Which is the smoothest pen

Art Tutorials. Videos: Top Picks. Top Japanese Stationery. Top Pencil Cases. Top Fountain Pens. Top School Supplies. Videos: Lineups. Pentel EnerGel. Pilot FriXion. Sakura Gelly Roll. Uni-ball Signo. Go Search x. Your Account. Log In. Go Search. Drafting Pencils 0. Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pens. The Pilot Metropolitan is far and away our favorite fountain pen for beginners.

Its superior metal build and exceptionally smooth nib ensure that your first fountain pen is one whose looks and quality you can be proud of. The Metropolitan also offers a good amount of variety to suit your personal style, with three nib sizes fine , medium , and medium italic and several body colors that range from fun to classic. It writes very well and is available in a full complement of nib sizes, from extra fine to 1. The Kaweco AL Sport is a high-quality, stylish, and classic option for anyone who is ready to venture into more interesting fountain pen styles and materials.

It manages to be both vintage and modern, with an iconic octagonal body design that was first introduced in and remains immensely popular. If you're ready to try your first fountain pen but aren't sure if you have everything you need, our Fountain Pen Starter Kits will get you set up with the basics: pen, paper, and ink. If you want to test several beginner-friendly fountain pens without extra supplies, try our Beginner Fountain Pen Sampler.

It comes with five fountain pens for you to try at home. The title of the best gel pen is especially contentious, but we stake our flag on the Uni-ball Signo UM with confidence. It writes exceptionally smoothly, from the largest 0. Its ink is wonderfully vibrant and comes in a beautiful array of colors. Off-black shades like lavender black and blue black are especially popular. Its pigment-based formulation is waterproof, archival, and resists fading from light exposure.

This makes it an excellent choice for writing checks, signing important documents, and anything else you want to stand the test of time. Our gel pen samplers allow you to test a selection of our best gel pens in a variety of tip sizes so that you can find your favorite. Choose from black, blue black, blue, green, brown, purple, and even more colors! Uni-ball Vision Elite Rollerball Pens. The humble Uni-ball Vision Elite is our top contender for the best rollerball pen.

It reliably delivers a smooth, skip-free, and satisfyingly dark line that makes it a pleasure to write with. The 0. As a special touch, it is available in off-black colors that are unusual among rollerball pens, including blue black, purple black, and brown black. Video: Top Pens of All Time. Uni Jetstream Ballpoint Pens. The Uni Jetstream combines all of the benefits of writing with a ballpoint pen with specially-formulated low-viscosity ink that provides a smooth, vivid, and consistent writing experience.

The Jetstream also comes in several different body styles, tip sizes, and ink colors to allow you to choose your favorite version. This includes the ergonomic Alpha Gel Grip Series as well as a super-fine 0. JetPens Ballpoint Pen Samplers. Use our ballpoint pen samplers to test a selection of our best ballpoint pens across brands, or evaluate several different body styles of the Uni Jetstream.

They include a wide range of tip sizes for you to try. If you want your pen to have the finest of fine tips, the Pilot Hi-Tec-C is hands down the pen for you. Its 0. The Hi-Tec-C is remarkably smooth considering the fineness of its tip and comes in a wide range of vibrant colors. Zebra Sarasa Dry Gel Pen. As its name suggests, the Sarasa Dry dries remarkably quickly—often faster than we could touch it in testing, and by about five seconds in the largest and wettest tip-size tests.

It puts down a wonderfully dark line, writes smoothly, and comes in 0. Like many other Sarasa pens, the Sarasa Dry is equipped with a handy binder clip for fastening it to notebooks and pockets. Uni-ball Signo Premier Gel Pens. Ergonomic pens are highly individual, with the best options depending on a host of factors from hand size and shape to medical conditions.

Even so, we think the Uni-ball Signo Premier is the best all-round ergonomic pen for most people. Its free-flowing ink helps you hold the pen lightly as it glides across the page. The pigmented ink is satisfyingly dark regardless of how lightly you write, but if you do still grip the pen hard, its delightfully squishy grip section will relieve your achy fingers.

JetPens Ergonomic Pen Sampler. Since ergonomics are so specific to each person, it makes sense to try a variety of pens before committing to just one. Our JetPens Ergonomic Pen Sampler includes five of our favorite ergonomic pens for you to test in the comfort of your home, including our recommended Uni-ball Signo Premier, a Dr.

