Bic Cristal Ballpoint Pen Comparison: Fine, Classic, Soft, Bold

The iconic Bic Cristal ballpoint has been my favorite go-to pen for, well, about as long as I have been using pens. In grade school I began using the classic Bic Cristal medium point (1.0mm) in blue. I never had a preference for the Bic Cristal fine point (0.7mm), but always liked the amber colored barrel. When the Bic Cristal Xtra Bold point (1.6mm) was released in the US, the pen became my immediate favorite. And then I had occasion to try the Bic Cristal Soft (1.2mm) pen, and have since fallen in love with that point! Many of the Bic pens sold in the US are now made in Mexico. The examples of the fine and soft Cristals here were made in France. What's your favorite Cristal?
#ballpoint
#ballpointpen
#penreview
#bicpen
#analog
#handwriting
#cursive
#cursivewriting

[@kerc]

The Bold is where it's at for myself. At work i take a lot of meeting notes daily in cursive, and the Bold lets me do so effortlessly.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Hi Kerc - Thanks - I'm also a fan of the Bold! Great pen!

[@Lysander-Spooner]

I love the 1.6mm version. Have tons of them.

[@LlamaAlpaca8]

Me too

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Love those Bic Bolds!

[@konbini_Goblin]

I'm loyal to this channel. I was in prison for over 6 years and had to rely on analog communication. Listen to him. He's wise

[@payman_azari]

Happy to hear you're back, I was in military for some months and I understood freedom is the most precious asset even more than health! enjoy your new life.

[@konbini_Goblin]

@@payman_azari thank you for your service as well as your kind words

[@wdashwor]

Thanks for the video. I used the classic Bic Cristals as a kid and never really thought much about them-they were just there, and they worked. Then about a year ago, I rediscovered them, and that's all I write with now.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thanks for watching, wdashwor. The Bic Cristal is my go-to pen, too.

[@EPL762]

I'm back after five years of not checking your channel. Bic merchandise in my country has been scarce since 2020. Most retailers have stopped selling them here (mainly from the factories in Ecuador, Mexico with some models from South Africa and France). The last one I bought in 2023 are 0.7 mm on four colors (black, blue, red and green). Also still have some Cristal ones 1.0 mm I bought in 2019 still working. Good job

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Welcome back, EPL! Sounds like Bics are scarce for you. There is a lot of competition these days for inexpensive ballpoint pens. Thanks for watching!

[@thethriftyfawn]

Awesome review Kevin! 😃 This one has such cozy vibes, such as the clock ticking in the background... I'll be watching/listening to this again in the evenings with some apple cinnamon tea to wind down as needed! I believe the reason for the opaque ink tubes on the "fashion" colors such as pink, purple, etc is perhaps a maketing tactic geared towards students and youth? For instance, if the pens start skipping or if the lids were left off after doodling, it might prompt them to assume the pens are empty, then purchase a new package? I still have my "Bic Shimmers" in fuchsia, purple, robin's egg blue, and lime green from high school and college (many years ago lol) and they still work. I held a flashlight to the tubing just now, but couldn't see how much ink was left. I still use them intermittently and will be keeping them until they actually run out. I love the classic Bic Cristal, but haven't tried the others featured in this video. I'm in Canada, and the prices for everyday items have gone up- both in store and online (especially when ordering from other countries)... I have lots of stationary as it is, so I'm ok with using what I have for the time being. One day, I would love to try the Bic Cristal fine point, as fine point pens tend to be my favorite. I have small hands, so they are typically the most comfortable for me, with less extended movements needed. Thanks again for the upload! Fawn 😊

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Hi Fawn - glad you liked the video and found it cozy! It's always cozy in my little studio where I produce these videos! If you ever get a chance to pick up a Bic fine point inexpensively, you might find that you like using it. While I'm not a big user of fine points, I do like how they write and feel. I haven't thought of the Bic Shimmers in years!! Thanks!

[@qiqerod]

My top 2 favorite Bic Cristals are the soft and the yellow barrel 0.7. I also LOVE drawing/sketching with bic primarily. No preference there except for the 1.6 bic. But I’m also very surprised how smooth is the bic yellow barrel 0.7. Very good experience for me. All French made of course. Need more of those yellow barrel ones

[@metatechnologist]

Bic crystals are not meant to be art pens. Get the Pentel Arts Hybrid technical gel pens

[@DinnerForkTongue]

@@metatechnologist He seems to use them well enough.

[@qiqerod]

@@metatechnologist never heard or seen these pens but them bic Cristal’s are great ballpoints to draw with.

