Posts filed under Gel

Pentel EnerGel Pearl 0.7 mm Gel Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

The Pentel EnerGel is arguably one of the best pens you can find in any random stationery aisle. They're widely available, and they might even be stocked in your office supply closet at work. If not, I suggest sneaking some in there.

The EnerGel ink is a blend of gel and rollerball ink. It's known for writing smoothly and drying quickly. It is sometimes described as a smudge-free ink, though I found all of the colors smear a bit--some more than others. While it does dry more quickly than some gel inks and claims to be good for lefties, I worry that it may smear when a hand is dragged across. It does okay with highlighter, but not great. Even the dry ink smudges a little, and will leave a residue on the highlighter tip. But the text was still clear, and it didn't perform any worse than most pens under the circumstances.

The writing experience was smooth, for the most part. I did have a little stuttering with the black ink, but the other pens wrote beautifully. The .7 mm line is broader than I'm used to, but I enjoyed it, and it showed off the intensity of the ink colors. The ink is very well saturated and bright. The 8-color Pearl set includes black, red orange, lime, sky blue, blue, and violet. I also tried the pink ribbon edition of the black pen. I love that Pentel has this line that benefits breast cancer research. I did have some trouble telling the difference between the pink pen and the black-ink pen in the pink body. They are identical except that the tip size is outlined in black for the black-ink pen.

The pen body is a very good build. And it's responsibly made, being 54% post-consumer recycled plastic. The silicone grip is latex-free and comfortable to hold. This Pearl edition has a pearlescent white body with transparent color accents that indicate the ink color (except in the case of the pink ribbon edition). They have sturdy, flexible clips and a solid click mechanism. The click button does rattle a bit when depressed, which is one of my personal pen pet peeves, but the other features more than make up for that small flaw. The body appears to be identical to the RTX model, apart from the body color. The ink colors are the same and they both take the same refills.

At $22 for an 8-color pack, or $2.80 for open stock, I think these are a little on the pricey side. They're comparable to the Uni-ball Signo pens, but considerably more than the Pilot Juice—which is, in my opinion, a better pen. But there’s a lot to like about these, and they're way more fun than the usual office fare.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on November 9, 2017 by Sarah Read and filed under Pentel, Energel, Gel, Pen Reviews.

Zebra Sarasa Grand Gel Pen Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

The Zebra Sarasa Grand Gel pen is another entry in the premium barrel category for the budget-friendly refills we know and love. It seems like all of the big brands have a metal, classy version of their popular gel or rollerball offerings, and the Grand Gel is a strong competitor.

Like the competition, the Grand Gel features a sleek, minimal body made from brass which is then topped with a thin layer of aluminum to provide a handful of color options. At the $15 - $20 mark, it feels on par with what you would expect: Nothing mind-blowing, but definitely a welcome upgrade from the normal plastic body.

The Sarasa Grand Gel is most closely related to the Sarasa Clip. The clip on the Grand Gel isn't as springy as the regular Clip, but it's still functional and strong. The length and diameter are roughly the same as well, but the Grand Gel has a bit more heft due to the brass interior.

Branding is minimal, with only a "Zebra Sarasa" mention on the body above the grip section and a "Sarasa" stamp along the clip. Apart from that, the body is clean and sleek. There are some small grooves that follow the length of the grip section, but no other grip material is present. Despite the smooth feel, it offers plenty of grip and control when writing. It also helps tremendously that the Sarasa refills are so smooth — this ensures you can grip the pen lightly while writing since there's very little friction from the point.

The click mechanism is strong and reliable. It makes an audible click, but it's about 50% quieter than the regular Sarasa Clip noise.

The refill that came in this model is the 0.7mm version, which is lusciously smooth and dark. I normally prefer something 0.5mm or smaller, but this has been a treat. The width is similar to a medium fountain pen nib, and it's smooth as can be. I've really been enjoying writing with this pen because of the refill, but also because of the feel of the pen body. The ink is dark and precise, and since this pen fits any of the Sarasa refills, you have a lot of color and size options.

In terms of writing experience, the pen is balanced and sure In the hand. The smooth refill makes the writing experience very enjoyable. Even though the grip is fairly smooth, I haven't had any problems with it becoming slippery or uncomfortable. It's a great writer, and it instantly upgrades the Zebra Sarasa refill that many of us already love.

If you want to dress up your favorite gel refill, and that refill happens to be the Sarasa, then this is a great pen for you. It will perform well and look good doing it with your choice of Black, Navy, Gold, or Pink barrels. At under $20, it's a bit pricey compared to a Sarasa Clip (at less than $2), but the additional weight and sleek aesthetic make this a good deal.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on July 5, 2017 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Zebra, Sarasa, Gel, Pen Reviews.

Uni-ball Signo Needle Gel Ink Pen Review

What do you do when the best gel ink pen gets an update? You buy a bunch of them of course! One of my all-time favorites, and my number one ranked gel ink pen for as long as I can remember, the Uni-ball Signo UM-151 0.38 mm is now available with a needle point.

Any time I am asked for a gel pen recommendation, especially in a micro-tip size, this pen is my answer. And it’s not really close. While I repeatedly profess my love for the Pilot Hi-Tec-C, and the Zebra Sarasa Clip is wonderful in its own right, the Signo UM-151 is a step above. If you prefer a needle point over a conical tip, then this is a pen you will want to try out.

Aesthetically, the needle tip model is nearly identical to the standard version. There are a few cosmetic differences, such as the addition of the racing stripe down the barrel, but otherwise, this is the same barrel, same grip, same cap, and same ink. And that’s good in my book. The only thing missing on this model is the DX marking, which I never knew why that existed in the first place or what it meant. It was easier calling it the DX though, as opposed the the UM-151, and now the UM-151ND.

Writing with this pen is a complete joy. The lines are fine and sharp, and the colors are rich and saturated. If you are a tiny writer like me, it’s practically perfect. I’ve never had a Signo UM-151 fail to work when I need it to, like the Pilot Hi-Tec-C. I’ve never had the ink run out quickly, like the Zebra Sarasa Clip. Uni-ball has set themselves apart with this pen.

And it is only marketed and sold in Japan.

Uni-ball clearly knows this pen is a success, so why isn’t it on store shelves around the world? Sure, we can all get them through importers like JetPens (thank goodness!), but I find it odd that this isn’t more widely available, at least in 0.38 mm and 0.5 mm sizes. The Signo 307 is the store shelf pen for Uni-ball, comes in many colors, and is amazing in its own right. I don’t see why the UM-151 isn’t out there more alongside it.

Speaking of colors, I grabbed my favorite five: Blue Black, Lime Green, Violet, Light Blue, and Orange. In the past, I would grab three of them to take notes at work so I could have tasks or similar details color-coordinated. These days, I’m a single color note taker, but like having the color options available. Blue Black is my go to, but I mix in the others frequent enough to get used. And there are 10 more colors to choose from, with possibly more to come.

Bottom line: This is the best gel ink pen on the market. It’s always an enjoyable experience whenever I pick one up, and I always make sure to have one - or more - within arms reach.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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