Ballpoint Pen Or Rollerball Pen?

[RebeccaN]

Hi,

I am wondering which pen you prefer to use generally; rollerball pen or ball point pen -- and why? [and if you have a specific one you're talking about...please tell me the company]. Thanks!

[Joe in Seattle]

I like Monteverde rollerball refills for the wetness, smoothness & colors.

[hot cocoa]

Schmidt Easy Flow 9000 refill, or Caran D'Ache Goliath refill for ballpoints. Both are smooth and lay down great lines; the CdA refill lasts longer.

[JotterAddict62]

Vintage Parker Jotters all the way..

[kaissa]

Schmidt Easy Flow 9000 refill, or Caran D'Ache Goliath refill for ballpoints. Both are smooth and lay down great lines; the CdA refill lasts longer.

 

Although it is not Parker compatible I would add MontBlanc bold to this list as the best non-gel ballpoint refill. I use Visconti bold gel refills in my ballpoint pens if I have to use a ballpoint.

 

I prefer rollerballs over the ballpoints and use the Pilot G2 bold refills. I like wet and bold refills.

[bjornhansson]

I prefer ballpoint pens to rollerball pens.

 

Ballpoint refills last much longer than rollerball refills and ballpoints write on a wider variety of papers/surfaces.

 

My favourite ballpoint refills are the new Quinkflow refills from Parker. The refills made by Montblanc are also very good.

[KBeezie]

I don't have any BP or RB that are in the equivalent price range or 'fashion' as my fountain pens for example. But I usually have two in my bag for whatever paper is just 'handed' to me.

 

I have a bunch of Universal (Japan) 0.7 liquid rollerballs that's been in the house for quite some time. And those I generally like because they're just buttery smooth on anything I touch, but as a result if the paper is super-absorbent, it can feather/bleed like crazy. So it's very similar to my fountain pens in that respect. They are of course of the disposable variety.

 

The other is an old heavy MetroPCS ballpoint pen (Basically a Branded Leed's distributed pen) that I'm using a Black Parker Quinkflow ballpoint refill at 1.0/M size. Which for the most part works for just about everything while still giving me the heavier/larger girth of a pen I've been comfortable with for a BP.

 

I also keep an old Papermate synchro 0.7 mechanical pencil with me (the simple clear blue ones that had the little clicker on the side, which I don't think they've changed at all).

 

Otherwise I've been pretty much using my fountain pens for the most part, and I just like to keep those two above in my bag in case I come across a paper/nib/ink combination that just doesn't work. But yea I've clearly invested much more time into 'picking' a FP than I have anything else, probably because I'm still looking at them as part tool and part toy.

 

@ bjornhansson

 

You're right about the longevity of the inks in regards to BP vs RB or at the very least the affordability of it.

[Moshe ben David]

So to summarize, many bp use a refill that is often called a 'Parker style' refill. Refills are fairly widely available with either bp ink or rb ink. The refills with rb ink will behave just as a dedicated rb would. Personally, I vote in favor of the Schmidt EasyFlow refills in this category. I've had some bad results with the Parker Quink rb refills deciding to leak a clear lubricant as weather gets warm.

 

If you're simply looking for a dependable pen to carry in a pocket or a car regardless of the weather and regardless of the surface you'll find you need to write on, also consider the Fisher 'bullet' space pen. Very compact. Doesn't leak. Writes on everything. Lasts a long time.

[USMCMom]

I carry a ballpoint with me in my purse, but I don't use it unless I "have" to. As for rollerballs ... I have a Monteverde, purchased at the Little Rock pen show, that uses fountain pen ink, so I'm able to fill it with any color I choose.

[WaskiSquirrel]

I find rollerballs have the same limitations as a fountain pen as far as surfaces they can write on and feathering. And, for whatever reason, are not as much fun as a fountain pen.

 

Between the choices offered, I prefer the ballpoint. I can write on more surfaces, it doesn't feather, and the refills last longer.

[RebeccaN]

Wow, those are very educating and interesting responses. Thank you so much for them.

Next question -- what are your thoughts on Cross ballpoint pens?

[wspohn]

I prefer the RB to the BP - the feel is smoother.

 

I have an MB RB and you can refill the pen using FP ink and a hypodermic, so it is cheaper than a BP to run as well.

[RebeccaN]

 

I have an MB RB and you can refill the pen using FP ink and a hypodermic, so it is cheaper than a BP to run as well.

Which MB RB do you have?

[wspohn]

I use a 162, but you can also refill 163 RBs (Classique rather than Legrand series).

[tm3]

Wow, those are very educating and interesting responses. Thank you so much for them.

Next question -- what are your thoughts on Cross ballpoint pens?

A little too thin for my taste, but ok for short notes and a very classic look. I don't like the cross refills much as they seem "pasty" and reluctant to lay down ink.

 

For ballpoints I like the Parker jotter with fisher refill, and zebra 701. For rollerballs the G2, despite the looks.

[David_W]

My "daily carry" is a Lamy Accent 4 Pen in matt black with a palladium coloured grip and the (sadly now discontinued) matching Accent fountain pen. Lamy still make Accent fountain pens, but only in the premium range with high end wood or lacquer grips and gold nibs.

 

 

The 4 Pen has a 0.7mm pencil and three slots for D1 refills - from the factory, it has Lamy ballpen black, blue and red refills.

 

I've replaced the Lamy black and red refills with Zebra JSB 0.5mm gel refills in black and red. The Zebra refills are the next best thing to a fountain pen, though they have an awful lifespan and high price tag.

 

I've replaced the Lamy blue refill with a Tombow BR-VMP pressurised ballpen refill. This gives me 'write anywhere' capability, Fisher Space Pen style. I don't like the drag of the thick ballpen ink, but there are some tasks where you really do need a ball pen.

 

I've replaced the Lamy 0.7mm leads with Pentel Ain Stein 0.7mm HB leads, which are stronger and feel much smoother in use than the Lamy leads.

 

 

It is worth considering a multipen, especially if your need is for an occasional use writing instrument alongside a fountain pen. Multipens are less suited to a primary writing instrument, because the small refills have limited lifespan, especially the gel refills.

 

D1 refills are standard between manufacturers, but pencil inserts are not. Some slots in a multipen have a dedicated function and do not take full length D1 refills - especially the pencil slot if there is one.

[Blade Runner]

I prefer ballpoint pens to rollerball pens.

 

Ballpoint refills last much longer than rollerball refills and ballpoints write on a wider variety of papers/surfaces.

 

My favourite ballpoint refills are the new Quinkflow refills from Parker. The refills made by Montblanc are also very good.

+1

[shuuemura]

I like my Montblanc Legrand ballpoint pen. It's the only luxury ballpoint on the market I would consider using on a regular basis. In my experience, Cross ballpoints tend to skip or blot too much on paper.

 

For a non-luxury ballpoint, I would recommend the Uni-ball Jetstream. Here's a review of it. (no affiliations, etc.) If Uni-ball made a luxury version of this pen I would buy it too.

Edited March 31, 2014 by shuuemura

[WaskiSquirrel]

Wow, those are very educating and interesting responses. Thank you so much for them.

Next question -- what are your thoughts on Cross ballpoint pens?

 

I prefer Parker ballpoints. The ball has more friction against paper, the refill lasts longer, and it skips less. Also, I find Cross pens in general less comfortable to hold.

[Runnin_Ute]

Fountain is my first choice.

 

If I have to use something else it depends on need and mood. Sometimes my Parker 45 Flighter ballpoint and sometimes my Waterman Hemisphere rollerball (with Pilot G2 refill)