Grip ballpoint pen, a Stabilo Worker rollerball pen, and even a fountain pen! If you know you prefer a specific ink type, try our Ergonomic Gel Pen Sampler or Ergonomic Ballpoint Pen Sampler for a more targeted selection of pens. Zebra bLen Ballpoint Pens. Most people are unaware of how visual and audio clutter can affect their mental wellbeing.

If this is something you're concerned about, the Zebra bLen was created exactly with stress-free writing in mind. The name is inspired by the Japanese word burenai , which means non-vibrating, and that's exactly what it offers: a carefully engineered pen that eliminates all the little rattles and vibrations which can cause frustration and distract us from writing. Its minimalist design is beautiful and calming to look at, and will fit seamlessly into any aesthetic.

We especially enjoy Zebra's smooth and vibrant emulsion ballpoint ink, which is darker and smoother than regular ballpoint inks. The bLen is also available in a 3-color multi pen model. Pilot FriXion Gel Pens. The Pilot FriXion is the best erasable pen by far. Of all the options , this remarkable pen offers the best combination of vibrancy, consistent ink quality, and erasability.

It accomplishes this with a special thermo-sensitive ink that writes just like any other ink, yet disappears without a trace when rubbed with the hard eraser on the end of the pen. The friction generated by this rubbing action raises the temperature of the ink and renders it invisible. The Pilot FriXion comes in several colors, tip sizes, and styles so that you can find one that fits your preferences.

Uni Jetstream Stylus Ballpoint Pen. For those who frequently switch between writing and using a touchscreen, a good stylus pen like the Uni Jetstream Stylus is a godsend. Not only can it reduce finger pain from repetitive swiping, but it lets you change work surfaces without losing track of your pen because you put it down somewhere.

The Uni Jetstream Stylus comes equipped with a replaceable capacitive stylus made with silver-covered fibers. This lets it move across your screen more easily than typical rubber styli. Paired with the best ballpoint ink we know of, this pen offers a smooth writing experience on paper and on a screen.

Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pens. Although there are many sophisticated pens that any executive would be proud to carry, we have to choose the Pilot Vanishing Point for the title of the best executive pen. Its simple yet elegant styling gives it the classic look of a tailored suit, while its unique retractable mechanism instantly impresses—not to mention, it is a supremely practical design for day-to-day writing and note-taking.

The standard Vanishing Point is best for those with larger hands and comes in a range of finishes, from the subdued Black Matte to the stunning Raden series. The thinner and lighter Decimo is ideal for those with smaller hands or who intend to write for long periods of time. If you're worried that the sound of the retraction mechanism might be too distracting for important meetings, consider the Capless LS , which features a quieter, discreet click.

Pentel EnerGel Gel Pens. The Pentel EnerGel is well-known as a lefty favorite, and for good reason. It dispenses beautifully vibrant ink that glides smoothly across the page yet dries quickly for a smudge-free writing experience.

It comes in many different designs to suit your personal style, from the super-cute EnerGel Clena to the businesslike EnerGel Philography , and is available in several ink colors and tip sizes.

Pilot Multi Ball Rollerball Pens. It may not look like much, but the Pilot Multi Ball is a fantastic rollerball pen for lefties. The medium tip size dried within four seconds on Rhodia paper in testing, while the fine tip size dried in only two. To make it even more useful than most pens, the Multi Ball will write on glass, ceramic, plastic, and almost anything else.

The fine tip size is perfect for signing the backs of credit cards without smears. Highlighters are often prone to smudging due to their extra-wet ink, but the Uni Propus Window Q-Dry is a notable exception. It dried within a single second on Rhodia paper in our testing, so you can highlight your pages without the risk of smears. It comes in 10 bright colors.

Its vibrant pigment ink is smooth to write with and both water and fade resistant. This helps your writing last through time, exposure to light, and the kind of unfortunate beverage accidents that go along with a daily journaling habit. What really sets the Sarasa Push Clip apart, though, is its namesake binder clip. The Push Clip comes in a wide variety of hues for color-coding as well as tip sizes from 0.

