What Is The Best Cheap EDC Pen? Budget Everyday Carry Pen Roundup

Looking for the best CHEAP everyday carry (EDC) pen? Me too. So I did this mega roundup of most of the top contenders and picked a winner. Prices are capped at a $20 budget!
Top Cheap EDC Pens:
- Retro 51 Tornado - amzn.to/2GEZUIV ($20 exactly!)
- Zebra F701 mod - amzn.to/2GEfeFT
- Fisher Space Pen Cap-o-Matic - amzn.to/2FKmwL3
- Parker Jotter - amzn.to/2FJgdrg
- Pentel Energel Alloy - amzn.to/2IyQX4H
- Zebra Z Mulsion LX - amzn.to/2FKByQX
- Ohto Horizon - amzn.to/2pmiRcd
- Zebra Sarasa Grand - amzn.to/2tUSoY0
More Reading: unsharpen.com/what-is-the-bes...
The Zebra F701 mod / hack video is here: • Zebra F701 pen hack (M...
Don't miss my previous Best EDC Pen video - • What is the best EDC p... . That was done without a price cap.
note: as an amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

[@gilbertchan9498]

My EDC pen would be the Uni Power Tank. It is pressurized. Can do everything the Fisher Space pen does. I think it writes smoother than the Fisher and I can get a 10 pack for $15.

[@YR7A]

>buy a pack of black bic crystal pens >put one in your pocket every day (i like to see if i can empty one before i lose it) >you're going to lose it >put another one out of the package into your pocket. >profit

[@jamieshannon9809]

That's a definite but why buy when you can get free pens from a betting shop (in the UK) at least. Even more profit. But as for Bic I do prefer the yellow case version.

[@this-is-not-a-channel-]

I get mine from banks, since they are a shady bunch

[@BaddaBigBoom]

I'm really into the "Zebra Expandz" Mini telescopic compact ballpoint. I have two of them, they are about £5 ($7). They hook into the spine of a diary nicely and are pretty solid ...despite being telescopic. They are VERY small though - especially collapsed, but that is what I like about them the most. Interesting review. Thumbs up.

[@jakublulek3261]

My combo of choice is ballpoint and fountain pen. For years it was Rotring Freeway set of fountain pen and ballpoint but in last 2 years I replaced it with Cross Click and Parker Jotter. For some reason I really enjoy Jotter fountain pen, and Cross Click is slim but not too slim or flimsy.

[@choochmagooch5200]

A bunch of my favorites were in there and even made it to the top 3 for the gel pen. Love my energel alloy. I want to get that tornado though 😍

[@jackfarmboy]

Really like those last two. That tornado really stood out. Thanks for the info.

[@jackfarmboy]

Sal That would be better for me probably, im "clicky guy" with pens. I click and fidget with them, people would probably thank me for switching.

[@radekvamowski8092]

Parker Jotter stainless steel with a Schneider Gelion+ refill.

[@nojodash]

Love the Ohto Horizon pen.. I have an Orange one which is a great color but that blue looks great too..thanks for the video

[@limited40]

I have the Pentel and love it. I’m thinking of trying the Zebra with Fisher Space pen refill hack. The Tornado doesn’t get my vote because it’s a two handed operation.

[@diycraftq8658]

looooved this video great stuff dude

[@ichirofakename]

Though the Ohto is tempting, I'm gonna stick with my BiC Bold 1.6mm. It writes smoothly and cost me 21¢. Downside is that it fades in sunlight. Are any ballpoints specifically fade-resistent?

[@themightysquid]

I’ve used Fisher Space Pens and ParkerJotters for 50 years.

[@dzevadbayraktar322]

How about Sheaffer Sentinel (more comfortable than Jotter) , Paper Mate profile regular grip (unfortunately out of production but can get online and used shops)

[@25hztolife86]

My other EDC is the Skilcraft Aviator 3 in 1 multi pen....it's small and dependable.

[@payambagheri8854]

that parker was nice ... never saw that color anywhere before . thanks for the great report .

[@sudeepchoudhury6911]

I like that parker jotter quink flow....👍👌👌

[@Mikkemeister]

Unfortunately the Fisher pen with the plastic body doesn't hold up for EDC for me. I've broken two just by having them in my pockets (plastic snaps of at the base of the threding). Now if I could just find my 701...

