name, it would go to you! Thank you for the knowledge you give to all of us.

[@FranLab]

Adding a fountain pen is easy - and you never really replace one for another, just enjoy using different instruments for different writing occasions and situations.

[@roran60]

I use a cheap 2 euro q connect 0,7 pen to write notes, it writes great and it is enough for my notes , but the worse thing is to get a notebook that doesn't make me angry.

[@ferulebezel]

You haven't tried (or at least addressed) one of the rare examples of great government procurement, the Skilcraft U.S. Government pens. They are regular clicky ball points with a brass ink well, or whatever you call it. They don't skip or leave glops (I'm looking at you Papermate.). Most importantly they ink doesn't flow with the slightest touch so you don't need perfectly flat paper on which to write. Yes, you can write on pages that are curling or were formerly crumpled without leaving unintentional ligatures everywhere.

[@filepz629]

❤️‍🔥

[@mgancarzjr]

I switched to the Uniball Vision Elite precisely because I lost some work shirts to click pens which leaked into my pocket. The ink dries slowly, but they were the most pleasant for writing.

[@krwd]

Fran try the compact Zebra stainless same size as fisher

[@goodun2974]

How about a review of pencil and pen/ink erasers, both manual and battery operated?

[@jmelynn2012]

I would love to hear your opinions on the Papermate Inkjoy gel pens, especially as compared to the Pilot G2. As a left handed person, the Papermates are the only pens I’ve found that dry quickly enough not to smudge against my hand. I use them every day.

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

Oh yeah, I was going to say this reminds me, in a very good way, of Consumer Reports magazine during the 70s.

[@krwd]

issue i have gel pens, ink seems to stop before the pen is empty

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

Great review of things that cost less than $5. What makes this pen great? The details. I used to like Pilot Razors and whoever's Uniball.

[@verdedoodleduck]

Thanks, what a fun video! I use a uniball for casual notes...it is a wonderfully smooth pen. The space pen looks to be an ergonomic issue (at least for me). I've never found a gel pen that made me happy even though on paper (ha) they sound the best - I think it is because most of them skip and blot. Perhaps I need to buy a higher end pen. Off topic - do you use inking pens like Copic or Pentel, etc.?

[@febobartoli]

Great video! These are also some of my favorite pens, but lately I have been using a Pentel EnerGel Clena 0.3 mm and 1.0 mm gel pen depending on what line thickness I want. They are my new favorites, maybe you should check them out?

[@allanflippin2453]

The Zento looks great, thanks! People have tried to get me to use Cross pens but the twist mechanism is a royal pain. Plus I've found they smudge. I've been using Parkers with gel ink, but not real satisfied and they're too expensive. Will pick up a four-pack of Zentos at Target for $6.49. What could go wrong?

[@MikeM-uz4yb]

I buy my own work pens as every company I've worked for seems to consider cheap pens' to be made out of solid platinum studded with diamonds', and keeps them locked away.

[@greenbasterd9425]

G2 Pilot 4 life.

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

I wonder how many KZbin channels that I will never watch do the same thing with guns as well this one is doing with pens right here.

[@KeritechElectronics]

A properly targeted pen is more effective than a gun, isn't it?

[@ayarnold9523]

uni-ball Power Tank SN-220 "The uni Power Tank works in temperatures as low as -20°C, upside down, on wet paper it will even write in zero gravity! ..." Can't vouch for the zero gravity claim, the only downside I exprience is the ink seems run out quicker than I would like.

[@Rubin4749]

If you are shopping "brick and mortar" stores *WHERE* to find the Zento?? Target??

[@FranLab]

I got this one at Staples, but I imagine any real stationary store might carry them.

[@Rubin4749]

@@FranLab Greatly appreciate the reply. You have a unique channel and I enjoy it very much. You don't just slap stuff up, people can tell you put thought into it. Thanks!!!!

[@goodun2974]

​@@FranLab, I find Staples to be exorbitantly expensive on almost anything and everything. Hey, how about doing a review of erasers for both pencil and pen/ink? A review of battery powered artists' erasers would also be great. I have several battery powered erasers that I modified to hold fiberglass bristle brushes, instead of using a manual "scratch brush"; very helpful for cleaning terminals and PCB solder pads prior to soldering.

[@normalizedaudio2481]

Always bet on BLACK.

[@jimdavis5230]

I've heard that NASA spent a lot of money on the space pen because it would work in weightless conditions. However, the Russian space programme found a much cheaper solution by just using pencils.