This list is a peculiar one, and one very near and dear to my heart. Why do I love plastic tip pens (or drawing pens, or felt tip markers, or fineliners - whichever term you like) so much? They make my handwriting look amazing.
That’s one of the two reasons to buy one of these pens. The other is, of course, art. Depending on the model, they can provide features artists need, such as a wide range of point sizes, plenty of color choices, and archival ink properties.
Plastic tip pens aren’t for everybody. Students could use them for marking notes, but they break down too fast for page after page of notes. Same with repeated outdoor work - the tips are easily damaged.
But, if you know how this type of pen can benefit you, it can be the superstar of your arsenal.
Top 5 Plastic Tip Pens
- Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Mangaka - There will come a point when the lack of color choices will catch up to it, but not here, and not now. (Buy)
- Sakura Pigma Micron - Seen anywhere and everywhere fineliners are sold. And for good reason. Far more colors and tip sizes than the Kuretake, but not quite on par with performance. (Buy)
- Staedtler Pigment Liner - Number three on my list, but number one with the artists I follow on Instagram. Especially artists who focus on tiny, detailed drawing. (Buy)
- Copic Multiliner SP - If it weren’t so damn good I would have taken it off the list during the last price increase. You can buy 4 to 5 of the other pens on this list for every one SP. The standard Multiliner isn’t a good pivot either. (Buy)
- Paper Mate Flair - I could have gone many different directions in this last spot, but the Flair is a great pen and adds a more utilitarian option to the list. The Ultra Fine Model is great too. (Buy)
(Notes: This is a big category, as seen by solid pens like the Uni Pen, Sharpie Pen, Stabilo 88, and more being left off. )
