Now Testing: Pens

Even in our digital age, everyone needs a pen on occasion. Michael Hession YOUR GUIDE Melanie Pinola Even in our digital age, everyone needs a pen on occasion. You still have to sign the random check or fill out a form, send a birthday card or address an envelope—and maybe even write a love letter. We’d argue that for these everyday tasks, not just any pen will suffice. Situated somewhere between the cheap sticks you may have accidentally stolen from the bank and the jaw-dropping, $200-plus luxury pens are $2–$3 options that are worthy of your signature. In our latest round of testing, we looked for pens that are satisfying to use (with smooth, dark ink and comfortable barrels) but that won’t cause regret if you loan one to a friend or co-worker and they never return it. We sought out pens that—though they might not turn heads the way fancier pens do—are an inexpensive upgrade for everyday joy. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Learn More ›]( What we tested We tested more than two-dozen pens. They included: - [Uni-ball Jetstream RT]( // $2.33 per pen - [Uni-ball Jetstream Slim Multi-Color]( // $7.00 per pen - [Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity]( // $8.00 per pen - [Pilot Precise V5 RT]( // $1.50 per pen - [Pentel EnerGel RTX]( // $2.60 per pen - [Uni-ball Signo RT1]( // $2.20 per pen The numbers 3 Pens tested while writing upside down 20 Times we copied the lyrics to Les Misérables’s “One Day More” 26 Pens tested overall 100+ Pieces of paper we scribbled on Initial impressions Michael Hession We treated our first round of testing as a sort of battle royale among 26 pens. To test each pen’s ink and how comfortable it was to hold, we copied lines from poems, songs, and other well-loved writing. And since we’re like others who want to look at and use nice things, we also compared the aesthetics of our potential picks. Because we had so many pens to consider, we split testing into different rounds by pen type. I had my mom, a retired doctor who’s had rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years, test the ergonomic pens, for example. And I sent the best contenders for ballpoint pens, rollerball pens, and gel pens to six other discerning Wirecutter staffers and their partners. The [Uni-ball Jetstream RT]( and the [Pilot Precise V5 RT]( both stood out in our testing. They write with crisp, dark lines that don’t smudge. And they have comfortable grips that make writing more pleasant than with other inexpensive, office-type pens. Because of the fine tips on these pens, when I used them I found my handwriting—particularly my signature—neater and more attractive. When using these pens, our testers raved about the ink quality and decent writing experience—and, for a pen you can pick up at a big-box store in bulk, that’s saying a lot. Those of us (me) who didn’t think they’d ever like a ballpoint were surprised by the [Uni-ball Jetstream RT]( and its dark, smooth, flowing ink. The [Uni-ball Signo RT1]( is a great fine-tip option with gel ink, featuring a teeny-tiny 0.28mm tip size. Also worth considering: the [Pentel EnerGel RTX]( pen, which has a variety of ink color and pen-tip-size refills. As for the pens that didn’t impress us, well, they shared a few common traits overall. Some pens, such as [Pilot’s The Better Retractable]( are all plastic, and their lack of a rubberized grip made writing for more than a few minutes uncomfortable. Others, like the [Uni-ball Signo 307]( a former pick, produced dark, saturated lines that we liked, but it smudged more than we could tolerate (and it’s not refillable). The [Pilot Dr. Grip Limited]( has a similar ergonomic design to the Dr. Grip Center of Gravity, but the Limited version smudged more, leaving ink on our hands. None of these were pens we would buy again. The early verdict Michael Hession Many of our former pen picks continue to be main picks. The [Uni-ball Jetstream RT]( remains the best overall pen for everyday writing, and the [Pilot Precise V5 RT]( is the best rollerball option. We also added new types of pen picks. The [Uni-ball Jetstream Slim Multi-Pen]( is our favorite multicolor pen—for people who want to switch between blue, black, red, or other colors without having to carry multiple pens. The [Pilot Dr. Grip Center of Gravity]( pen was the best ergonomic pen we tested, for those who want something with a thicker, softer grip that doesn’t cause as much hand strain as slimmer pens without good grips. And we also highlighted a few pens that were pick-worthy but a bit more of an investment (yet still under $20). Generally speaking, most pens are simply okay. They do their job. That being said, we’ve found in previous testing that even the popular [Pilot G2]( doesn’t perform as well as other pens. It skips, feathers, and blobs, and its ink takes a notably long time to dry. In our latest round of testing, the [Zebra F-301]( ballpoint was our least-favorite pen. When you’re using a pen, you shouldn’t have to worry about smudging, line skipping, or an uncomfortable grip. What else we’re testing - Kids headphones - Lunchboxes - Santa hats [View email in browser]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for Wirecutter’s Newsletter. Getting too many emails from us? [Unsubscribe here](. 
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