I'm not a fan of the uni Jetstream pens. Yes, they do a great job of transferring ink to a page, but they do it a bit too well. Personally, I need a bit more resistance between pen and page. Otherwise, my already terrible handwriting just looks even worse because I end up writing faster. Sometimes, friction is good.
Best Pens for 2025
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Re: Best Pens for 2025
#62How does a generic "best pens" listicle which recommends the company's own pen make it near the top of HN without manipulation ?
JetPens does a great job in teaching you about different pens, and recommending them too.
They’re the real deal. Their social media and YouTube people should get raises haha. I have learned a lot from their videos.
Re: Best Pens for 2025
#63The Uni-ball Signo UM-151 (0.38mm) is my go-to, but lately I've also been warming to the Pentel Hybrid Technica (0.4mm). Compared to the Uni-Ball, it's slightly less consistent, but I prefer the color, it being among the blackest blacks I've seen in any gel pen.
Re: Best Pens for 2025
#64I like the Jetstream, but for some reason they dry out or the ball seems to get clogged (with skin oils or paper fibers, maybe?) after some time using them.
Re: Best Pens for 2025
#65I miss pen island.
Re: Best Pens for 2025
#66I have used a standard Lamy fountain pen for 11 years in school, and later several higher-end products (ball pens and fountain pens). But a few years ago I discovered that I really like writing with the Bic Cristal [0]. It's reliable and writing feels very smooth (even better than with some Lamy products I own). I also like that it has exactly the same shape as a classic pencil. Of course it is also very relaxing to…
I also realized I like smooth ball points, used to use the finer Pilot gelpoints in school. The Caran D'ache ballpoint is quite nice for a more luxury product https://www.carandache.com/us/en/ballpoint-pen-ballpoint-pen...
40 for a pen seems excessive for a regular budget even if 40 is not a lot of money anymore
Re: Best Pens for 2025
#67I'm not a fan of the uni Jetstream pens. Yes, they do a great job of transferring ink to a page, but they do it a bit too well. Personally, I need a bit more resistance between pen and page. Otherwise, my already terrible handwriting just looks even worse because I end up writing faster. Sometimes, friction is good.
I want some friction too so it’s good there’s option for everybody
Re: Best Pens for 2025
#68I’m a big fan of the Sharpie S Gel in 0.7mm
Re: Best Pens for 2025
#69Funny! A lengthy review of writing implements, and comments about them, without a single mention of mechanical (clutch) pencils. Like the Pentel P205 (0.5mm leads), and various other sizes of pencil and leads available. Vary the lead diameter and hardness to suit the use. Personally I use 0.5mm, 2B almost always. For technical work, where it's nice to be able to erase mistakes, they're perfect. For daily personal not…
They haven't published one for this year yet but they do a separate article for pencils.
From last year: https://www.jetpens.com/blog/The-27-Best-Pencils-for-2024-Wo...
Re: Best Pens for 2025
#70Pens are all well and good, but what are people's favorite notebooks? I've found that the paper is perhaps just as important as the pen in a satisfactory writing experience.