Pens

[Bradley]

Hey guys, I'm currently a student, and dislike writing in pencil. I'm having a hard time finding a pen I like. The G-2 by Pilot is nice, but the ink tends to smear, or run together. I'm right handed, so it doesn't necessarily need to dry immediately. I'm also not looking for a "tactical" pen, just a pen that writes smooth and consistently. Help? :)

[Sequimite]

Uni-ball is my favorite writing pen.

[Pneumothorax]

For basic everyday writing - the Uniball Signo gel pens are it for me.

[SolidState]

I love the Cross Ion (no longer in production but can be found on the bay)

And I always carry a baliyo. It's really a fun pen and great writing instrument.

[jwingfie]

Zebra F-301. Can't beat it for the price.

[Waco]

I carry a Fisher Bullet Pen. Writes great and it's pocket size.

[defenestrate]

I like Zebras and G2s but am starting to like my new Schrade enough to prefer it.

[The Deacon]

Been a fan of Parker pens and refills for nearly sixty years. They may not have the longest lasting ink supply and may not write upside down, underwater, or across grease stains, but they write smoothly and the regular ballpoint (non-gel) ink dries fast and doesn't smear. The pens themselves last **** near forever if you don't chew on them or snag and bend the clip. I have a couple of T-ball Jotters that date back to when I was in junior high and they still work just fine.

If you like a bit more weight and/or a fatter body, consider one if the many tactical pens, like the S&W M&P, that use Parker refills.

[BAL]

I like the Precise V5 rt that is a click type. It is like the older ones with the cap. Walmart etc. Black, blue, red green etc.

[SQSAR]

I've carried a Zebra F-402 for a good number of years now. However, they seem to be getting harder and harder to find lately.

[pmel018]

I used pencils throughout my 4 year history degree, so am a bit biased in that direction. Best I found were the triangular Faber-Castell Grip 2001 series.
See here for all the goodies http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Faber_ ... _2001.html
Used to sharpen up a pile and sit down to write a 7000 word essay, they are comfy, long lasting and won't roll away.
I ended up with all the other bits too, sharpener, eraser, coloured pencils etc
Better than any pen :D

[dsmegst]

Pilot G-2 for me. Before that, I used uni-ball ONYX. I had a Cross Ion at work but it got lost and I never replaced it. I still have a drawer full of random free pens but the G-2 is the one I buy.

[Donut]

I like Pilot P-700 and P-500 (I can't find them in stores, but you can find them on websites like office depot), not because they dry fast, but because of the clean and smooth line they write with. Uniball Vision Elite and Uniball Deluxe are good series of pens.

The Fisher cartridges are nice and write consistent, but even after 10-15 seconds they can still smear. Long enough for you to write a line then smear parts of it while writing the next one.

[Waco]

The Fisher cartridges are nice and write consistent, but even after 10-15 seconds they can still smear. Long enough for you to write a line then smear parts of it while writing the next one.

What color are you using? I'm left-handed, so I like smear-resistant ink. I contacted their customer service and was told that their black ink isn't supposed to smear, but the blue does tend to smear for left-handed folks. I don't know why blue takes longer to dry. If I'm taking a lot of notes in a meeting, I usually type them up later anyway, so smearing isn't a big deal.

[Evil D]

I used a Parker fountain pen for years...it did smear, but it was a satisfying pen if you like to write. I'm a big G2 fan myself. If you find they smear too much, try the finest point you can find, that way the line is thinner and will dry faster.

[Bradley]

I went with a uni-ball signo 207, pretty much the only ones my local Rite Aid had. I also picked up the sharpie liquid graphite pen(cil) even though I've heard they're garbage. So far the uni-ball is better. The sharpie is just as everyone says, it writes quite light if you aren't pressing down hard.

[Evil D]

I had high hopes for the Sharpie pens but i don't really care for them. They're pretty decent for drawing though.

[Bradley]

Id like to give an update on the pens for you folks. Sharpie liquid graphite pen-still sucks. Uni-Ball- seems to be getting worse, it keeps skipping while writing, and won't write in that area, you have to start the ink somewhere else, then go back to where you were writing. A little irritating since I don't have the best penmanship as is. So there you go guys.

[tpro68]

Sensa makes a nice roller-ball that takes the Parker gel ink. I also have a Michael's FatBoy which takes the parker refill. I find that refill to be the smoothest writing for me. I also have a sweet Namiki blue carbonesque vanishing point fountain pen that requires a Kopa dress knife to keep up a uniform appearance. I enjoy pens almost as much as knives.

[Water Bug]

I am a huge fan of the BIC 4-Color Ballpoint Pen in medium point.

I've been using this pen on and off from elementary school through graduate school, and also use it in my current profession. I've broken quite a few of these pens over the years, but I keep coming back to it as my workhorse writing instrument. The four colors come in real handy when I'm taking notes and want to distinguish different topics and subjects.