Ballpoint Pen reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 178 Reddit reviews across 12 subreddits and 37 posts to rank the best Ballpoint Pen brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/pens, r/fountainpens, r/Journaling, r/Bolehland, r/lefthanded. Top-rated brands include Uni-ball (4.8/5), Pilot (4.5/5), Parker (4.6/5).
Stats
Reviews178
Subreddits12
Posts37
Brands56
Products74
178 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Uni-ball
4.8
(26)
"Uniball Jetstreams and Pilot Acroballs!"
"Uniball Jetstream. I was in your position in 2009 (looking for my perfect ballpoint pen). Found the Jetstream and never looked back since."
"Uni-ball Jetstream or Pilot Acroball are probably the most popular of the modern ‘hybrid ink’ pens."
"I love my Uni Jetsream pens - they have never let me down, nice and smooth."
"I think this pen could be a great option. It's known for smooth writing and fits well within your budget."
"Writes smoother with no blobs or skips."
"Try, - Uniball Jetstream (0.5mm) - Pilot Acroball (0.5mm)"
"Uni jetstream sxr 10."
"I like hybrid inks :)"
"Uni-ball Jetstream is really good."
#2
Pilot
4.5
(22)
"Love a fine point Pilot Acroball"
"Just try the pilot acroball it is a med to fat and it floats across the paper."
"Get a pilot hitecpoint 0.5, drain the ink and then add any ink you want"
"Pilot G2 (1mm) for the lab. We buy from Amazon in bulk for bench use."
"Pilot hi tecpoint v5"
"Try, - Uniball Jetstream (0.5mm) - Pilot Acroball (0.5mm)"
"Pilot G2 1.0 mm is the best pen ever created."
"Pilot acroball, uni jetstream, pentel glidewrite and honorable mention monami pens."
"Pilot Hi-Tec-C. Tons of color choices, writes like a dream."
"For notes def dr grip, for an everyday carry."
#3
Parker
4.6
(15)
"How about a vintage Parker Sonnet Laque Moonbeam ballpoint pen NOS - search Etsy"
"Parker Jotter XL with SXR-600."
"If you want a ball point, get a pen that takes the Parker style ISO G2 refill."
"Parker IM all-metal is my go-to pen."
"My most used EDC are my Parker Jotters and Zebra F-701s."
"For me, a Parker IM, a bit thicker, longer, and heavier than a Jotter, and feels good in the hand."
"The Parker Jotter is an absolute classic ballpoint design."
"Parker Jotter, Lamy Safari, Cross Century Classic."
"I will always recommend the stainless steel parker jotter as that was my fav pen in college."
"Parker Jotter, with the stock quinkflow ballpoint refill (I hate ballpoint ink but I can use this) or a hybrid like the uni srx 600"
#4
Zebra
4.6
(9)
"My most used EDC are my Parker Jotters and Zebra F-701s."
"Zebra Blen is a very comfortable pen to hold and writes extremely smooth."
"Zebra Blen is a very comfortable pen to hold and writes extremely smooth."
"• Zebra - Blen."
"The Zebra Sarasa has a dark blue one too. Love the colour of it."
"• Zebra bLen 0.7mm writes more like 0.4"
"The Zebra F-701 with a Fisher Space Pen refill is a solid EDC."
"Cheap - Stainless Steel - Durable ....you can probably kill someone with it."
"Zebra f701."
#5
Fisher
4.8
(8)
"The oil based inks that fared best were the ballograf and the fisher space pen"
"Looking for a one and done then buy a Fisher."
"Fischer Space Pen"
"The fisher pen writes amazing, I find it better than pens that cost 30x more than it."
"Whatever takes a Parker style refill so you can drop Fisher Space Pen refills in them."
"I'm always a fan of the Space Pen refill, especially in bold point."
"Fisher space pen and Schmidt typically have more colors available."
"Fischer Space Pen."
#6
Pentel
4.5
(8)
"Pentel Calme is my favorite"
"I use Pentel's RSVP black ballpoint in fine tip to sketch with and have not found another pen that gives me such a value range and feather-light shading."
"Pentel Vicuña/Calme ink. I’m an EnerGel fan and hate the Jetstream."
"• Pentel - Calme."