It features the same vibrant water-based ink for color-coding entries and precise needle tip that allows you to write clearly in tight spaces. The Coleto is a customizable multi pen, which means that instead of coming with pre-selected refills, you order the exact tip sizes and colors you want separately from the pen body.

This lets you mix and match refills and pen bodies to build your ultimate planner pen. For example, you can combine a five-component body with three 0. Or, swap one or two ink refills out for mechanical pencil and eraser components. Coleto refills are available in 15 colors for extensive color coding. Do you remember those dot markers from the 90s?

They're double sided, featuring a 0. Depending on the pressure you use, the dot tip can make marks from 1 to 5 millimeters wide. You can even make expressive brush-like strokes with the dot tip by varying the pressure as you draw! It's easy to make quick flowers and other fun doodles, or for a more practical use case, to highlight important dates in your planner or calendar.

They come in 12 vibrant colors. The highlighter end has a 4 mm chisel tip with soft, but punchy colors, perfect for highlighting important lines without overpowering the text. If you write with gel pens and highlight your notes at all, the Sarasa Mark On is a revelation.

Although it features the same strong binder clip as the popular Sarasa Push Clip, its ink is in is in a league of its own. It is specially formulated for a much greater degree of water resistance and bonding to the paper than most gel pens. This means that it almost never smears when highlighted—even the Zebra Mildliner , which is notorious for smearing gel ink, barely budged in our testing.

Zebra Justfit Mojini Line Highlighters. One caveat: we used specific pens and inks for our testing. The Justfit Mojini Line comes in five vibrant colors and has a flexible chisel tip that lets you neatly highlight curved book pages. As the name says, it just fits! JetPens Rainbow Highlighter Sampler. It also offers wonderful color variety so that you can color code and see which hues you like best. Iconic 2 Way Marker Pens. It was the only pastel highlighter to not smear anything in testing, including inkjet printing and ballpoint, rollerball, gel, and fountain pen ink.

The Iconic 2 Way has the same double-sided chisel-and-bullet-tip design as other popular highlighters and comes in 10 lovely soft colors that are split between the the Retro and Pastel sets. Stabilo Boss vs Staedtler Textsurfer. JetPens Pastel Highlighter Sampler. Pilot Board Master Whiteboard Markers. The Pilot Board Master is the king of dry-erase markers. Its highly pigmented ink delivers intense color that is easy to read from across the room, and its thick tip forms easy-to-control lines.

This is due to an ingenious twin pipe feeder system that equalizes the pressure inside and outside the marker so that its lines remain crisp, vibrant, and consistent down to the last drop of ink. The Pilot Board Master comes in three tip sizes and five colors. This telescoping pen is a shockingly tiny 3. When extended, it grows a full inch to a comfortable writing size.

Fisher Space Pens. Its pressurized ink refill allows it to keep writing when used upside down, on wet or greasy paper, and in extreme heat or cold. Its attached key ring and small size lets it live on your keychain, always ready for use. This machined pen is made from solid titanium, a phenomenally strong material that can easily withstand the knocks of daily carry.

An adjustable clutch mechanism in the front of the pen holds differently sized refills securely in place, with no tip wiggle to distract from your writing experience. Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens. The hard-tip Tombow Fudenosuke is our all-round favorite for brush lettering beginners.

Its special elastomer tip is easy to control yet still yields crisp hairlines and luscious downstrokes with variations in pressure.

This brush pen comes in an array of vibrant colors and contains water- and light-resistant pigment ink that is perfect for making long-lasting lettering pieces. Other samplers let you pit various Tombow brush pens against each other and test different mixes of our most popular brush pens for lettering and art.

Sakura Pigma Micron Pens. The Sakura Pigma Micron is our favorite fineliner for lettering. Its precise tip allows hand letterers to make precise, consistent marks for drawing monoline styles and elaborate letterforms. In addition, its rich, pigment-based ink delivers vivid color that is archival quality and waterproof to help your lettering last for years.

This well-known pen comes in several colors and sizes ranging from 0. Our Fineliner Pen Samplers let you test our best needle-point markers for lettering, journaling, and doodling. Dip pens are modular combinations of nibs and nib holders, which makes them especially versatile. We recommend that beginners start with the Nikko G-nib. The ink comes out neither too thick nor too thin. This pen has a needlepoint tip, but its smoothness factor far surpasses most of its ilk.

