There isn’t much I can say about the Zebra 301A that I havent already said about the Zebra F-301. The only difference between the two is that the 301A has an aluminum barrel in place of the F-301’s stainless steel barrel. Other than that, the grip, the ink refill, the clip, and the retracting mechanism are all exactly the same.

I had expected aluminum to make for a lighter pen, but the weight seems to be about even with the stainless steel F-301. And while the 301A barrel is ever-so-slightly thicker (which makes it ever-so-slightly more comfortable to hold), it’s hardly a noteworthy difference. Neither pen offers a particularly comfortable writing experience.

On the bright side, the 301A comes in four decorative barrel colors not available for the F-301: blue, maroon, grey, and gold. The maroon, in particular, looks great, and for this reason alone, I’d be more likely to grab a 301A if it were sitting side-by-side with an F-301. Still, I wouldn’t go out of my way for either pen, but if you’re already a fan of the F-301, it might be worth your while to check out the Zebra 301A.

Extra Links

• Review at The Pen Addict. This pretty much is the same reaction I had; same pen with a new coat of paint. He doesn’t like the “upgraded” logo on the barrel, but I don’t really mind it.
• Rhonda Eudaly gives it a pretty positive review. And I should point out that because it’s almost the same pen as the F-301, it has all the positives too. It’s a durable pen, and it writes a nice, fine line.
• Review at My So Called Balanced Life. She likes the maroon too!