Note: there will always be confusion about the difference between ballpoint pens and rollerball pens. In general, if your pen takes a gel ink, it is a rollerball. The Pilot G2 is a popular rollerball pen. Feel free to discuss rollerballs here, too, but try to be clear about whether the pen you are discussing is a rollerball or a ballpoint. A quick Google search should help you figure it out.
I recently found myself employed as a chemist in the the pharmaceutical industry. We’re pretty small potatoes in the pharma world so, instead of withholding the cure for cancer from the world, we’re only withholding the sure for mild lactose intolerance. You have to admit, that is far less evil.
I showed up for orientation with what I consider a reasonable number of pens. I brought, no joking, 10 different pens and pencils (I travel everywhere with more like 20 different pens), and choosing what to bring almost killed me. One of the first things I learned in our intro to GMP (“Good Manufacturing Processes” - a set of guidelines mandated by regulatory bodies like the FDA), was that all documentation had to be done in blue or black BALLPOINT (red ballpoint is allowed for corrections to documentation, but that’s it). Even gel pens and rollerballs are banned, as they tend to smudge a bit. I almost walked out then and there (my love of fountain pens is well known), but I like making money and also my wife would have murdered me. If you have followed my previous threads, you’ll know how much I despise ballpoint pens. The ballpoint pen is to the fountain pen what “Dr. Pop” is to “Dublin Dr. Pepper.” There’s really no comparison.
Unfortunately, all new hires are asked to list a fun fact for the company newsletter about new employees. I wrote down that I was a calligrapher. My writing with a ballpoint is shit, however, which lead to a great deal of embarrassment in front of people who thought I was supposed to be some kind of handwriting expert.
My life is a real trial, let me tell you.
To top things off, our supply closet is filled with awful Papermate cheapo ballpoints, guaranteed to skip. And if your pen skips, you need to cross out your entry and make a note with the correct information. The FDA is hardcore about drugs you inject into the human body, so your paperwork has to be perfect. This should inspire confidence the next time you need to take a medication (the regulation is INSANE), but it bums me out to no end.
Federal Department of A Not Fun Time
Petition to rename it Fountain pens are Definitely
Awesome.
Like any normal, rational, human being, I spent several evenings - literally a week’s worth, and I admit I am still browsing the web on an almost daily basis - looking for a ballpoint pen that would not fill me with hatred and shame. You would do the same thing, obviously.
Before I hit you with some hot ballpoint reviews, let’s briefly discuss the history of the most popular, widely used, “pens” in the world. And I use the word “pens” in the loosest possible sense.
The first ballpoint pen was invented by American leather tanner (or possibly banker - the records are not clear, and those are basically the same thing anyway. Strips of tanned leather are still used as currency in Rhode Island!), John J. Loud, for which he was issued a patent in 1888. It was a total piece of shit. That makes some amount of sense, as the crossover between leather goods and pens is not immediately obvious.
The modern ballpoint pen was patented in 1938 by the Hungarian-born Bíró brothers. The key was pairing the ball mechanism with a viscous ink - you’ll note that ballpoint ink dries fast and does not smear after about 2 seconds. Its waterproof, too. Johnny J. Loud had been using a water-based fountain pen ink, which leaked like crazy all over people's leather goods..
In much of the world, a ballpoint pen is still known as a “Biro,” which I have heard pronounced “beer-o” and “by-ro,” depending on the nationality of the speaker. On the other hand, in the US, we honor our heritage by referring to ballpoint pens as "JJ LOUDs."
Okay, I made up that last part (and reused the joke from my last thread, because I love it), but please start calling them that. I want this to catch on, I’ll accept “JLOUD,” if you’re being kind of casual around the office. “Hey, toss me a JLOUD, bro.” It’s catchy!
Bic, specialists in cheap,shitty products, purchased the Biro patent in the 40s and started cranking out ballpoint pens. Patent law was not a huge priority immediately after the war, so all sorts of companies started cranking our their own ballpoints. Even with market saturation, they were still initially sold as premium products, if you can believe it (a typical pen cost around $100). Gimbel’s department store had the first truly successful US ballpoint pen, the Reynold’s Rocket. The ad for this pen is uncomfortably suggestive.
