The best pens we use today began to be used in 1940. In the past, people used to use an ink cartridge pen or even the classic ink bottle in which they dipped a fancy metal-tipped quill pen.
A certain John Loud came up with a system devised with a cylinder and a small ball at its tip, which spread the ink more quickly on various surfaces.
Top 5 Bestseller Pens
No products found.
In 1930, Laszlo Biro was dedicated to accumulating patents for inventions, so much so that together with his brother they improved Loud’s invention, perfected the little ball system, and even improved the quality of the ink. In Argentina, encouraged by the government of the time, they manufactured and popularized the invention, giving it the name “birome”.
Then in France, Marcel Bich manufactured in 1948 the improved plastic ballpoint pen as we know it today, under the name of the well-known brand “Bic”. This much more accessible pen made that today we can have more than one in each house.
Different inks, different pens
The main characteristic of ballpoint pens is the type of ink and we find them in different ways.
Water ink
It is one of the pioneers and the most used fountain pens or in some pens to change the ink cartridge with the included tip.
Ink is a combination of colorants, pigments, and solvents that make it quite viscous. It glides very well at the time of writing and we achieve truly beautiful calligraphy.
Of course, the pens that use this type of ink depending on the pressure we exert when writing and if we overdo it, we will get real smudges or smudged calligraphy.
It is widespread with these pens to find stains on pens or backpacks since the heat affects them a lot. Not being used can cause the ink to dry out, clogging and completely spoiling the pen.
Since the ink in these pens does not always help, their use in schools is not entirely expected. Fountain pens can be used in the first years of school since the ink flows freely favoring the first strokes, but after a while, it is replaced by gel pens.
Among the thicknesses of its tips, we find the micros (0.5mm), the fine (0.7mm), and the thick (from 0.8mm).
Oil ink
It is the most used in conventional pens. It is very viscous and very dense, so the line is not based on the pressure we exert when writing, but on sliding the pen.
As the ink is thicker, it does not matter if we make more or less pressure, the flow rate or the amount of ink that it releases will always be homogeneous.
The disadvantage is that they produce greater fatigue when writing, the classic “my hand hurts from so much writing”.
The good thing is, accidents with stains are avoided and they do not dry as easily.
The most popular colors in this type of pen are classic blue, black, green, and red for corrections.
The tips are usually quite standard, but we can find thin (up to 0.8mm), medium (between 1.0 and 1.2 mm), and thick (from 1.4 mm).
Gel ink
It is a mixture between liquid ink and water ink; it is a bit more viscous and improves the fluency of the writing.
Although many schoolchildren prefer this type of pen, since they do not tire the hand as much when writing, the problem is that, if the paper is of low grammage, the ink can get transferred to the other side of the sheet.
We will find pens with gel ink in very bright colors, bright, fluorescent, metallic inks, etc. In fact, as the concentration of pigment in this type of inks is higher, the strokes are usually thicker.
With this type of ballpoint pen, you can write on dark-colored sheets, such as colored or black sheets.
The disadvantages are that their drying is slower and they are not exactly the cheapest pens.
There are tips with different thicknesses: micros (up to 0.5mm), medium (0.7mm), and thick (1mm).
Erasable ink
Let’s face it, writing with these pens is not pretty at all. Ink is usually much lighter because it needs to be easily erased.
Of course, when it comes to learning to write with the ballpoint pen or becoming familiar with this type of writing, erasable ink is a great ally.
Allows schoolchildren to erase spelling mistakes and errors with a simple eraser easily. In primary school, these types of pens are usually used, since children do not handle the use of correctors with ease, exceeding the amount or not waiting for the necessary drying time.
Top 9 Best Pens Reviews
Bic Cristal Ballpoint Pen
No products found.
In this list, you only find one Bic pen. An ideal pen for the most stoic exam students. The Cristal is not just any pen, for many, it is the pen. Many people claim that they are not capable of writing with anyone else. And there is nothing that can be said about the Bic Cristal that has not been repeated ad nauseam.
The Bic Cristal is the first commercial pen that ever existed. This is a pen with viscous oil-based ink. It is very cheap, effective, and practically foolproof. Little to do with the original orange Bic … That so many times failed.
By the way, that the pen doesn’t fail during the exam is important, sure, but up to a point. Of course, no opponent will go to the exam without a spare pen … That is why the best pens for opponents do not have to be the most reliable, but rather the ones that write the best, especially considering that they are used to writing during hours. And which ones are the best in this regard?