I can use it to both print and write in cursive, and the line is consistent in both instances. The point, though extra fine, feels substantial when pressed down, and the ink-flow and smoothness are extremely consistent. Smoothness : 4 Smudging : 2.

Unfortunately, the same heft that makes the pen as durable as a tank might also make it tire out your hands. And there are traces of smudging. Design-wise, the all-black body with silver accents lends this pen a cool, minimalist look. But while the pen-release mechanism on the side is a well thought-out design feature, it does catch quite a bit during use.

For a ballpoint pen, the Delfonics is surprisingly smooth. The ink comes out nicely and dries quickly, but in many ways the pen is disappointing. You end up having to contort your body a little to the left to make out the text, which makes the whole exercise pretty uncomfortable. My hand would cramp. Rating the BIC Gel-ocity was a classic case of not judging a book by its cover.

Compared to other fine-line pens, the Onyx has a much smoother flow and is more accommodating to writing large, rounded letters. Now this is a sexy pen. The ink is a bit slow to dry and can smudge if you run your hand over it too soon. This is a fancier ballpoint with a substantial metallic body and a twist mechanism. The point is rather thick and requires more pressure to write, although you can control the ink-flow this way.

A light touch yields a finer line, while pressing down harder imparts a thicker line. The body is black with silvery accents and the pen feels weighty in the hand. It would be a good pen for signing special documents and displaying on a corporate desk. Total Score : 4. Smoothness : 4 Smudging : 3. This is in the mid- to high-end range of fountain pens, and it feels like it. The nib glides easily across the page, yielding consistent ink-flow and lines, even though the ink looks a little wet.

The blue ink looks almost purple, and it, too, has a watercolor-y aspect. There is a satisfying weight and heft to the pen and it feels nice in the hand. Another bonus: the ink-flow started immediately after the cartridge was installed. This is a hefty pen made out of solid titanium. When writing with it, the ink flowed in a thick line and was rather smooth, with minimal smudging. Each component screws on and off via threading: the barrel holding the tip of the ink cartridge, the cap, and the back of the pen.

Total Score: 4. Smoothness : 4 Smudging : 5 Bleed-through : 5 Feel : 4 Looks : 2. I really like the click top — it has such a substantial and satisfying feel and noise. And the rubber grip is nice. It feels smooth and comfortable in my hand, not too heavy.

The Parker IM Rollerball is handsome looking. A smooth operator. The kind of pen that takes itself seriously. One could imagine it on a wooden desk, being used to sign important papers by an important person. But this pen approximates what a luxury pen offers, at a much lower price point.

Smoothness : 5 Smudging : 5 Bleed-through : 2. The Pilot Razor Point pen is a lot like a Le Pen, but dressed in American business casual instead of a perfectly cut blazer. Smoothness : 5 Smudging : 4 Bleed-through : 3 Feel : 4 Looks : 4. I have a very intimate working knowledge of this TUL pen, because I own a colored set of these that I use every day. One of the most unique things about this pen is its triangular-shaped body with rounded edges.

Smoothness : 4 Smudging: 3. With a solid and smooth line, this rollerball pen is reminiscent of a fountain pen — with none of the learning curve. Another cool touch: the dots on the body indicate the ink color.

The Sakura Micron pen sticks a tiny bit which slows me down as I write. It does, however, have a nice flexibility of line thickness. I like the opacity of the ink, but sometimes it builds up on certain letters, which is ugly. It does not smudge and there is zero bleed-through. It also feels slightly short in my hand. The cap is functional enough and the clip is kinda small. When it comes to looks, Micron pens are, in my opinion, sort of anti-design.

The greenish, khaki-colored plastic is the definition of bland and visually, the overall design is basically negligible. Hawaiian-based Acme has been collaborating with architects, graphic designers, and artists since its founding in Let your coworkers try it out — even if just for the highly satisfying sound the cap makes when it clicks on the pen. Smoothness : 4 Smudging : 5 Bleed-through : 4. The Pilot G-2 series are some of the most popular pens on the market, and that comes as no surprise.