[@qiqerod]

@@metatechnologist will check these out though

[@metatechnologist]

@@DinnerForkTongue the problem is they are cheap ink which simply is not light-fast. I.e. if the sun hits it the art will fade rapidly as if it never existed. I see artwork entered in the local fair and even if they show capable talent it's obvious that it's amateur work. Not to mention the undeniable purple hue.

[@xst-k6]

Kudos on your penmanship! It turned a simple nib size exploration into a captivating visual experience. I'd love to see a comparison with light pressure during the writing process. I've read some reviews where Bic's have struggled with light pressure.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thank you, xst! I have to tell that I have a difficult time writing lightly, I generally use a fair amount of pressure, and the Bics do well. The ballpoint may not be as responsive with a lighter hand. Thanks!

[@granjmy]

What a cool attention-holding way to start your comparison! Immediate results for shot attention spans, then on to more detail. Just perfect!

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@granjmy]

@@AlwaysAnalog I have 2 rarely-used Pentel RSVP black stick pens. I like the slight resistance when writing, because my hand shakes a bit. Ah, age. The great leveler. Anyway, these 2 almost-unused pens are drying out. Makes me mad, on days like this, when little annoying things seem to accumulate. That's why I went looking for a better fine point, and I found your video. :) Have you thought about selling a sampler kit with one each of these BIC pens? It sure seems like it would be a money maker. People like me HATE to be forced to buy multipacks of pens, just to try one out. And you know what? Until all these climate change corporate screamers STOP selling disposable plastic whatevers, I will think they're full of agendas. Or BS. Or both. OK. Old lady rant over. Thank you for your excellent reviews.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

@@granjmy It's too bad we don't sell things like in many other countries. In most of Europe, you buy pens - even inexpensive disposable pens - one at a time. But in order to sell more and make more money, the US markets put multiples in packages. I'm not a retailer and set up to sell things, but your idea of a sampler pack is a great one! Thanks!

[@granjmy]

@@AlwaysAnalog Maybe you could put a link in your description, to an eBay listing, to sell a 4 piece set of these. I'd be happy to help you make the listing- no charge. I think this is a needed item. It is frustrating trying to decide which pen to buy online, then be faced with the forced purchase of a 10 pack, on top of not knowing if I'd like it. You've done the marketing here already with this video. I'd just add- if you can add after the video is finished- that there is a link below for you to buy a 4 pack of these pens, so you can decide which you prefer.

[@Isaac.S48]

Amazing video! I never have really used Bic pens but now I love them after watching this, thanks!

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thanks - give the Bics a try and see what you think!

[@ggsipaper]

Actually, the Bic Cristals are a good choice for pen drawing when you will use a watercolor wash. They draw well, are very inexpensive, and the ink is water-resistant when dry. As always, thanks for the video.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

That's good to know! Thank you!

[@metatechnologist]

They are not lightfast. The drawing literally disappears overnight if exposed to the sun. Get art pens if you want to look at your art that you worked on next year!

[@ggsipaper]

@@metatechnologist Thanks for the info as I was not aware of that. It would be OK for sketchbook work that doesn't see the light of day often but not suitable for art work that might.

[@metatechnologist]

@@ggsipaper Bics are the worst though. If left out on a Sunlit table the drawing is gone in a month and the paper is blank in two months. You might check out Pental Hybrid Technical gel pens that are made for art.

[@LTHanlon]

I like how the Cristal fine has an amber barrel, which I imagine references the original fine's opaque amber/yellow barrel. I've also seen solid-yellow barrel Bics from time to time but I don't know where they're made or sold.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Hi LT! I've heard that Bic still used the opaque amber barrels in the manufacturing of some of their fine points, but I don't know what part of the world they are sold. I haven't seen those barrels for years in the US and I couldn't find any in Europe, either. Thanks!

[@cavan_goh]

I have 1.2mm and 1.6mm bic retractable pens. I bring both around in the office and on the go during weekends. :)

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Those are two great Bic ballpoints - nice bold lines! Thanks!

[@AugustMeteors]

I always learn something when I watch your videos! For example--that Bic is a French company. I never knew that! Bic Cristal Bold has been my go-to for a long time as well. I didn't know you could get it in lots of pretty colors, though. I get the boxes of 24 and that's usually black, but in a wanton moment of carefree abandon I'll order the blue. You say, "...for many, disposable." Is there an _alternative_ to disposable? Certainly they don't make refills for these do they? In fact I have used the ink cartridge in these pens _as_ refills--I have a couple of those .50 caliber machine gun casing pens that supposedly take Cross-style refills, but it seems hard to find the right type. So I will pull the cartridge out of a Cristal and stick it in the .50 caliber. (Not a war monger, I just like the brass!)