The slipperiest ink a ballpoint pen can offer is liquid ink. Being much less viscous than the oil ink in the Bic Cristal, it glides much faster on the paper. One of the opponents’ favorite liquid ink pens is the Pilot V5 Hi-TecPoint stylus.
Pilot V5 Liquid Ink Pen
No products found.
Probably one of the best sellers after the Bic Cristal. In forums, blogs and reviews there is no shortage of user opinions that assure that the Pilot V5 pen is the best pen ever.
Some say that the famous Pilot V5 pen is useless because its tip bends when looking at it. Its tip is delicate and bends if it receives a slightly strong blow or when it falls to the ground. This is probably why Pilot decided to create the V-Ball. Next up on our list of the best pens for opponents.
The V in ball version: Pilot V-Ball pen
No products found.
Technically it is equivalent to Pilot pens with a needle tip. In other words, the stroke it makes is practically identical. However, its tip is much more resistant thanks to the ball system. Hence the name. On the Pilot Hi-Tecpoint, the ink comes out of two tiny holes at the end of the tip. Instead, the Pilot V-Ball uses the classic metal sphere.
This pen is a favorite of many, but it also has some detractors. First, left-handed users, who hate any type of liquid ink pen, unless it is immediately drying. The reason, of course, is that passing over the liquid ink smudges the newly written lines.
Secondly, many users do not consider it a good pen, even less the best, because its extremely sharp tip tends to tear low-weight papers.
Uni-ball JetStream
No products found.
On the blog sermaestra.com, its author explains how he replaced the Pilot G2 with a uni-ball JetStream. By express recommendation, precisely, of the mother of another opponent. Yes, the uni-ball JetStream is for many opponents a much better pen than the Pilot G-2 pen.
The JetStream pens and JetStream Sport Uni Mitsubishi Pencil pens are good for opponents, thanks to its JetStream ink, ink a patented Uni offers you the best of the liquid ink and gel. Its only drawback is that it is harder to find than the Bic or the Pilot.
Uni-ball’s JetStream hybrid ink combines the advantages of gel-based ink (smooth writing) with those of water-based liquid ink (high slip on paper). Uni Mitsubishi claims that its exclusive JetStream ink is the fastest in the world. For this reason, this pen is perfect for left-handed opponents.
The Amazing Uni-ball Eye Fine / Micro
No products found.
As with the previous model, it is not difficult to find opponents who claim that the best liquid ink pens are not the Pilots, but the uni-balls. For sample, the uni-ball Eye Micro pen.
The uni-ball eye is the equivalent of the Pilot V-Ball. It is available in two-stroke widths: 0.3 mm ultra-fine ( eye micro ) and 0.5 mm fine ( eye fine ).
The mythical Pentel SuperB BK-77
No products found.
The Pentel SuperB pen is not as popular as the Pilots or the Bics. However, it always ends up appearing, sooner or later, on almost every best pen list.
The Pentel BK77 ballpoint pen is a fine point ballpoint pen with very smooth writing. A very slight slack at the end of the tank is the cause that many users notice a small bump when they start to write. In fact, some users choose to cancel this slack with a small wedge of paper. It is a curious fact that we could not say whether it could be, or not, a design decision.
PILOT G2 Premium gel Pens
No products found.
Back to the Pilots. Four of the nine models on this list are Pilot. And for good reason. Without a doubt, for many people, Pilot is one of the best brands of pens.
Some opponents love the Pilot G-2 for its fine, incredibly smooth, gliding writing on paper. Thanks, to the gel ink and its carbide ball. This pen is also well valued for the strength of its tip, which is much more robust than the delicate stylus tip of the Pilot V-5 and V-7 pens.
His detractors point out that his ink tank wears out quickly. This is also true and is perhaps its drawback.
The ultra-fast Pilot G-TEC-C4
No products found.
For many left-handed people, the best pen for exams is simply the BIC Cristal. It is difficult to find users who bet on gel rollers or liquid ink pens, due to the blurring of the line. Now the Pilot G-TEC-C4 is an exception.
The Pilot G-TEC-C4 is one of the Pilot pens with the finest line. If not the most. Its ink is ultra-fast drying. It is an ideal model not only for writing but also for drawing.
The Parker Jotter ballpoint pen from 1954
No products found.