The lines are thick and more or less consistent, and that makes the pen great for everyday note-taking. I prefer a finer point, but this is a solid pen.

Smoothness : 5 Smudging : 5 Bleed-through : 5 Feel : 1 Looks : 5. The Moleskine Go Pen lives up to its name in that writes consistently and smoothly without sticking to the page and it has a quick and satisfying ink-flow. It does the job of a ballpoint exceedingly well: It writes quickly and clearly, making my handwriting look neat and effortless. I noticed a minimal amount of smudging when I filled in an area and then rubbed my finger over it, zero smudging when I wrote normally, and zero bleed-through despite a nice dark, opaque ink.

This pen hurts my hand to write with. Its rectangular design makes the corners dig into my thumb as I write. I would not be able to use this on a regular basis. I like the minimal grid design on the front and the black-and-white design reminds me of a Braun clock. I would keep this on my desk or in my pen jar. I also like the asymmetrical pocket clip.

Smoothness : 5 Smudging : 5 Bleed-through : 5 Feel : 4 Looks : 2. It has the feel and smooth, constant ink-flow of a fresh marker, and the precision of a ballpoint pen. It feels comfortable in my hand, the cap clicks onto the back well, and for a plastic pen, it has a nice weight to it. My biggest complaint about this pen is that it is ugly. It comes in a striking neon pink with ridged sides like a No. The ink output is smooth and consistent, making it a great instrument for everyday use.

I loved this pen. The ink is fast-drying but does leave faint smudging seconds after writing, which could be problematic for lefties. The shiny black body and rose gold details are nice looking, but we held off on giving the design top marks since, while elegant, it lacks any especially eye-popping elements to justify the cost. The rollerball line is fluid and the ink flows smoothly. But the line can feel a bit thick at times, which for cursive writers can occasionally cause blurring.

When you look super closely, a bit of heathering happens once the ink dries. The Pilot EasyTouch is a reliable and affordable disposable pen. The pen does not feel scratchy, but you do get a little pushback when writing with it; there is a small but normal amount of pressure required.

Smoothness : 5 Smudging : 4 Bleed-through : 5 Feel : 4 Looks : 4. I did notice, however, that it smudged slightly when I wrote over previous writing, and while it has the perfect thickness between your fingers, the pen does begin to feel a bit heavy after longer periods of use.

I happen to like its gold case, but after just one day in the pocket of our canvas messenger bag, the metal already had several superficial scratches.

Smoothness : 5 Smudging : 4. This is a jelly pen, but succeeds in many places where the iconic Gelly Roll fails. It is exceedingly smooth, and has very little to no smudging, even the second after you write with it. It has no bleed-through, and the ink that comes out produces not-too-thick, not-too-thin lines.

I just like writing with this thing — it feels made for pretty, loopy cursive. As most ballpoints do, it gets high marks for smudging and bleed-through, too. Grip is the smoothest pen I tried.

The writing experience is seamless, and the ink that comes out is neither too thin, nor too thick. There is virtually no bleed-through or smudging, and the top of the pen is encased in a latex-free, apparently rubber, which felt very squishy and comfortable on my fingers while I wrote. The pen is a wee bit thick for my liking, but overall, this is a pen I would make a serious to-do list with. Oh, the Le Pen. It is the nearly perfect pen: the felt tip leaves smooth, slender, consistent marks on paper, and your handwriting inevitably looks more elegant because of it.

But for the Le Pen, you can forgo taking double-sided notes. Smoothness : 4 Smudging : 5 Bleed-through : 5 Feel : 4. There is a lot to love about this pen. It feels substantial in your hand, but not too heavy. The lacquer finish makes the pen cool and comfortable to the touch; the ink is smooth and smudge-free.

The black body with its gold details makes for a classy, elegant pen that looks more expensive than it really is. The beauty of this one lies in its extra-fine tip. Precision is the name and the game here. Further, this baby really glides over the paper.

It is, in short, the ideal doodling pen and also the ideal everyday writing pen. This is one of the smoothest fountain pens I tested. The metal body has a nice finish and gives the pen a nice weight. The one issue I found was that the cap does not easily fasten onto the back of the pen. If you prefer to write posted, it can be a bit of an issue to secure the cap to the back of the pen — you really need to force it on.

