On Point EDC: Parker Jotter vs. Zebra F-701, EDC Pen Essentials

On this episode we discuss two staples of the everyday carry pen genre, the Parker Jotter and the Zebra F-701. Both classics in their own right, one a mid century style icon, while the other an industrial cult classic. Listen to be ramble on about my thoughts on each and let me know what you think in the comments below, thanks guys!
This Segment Brought to you by Wrist Candy Watch Club:
wristcandywatchclub.com/

[@YourSoulDriver]

My days taking notes and writing essays are long gone. These days, I use my pen to, mostly, fill out forms and write checks. For those purposes an F-701 with a Fisher space pen cartridge, is perfect.

[@leonlind6032]

modded mine today, one in blue, one in black

[@herbcraven7146]

I used the Zebra F-701 for many years, but I'm now carrying the Parker Jotter as my EDC. I fell in love with it in the 80s Writes so smooth, looks SO good. BTW, am I the only one who noticed that the Zebra looks X-actly like an X-Acto knife?

[@user-it3eh2ml2w]

That's why I love the plastic version of the Parker Jotter: it's retro and the plastic has good grip.

[@ChattanoogaDan]

I have both plus a fisher space pen bullet. I got all three because I wasn't sure which one I would like but I ended up liking the f701 the most. It's also the least expensive but I still carry all three and enjoy all of them.

[@peterrussell8409]

I use the f701 on time sheets and the parker on site reports every day at work. oh and a g shock square of course!

[@Ultiman7]

I was comparing these exact two pens today at my desk. I love the look and feel of the Zebra, but the Parker is such a solid "nice" pen. I find the gel insert of the Parker vastly superior to the Zebra ball point, but the clip on the Parker is a bit too sharp when I clip it to a notebook. Solution - I use both.

[@MrRufusjax]

I own them both. I've used them both for several years. Pretty bulletproof pens. On the Parker I also replaced with the blue gel when my original ballpoint refill that came with the pen ran out.

[@martintanz9098]

I am a convert to the EDC pen world. There was a time not too long ago when I just carried cheap pens. Either something I picked up at the store in 10 packs for $5.00, or giveaway pens I got from hotels or vendors when I went to conferences. But the sad thing was, as good as the cheap pens were as a value proposition, you never knew when they would fail, or explode. I can still remember one day when I was scrambling around to find a working pen and I had about a dozen in my briefcase and none seemed to work. That was about 4 years ago. I threw the old broken cheapies away and bought two pens. A Fisher Cap o matic, and a bolt action pen with a Parker style refill. Since then, my go to was the Fisher Cap O Matic all metal pen for EDC, while the Bolt action pen (recently switched to Fisher refill) is my go to pen for the car.. I have two Fishers: a gold tone, and a stainless steel model that have been in my briefcase. I know some reviewers complain about the Fisher ink, but honestly I don't get the criticism. It does what you expect of a ballpoint pen, but does it better than any cheap ballpoint since it writes on anything, and in any conditions. And it won't explode in your pocket ruining your shirt or pants. And they work for years, maybe decades. So in a nutshell, when I need a EDC pen that I will carry outside of my briefcase, I usually go with a Fisher, or at least a Fisher refill. But in the last couple of months, I have picked up the Parker Jotter XL, the Jotter, and the Zebra F701. As far as the writing goes, I like the Parker Quink cartridge that came with the Jotter. Nothing too vibrant, but it just works, without bleeding through the page or smearing, which is important to me as I still use a pen a lot in my work to take notes on legal pads, and the last thing I need is the ink bleeding through to the next page , and I still use a paper calendar, so again, don't need smearing or bleed through. As far as the stock cartridge in the Zebra, it is just ok and if I hadn't been using the Fisher these last 4 years, I would say the Zebra cartridge is fine. But, the Fisher is better as it writes in all conditions, which to me fits the whole esthetic of the Zebra as a GADA pen. So I replaced the stock cartridge in the Zebra for a Fisher refill. Very different esthetic between the two pens. The Parker looks more professional, like a classier Fisher Cap o matic. So I have recently been using a brushed rose gold Jotter XL for my work instead of my previous go to the Fisher. The regular Jotter is a little small and light for me, so I actually prefer the Jotter XL. The Zebra looks cooler, and is more fun. Currently I keep a Fisher Cap o matic, a Zebra with a Fisher refill, and a Jotter XL in my briefcase. and I have a couple of more Parkers and a Fisher at home by my desk.

[@vincegredo]

I use my Parker jotter on the clock and in my day to day as an edc. I work in a hospital and I do a LOT of documentation, progress notes, signatures, etc. In my free time I've also made it a habit to journal every day for at least 15 minutes. Through it all I carry the Parker because it's reliable, a pleasure to write with, and that click definitely adds a fidget factor I didn't know I needed. Overall love the Parker.

[@AlanTrades]

Have you tried the Parker xl?

[@BrunaBorgesA]

the jotter is perfect. I use it at work everyday. It is smaller so it fits the pen pocket on my dress shirt perfectly

[@nickgee7291]

I like the parker because it's more dressy and goes well in ur jacket but the zebra looks cool and tough in its own distinctive way

[@palaxdrain9115]

jotter definitely best for everyday pocket pen, the rollerball just glides smoothly. but when it comes to outdoor activities in high humidity environment and sweaty palm, i would definitely go with the zebra. jotter kinda slippery in a wet hand, the knurling in zebra grip my skin real good. so in conclusion, jotter for office and home, zebra for outdoor, both are great pens.