It may seem inappropriate to put a metal pen on this list. However, the Parker Jotter is not just any pen. This classic pen, invented in 1954, has a meager price that surprises many.
Using a Parker Jotter for everyday use is only a minimal initial investment. Afterward, refills for Jotter pens are similar in cost to any of the pens on this list. In addition, there are Jotter refills with gel ink, so your writing will be similar to that of the Pilot G-2. Therefore, the Jotter is the favorite pen of many opponents. And that’s why it deserves to be on this list.
What to Consider When Choosing The Best Pens
In addition to ink, writing with pens is conditioned by the type of nib we use. The classic ballpoint pens in common use are those with a conical tip, those that work with the “ball” that drains the ink through the paper.
The other pens are the needlepoint pens, the classics of the “Pilot” brand. Many call these types of pens, fountain pens, to differentiate them from the rest of the conventional pens. Their tips can vary between 0.4 mm and 1.0 mm.
Some mistakenly confuse them by calling them markers; the difference is that a stylus has a metal tip, like ballpoint pens; while the markers resemble markers, with fiber, textile, or plastic tips.
Opening type
If it is about the comfort of use, we will have to talk about the different opening systems of a pen.
The most common are the pens with a cap or “cap”. For school use, the safest are those with a hole in the lid.
The reason is that in children they tend to nibble on the caps and in case they accidentally swallow the cap, the hole in it will allow air to pass through and prevent them from choking. A simple detail that can make a big difference.
Retractable pens work thanks to a spring that lets out or hides the tip of the pen. The tip is exposed, so if it is used infrequently, the ink will eventually dry out.
Its noise can be a bit annoying, especially in the silence of the classes or with the nerves of the exams, the systematic “click, click” could make more than one the creeps.
Another system is the helical twist pens. Simply turn one half of the pen to expose the tip, and with the opposite turn save the tip.
They are rare in the school environment since it is a system that is used for business pens or with more sophisticated designs.
For lefties
For those whose right hand is not their strong suit, it is worth noting that there are pens specially designed for lefties.
The difference is that people who use the left hand are forced to push the pen in order to write and if the ink does not dry well, they end up with stains on the sheet and on the hand itself.
Right-handed people grasp the pen with the forefinger and thumb, making the point of the pen reach the paper without difficulty. Left-handed people should tilt their wrist on its side and rest it on one side so that the tip of the pen reaches the paper better, something that is not always completely comfortable.
Luckily there are ergonomic pens that accommodate left-hand writing. They have a non-slip grip and the ink is ultra-fast drying to avoid smudging.
Grip
Whether we are left or right-handed, many pens today usually have a grip. This resource is placed near the tip and improves grip and making hours of writing less tiring.
The grip can be a simple relief on the shaft (body) of the pen or some soft rubber supplement with relief, the latter being better than simple relief.
Tips for better writing
- Before you start writing, make sure what you want to say, do not focus your writing on the words, but on the ideas. Develop your ideas together do not write in words.
- Use punctuation marks correctly to provide fluent writing. Avoid very long paragraphs without punctuation. Evaluate if the commas you put in can be changed into points.
- Review your text and see all the words you can remove (for example: very, really, maybe, amazing, incredible, truly, fair).
- Always try not to repeat words. Look for synonyms that can prevent you from repeating the word already mentioned in the text.
- If you are going to write a long text, divide it into subtopics and use sections to make the reading more fluid.
- Do not abuse the bold or italics, highlight only what is necessary that is worthwhile.
- Spell checkers always help but there is always a word that they cannot correct, especially because of accents. If you’re not sure that the word is spelled correctly, look it up on the Internet or use another.
- Read a lot, you will gain knowledge of spelling and vocabulary that when you write you will need. You will increase the quality of your writing.
- Try to write daily so as not to lose the habit. A journal is an excellent idea.
- If you want to make sure that your writing is well done, read it out loud as if you were the reader. This way you will know if it is necessary to add a period or a comma.
- Try to use enumerations or points when necessary to define independently, explanations like the one in this section for example.
- Check your text 2 or more times, we can always leave something, we are human.
Conclusion
With all the writing instruments available today, why choose a ballpoint pen? Because they guarantee a constant and reliable flow of ink, which is practical for those whose work requires them to do a good amount of legible writing throughout the day. They do not leak, so they do not have to be handled with silk gloves to avoid staining on hands and clothing. Ink dries in an instant.