A shift in the 1960s to cheaper and cheaper materials, as well as the development of the Bic Cristal in 1950 - still the world’s best-selling pen and a classic piece of industrial design - developed a new market for JJLOUDS/Biros, as cheap, disposable pens for the home, office, and bank teller window. Successful advertising campaigns apparently also helped, but I’m not sure how they could top the Reynold’s Rocket, which I find scandalous even today.
The success of the cheap ballpoint pen would eventually lead to the downfall of Western civilization, but business is business.
Today, you can spend pennies on a ballpoint pen or spend a fortune and get some piece of shit writing implement that nonetheless says “FERRARI” on the side.
(This pen is only about $30, but that makes no sense to me, what with the Ferrari branding...)
Yuck. The real secret here is that there are amazing pens in the $5-30 range and you can almost always modify pens and cartridges from different brands to work together. If you are stuck using ballpoint pens, the investment of just a few bucks will make your life a whole lot better. Don’t be surprised if Sharon from accounting finds reasons to linger at your desk and/or sleep with you in the mail room! With supply room intimacy, remember to keep things JJQUIET.
Switching gears, one trick my lawyer brother taught me is to always write in blue ink. This makes photocopies easy to spot. Nowadays, it’s easy enough to scan and print in color, but it’s still a decent practice.
Here are a few of my favorite ballpoint pens:
The Bic Cristal
I have had two explode (but with the ink contained in the barrel), but I have a feeling the guy I share a desk with is just trying to subtly signal his displeasure at all of the pictures of LilBub I have put up in our cube.
Schneider Sharky
Pilot Ballpoint Pen S20 (Deep Red)
If you have to have a ballpoint, the Pilot S20 is the one to get. Be careful using this around coworkers, or things are bound to get JJSEXY. [Edit: well, the next one is equally exquisite! I can't decide which I love more.)
There’s a mechanical pencil version, too.
Pilot Justmeet
I found the same pen on the Japanese Rakuten site. They offer free laser etching, which seems cool. The price is good, but shipping sucks. Also, at some point, you’ll need Google translate because you’ll have boxes to fill in with Japanese titles. Again, I’ll let you know how this goes [see later post!]. I have very high hopes. Were I not a married man, I'd go ahead and schedule a 4 hour meeting with Sharon from accounting for our sexiest conference room.
With the pencil, you want the "Justmeet SLIM" (search for Just meet - two words, too); for the pen, it's the "Justmeet SMART. There is a clunky multipen that looks and feels nowhere near as good (but you do get 3 ink colors plus mechanical pencil, if you can get past the ruined looks). There is also a "Dr. Grip" version that looks odd. The slim/smart version is where it's at. If you have trouble remembering, just think of adjectives that describe me! Skip past "short," annoying," and "weird," and you'll eventually get to "smart," and "slim." "If only we could JUSTMEET! I'd let Bagels PILOT me anywhere. He's so SLIM and SMART!" That's a handy way to remember a great pen!
Pilot Cocoon
Rakuten has more, but the shipping cost and speed suck. On the other hand, I *think* I filled everything out correctly to get free laser engraving. I’ll let you know how it looks/works when it arrives. I almost always go with orange, but the blue really caught my eye here.
Parker Jotter
Cross Townsend
A ballpoint version is about $70. My friend at work has one and it is quite nice. $70 nice? I’m not so sure.
Other Cross Ballpoints
Uni Jetstream
Fisher Space Pen
Tombow Airpress
Sailor G-Free
Pentel Vicuna
Papermate Inkjoy
If you have any suggestions, please let me know! I’ve left off any really high-end pens. I’d rather spend that money on fountain pens, but let me know if there is anything amazing out there that is worth the investment! I did kickstart two metal-bodied pens and I’m anxious to see how they feel. With the money spent and the high levels of pen thievery at work, I’m mainly looking at cheaper options to keep on my desk.
Your comments, questions and suggestions are always appreciated! I'll add more pens as my collection grows!
I just know a bunch of people are going to post rollerball pens because they did not glance at the OP and I will lose my shit. Please note if you are posting a favorite rollerball pen! I won't name names, Gattsu25.
