Having a favorite pen to write on is not uncommon. We all have our preferences and even have specific brands that we like to use. However, if you don’t have one yet and are looking for the best ballpoint pens for writing, this guide may be of help to you.
Writing for hours can be tiring, so having a pen that does the job well is extremely important. From the design, grip, color, and smoothness of application- every ballpoint pen is different. Finding the right one to use for all your writing needs will help you write as much as you want.
Contents
- What is the Best Ballpoint Pen for Writing
- The Best Ballpoint Pens for Writing Reviews
- 1. Paper Mate Profile Retractable Ballpoint Pens
- 2. Parker 1953170 Jotter Ballpoint Pen for Writing
- 3. PILOT Refillable & Retractable Ballpoint Pens
- 4. BIC Cristal Xtra Bold Fashion Ballpoint Pens for Writing
- 5. uni-ball Jetstream RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens
- 6. Fisher Space Pen Chrome Bullet Pens for Writing
- Ballpoint Pens for Writing Buying Guide
- What is a Ballpoint Pen for Writing?
- Types of Ballpoint Pen for Writing
- Why do you need Ballpoint Pens?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What is the Best Ballpoint Pen for Writing
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Paper Mate Profile Retractable Ballpoint Pens Our #1 Pick
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Parker 1953170 Jotter Ballpoint Pen for Writing
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PILOT Refillable & Retractable Ballpoint Pen
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BIC Cristal Xtra Bold Fashion Ballpoint Pens for Writing
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uni-ball Jetstream RT Retractable Ballpoint Pen
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Fisher Space Pen Chrome Bullet Pens for Writing
The Best Ballpoint Pens for Writing Reviews
1. Paper Mate Profile Retractable Ballpoint Pens
The Paper Mate Profile Retractable Ballpoint pens come in a pack of 12 black pens made for your writing needs. The pen features a rubber grip that makes it easy to hold and makes sure it’s secure in your hand while writing. The soft rubber grip also lessens the tension on your fingers which helps to make the writing experience all the more comfortable for everyday writing.
The pen is retractable which means that you don’t have to worry about removing its cap every time you write or losing it along the way. Its body is made of lightweight plastic and has a 1.4-millimeter tip that creates bold strokes. It has a sleek and simple design that can go with most notebooks and even has barrels that have the same color to look more pleasing.
Pros
- Affordable
- Bold and vibrant ink
- Comfortable to use
Cons
- Doesn’t come in a thinner tip
2. Parker 1953170 Jotter Ballpoint Pen for Writing
The Parker Jotter Ballpoint Pen is a beautifully designed sleek pen perfect for everyday writing. I think that if you’re looking to invest in a pen that doesn’t only write well but also looks exceptional, then this is the pen for you. It has the classic Parker Jotter pen design that features a stainless steel body that is extremely high shine. This pen also features an arrowhead clip that looks great and is good for attaching the pen to notebooks and paper.
The ink in this pen was made for optical flow and has a smooth and clean application on any type of paper. Its medium tip allows for vibrant lettering and the blue ink allows it to stand out whilst looking neat. The Parker Jotter Ballpoint pen was also made to be retractable for ease of use.
Pros
- Refillable
- Sleek stainless steel design
- Smooth and clean writing
Cons
- Quite expensive
3. PILOT Refillable & Retractable Ballpoint Pens
The PILOT Refillable and Retractable Ballpoint pen come with 12 premium and durable pens with jet black ink. Each pen is available in fine-tip size with 0.7 millimeters or a medium-sized tip of 1 millimeter. I find that the fine tip is perfect for people who like to cram in a lot of letters on a small amount of paper as it allows for finer lines to be written.
This particular pen is retractable, which allows for ease of use, and is refillable for continued future use. The barrel has a textured grip which allows for a more secure grip when writing. This ballpoint pen delivers a smooth application upon writing. It also features quick-drying ink, which reduces the possible smudges made while writing.
It has accents made of stainless steel and has a black translucent barrel which allows you to see how much ink you have left.
Pros
- Comes in different point sizes
- Refillable
- Long-lasting and quick drying
Cons
- No rubber grip
4. BIC Cristal Xtra Bold Fashion Ballpoint Pens for Writing
The BIC Cristal Xtra Bold Fashion Ballpoint pen comes in a staggering bulk pack of 48 differently colored pens. It has a thick tip size of 1.6 millimeters for bold strokes and lettering. It’s made and formulated with an easy glide technology that allows for a smooth writing experience. These BIC ballpoint pens are long-lasting and dry quickly so they’re less likely to smear your writing.
I find these colored pen to be great for note-taking, drawing, and journaling which makes them perfect for people of all ages. The ink and the cap have the same color for easier identification. It features a sleek and translucent barrel that allows you to monitor the ink inside. These pens are highly versatile and will surely be a staple in your supplies.
Pros
- Wide range of colors to choose from
- Inexpensive
- Long-lasting for everyday writing
Cons
- Doesn’t come in a finer tip
5. uni-ball Jetstream RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens
The Uni-ball Jetstream RT Retractable Ballpoint pens come in a pack of 3 with ultra-fine points of 0.7 millimeters. This pen features a smooth, vivid, and overall pleasant writing experience. It was made to be quick-drying to ensure that it is smudge-resistant, especially in quick note-taking times.
I find these pens to be highly remarkable and versatile in that they are resistant to water, fading over time, and even resistant to fraud. Since they’re resistant to fading, they are archival-quality and can be used for documents that need to last for a very long time.
The pen’s quick-drying feature makes it ideal for left-handed users and makes their writing experience more comfortable as it ensures that their hand won’t smudge the ink. Its sleek design has a comfortable grip and a stainless steel clip to always have it with you.