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Hi AM - no, they don't make refills for these pens, although I did see some in Europe which were meant to be refills for the Bic Renew (made of metal) pen. I didn't know these ink tubes would fit in a .50 caliber! Thanks!

[@DinnerForkTongue]

Hah, nice. A fiddy cal, held point down, does look like a writing implement even in size, so why not go for it? Totally agree that Bic should sell Cristal/Round Stic refills on the cheap. They've already set a precedent with the Cristal Renew metal-bodied pen anyway, now it's time for them to take it beyond a greenwashing gimmick.

[@ZXPhazze]

Today I just got myself a pack of Bic cristal, cause I was running out of 'em. I'm more of a pencil writter but when it comes to ballpoint pens I enjoy using 1.6mm blue bic cristal. I love this channel by the way. greetings from México.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thank you, ZXP! Like you, I use pencil most of the time but when I need to write in ink I really like the 1.2mm and 1.6mm Bic Cristals.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

I'm a pencil guy too (mechanical in my case - long live the Pentel Sharp), but yeah, when a pen is needed, it's hard not to spring for the Cristal.

[@ЕленаМММ-ж3з]

Thank you!

[@anniemahabiersingh6544]

I love all the bic cristal and bic round stic ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thanks, Annie!

[@ma-mo]

I'm one who still writes paper checks, a few times a month. I have always used Bic Cristals for this purpose, until the latest Everybody Panic Alert on the news informed me that crooks were stealing mail from mailboxes, dipping checks in some chemical bath that removes the ink, then rewriting the checks to themselves. The newsreaders informed me that only the Uniball Signo 207 had ink (pigmented!) that could save me from these unscrupulous check-dippers. So I switched. The Uniball costs more than ten times what a Cristal costs, and the writing experience is inferior. I think I'd rather take my chances with the crooks.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Hi MAMO - this is the first I've heard of this ink washing scheme by crooks! Can't say as I'm surprised to hear it - technology has provided so many more opportunities for these kinds of things. I've not tried a Uniball Signo 207, but I'll take your word on how it performs. While I write few few paper checks anymore, I'll probably keep using my Bics, too. Thanks!!

[@DinnerForkTongue]

I question the frequency of this criminal activity, really. Is it really so common as to be a concern for the usual working class American citizen?

[@ma-mo]

@DinnerForkTongue I sincerely doubt it. But I try to never let facts and logic get in the way of my paranoia.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

@@ma-mo That may be the most relatable thing you've ever said 🤣

[@Solitaire001]

@@DinnerForkTongue I think it is a case of avoiding a potential problem. Someone washes a check (while leaving your signature unchanged) and rewrites it so the Thief gets $1,000 out of your checking account. You might eventually get the money back (assuming the Thief gets caught), but it would be a pain to deal with. It's the reason I switched to the Uniball Roller (it has the same ink as the Uniball Signo 207), which for me writes about as smooth as the Bic Crystal. I use it for anything that is official.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

After finding out my 0.7mm fine point CIS/Linc pens (Scrit, a Cristal lookalike in black/blue/red, and one purple Spiro, a very long spiral-patterned pen with a non-replaceable ink assembly) bled ink through the sheets of my notebook (with the Spiro you can read _the entire text_ written with it mirrored on the other page!), and that the Linc Scrit 1mm has such faint and desaturated ink that I have no doubt it'd be hard to photocopy, I have gone back to the Bics. In Brazil we have all these sizes (with the exception that the 0.7mm fine point is called the Ultra Fine), but we also have a slightly thicker Fine lineup in 0.8mm with an opaque orange ink cartridge and a color-coded tip rather than the tan/bronze plastic one. I've mentioned this line before a few times on this channel's comments, and may just have to mail Kevin a pack of these for him to try out when money allows 😁 I'm more partial to finer points because thicker ballpoints feel squirrely and less controllable for me, but it depends nowadays. Write cursive in big font with a fine pen and you will find out _quick_ that it's hard to overlap lines or make smooth curves, so the text becomes very "pointy". Now I keep my fine points for writing smaller texts like side/footnotes, or for writing in Japanese (since strokes are so clustered together). Otherwise the 1mm medium balances precision and smoothness well. Now this may sound odd, but I notice very little difference between 1mm and 1.2mm. I'm forced to use a 1.2mm to write in purple since only the Soft line of Bics have purple ink, and I feel no difference in writing or see distinctions in trace width*. _But_ that may be because I have *_very_* light grip while writing. Maybe I don't push the tip into the paper hard enough for the trace to be wide? 🤔 Yes, the Soft is by far the most saturated. The Bold is the darkest. Classic and Fine look similar on footage. Thanks, Kevin! **ERRATA:* There is _definitely_ a difference when writing in Oriental systems, just not in Western/Brazilian cursive.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Hi DFT! It's always interesting to hear people's preferences for tip sizes of pens. I write in cursive 95 percent of the time, and perhaps this is why I always prefer at least a 1.0 mm tip, if not larger. I also have a heavy hand when writing and so the wide ballpoint compensates. I do feel and see a difference between the 1.0 and 1.2 mm, and prefer the latter. I've never used a 0.8mm Bic, and it fascinates me that their fine point isn't the same everywhere. Thanks!