(Honestly it can be hard to know what is a ballpoint and what is a rollerball, although the packaging usually says which is which. I'll try to let you know if you have misidentified the type of pen you posted!)
Happy ballpointing!
Places to look for pens:
Amazon
Jetpens (great for unusual, cheap pens)
Gouletpens (best for high-end pens)
iPenstore
Rakuten (descriptions often in something that only approximates English)
Penchalet (frequent sales)
*added* Tokyopenshop (great selection, good prices)
I recently found myself employed as a chemist in the the pharmaceutical industry. We’re pretty small potatoes in the pharma world so, instead of withholding the cure for cancer from the world, we’re only withholding the sure for mild lactose intolerance. You have to admit, that is far less evil.
Basically what I do. Move colored liquids around and stare at them, pensively.
I showed up for orientation with what I consider a reasonable number of pens. I brought, no joking, 10 different pens and pencils (I travel everywhere with more like 20 different pens), and choosing what to bring almost killed me. One of the first things I learned in our intro to GMP (“Good Manufacturing Processes” - a set of guidelines mandated by regulatory bodies like the FDA), was that all documentation had to be done in blue or black BALLPOINT (red ballpoint is allowed for corrections to documentation, but that’s it). Even gel pens and rollerballs are banned, as they tend to smudge a bit. I almost walked out then and there (my love of fountain pens is well known), but I like making money and also my wife would have murdered me. If you have followed my previous threads, you’ll know how much I despise ballpoint pens. The ballpoint pen is to the fountain pen what “Dr. Pop” is to “Dublin Dr. Pepper.” There’s really no comparison.
Unfortunately, all new hires are asked to list a fun fact for the company newsletter about new employees. I wrote down that I was a calligrapher. My writing with a ballpoint is shit, however, which lead to a great deal of embarrassment in front of people who thought I was supposed to be some kind of handwriting expert.
My life is a real trial, let me tell you.
To top things off, our supply closet is filled with awful Papermate cheapo ballpoints, guaranteed to skip. And if your pen skips, you need to cross out your entry and make a note with the correct information. The FDA is hardcore about drugs you inject into the human body, so your paperwork has to be perfect. This should inspire confidence the next time you need to take a medication (the regulation is INSANE), but it bums me out to no end.
Federal Department of A Not Fun Time
Petition to rename it Fountain pens are Definitely
Awesome.
Like any normal, rational, human being, I spent several evenings - literally a week’s worth, and I admit I am still browsing the web on an almost daily basis - looking for a ballpoint pen that would not fill me with hatred and shame. You would do the same thing, obviously.
Before I hit you with some hot ballpoint reviews, let’s briefly discuss the history of the most popular, widely used, “pens” in the world. And I use the word “pens” in the loosest possible sense.
The first ballpoint pen was invented by American leather tanner (or possibly banker - the records are not clear, and those are basically the same thing anyway. Strips of tanned leather are still used as currency in Rhode Island!), John J. Loud, for which he was issued a patent in 1888. It was a total piece of shit. That makes some amount of sense, as the crossover between leather goods and pens is not immediately obvious.
The modern ballpoint pen was patented in 1938 by the Hungarian-born Bíró brothers. The key was pairing the ball mechanism with a viscous ink - you’ll note that ballpoint ink dries fast and does not smear after about 2 seconds. Its waterproof, too. Johnny J. Loud had been using a water-based fountain pen ink, which leaked like crazy all over people's leather goods..
In much of the world, a ballpoint pen is still known as a “Biro,” which I have heard pronounced “beer-o” and “by-ro,” depending on the nationality of the speaker. On the other hand, in the US, we honor our heritage by referring to ballpoint pens as "JJ LOUDs."
Okay, I made up that last part (and reused the joke from my last thread, because I love it), but please start calling them that. I want this to catch on, I’ll accept “JLOUD,” if you’re being kind of casual around the office. “Hey, toss me a JLOUD, bro.” It’s catchy!