Pros
- Quick-drying and smudge-resistant
- Water and fade resistant
- Bold and vivid ink
Cons
- A little pricey
6. Fisher Space Pen Chrome Bullet Pens for Writing
This iconic Fisher Space pen in chrome comes with black ink and is made out of metal. This pen is one of the most extremely versatile pen to be ever made. The pressurized ink cartridge allows for the pen to be used even in zero gravity. It was also formulated to write even in extreme temperatures up to -34 degrees Celsius to 121 degrees Celsius. The Fisher Space pen was also tested for its precision and was even hand-tested in America.
Each Fisher Space pen was made to have an unconditional lifespan. It comes with a medium point that glides through paper smoothly. Its brass and steel body make it extremely durable and long-lasting. It’s perfect for everyday use and can be used by people of all ages. Overall, these pens are excellent for everyday writing and are made of quality materials.
Pros
- Extremely versatile
- Can write in extreme temperatures
- Sleek design
Cons
- Expensive
Ballpoint Pens for Writing Buying Guide
These are some of the things that you might want to consider before buying a ballpoint pen.
Ballpoint tip size
Most ballpoints tend to have a medium to wider ballpoint size since their oil-based ink tends to be thicker. Some brands do offer thin and finer tips less than 0.8 millimeters wide in size.
For tip or nib size, it’s mostly up to preference but if you prefer finer lines for your writing then I suggest you go for thinner and finer points. However, do note that finer tips are more prone to breaking when subjected to falling. All tip sizes do the job and still have the same smooth application.
Color
Just like other types of pens, ballpoint pens also come in an assortment of colors. Most brands will carry the signature colors of black, blue, and red. Different colors are also available and even come in packs to save you money.
Design and Comfort
Most ballpoint pens have a sleek and simple design. Others feature a plastic barrel or body while others can have a stainless steel and metal finish to it.
Other features to consider include the pen being capped or retractable. While retractable pens are easy and even satisfying to use, pen with caps can keep the nib from drying out and protect the tip better.
The grip of the pen can also vary from ribbed, smooth, or rubber tubing. This allows for comfort while writing as well as security for your hand.
Brand
This is also up to preferences, but some people might prefer one brand over the other. This brand preference can come from favoring the type of ink, the quality, or the design of the products they offer. Since most brands carry and offer some type of ballpoint pen, this often isn’t a problem.
What is a Ballpoint Pen for Writing?
A ballpoint pen for writing is a pen that has a ballpoint tip as the nib. These types of pens are known for their smooth application in writing and are one of the most manufactured, bought, and used pens. Although the rise of gel pens today has led to their lesser popularity, it is still a classic that most people like and even prefer.
Its distinct features include an oil-based ink that dispenses ink more sparingly, making it more long-lasting. The tip is made up of a metal ball, hence the name, which can be attributed to its smooth glide over paper.
Types of Ballpoint Pen for Writing
There are only small differences between different types of ballpoint pens, and most of them have to do with the tip size.
Ballpoint pens come with round metal tips that can either come in finer tips that are lesser than 0.8 millimeters in size, medium tips that can range from 0.9 to 1.3 millimeters in size, and thicker tips that are more than 1.3 millimeters in size.
Why do you need Ballpoint Pens?
Ballpoint pens can be used to write on most paper surfaces. Most people opt for ballpoint pen in comparison to gel pens since it has a smoother application and a more forgiving ink.
The ink that ballpoint-pens have are not gel-based which means that they are less likely to be prone to any bleeding, which is a problem, especially on thinner paper.
So if you’re looking for a pen that will last longer and you’re not looking for the bright bold watery ink that gel pens have, a ballpoint pen is for you. This makes it perfect for everyday use, especially if you’re looking for a pen with ink that won’t bleed through the paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a ballpoint pen and a normal pen?
Ballpoint-pens contain an oil-based ink that is thicker, so they last longer and dry quickly. Fountain-pens and gel pens have watery ink that allows for a smooth and faster flow but they can bleed on paper, dry slower, and can smudge.
Which brand of ballpoint pen is best for writing?
Most brands carry classic ballpoint pens. It’s hard to say just exactly which brand is the best. Since most of them have very similar features, it all boils down to preferences. The brands in this guide are some of the best brands for ballpoint pen.
Which is better a pencil or a ballpoint pen?
Pencils and ballpoint-pens can be both used for writing. Both have their advantages and disadvantages so comparing them both will have to be done compared to purpose and preference.
The feature of pencils is that they are easily erasable, while pens are more permanent and difficult to erase. This is also the advantage of pen as they are permanent and long-lasting, resistant to erasing over time. So it depends if you need a more permanent option like a pen or a more temporary option like a pencil.
What are ballpoint pens used for?
Ballpoint pens are versatile and can be used for almost every writing purpose.
They work well on most paper surfaces and can last you for a long time. They can be used in writing for work, school, note-taking, and everyday writing activities, and some even use them to make art.
Which is better ballpoint or gel pen?
Both ballpoint pens and gel pens have favorable features. Some prefer ballpoint pen since they have a smoother writing experience and they tend to last longer compared to gel-pens.
Ballpoint-pens also have thicker and more vibrant ink. In terms of pigmentation, gel inks have a bolder look since they dispense more ink because they contain watery ink.
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Conclusion
Pens are a valuable tool for noting down things for everyday use. Most people own numerous pens and can attest to their usefulness. Ballpoint-pen in particular are a classic favorite among different types of pen and they’re known for their longevity and smooth writing application.
Different pens and brands have different features to offer. Their nibs or tips are less prone to damage which makes them great for everyday use without having to worry about destroying them. They are also quick-drying which makes them less prone to smudges. All these wonderful qualities are packed in the best ballpoint pens for writing that will surely last with you.