[@edm2822]

Sheaffer Sentinel is a good one to check out some time. Nice clip that will clip to a jeans pocket of need be. Easy to hack a Parker refill to fit.

[@AereForst]

Rotring 600. Picked one up for $24 last week on Amazon. Fantastic instrument that uses Parker jotter refills. Zebra G-750. $12. Beautiful EDC pen.

[@duncdunc76]

Liked the vid and your criteria list! Also agree that the zebra F701 is pretty awesome. I know this vid is of your opinion but just curious why you didn't have any multi function pens? Specific example maybe the B3 aviator as it is my favorite EDC pen or should I say pens plus pencil😁 Just curious on Your thoughts about multifunction pens. Just found your channel and this was the first vid I've watched so you might cover my ?s in other vids I'm going to peruse your channel a bit, but based on this vid and my interest in pens it's looking like a sub might be in my future. Again thanks for the vid on IMO some cool subject matter.

[@acmramon]

i would go for the full metal body Parker Jotter. i think they are the best pens out there that can use ink or gel refills and the most important thing for an everyday use pen it must have a refill that u can buy it from anywhere like the parker g2 refill quink flow or gel. and they (pens)last for years and years. no1 choice for me

[@acmramon]

Sal yes, but parker doesnt do anymore the plastic barrels. They are all metal and in many colours and not expensive. On ebay they are 6-8 pounds, and they are made in France,so really good quality. In my opinion the metal ones last way toooo many years😄 ty

[@neilspector9221]

Acm Ramon they Retro pen uses Parker style refills.

[@nateast]

I got a nail stuck in my motorcycle tyre and I had no pliers or knife so used the clip on my jotter(Full stainless steel) to remove it. The clip got bent slightly but still works well.

[@Hannah_Grey]

I don't know what this says about my sweaty fingers but if ever there was a pen designed to facilitate constantly slipping fingers the Parker is it. For this reason, and the ink, Parkers are always unwanted gifts.

[@jpolar394]

No Zebra F402 ? It's another great every day pen to carry and if your lucky you can pick one up for under 3 dollars if it's on sale.

[@carlswanson808]

Ohto Horizon and Fisher Cap-o-Matic will both take Zebra F-series refills.

[@andreasakrivos277]

I would like to search for "engineer pen" which he presents... anybody knows where i can find it and the brand,model of it for online shopping...??thanks..!

[@Tanko3691]

Does anyone know which pen the standard Powertank refill will fit into?

[@ImTheDudeMan471]

The all stainless Parker Jotter w a space pen refill. Subtle and classic.

[@unsharpen]

Hard to argue with this combination

[@User-kf3tk]

Compare the new rotring 600 with the Hexomatic (currently $23 on Amazon). Which is basically the clone of the hexagonal 600 pen, that's been selling more than the Rotring due to not being discontinued for 25+ years.

[@User-kf3tk]

Sal you should definitely try the stainless steel sharpie pen. It has the grip and built of a $20 all metal pen but it costs $3-4. I've have a space pen and honestly use my sharpie more. If I'm not going to work or the office it's the EDC pen I throw in my bag.

[@aaron6841]

My EDC pen is a pelikan jazz with a Parker quinkflow in black working out nicely so far.

[@unsharpen]

Love the jazz pen

[@aaron6841]

@@unsharpen really? Me to its so well made unbelievable for the price have you done a video on it?

[@jimclip2012]

Is R-301 zebra still sold, I can’t find them.

[@unsharpen]

I don't believe so

[@Mandalore06]

I wish I had known Z Mulsion pens were going to go away. I would have stocked up.

[@kennymason3518]

No offense but I'm quite taken aback you'd say fountain pens don't write well. In fact, the reason everyone buys them is that they're sick of dry ballpoints and rollerballs.

[@conradsmith9332]

Yea me too but in saying that for everyday carry they are bad. You gotta refill them all the time and they leak sometimes. Love them better than ballpoints tho.

[@nasshu6259]

If you want a lifetime pen, parker jotter, sonnet, and IM are really good, my friend's grandpa have 7 jotter for 47 years since highschool, but the pen have a minimal scratches. but i doesn't affect in condition..