Bic, specialists in cheap,shitty products, purchased the Biro patent in the 40s and started cranking out ballpoint pens. Patent law was not a huge priority immediately after the war, so all sorts of companies started cranking our their own ballpoints. Even with market saturation, they were still initially sold as premium products, if you can believe it (a typical pen cost around $100). Gimbel’s department store had the first truly successful US ballpoint pen, the Reynold’s Rocket. The ad for this pen is uncomfortably suggestive.
A shift in the 1960s to cheaper and cheaper materials, as well as the development of the Bic Cristal in 1950 - still the world’s best-selling pen and a classic piece of industrial design - developed a new market for JJLOUDS/Biros, as cheap, disposable pens for the home, office, and bank teller window. Successful advertising campaigns apparently also helped, but I’m not sure how they could top the Reynold’s Rocket, which I find scandalous even today.
The success of the cheap ballpoint pen would eventually lead to the downfall of Western civilization, but business is business.
Today, you can spend pennies on a ballpoint pen or spend a fortune and get some piece of shit writing implement that nonetheless says “FERRARI” on the side.
(This pen is only about $30, but that makes no sense to me, what with the Ferrari branding...)
Yuck. The real secret here is that there are amazing pens in the $5-30 range and you can almost always modify pens and cartridges from different brands to work together. If you are stuck using ballpoint pens, the investment of just a few bucks will make your life a whole lot better. Don’t be surprised if Sharon from accounting finds reasons to linger at your desk and/or sleep with you in the mail room! With supply room intimacy, remember to keep things JJQUIET.
Switching gears, one trick my lawyer brother taught me is to always write in blue ink. This makes photocopies easy to spot. Nowadays, it’s easy enough to scan and print in color, but it’s still a decent practice.
Here are a few of my favorite ballpoint pens:
The Bic Cristal
If you don’t want to spend a bunch of money, the classic Bic Cristal is my choice for a cheapo pen. They write smoothly, they feel decent in your hand, and you can find them anywhere. Different sizes and colors will run you about $7/box. Watch for knockoffs, as the basic hexagonal clear pen is widely copied.
I have had two explode (but with the ink contained in the barrel), but I have a feeling the guy I share a desk with is just trying to subtly signal his displeasure at all of the pictures of LilBub I have put up in our cube.
Schneider Sharky
I received one of these in a stationery subscription box (an artist friend got me hooked on the iPenBox. They have all been great so far! Recommended!) and it quickly became a favorite. In fact, I'm ordering another as I type this. These German pens comes in funky colors with a slightly chunky body design. A smooth writer. $6.50 at Amazon.
Pilot Ballpoint Pen S20 (Deep Red)
Now we’re really talking. This is a gorgeous pen with a stained birch body. You can get it in brown, but the red is way more striking. This will take a fine or medium refill, so you can get the feel you want from the actual writing tip. The body has a subtle curve to it that looks fantastic. I adore this pen. You can get one for $30 from Jetpens, but it is under $20 from a Japanese reseller on Amazon (I’ve used this seller before, so no worries). The only issue is that it takes about 3 weeks to make it over from Japan and clear customs. Order the larger size ink cartridge from Jetpens before you actually get the pen - it makes it ridiculously smooth!
If you have to have a ballpoint, the Pilot S20 is the one to get. Be careful using this around coworkers, or things are bound to get JJSEXY. [Edit: well, the next one is equally exquisite! I can't decide which I love more.)
There’s a mechanical pencil version, too.
Pilot Justmeet
There is a ballpoint version of my favorite mechanical pencil! These babies are made from 80 year-old ash trees reserved for the production of baseball bats. The pencil version is my all-time favorite, so I cannot wait to try the pen. Again, I ordered from a Japanese resller and this is taking forever to arrive. I’ll let you know how it is if and when it arrives.
I found the same pen on the Japanese Rakuten site. They offer free laser etching, which seems cool. The price is good, but shipping sucks. Also, at some point, you’ll need Google translate because you’ll have boxes to fill in with Japanese titles. Again, I’ll let you know how this goes [see later post!]. I have very high hopes. Were I not a married man, I'd go ahead and schedule a 4 hour meeting with Sharon from accounting for our sexiest conference room.
