Posts filed under Pen Reviews

Uni Jetstream Edge 0.38 mm Ballpoint 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. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

Sometimes I pick a pen based on looks (I'll admit it) and "odd" is definitely a look. The Uni Jetstream Edge looks odd. But I love Uni refills and I like Mint Green, so I had to try it. And it's a decent pen, though I think there are better houses for the exceptional Jetstream refill.

Uni Jetstream Edge 0.38 mm Ballpoint Pen

The metallic sheen on this pen deceives the eye, as the body is all plastic--only the grip section (and clip) are metal. The plastic is smooth and well made, but very light, so almost the entire weight of the pen is in the grip. This is apparently to give the pen a low center of gravity, which is intended for better control. I don't know all the science of the ergonomics behind that, but the imbalance it creates is something that takes a little getting used to. The pen also tapers so that the grip is the widest point, with a snorkel-like tube to protect the super-fine refill tip.

The body has a hexagonal shape, while the grip is round with some light etching along the length. I do find the grip a bit slick. I think the etching could have gone around the grip instead of along it, for better traction.

The clip has a wave pattern to it, and it looked like it might have a hinge, but it's a friction clip. It's fairly stiff, though the lip on it makes it easy to slide onto papers.

The top of the pen has a black plastic click mechanism to deploy the tip. It's a satisfying click, and the parts are all up in the top of the pen, so there are no flying springs or loose pieces when you change refills.

And the refill is where this pen shines. Because inside this slightly alien looking pen body is one of the best refills I've ever used, the Uni Jetstream .38 ballpoint.

This is the smoothest ballpoint ink I've ever used. It has the glide of a gel ink, but it is water-resistant, fade-resistant, and forgery-resistant, so it's perfect for taking your most important notes. Despite the absolute itty bittiness of the tip, there is no scratchiness or dragging feeling to this refill at all. It looks like you're writing with a sewing needle, but it writes like hot butter. I would use this refill every day.

But, I confess, I am not reaching for this pen every day--and when I am, it's because I need the refill, not because I want to write with the pen itself. It's not a bad pen at all, it's just odd, and that imbalance throws me off a bit. Beyond that, the $15 price feels a bit high, especially when you can get a 3-color Jetstream pen for $7.

I don't mind an odd pen (to be fair, I'm odd, myself), and I'd say that if you like the look of this pen, you're bound to be very happy with it. While I prefer other Uni pen models, my critiques of this pen are all very subjective, and you may find this one to be your personal favorite.

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

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Posted on February 23, 2023 by Sarah Read and filed under Uni, Jetstream, Pen Reviews.

Pelikan Jazz Velvet Ballpoint Pen Review

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

You ever pick up a pen that you think is new to you, only to discover you've used it in the past? That's me when I recently picked up a Pelikan Jazz Velvet ballpoint pen to try out. Turns out, I had picked up a Pelikan Giant 337 to try out back in 2020 and really had no memory of it at all. Even better, Brad reviewed this exact pen back in 2021, only in a different body color. Time goes by so quickly, and it's easy to miss or forget things! But I'm really glad the Pelikan Jazz Velvet and its Giant refill made it back into my life.

The Jazz Velvet is a ballpoint pen that uses the ubiquitous Parker-style refill shape. The refill doesn't use a hybrid ink formula, either. Just a huge amount of traditional blue ballpoint ink.

Given the price (around $14), I really wasn't expecting much from this pen. I assumed it would provide a mediocre writing experience and come with an ink that isn't bold or saturated. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to complain about either for the price. My assumptions were dead wrong.

This pen doesn't look like an expensive pen on the outside, and I wouldn't expect it to given the price. But what I didn't expect at all was that it feels so great in the hand. The balance is perfect thanks to the heavy top end and tapered body. For my writing grip, it's perfect and feels fantastic. The matte blue coating over the barrel has just enough texture and oil-resistance to provide superb grip. Every time I pick this pen up and start writing, I'm surprised by how much I like it.

This pen uses a twist mechanism to extend and retract the writing tip. This motion was really stiff and imprecise when I first got the pen, but after a couple dozen cycles with regular use, it feels a lot smoother and predictable. It's easy enough to operate with one hand, but I normally use two hands because that's a little quicker.

The all metal top portion of the pen also holds the signature Pelikan clip, which does its job beautifully. It keeps the pen attached to stuff and also prevents it from rolling away.