[@mariopellegrino7661]

I don't like writing with the G2 Limited either, but truth is it's probably the best EDC gel pen due to its durability and ubiquitous refill. For an EDC ballpoint, I'm always going to choose the Parker Jotter. The all-steel models might be super durable too. But even the hard plastic versions are durable enough for most use. And you can choose any kind of refill for it.

[@felixbelanger2659]

Zebra SL-F1 is an excellent small EDC pen

[@darylwestpfahl7309]

Bic Click, costs next to nothing and comes in boxes of 50. Writes forever and reliably, obviously not flashy but edc is actually about carrying things EVERY day that you won't cry about losing. "Fancy" edc normally stays in the drawer if we're honest.

[@rlv05001]

i will disagree with you on fountain pens for one reason: Sailor Kiwa-Guro Ink. This ink is the only reason i can use fountain pens as EDC. Doesn't qualify in the cheap category, but heck, you can get a highly functional Wing Sung Pen, load with Kiwa-guro, and that thing can write on mead better than rollerballs and some gel pens. That said, I also use a Parker Jotter with an EAsyflow 9000 and a Pentel Energel. Tornado's too heavy.

[@rlv05001]

No prob, here's a review that basically says the same thing: www.gentlemanstationer.com/blog/2016/10/19/a-quick-guide-to-coping-with-crappy-office-paper Works well on Mead paper even. It is lubricated if you've tried other Sailor inks like Jentle Shigure or Miruai or many others even in their boutique lineups (Kobe, Pen House, Bungubox), so it can offer that unique velvety feel I've nearly only found from Sailor inks. It can be a little dry if used in a dry pen. Doesn't have to be an expensive pen, though, but finding a pen with a consistent/descent flow is important. Worked very well in my Franklin-Christoph Marietta as well as my Wing Sung 3008. You might find similar impressions on Fountainpennetwork.com The only other suggestion I can offer, since I do thank you for your videos since they helped me find Pentel Energel Pens (Love these pens), is the BigIDesign Ti Arto EDC. I tried the original and was very impressed, liked it more than Karas Kustoms and Tactile Turn pens, but it had a tad bit of heft, which is reduced substantially in the EDC version. Sorry for so much writing. Have a good day!

[@carlswanson808]

I got a $15 machined brass pen from Amazon that is pocketable and super tough. It's perfect for Acro refills, but I hacked a 1.0mm Jetstream into it. It's giving my Fisher Bullet a run for its money.

[@unsharpen]

Like the Machine Era but cheaper I guess?

[@snekjuce]

Finding your channel coincided with the start of a new (and most probably obsessive) addiction to pencils/pens. My rOtring 600 .5mm pencil arrived today. I fucking ADORE this. Is it weird that I am reluctant on writing with it because I saw one small white speck that nobody else can notice and I just don't want the grip to lose its umph. The day before that received the delguard .5mm as well. Honestly not too particular about it. The front half of the pencil design (the clear one) is what got me. Your channel is dangerous right now. I have literally over 15tabs open from just watchin like 2 of your vids lmaoooo. Peace

[@snekjuce]

@@unsharpen May need to start it and end it quickly. But maybe after a pen or two. I saw your vid on the rotring pen 600 click. I feel like that one can also be an EDC. May have people sanitize their hands before touching the beauty lmaoo

[@dany_2945]

is this video 360p only? or is it glitched for me?

[@virakboth7467]

Glitch

[@absingh916]

I took a BIC round pen, cut the body and ink cartridge smaller, added a loop to it and hung it on my keychain. All cost me about 10 cents. Checkout this picture of where I got the idea from: @t Also you can leave it without the split ring and just throw it in your pocket. You can take the cap off, put it on the back and the pen is very much writable.

[@NOTHOTlanta]

Metal Parker Jotter. The ones produced in the USA are best.

[@jUSTZIpPos]

Saw someone try to sell a Zmulsion LX for $1,000 on ebay recently.

[@unsharpen]

Don’t buy it.

[@jUSTZIpPos]

@@unsharpen I didn't. but one thing for sure they don't sell it anymore, I can't find one anywhere!

[@ihurricane7]

What's the pen in the thumbnail

[@unsharpen]

Zebra r301

[@ihurricane7]

@@unsharpen thank

[@charliemoorejr.]