With the pencil, you want the "Justmeet SLIM" (search for Just meet - two words, too); for the pen, it's the "Justmeet SMART. There is a clunky multipen that looks and feels nowhere near as good (but you do get 3 ink colors plus mechanical pencil, if you can get past the ruined looks). There is also a "Dr. Grip" version that looks odd. The slim/smart version is where it's at. If you have trouble remembering, just think of adjectives that describe me! Skip past "short," annoying," and "weird," and you'll eventually get to "smart," and "slim." "If only we could JUSTMEET! I'd let Bagels PILOT me anywhere. He's so SLIM and SMART!" That's a handy way to remember a great pen!
Pilot Cocoon
The word is that this is the exact same pen as the beloved Pilot Metropolitan, just in ballpoint this time. They have some great colors and, if it feels like a Metro, this should be a winner. Amazon has a few colors.
Rakuten has more, but the shipping cost and speed suck. On the other hand, I *think* I filled everything out correctly to get free laser engraving. I’ll let you know how it looks/works when it arrives. I almost always go with orange, but the blue really caught my eye here.
Parker Jotter
This seems to be a favorite with pen nerds. Look at the reviews as only some versions come with all metal bodies. These are about $6-20 and Parker refills are a standard size in the pen world. I haven’t tried one yet. Long-time Parker fans say the Jotter used to be much better, so ask your aged relatives if they have any! Mention my name and it will all be cool.
Cross Townsend
On the more premium end, we have the Cross Townsend. This is traditionally the pen presidents use to sign bills into laws. Both GWB and Barack Obama have opted for the rollerball version, which I think sucks. Use the fountain pen! Come on!
A ballpoint version is about $70. My friend at work has one and it is quite nice. $70 nice? I’m not so sure.
Other Cross Ballpoints
Cross makes a lot of pens. The ones I have seen have struck me as unusually skinny. That might be a plus if you want a thin pen. I like the way they write. The price range is all over the place, so you can spend $5 or $500. Choices!
Uni Jetstream
These have a cult following, but mainly for the rollerball version. I’m pleased with the ballpoint I picked up. They cost up to $16, but some are way cheaper. They come in 0.38, 0.5, and 0.7. Pen sizing is nuts. A 0.7 can be called broad by one company and fine by another. I'd grab the cheapest Jetstream you can find in each size to see what works for you.
Fisher Space Pen
This is the pen that Fisher independently developed for NASA to use in space. It has a pressurized ink cartridge so it writes upside-down. I own a few variants of the Fisher Space Pen and they are all great. ~$20. I love the classic pocket pen (which becomes full-sized when posted), but there are many cool pens to choose from here. These are definite favorites in the pen world!
Tombow Airpress
Another pen that writes upside-down. I like how it writes, but I found it awkward to hold. $10
Sailor G-Free
This is worth trying out. You can twist a little knob at the top of the pen to adjust the springiness of the ink cartridge. It’s fun to mess around with and, if you like a little travel in your ink cartridge, this may be the pen for you. It’s $5.50 so it’s worth a try. It's certainly unique!
Pentel Vicuna
A well loved pen for $2.50.
Papermate Inkjoy
A dependable, comfy pen. No complaints. $14 for a box of 12.
If you have any suggestions, please let me know! I’ve left off any really high-end pens. I’d rather spend that money on fountain pens, but let me know if there is anything amazing out there that is worth the investment! I did kickstart two metal-bodied pens and I’m anxious to see how they feel. With the money spent and the high levels of pen thievery at work, I’m mainly looking at cheaper options to keep on my desk.
Your comments, questions and suggestions are always appreciated! I'll add more pens as my collection grows!
I just know a bunch of people are going to post rollerball pens because they did not glance at the OP and I will lose my shit. Please note if you are posting a favorite rollerball pen! I won't name names, Gattsu25.
(Honestly it can be hard to know what is a ballpoint and what is a rollerball, although the packaging usually says which is which. I'll try to let you know if you have misidentified the type of pen you posted!)
Happy ballpointing!
Places to look for pens:
Amazon
Jetpens (great for unusual, cheap pens)
Gouletpens (best for high-end pens)
iPenstore
Rakuten (descriptions often in something that only approximates English)
Penchalet (frequent sales)
*added* Tokyopenshop (great selection, good prices)
