Zebra 301A Ballpoint Review

It has been nearly a year since I wrote the review for the Zebra 301A above - things sometimes have a way of getting overlooked in my Flickr stream. Re-reading what I wrote last January though, my first thoughts still hold true today.

When I see someone using the traditional Zebra F-301 Ballpoint I know they at least care a little about the pen they are writing with. It is a good pen, even a little bit above average, and many people swear by it. I won't go that far but I do understand its appeal. With the 301A, Zebra has gone after those same customers by applying a fresh coat of paint to an already good pen, but did nothing to take it further than that.

The 301A comes in four barrel colors - blue, gray, maroon, and gold - with the same grip and knock as the F-301. The font on the barrel has been "upgraded" too, but I liken it more to a logo you would find at the $2.99 t-shirt shop down at the boardwalk. It is not as classy as the old logo, and combined with some of the new colors it is downright disappointing.

Unlike the original, I have never seen one of these in use by anyone other than myself. I missed the mark in not reviewing this pen when it first came out, but Zebra missed the mark by not making a real upgrade to one of the anchors of their product line. Bring me an F-301 with an emulsion ink refill and then we can talk.

Zebra Airfit LT Ballpoint Review

I reviewed the first incarnation of the Zebra Airfit many years ago and it is one of those pens that has stood the test of time. Granted, I don’t use it as often as some of my other more recent purchases but has a sturdy design and is great writer. It even takes Zebra Sarasa Clip refills as an added bonus.

The Zebra Airfit LT Ballpoint is the latest addition to the Airfit line. It is designed with the female writer in mind, but the way it is built it would suit anyone. The barrel diameter is noticeably smaller when compared to the original, but that just makes it normal-sized while the original is over-sized. I found it very comfortable to hold and write with.

Ballpoint ink cartridges tend to be all over the board performance-wise and this one has to be near the top of the list. I never expect ballpoint pens to perform well but the Airfit cartridge sports a tight, clean line that I compare to the Pilot Dr. Grip. I enjoy writing with it very much.

The Airfit grip features a cushion of air between the grip and the barrel for added comfort. I like it because it is not too soft (like the Uni-ball Alpha Gel can be) nor too firm like the Dr. Grip. It is just right.

If you are looking for a good quality, comfortable ballpoint pen then the Airfit might be just right for you too.

Zebra Tapli Clip Ballpoint Pen 1.6 mm Blue Review

I love my micro tip pens but I do get asked from time to time to review pens on the opposite end of the spectrum. With a 1.6 mm tip size, the Zebra Tapli Clip Ballpoint is waaay out there compared to what I normally use.

How does a pen like the Tapli stack up to some of my favorites? Not very well. It is not just that it has a wide tip that I don’t care for it - if a pen is a good pen I will say so - it is that the performance is poor regardless of the tip size.

The ink is very messy when writing with the Tapli. You can see several blobs of ink on the page even in the smaller size photos. It is consistently bad, and the 1.6 mm tip actually made it worse because there was so much ink coming out of the tip. There was even some bleed through to the back of the page which I have only seen one other time with a ballpoint.

Once you cross the 1.0 mm threshold you really need to temper your expectations. There is only so much good that a tip size that large can do. Yes, it will be very smooth and probably dark, but the ink flow might also be unmanageable.

Do you have a ballpoint, gel, or rollerball pen 1.2 mm or greater that consistently works well for you?