I need my EDC to be skip free and ink waterproof.

[@User-kf3tk]

The sharpie stainless steel pen is like $3 and its lasted me for 5 years. It's built like a tank, still looks new other than some of the text towards the end fading.

[@bryanerquiaga564]

How many times have you had to change the refill? I use it as an EDC but would like something a little nice/not a sharpie. lol. I also like moving parts/clicky; though I suspect that the lack thereof is why the SS Pen lasts as long as it does - no moving parts.

[@allenlark]

I am underwhelmed by space pen refills.... why do people love them?

[@MC-ti2vn]

Easy - if you've ever been in a situation where you're writing at an angle, or where a "normal" pen doesn't write on a particular paper surface, or any number of reasons (police/fire/EMS/nurse/maintenance tech, etc etc), and a Fisher has been a "fix," that automatically builds the brand loyalty you're asking about. Simply put, they work where others don't. So even office-bound souls who never get out of their box can at least carry the same model pen they would want to bring if they ever did go on an adventure.

[@nasshu6259]

What is in the thumbnail ?

[@unsharpen]

Zebra R 301

[@AP-bo2pr]

Really, these pens dont cost that anymore,,,,they are more expensive

[@MG-yc6jr]

I use a jotter

[@NewfieOutdoorsman]

I just use bic crystals for edc pens,cheap and disposable plus i don't care if it goes missing

[@Mike-zx6sl]

I have no idea why but this video seems to hate being background played.

[@Mike-zx6sl]

@@unsharpen doubtful it has anything to do with you. When I start it and then hit my home button to listen to the audio, it stops playing and the KZbin app gives an error. It's weird. Happens on my tablet too.

[@cbowman212]

I used this one pen for like months at work that I found and it never failed, even after getting dirty and wet. Some lady came up to me and said "oh that's a 'brand name,' they're really good." I forgot the name and am trying to find the brand. They come in different colors and are click pens. I think they're ballpoints definitely not fountains. They were plastic and had a rubber grip; not expensive, they look like the type you'd buy in multi packs. If I heard the name I'd know - wasn't uni-ball, bic, paper mate, zebra, pentel. Gosh it's killing me if anyone has any guesses it'd be much appreciated.

[@AwesomenessJourney]

Pilot G2?

[@cbowman212]

@@AwesomenessJourney No, thanks for trying, though - I like G2's they're dependable. This pen was the best I've ever used, though.

[@koalajerky732]

Have you figured it out yet?

[@cbowman212]

@@koalajerky732 Nope! It was driving me crazy, but I'm getting over it. One day...

[@koalajerky732]

Chase Bowman it wasn’t jet stream was it?

[@fannystin.y1966]

2:26 Daz wha *She* said

[@brightmoon5899]

What the heck is edc lol??

[@downsouth1678]

Every day carry

[@LuisSanchez-xl7tb]

Laugh out loud

[@MC-ti2vn]

What the heck is Google?

[@suvajitmajumder9559]

Fuck dude fountain pens work best

[@shadowmihaiu]

No fountain pens??? Wrong. I carry a raw aluminum Iraurita xf point (a lot like the Kaweco sport) with Noodler's Heart of Datkness - its solid, cheap (less than $5 delivered), and writes on everything without drying out etc... I dropped ball points entirely and have never used a roller ball.

[@randomstuff625]

you have to be a millionaire just to say 120$ is cheap for a pen.⚰️🙂

[@ohiopolitical]

Get a pen for free at the bank

[@deasttn]

Nah. U work at a bank and we only put out those junky ballpoint pens.

[@joevannyrivera]

Does anyone have a suggestion for an extra fine point EDC pen?

[@markbe5603]

Zebra F701 all metal, super fine point included

[@emeltea33]

@@markbe5603 I put Xeno Lisa Larson 0.38mm needle point ink stick in my 701. Had to cut a sliver off, nib fits nicely in the nose piece! Well worth it, donor pen a tad over a dollar.

[@brightmoon5899]

What the heck is edc lol??

[@brightmoon5899]

Sal ohhh, i see anyways tnx man😅

[@deasttn]

For everyday carrying, I'm grabbing a $2 pen (or less), like the Pilot g2