Smoothness : 5 Smudging : 5 Bleed-through : 5 Feel : 4 Looks : 4. I like the smooth, all-metal finish, and the clicking mechanism is very satisfying. Sleek, smooth, though if I had to knock off points, it would be due to the relatively prominent Baron Fig logo on the side. This pen delivers an incredibly smooth gel-feel that makes for a fun and almost bouncy writing experience.

The harder you press it to the paper, the darker the ink and the chunkier the line. Writing a bit more softly, though, I experienced occasional skipping and it showed a little unevenness in places. You will notice the occasional tracer lines between picking up the pen and putting it back down on the paper. Still, the overall writing experience felt smooth and has a gliding effect.

The ergonomic rubber grip feels great in your hand and it takes no time at all to get in a comfy position with it. That said: the ink comes out extremely faint, meaning you have to press down hard to make sure you can see your own notes. I love to use this for checklists — you can make the list with blue or black ink, then put little stars next to the urgent items in red ink. Do I sound crazy? This would be good for letter-writing or sketchbook notes. There is zero smudging there was none even when I filled in a large area and ran my finger over it, hard.

However, I noticed that ink did smudge onto the edge of the cap when removing it and putting it back on, which means the mint color of the case starts to look dirty fast. Zero bleed-through. It almost feels like if I looked away, I would think I had dropped it. But the plastic is smooth and the cap pulls off and clicks back on with a nice sound.

The mint color is nice and I like the design of the clip which may be an ode to a paper clip. It would look great on a desk or in a meeting, where I want to project good taste and organization. This has the looks and feel of a classic, high-end fountain pen. The design is simple and understated, especially in the black with silver accents.

This helps prevent criminal check washing and other illicit document alterations. A leaky pen can ruin your day, but Uni-ball has your covered. Available in a plethora of diverse colors 27 to be exact and 4 tip sizes 1.

The rubber grip keeps the Pilot G2 firmly in hand, and the sturdy clip makes it easy to slip into your pocket. Some consumer reviews reported that the ink may smear when wet, but overall, this is still the best gel-ink pen you can get your paws on today. Pilot makes a variety of reliable pens, but the Metropolitan fountain pen is more elegant than many of its cheaper cousins.

The medium, medium-italic, and fine lines available in over a dozen colors offer something for everyone. Designed for everyday use, the laser-cut Japanese nib is superbly utilitarian, and the brass barrel adds a little extra heft; the included hard-shell case is an added bonus. The Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen comes with an ink cartridge in addition to a squeeze converter, so you can add your own ink from an inkwell.

This retractable pen delivers smooth, skip-free writing, laser-accurate lines, and a variety of vibrant colors. The unique ink formula allows for consistent strokes; the rubber grip is comfortable for longhand writing; and the airplane-safe design prevents any leakage during altitude hops. Especially for lefties, since smudging is nearly nonexistent. The classic design will have you reaching for your favorite moleskin. Now this is a pen! This makes sense, since this company is mostly known for their knives, not their calligraphy.

Can you think of another pen that comes with a lifetime warranty? Well, this one does. Which is the best pen for you? It all depends on what you need it for.

For example, those with arthritic hands might want to consider something with a wide, cushioned barrel. Some kinds of ink dry super fast, while others are prone to smearing, or bleeding through paper. Make sure the line size is bold or fine enough for its purpose; your handwriting should be clean, easily legible, and smear-free.

Speaking of smears, lefties will want to keep an eye out for quick-drying ink and ambidextrous barrel designs. Ballpoint: Utilizing oil-based ink, these pens employ a miniature ball bearing for ink distribution. This ink dries quickly, and delivers a lighter stream than gel, rollerball, or fountain pens.

Rollerball: These pens also use a ball bearing, but the ink is water-based, which means longer drying times. Gel: These pens often come with lots of color options; the water-based gel ink takes longer to dry, and is easier to smear. Lefties beware. Best office chairs Best desk lamps Best computer speakers Best laptop bags Best webcams Best all-in-one printers. As a freelance writer, mobile tech journalist, and molecular mixologist, TJ has over a decade of extroverted storytelling under his belt.

As a full-time human, he's also passionate about everything outdoors; he'll never stop exploring this beautiful planet.