[@TheThirdeYe1337]

Big fan of the Cristal pens... I use the standard blue and red ones for work, and have for years. Before that, I usually used the Round Stic or the promotional equivalent. The EasyGlide ones are fine, but I prefer the standard ink. My girlfriend is a big fan of the Cristal Bold and goes through those all the time. Whenever I get them, I give them to her and use the standard ones for myself. I've used some of the fine ones before and they're excellent for filling out forms with small fields, but I don't prefer to write with them normally.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thanks - I have grown to like the bold version. I agree that the fine points are ideal for filling out boxes and forms!

[@robertbraun4708]

I'm using the 1.6mm BOLD in BLACK, PURPLE & RED colors. Going 2 order the SOFT in BLACK & RED this week. Good review so I subscribed. Thx, LEE in PHX, AZ.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Hi Robert - glad you enjoy those Bic 1.6mm pens! Thanks for watching!

[@slacker4206]

I have bought hundreds of Bic pens but have never been able to make them right with as much ink as you have. My Bics barely lay down any ink. They all write like they’re running dry, even when brand new. That’s why I use the Pilot G2.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Hi Slacker - not sure why you haven't had good luck with Bic pens. I do find they respond differently depending on the paper being used. I am also a heavy-handed writer, which may have something to do with the amount of ink that rolls out, although that shouldn't matter too much. The G2 certainly leaves a nice, bold line! Thanks!

[@diegovm84]

Hello Kevin! Enjoy greatly your reviews. Let me point you missed a few other Cristals available: Gel with round barrel (think they are not mase anymore, were made in Brazil and Vietnam), the needle tip Ultra Fine smoky barrel made in Mexico (popular here in Mexico and briefly sold in US with white with color pocket clip caps from the Cristal Up versions), the original Fine with orange barrel (not translucent like French one) made in Mexico too, all transparent round barrel Diamante and retractable version made in South Africa. Kind regards from Mexico

[@DinnerForkTongue]

To add to this, there is also the Brazilian Fine, with clear barrel, clear cap, orange ink cartridge and color-coded tip. These come in 0.8mm point size, so not quite the Ultra Fine (AKA the "Xtra Precision" in the EEUU) but still finer than a classic Cristal. Of course, there is the Up! line, a Cristal with opaque white body and color-coded highlights on the tail stopper and cap. The Diamante is pretty much a Round Stic with the same clear acryllic material as the Cristal, IME.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Hi Diego! Yes, there are a number of other variations on the Cristal, although many that are not easily found here in the US. I haven't seen an Ultra Fine in a long, long time. I'll have to see if I can get any online, because the stores don't carry them. Thanks!

[@hoffwell]

You should perhaps do another Bic comparison blue ink vs black ink. I find the black writes smoother.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

For me it's the inverse. The majority of black Bics I've tried feel like I'm writing with axle grease. Blue glides much more smoothly.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

I hardly have any black pens because my preference is always blue, but I have a couple and I'll try to see if I think the write any smoother. Will be interesting to find out.

[@LTHanlon]

In my experience, blue is the most smooth, black somewhat less smooth, and green is the absolute worst. Green is like a series of speedhumps on the autobahn.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

​@@LTHanlon I've completely given up on Bic's green pens. If I am to own a green pen, I'll pick a Faber-Castell, at least it writes as good as their blue and black ones.

[@LuxembourgishMapping]

The average pen tip is around 0.5 mm, but there's no 0.5 mm version of this

[@tonyr1950]

The fine point pen was used by Accountants and Bookkeepers who manually worked on general ledgers (prior to Excel software).

[@rMzRevision]

thank u alot lol, was kinda really struggling on which i should get :)

[@AlwaysAnalog]

You're welcome. I hope this helped you decide which one was right for you.