Writing with the Giant refill in this pen is another factor that makes the pen so surprisingly good to use. It's a really smooth refill that has bold, crisp ink. It starts easily, doesn't skip, and produces clean lines when writing. I love it, and I'm starting to prefer it over my trusty Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 refills for this refill shape.

At $14, I think the Pelikan Jazz Velvet is a sleeper and a fantastic deal. Since the refill costs almost $12, it's even more shocking that the pen feels so great in the hand. Seriously, just add one to your next order and have some fun using it and comparing it to your other favorite Parker-style refills.

(Goldspot provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on February 15, 2023 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Pelikan, Ballpoint, Pen Reviews.

Pilot FriXion Ball Knock Zone Erasable Gel Ink Pen Review

Are erasable pens a gimmick? Right up to the launch of the Pilot FriXion, I would have said yes. Pilot had other ideas, and changed the entire erasable pen market single handedly. That’s how far ahead the FriXion is over the competition. Most other manufacturers don’t even try to challenge them.

That gives the FriXion free reign, and to Pilot’s credit, they haven’t stopped improving since launching in 2006.

Those first FriXion’s showed technical promise (friction erasing thermo sensitive ink worked!) but the ink color on the page left a lot to be desired. The colors were muted, almost faint, especially compared to more saturated traditional gel links, as found in Pilot’s own G2 lineup. You had to want to use erasable ink to choose the FriXion over almost anything else.

Over the years, Pilot kept working on the ink, and iterating on the barrel design, eventually ending up with a pen in the Ball Knock that could compete with standard gel pens first, and, oh by the way, had erasable ink. This solid base design allowed them to expand the lineup with new ink colors, barrel designs, and even tip sizes down to 0.38 mm.

Given its popularity in Japan, the FriXion has become a bit of a playground for Pilot. The Ball Knock Zone is their latest effort, and brings several changes into the mix.

Starting with the ink, Pilot states that with this release, the black gel ink is 30% more vibrant than the ink found in the original model. I believe that, too, as the original black ink was more of a grey. This new formula is still not near the G2 in color saturation, but it is clearly better than the old one. Enough so that I would feel fine using this black ink every day.

Secondly, Pilot made some barrel changes with the Ball Knock Zone to quiet down the retractable parts of the barrel. There is a spring in the clip knock for quieter deployment, and a “clutch” inside the barrel tip to hold the refill in place and prevent tip rattle when writing. I put “clutch” in quotes, because it really isn’t one. To me, a clutch is a mechanical part that actively widens and narrows as you deploy and retract the tip of a pen or pencil. This is not that. This is a fixed plastic ring that holds the refill in place, and yes, it does what the marketing says by quieting tip rattle, but it’s not a clutch.

Pilot FriXion Ball Knock Zone

Semantics aside, the third thing Pilot has done is go premium with the lineup. The basic Ball Knock Zone runs $7, compared to $3.50 for the standard model. You can also upgrade to one of three Wood Grip models for $28, and there are three more Marble Acrylic grip models priced at $41.

What is happening here? Popularity. That is what is happening. Even Hobonichi mentioned they had to consider the FriXion when choosing their new paper for their 2024 planner lineup. Pilot has a huge hit on their hands, and it shows.

The biggest question is if you will like the FriXion in your own hands. It depends, of course. If you need erasability, or want a pencil alternative, then I highly recommend it. The friction eraser works well, removing most ink from the page when needed. It’s impressive, and there isn’t a better option. (Pro tip: You don’t need special paper or notebooks for the eraser to work.)

Do you like gel ink pens in fun colors, great barrel designs, and various tip options? I would consider the FriXion, but the ink color will lag behind any standard gel from any major manufacturer, such as Uni-ball, Pentel, Zebra, and yes, Pilot.

I like the FriXion as an option to have around the desk for when the need arises. I also think the standard Ball Knock barrel is one of the best barrels on the market in any category. It’s the barrel that I wish Pilot would use as an upgrade to the G2 barrel. The Ball Knock is over $3 per pen cheaper than the Ball Knock Zone, too, and I’m not sure the upgrades to the new model are worth the price difference.

If you are a FriXion fan already, the premium price might be worth it to try out. And, you should also be pleased with the direction that Pilot is going with the product lineup. I’m just not sure that anyone else needs to try the new Ball Knock Zone given the price.

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

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