[@Mo7ammed.Siddiq]

Awesome, I have Parker Jotter, and Cross, metal frame, I will get the Zebra to add to my collection.

[@Mister_Phafanapolis]

What's the ID on the Seiko?

[@Park_Place]

Zebra F-701 is a lot tougher and heftier, Parker Jotter is more compact and "luxurious" with the arrowhead clip

[@jedimasterham2]

Jotter + Visconti Smartouch Refill = amazing.

[@theregisteredmurse]

What exact watch model is that? Looks great

[@maitrehg]

I have 3 Jotters. Perfect EDC pen for me.

[@jerryharris1022]

I have both but find the jotter somewhat slippery .

[@JustRobHere]

If you really use a pen for writing a lot, the Parker is more comfortable, in my opinion. Parker is lighter and easier on the hand. That knurling on the end is tough on the fingers. Zebra has ones like the 401 that is more comfortable. But hey, John Wick only needed a pencil. :-)

[@acmramon]

Rob zebra is too heavy and does not look nice with that knurling. It gets very dirty in time. I only use Jotters😎

[@JLUnit416]

As someone who writes "lightly", I appreciate the extra heft of the Zebra, especially when filling out carbon, triplicate forms. I will say I've yet to own a Parker and perhaps it's time to give it a try.

[@acmramon]

The Jotter wins 3-0😀 best edc pen. And the price is around £5-£7 , same price with the zebra. Can t go wrong with it, and the option of using different refills in it makes it best edc pen. Ty

[@ssslovak47]

I own the Zebra pen i think it is solid good quality pen but not good for longer writing. It's just not that comfortable.

[@Divyanshu0236]

Two of the best Pens ever !!

[@drdrew3]

I have chosen the “Mullet Solution” to this decision: Business in the front (Parker) and party in the back (Zebra). One for work and the other for play.

[@opuofbengal5935]

Disappointed that the parker refill doesn't fit inside the F701 easily.

[@dante_gonal]

between the FXMD and F701 is there any difference?

[@galfert]

First came the F-701 and it had a plastic button crown. Then people decided to modify the F-701 with the button crown of the F-402. Then outside of the US market Zebra decided to sell the F-xMD with all metal look, essentially the F-701 with the metal mod. Then sometime later Zebra finally updated the F-701 in the US to be the same as the F-xMD but continued to call it an F-701. So today they are the same except one is for US market and one is for Europe and maybe elsewhere. With one minor difference, that the F-701 comes with a skinny ink cartridge and the F-xMD comes with a larger ink cartridge. But the pen is the same and you can use the same ink refill in either. So the only true difference is the name on the clip.

[@mlhm5]

So few refills available for Zebra

[@davnetshelton7403]

What about the Schaeffer Sentinal? I prefer it to the Jotter, which tapers too much and is too skinny at the tip. The Schaeffer has more bulk near the tip and looks better that way. You could probably use a Parker refill if you took off the parker's plastic plug and added the Schaeffer refill plug to it.

[@claussteiner5857]

Jotter, Sentinel and f701: perfect trio

[@SuperHemiv8]

So, about ten minutes into it he says that he is not going to get into the writing aspects. These are pens! What’s the point?

[@acmramon]

Willy C whats the point writing when you can use any refilll you want in a Parker?😀

[@SuperHemiv8]

That’s a good point...only considered the standard. Thanks

[@mizutsamigekko9216]

Zebra pen is better. No one can say shit about it I could say so much to that partner pen

[@YanDoroshenko]

Jotter is impossible to write with. It's too thin, it's slick, it pushes you into a deathgrip and being a rollerball it requires you to apply some pressure to write which makes you hand hurt before you can write "This pen sucks".

[@acmramon]

Yan Doroshenko 😂 they suck only for you. They are the best

[@aedlzvn]

No, the pen is great. Maybe it's you who has a problem since no one's complaining about the pen except you 😂

[@jedimasterham2]

Get a Visconti Smartouch ink refill for your Jotter. Works great.

[@olistilinsky6844]

Thats the problem. You. You are the problem hahahap

[@drdrew3]

The most popular pen over the last 60 years in your opinion is “impossible to write with”. Yeah, that makes sense to nobody

[@basicdose.9872]

Go zebra.

[@YanDoroshenko]

Pen? In a self defense case? I don't think so. If you have all the skills needed to effectively use a pen in a self defense situation, you don't need it at all, and if you don't, it won't help you.

[@HowWeSeeItPodcast]

Stop being ignorant. I don't have the skills to defend myself but I'm sure if i had a pen i could easily take it out of my pocket and stab someone with it, giving me some time to get away. Yes it would help.

[@melvincan7761]

John wick joined the chat

[@Tom_Bee_]

@Negaduck could scribble down a quick last will and testament on bandage in the ambulance though, so there's that.

[@drdrew3]

You know nothing about close quarters combat. Search KZbin for “kubaton self defense” as you will understand. ANY weapon is better than your bare hands is you are wanting a physical and tactical advantage over your combatant.

[@playeroflife]

Manual focus and lock it. Amateur mistake. Boring.