[@tomh9553]

I wish they’d stuck with the opaque orange, blue and black

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Hi Tom - someone said they still made the opaque orange in other parts of the world. I miss them, too!

[@asfasfd7772]

Really wish Bic would make premium pen bodies for their ballpoints. I love the Velocity 1.6mm ballpoint pens, but the pen bodies are always so cheap.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

Get an aftermarket one. Any lathe operator can make a Bic body easily.

[@sudo_nym]

I can imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger saying “the Cristal 1.6mm” 😂

[@paritosh558]

Great video man!

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thanks so much, paritosh!

[@ronciego9249]

Is the tip and ink on the Bic Round Stic the same with the Cristal? Do they perform the same?

[@DinnerForkTongue]

Kevin tested the normal Cristal 1mm alongside the Round Stic, if you want to check it out. Not sure if he tested both with the same point diameter.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Hi - I think the tips are the same but the inks MAY be a little different. I compared the two of them in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYmwkGWNic6Zl9Usi=8alvf6QoS5wdWJzU

[@granjmy]

@@AlwaysAnalog I'll watch that. Thank you!

[@wickedlester2743]

CrI-staaaal RULES!

[@sudo_nym]

Bold is best for my style

[@aryanambastha4050]

What's the difference between the Bic Cristal Xtra Smooth and Cristal Soft?

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Hi aryanambastha! The main difference in those two pens are the Bic Cristal Xtra Smooth has a 1.0mm tip, and the Cristal Soft has a 1.2mm tip, so it is slightly bolder. Thanks!

[@Ansongjji]

Cool

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thanks!

[@ilurvemv]

They really should have kept their manufacturing in the US and France because the ones made in Mexico have always been awful and of subpar quality. Have you tried the Tru Red pens yet?

[@AlwaysAnalog]

It seems corporations are always looking to cut costs and I'm sure they saved a lot of labor costs by moving the manufacturing. I haven't tried Tru Red yet. Thanks!

[@ilurvemv]

They saved money but I'm sure it cost them goodwill in the US market. I remember buying a package of red Cristals several years ago and they were dreadful. The ink was light pink and they weren't smooth and wrote blotchily and horribly and leaked globs of ink. I know of at least one other person who complained about the same thing. Bic must've taken note and improved them but still they'll never be as good as they were while they were produced in the US and France.

[@ilurvemv]

@@AlwaysAnalog forgot to mention I have a box of pens if you'd like me to send to you to review but they're fine point and black (I know you prefer blue). I really shouldn't have bought more than one box but they were on sale for less than $2 then - I guess I'm also a sucker for a bargain! XD

[@hamishdow2188]

just a quict question. are the outer tubes of all the bic cristals the same size as the original/standard one? as they are the perfect tool for winding cassette tapes and i need a new box of pens but am unsure if theres a difference in specs between the fine, original, and bold etc.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

The size of the barrels on the Bic Cristals are all the same. Thanks!

[@jonne2338]

Did you find differences between cristal original made in france and the xtra smooth made in mexico?

[@EvilP]

The xtra smooth has the feel of a cristal soft but instead of a 1.2 tip it has the tip of a 1.0 standard cristal

[@exi2137]

maybe intensity color change vid

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@exi2137]

@@AlwaysAnalog and maybe some markers :>

[@ebodaman]

I too do not like the white ink tubes!

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Me either - I like seeing how much ink is in the tube.

[@esdet105]

BIC asmr.

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thanks for watching!

[@xp377]

I like the tip to be fixed and unremovable.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

What do you mean by that?

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Paper Mate pens have a fixed tip that cannot be removed from the barrel.

[@Solitaire001]

@@DinnerForkTongue I think "fixed and unremovable" is referring to non-retractable pens. I prefer non-retractable pens (with a cap) like the Bic Cristal because the tip is firmly in place. With a retractable pen the tip moves around a bit when you are writing. I write with block letters and when doing so it become noticeable.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

@@Solitaire001 Yea, I realised later. Retractable pens are spotty for eastern writing styles because of that wobbly point.

[@Ancient_West]

I just saw a bic pen video and they showed a scene from this video at the 4:06 mark kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZaynHaHZralndEfeature=shared

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thanks for letting me know, AW! I'll check it out!

[@pussypostlethwaitsaeronaut8503]

The Bic Cristal Fine is actually 0.8mm, not 0.7mm. The Bic Cristal Exact Ultra Fine is 0.7mm. xx

[@AlwaysAnalog]

Thanks for the information!