"• Pentel Calme 0.7mm writes more like 0.5"
"The closest refill will be a gel refill, such as Pentel Energel or Pilot G2."
"Can you get a metal Pentel Liberetto/Sterling"
"I'd suggest trying: Pentel energel, pilot juice-up, pilot precise v5 and v7."
#7
Uni
4.9
(7)
"Uni Power Tank"
"Uni Jetstream. In retro blue. Love it."
"Uni Jetstream Premier is my go to."
"Jetstream prime."
"Anything with a Uni Jetstream, Schmidt Easyflow 9000, or Pilot Acroball ink in it."
"The best performing modestly priced category is the Uni Power Tank."
"Uni Power tank! Almost as smooth as jet stream."
#8
Bic
3.9
(7)
"Bic Cristals are as good as any pen on planet Earth."
"Isn’t the classic Bic Cristal a favourite among ballpoint artists?"
"I am using BIC 4 colors and 1.6 colors to sketch."
"Either zebra brush, or stick with Bic."
"I stand by Bic Cristal pens and the Papermake Inkjoys."
"Bic"
"I have a simple cheap Bic I lend out if people need a pen."
#9
rOtring
4.8
(5)
"What about the rotring 600. Looks good."
"ROtring 600."
"The answer to every pen buying question is: Buy a rOtring 600."
"ROtring 600. It's my favorite pen, period."
"I quite like the Rotring 600 with a Monami refill."
#10
Lamy
4.8
(5)
"Lamy Safari."
"Lamy Safari ballpoint pen."
"Lamy 2000 Blackwood"
"I used a Lamy 2k rollerball with the Pilot frixion refill for my engineering degree. It's really nice to be able to erase stuff when you're writing equations and mess up :)"
"Right at your budget limit would be buying a Lamy 2000 rollerball pen, then putting a Uni Jetstream refill in it."
#11
Jetstream
4.8
(4)
"Jetstream"
"Jetstream or acroball 1.0 in a zebra f701 body 😎"
"Jetstream 1.0mm refill (I used it in a 101 body for the first time). Game changing moment for me!"
"Jetstream but they are 0/7"
#12
Retro 51
4.8
(4)
"I support the choice of Retro 51 pens. Love them, and I really like the Schmidt refill they use."
"Retro 51 with the jetstream refill or a parker IM with the same refill."
"I just got a Hex-O-Matic from Retro 51 and can confirm that you can use Montblanc ballpoints refills without any modifications."
"Anything that takes a Schmidt P8126 capless rollerball. Retro 51 and Karas Kustoms EDK are two of my favorite."
#13
Leuchtturm
5.0
(3)
"Another two nice ones are the Leuchtturm Drehgriffel and the Conklin All American."
"Another two nice ones are the Leuchtturm Drehgriffel and the Conklin All American."
"Another two nice ones are the Leuchtturm Drehgriffel and the Conklin All American."
#14
Big Idea Design
5.0
(3)
"Big idea design side click, its great weight firm clicks comes is black."
"Something by Big Idea Design."
"Big Idea Design Baseline Bolt Action. 65 dollars. Various materials and finishes."
#15
Caran d'Ache
4.7
(3)
"Caran d'ache 849, your choice of color, even custom and engraved."
"Caran d'Ache 849. It's iconic."
"Caran d'Ache 849
Bic Round Stic ... Bic Cristal"
#16
Kaweco
4.3
(3)
"Kaweco Special (Germany): aluminium, 21gr. Parker G2 refill"
"I use either custom-turned wooden pens or Kaweco Sport."
"For writing I prefer the Kaweco soul in 1.0 mm."
#17
Fisher Space Pen
5.0
(2)
"Fisher space pen. Ive successfully written on damp labels."
"Minimal smearing."
#18
Rotring
5.0
(2)
"Rotring 800 is a twist and looks nice."
"Or something by Rotring."
#19
Schneider
5.0
(2)
"My current fave is the Schneider Rave XB. It glides so well, it's a clicker."
"Anything that takes a standard G2 refill... and then you put a blue Schneider Gelion 39 refill in it."
#20
Matador
4.5
(2)
"Matador i-teen works best for me"
"Lol, I guess you can go for matador high school, or just all time pen."
