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Best Pens for 2025

jetpens.com

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Re: Best Pens for 2025

#91

Post by __rito__ »

detritus wrote: post #85
lqet wrote: post #16

I 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 bought my daughter a set of multi-colour Bic Cristal pens and, aside from a weird plug that had to be removed from each tip (intentional? dried-up ink from the manufacturing process?) the textural quality of the ink is wonderful. I don't know what it is or how it's different from normal Bics but they are a pure joy to write with. So I bought myself a set and now write in pink at work... .

Yes, the "plugs" on top of every tip of pens are very much intentional.

They are found on every new ball pens and refills in India. I don't know the exact purpose of their existence, but I guess it has to do with leakage of ink.

I never thought I would see this question here! I now write with FPs exclusively, but removing those beads from newly bought pens were special experience to us as little kids! We fondly associated them with the joy of new pens. We used to call them "pearls".

Re: Best Pens for 2025

#92

Post by throwpoaster »

ykonstant wrote: post #31
throwpoaster wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Bic Cristal is my all-time favourite pen, to the point where I don’t really understand why other pens exist. I was recently thinking of getting a Mont Blanc for fancy business writing (contract signing), but went with the Cristal. Not kidding. The one flaw: no upside-down writing.

You mean a Mont Blanc ballpoint pen? Because I wouldn't use fountain pens with their water-based inks for signing contracts (even inks that claim to be waterproof).

I was going to go fountain, yes. Excellent “tip”, thanks!

Re: Best Pens for 2025

#93

Post by ein0p »

pryelluw wrote: post #19

Every time this website gets posted I order like $30 worth of office supplies. Dunno why but it’s so tempting.

$30 is like five pens on that site, and that's if you get cheap ones. I don't even use pens often, and I still buy them from there.

Re: Best Pens for 2025

#94

Post by rodface »

I dislike dealing with caps and enjoy a finer, wetter line. Pilot Precise V5 RT has been my go-to for a while, but I'm a pen hoarder and will try anything.

Re: Best Pens for 2025

#96

Post by wrp »

ranger207 wrote: post #48
bluelightning2k wrote: post #43

How does a generic "best pens" listicle which recommends the company's own pen make it near the top of HN without manipulation ?

I don't think Jetpens makes any pens themselves, although they are a retailer and sell all of these pens so it's definitely advertising. However, Jetpens in generally reputable and their recommendations are generally good. HN typically likes posts about tools, so it's not too surprising a good tool recommendation post is popular here

The name of the Mitsubishi Uni-ball Jetstream is just a coincidence.

Re: Best Pens for 2025

#97

Post by s0rce »

onemoresoop wrote: post #86
dqv wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, like the GP says, it's a luxury pen. They didn't buy it for purely utilitarian reasons. They might like that it has an all-metal construction or that it weighs 88g. They might prefer the ink formulation used for the cartridges. They might like how the pen works in their preferred notebook. For many people, tactility (and other sensations too) is just as, if not, more important than, utility.

Only if this pen were a daily driver and not just kept in a case because, well, it’s expensive and we collect stuff..

Its a totally usable pen everyday if you want. I don't think most people spending $40 on a pen put it in a display case, its not a $4000 pen.

Re: Best Pens for 2025

#98

Post by kjkjadksj »

navbaker wrote: post #38
kjkjadksj wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The time to dry factor is why I purposely seek out the 0.38 pilot g2. I’m not sure how anyone can stand the default 0.7. It just gets all over your hand and smears the pages.

I hate how “scratchy” anything smaller than the 0.7 feels. Not sure how else to describe it

I found that to be paper specific. Those cheapo hotel free stationary, yeah its stratch city. But even sightly nicer copy paper is a marked improvement and lacks that.

Re: Best Pens for 2025

#99

Post by bayindirh »

ykonstant wrote: post #31
throwpoaster wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Bic Cristal is my all-time favourite pen, to the point where I don’t really understand why other pens exist. I was recently thinking of getting a Mont Blanc for fancy business writing (contract signing), but went with the Cristal. Not kidding. The one flaw: no upside-down writing.

You mean a Mont Blanc ballpoint pen? Because I wouldn't use fountain pens with their water-based inks for signing contracts (even inks that claim to be waterproof).

Water based inks come in tons of flavors. You can have washables (most of your royal blues), "permanents" (most blue blacks and special formulations) which leave a faint mark you can't remove (GvFC inks sans Royal Blue, Pelikan 4001 Blue Black, etc.), pigments which cling to your paper like their life depend on it or you can go full send and get "cellulose reactive" inks which will not leave your paper unless you destruct the said paper.

Many "permanent" inks on permanent rollerballs and gels (e.g. Uni SuperInk) is also water based, yet they don't and won't leave your paper, because they're made of UV resistant pigments.

Re: Best Pens for 2025

#100

Post by bayindirh »

sushid wrote: post #23
lqet wrote: post #16

I 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 feel the same way but with cheaper Japanese ball pens, my favorite being. I do have to disagree that a Bic Cristal feels "smooth" though. I think it doesn't glide as well as your average Japanese offerings although it does dry exceptionally well. Personally I'm partial to the Zebra Sarasa Clip [0]. [0] https://www.zebrapen.com/pages/discover-sarasa-clip

As far as I have experimented, nothing can replace a good fountain pen for me. Being able to use one for decades and use a bottle of ink for 4-5 years is also a great plus for sustainability in my book.

If I can't use a fountain pen, I fallback to a Uniball Elite or Uniball Signo 0.7/0.38.

On the ballpoint department, you can't get my CdA 149 from my dead, cold hands.

If you really want to use a smooth Bic, try Cristal Soft. If you want something flies, try Uniball JetStream.

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