Colors Review: Zebra F-301 Assorted (Blue, Red, and Green)

by Andrew

(note: this is a review of the Zebra F-301 color pack; click here for the full review of the Zebra F-301)

The Zebra F-301 is a very utilitarian pen, and so it’s no surprise that the only colors offered are pretty standard: black, blue, red, and green. The colors aren’t exactly eye-popping, and the lack of variety isn’t great for an artist. But if you already use and enjoy an F-301, these other colors might come in handy for taking notes or marking up papers.

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Each color pen has trim matching the inside ink, and though I like the black trim against the stainless steel, I feel that the other colors make the F-301 look a little cheaper. I’d be happy with a more subtle color indicator, perhaps only the print on the barrel and the color on the top of the knock/clicker.

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All in all, not a bad set of pens if you’re already happy with your standard black Zebra F-301.

Review: BIC Velocity Gel, Gel Ink, 0.7mm

by Andrew

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The BIC Velocity Gel is a “premium plastic”-style retractable pen, very similar in design to the Pilot G-2. It has a transparent barrel, a rubber grip, and black trim. It’s an uninspired design, but it looks nice enough. The gel ink inside, however, could leave your writing a little uglier because it flows a bit unevenly and smears pretty heavily, even transferring to the opposite page in a notebook that is closed too fast.

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The Velocity Gel is comfortable enough to hold, although it’s worth noting that the grip flares out a bit at the tip-end of the pen. For someone like me who grips the pen close to the tip, it feels a tiny bit awkward. Anybody who grips a pen a bit higher on the barrel won’t have this issue and might actually like this feature, as it will prevent your fingers from slipping too far down.

It isn’t a bad pen, probably ranking somewhere on the lower end of mediocre. But with so many options, it’s just not a pen worth buying. On every store shelf with a BIC Velocity Gel, there is probably a better pen sitting right next to it.

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Review: The Sharpie Pen, Porous Point, Fine

by Andrew

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It may be enough for me to say that The Sharpie Pen has become one of my go-to writing instruments. It’s a porous point pen that makes very clean lines, has very minimal smearing, and dries to a fairly dark black. Consequently, I find that it really improves the way my writing looks, and the consistent ink flow and sleek design make it a great pen to use on the go.

That’s not to say that it’s perfect. While the packaging advertises The Sharpie Pen as no-bleed, I do see some bleeding occasionally while writing – and plenty more bleeding while doodling. The pen is also very light and could use a little bit of added weight to give it some balance. The lack of any grip area, too, makes it a little harder to write with for longer periods of time.

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Still, I really like this pen a lot, and I even prefer this disposable version over the stainless steel model. If you haven’t used The Sharpie Pen before, I heartily recommend it. It’s a good pen to always have available.

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Review: uni-ball Signo RT1, Gel Pen, 0.28mm

by Andrew

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Not a lot of all-plastic pens look impressive, but the uni-ball Signo RT1 manages to pull it off with its all-black “stealth” style. It also has a rubber grip section that extends all the way to the tip of the pen, making it very comfortable to hold. And I love the design of its knock retracting mechanism – it has a good thickness, and it attaches to the clip in a unique-looking way, making it really fun to “click-click-click” all day long.

Although writing with ultra-fine pens can sometimes feel like you’re about to slice through your paper, this 0.28mm tip is surprisingly smooth, consistent, and it generally performs very well. Such a fine tip also means that you’re not putting a ton of ink on the page, so smearing is a non-issue, despite the fact that the Signo RT1 uses gel ink.

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While the pen could use a stronger clip and a bit of added weight – it’s a lot lighter than it looks – the barrel design of the pen and the writing experience are top notch. Such a fine tipped pen is not ideal in many situations, but I definitely plan on grabbing this Signo RT1 next time I have to fill out the tiny boxes on a warranty card.

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Review: Zebra F-301, Ballpoint Pen, 0.7mm

by Andrew

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There was a time when the Zebra F-301 was my every-day pen, and having returned to it, I remember why I liked it so much. The steel barrel with the black, plastic trim looks cool. The balance and weight is perfect for its size. And the retracting click mechanism feels substantial and solid. Yes, I’m certainly fond of the F-301, but much like speaking with an old girlfriend, I also remember why I’ve moved on.

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The F-301 is a ballpoint pen, and as such it requires a firm hand to write with. This attribute, combined with its relatively thin and short barrel, makes the F-301 very difficult to write with at any length. It’s great for jotting down quick little notes, but be prepared for hand cramps after more than a full page.

The F-301 is a durable pen, and it will keep well if you want to throw it in your bag, backpack, or car. The fact that it’s slim makes it a great pocket-pen too. But if you plan on writing more than a couple sentences at a time, you’ll want to look for something more comfortable to hold.

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