#21
Schmidt
4.5
(2)
"The best one I’ve tried is the Schmidt easy flow 9000 in my tactile turn bolt action."
"My bronze tactile turn bolt action, usually with a Schmidt p900 refill."
#22
JetPens
4.0
(2)
"There's a video on best ballpoint pens in different categories by JetPens, check it out and try those pens before deciding on one."
"I suggest going with a +50$ pen."
#23
Uni JetStream
5.0
(1)
"I can only use pen with Uni JetStream SXR-600 for black and Uni JetStream SXR-200-07 for both red and blue."
#24
Sakura
5.0
(1)
"[Sakura Gelly Roll]"
#25
Lin
5.0
(1)
"Forget ballpoint pen, only lin ocean gel is real"
#26
Pelikan
5.0
(1)
"This has been with me for a few years now. Pelikan Jazz noble Elegance."
#27
TWSBI
5.0
(1)
"I reccomend the TWSBI Precision Ballpoint Pen."
#28
ystudio
5.0
(1)
"Ystudio Classic Revolve Spring: brass, 33gr. Parker G2 refill"
#29
Ti2 Designs
5.0
(1)
"The one that has truly been the best, easiest to carry and most trouble free for me is the Ti2 Designs Boltliner."
#30
SXR-10
5.0
(1)
"SXR-10 is my favorite ballpoint (hybrid) refill."
#31
Autmog
5.0
(1)
"The pens are absolutely superb."
#32
Spoke Design
5.0
(1)
"Spoke Design makes some great pens."
#33
Pilot P700 Fine
5.0
(1)
"The pilot p700 fine is my go-to pen"
#34
Pentel Energel
5.0
(1)
"I use Pentel Energel pens. The ink dries instantly so it doesn’t smear on the paper or your hand."
#35
Levenger
5.0
(1)
"I use a Levenger Engineer ballpoint pen."
#36
Faber Castell
5.0
(1)
"Faber Castell Hexo Twist Ballpoint with a Schneider 755 XB refill in it."
#37
Monteverde
5.0
(1)
"Monteverde makes a nice ceramic. 05 mm one that I use"
#38
Visconti
5.0
(1)
"I bought a Visconti Homo Sapiens ballpoint, after seeing that it takes all the top rated refills."
#39
Reynolds
5.0
(1)
"Very cheap and a classic. My parents completed their Masters writing with these pens."
#40
Lamy 2000
4.0
(1)
"Bauhaus Lamy 2000, classic lines with new materials like Conklin."
#41
No-Name Ballpoint Pen
4.0
(1)
"Honestly any newer ballpoint manufactured within recent years most likely are going to be "hybrid" ballpoints."
#42
The Ridge
4.0
(1)
"I love The Ridge Pens."
#43
Parker Classic and Flighters
4.0
(1)
"Look at vintage parker classic and flighters. 20 buck. Premium."
#44
Ballograf
4.0
(1)
"The oil based inks that fared best were the ballograf and the fisher space pen"
#45
Cross
4.0
(1)
"There is a range by Cross called the Wanderlust in both ballpoint and rollerball, very striking designs and well worth a look."
#46
Faber-Castell
4.0
(1)
"Faber Castell Essentio."
#47
Machine Era
4.0
(1)
"The Machine Era pens might be up your alley."
#48
Schon DSGN
4.0
(1)
"I’ve been curious about the ballpoint option that Schon DSGN offers, which uses fountain pen ink."
#49
Ranga
4.0
(1)
"Have Ranga make you a nice ebonite or acrylic rollerball/ballpoint body."
#50
Energel
4.0
(1)
#51
Ohto
4.0
(1)
"Take a look at Ohto refills. They make a couple of ceramic ball refills in both cone and needlepoint styles."
#52
Signo Gel Pen
4.0
(1)
"Gel pens often have a blue-black option."
#53
Bic Pen
3.0
(1)
"This instagram artist I follow uses those really cheap Bic pens and achieves softer lines."
#54
Gel Pen
3.0
(1)
"Yeah sorry you're going to have to go with a gel pen or a marker pen."
#55
Pilot G2
3.0
(1)
"Pilot G2 will smear depending on the paper."
#56
Kilometrico
3.0
(1)
"Not sure if this brand still exist."
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