Gel Ink

Colors Review: Pilot G-2 Metallics (Gold and Pink)

by Andrew

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I found the gold and pink Pilot G-2 Metallics in a two-pack, separate from the blue and silver version I reviewed previously. And just like the blue/silver Metallics, these colors are supposedly infused with “micro-metallic pigments” to give the ink a nice shine on the page. I have to say, these colors do look good.

The pink is kind of what you’d expect, a standard pink with a metallic sheen. The gold, on the other hand, has almost a caramel-tint to it that looks really great. Just like the original Pilot G-2, they do a good job of not bleeding, but be warned that they are heavy smearers.

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While the Metallics aren’t a great option as a writing pen, these colors are definitely fun to play around with. I intend to snatch up any more that come out. Hopefully a dark red is on the horizon.

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Review: Zebra Sarasa, Gel Pen, 0.5mm

by Andrew

Zebra Sarasa

The Zebra Sarasa, like the BIC Velocity Gel and the Pilot G-2, is a gel ink pen with a clear barrel and black trim. It’s a style of pen which I call “premium plastic,” a very standard (and somewhat boring) design found on most store shelves. It is, however, still an upgrade from the average pen found in the office supply closet.

Sarasa, G-2, and Velocity Gel

The Sarasa is a nice pen overall. It smears only a little, writes consistently, has a comfortable grip, and a rich dark ink. At the end of the day, it’s a pen that will get the job done.

Still, the Sarasa just isn’t a pen that stands out along side a sea of similar options. There’s really no reason to go out of your way to get one. And if you find it on a store shelf next to a Pilot G-2, then you might as well pick out whichever one is cheaper.

Zebra Sarasa Review

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Colors Review: Pilot G-2 Fashion Collection, Gel Pens

by Andrew

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It’s very easy to criticize the Pilot G-2 Fashion Collection for its lack of originality. Pilot simply took their G-2 design, slapped on a flower pattern, and gave it a silly name. But, honestly, covering up that ugly clear barrel is one of the better decisions that Pilot has ever made (even if they already did it before).

There are four colors included in the pack – pink, blue, green, and orange – all of which are very bright. In fact, the orange is so bright that it might make a good highlighter. And the green, my favorite in the pack, has the beautiful color of summer grass, which is a lovely color to draw with.

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Though they’re really just an old pen wrapped in a new skin, I really have nothing particularly negative to say about the G-2 Fashion Collection. They’re fairly smooth, have a good consistency, and they don’t excessively smear. Overall, a nice pen for coloring and doodling.

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And if you just like barrel design of the pen, the Fashion Collection also comes in a series of black-ink pens. They have the same blue, green, pink, and orange-colored barrels, but the grip, knock, and clip sections are black. At first I accidentally bought a set of these black-ink pens thinking that they had colored ink, so be careful not to make the same mistake that I did.

Black Ink G-2 Fashion Collection
The black-ink version of the G-2 Fashion Collection

Colors Review: Pilot G-2 Metallics (Blue and Gray)

by Andrew

IMG_3034Walk into any convenience store and you’re bound to find a plethora of color options for the popular Pilot G-2 line of gel pens, but the G-2 Metallics purport to be a bit different. According to the packaging this ink is “infused with micro-metallic pigments” that give it a “beautiful and unique shine.” In essence, they’re normal G-2 colors that have a bit of shimmer – which, as a matter of fact, do turn out to look pretty darn good.

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I picked up the 2-pack of metallic blue and gray, but a few different color options are available. They are great for doodling and coloring, as the ink really does seem to pop out of the page. They come in a 0.7mm tip size, so detail work might be out of the question, but they seem to fill an area fairly well.

These have the same basic design as the normal Pilot G-2 pen, so they are comfortable to hold, though a bit boring to look at. The ink does smear, but it didn’t seem to skip or stutter at all. Overall, the Metallics are a good addition to the G-2 line, and they are fun colors to own..

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Review: uni-ball Signo 207 (micro), Gel Ink Pen, 0.5mm

by Andrew

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At first glance, the uni-ball Signo 207 looks a lot like many other gel pens you’d find on the store shelves. It’s made mostly of plastic with black accents and metal trim, and the only thing that really stands out is its uniquely shaped clip, which does make it look a bit more classy and professional. But after using it for a couple days, I would definitely rank this unassuming gel ink pen among the best that I’ve used.

The Signo 207 has the basics down: it is comfortable to write with, and it draws clean, consistent lines. More than anything else, however, I am impressed at how smear-free the ink manages to be. I really had to try hard to get it to smear on standard papers, and that’s definitely not something you can say about most gel ink pens.

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The black ink doesn’t seem quite as rich and dark as other gel pens, but If you’re willing to accept this trade-off, I imagine the Signo 207 will become an instant favorite. For lefties looking for a low-smear pen, it’s definitely worth a try. For everybody who might be looking to resupply their pen cup, you won’t go wrong with the Signo 207.

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