Need A New Rollerball

[tonydent84]

I wouldn't dismiss the role of the pen body and put all the emphasis on the refill. While the refill is certainly a very important component, the pen body is important for aesthetic reasons, comfort, handwriting and durability. For instance, I don't particularly like Montblanc ballpoint refills, but the pen body is what I enjoy. The pens (LeGrand and Classique) are light, feel comfortable in the hand, allow me to write neater due to the way I'm holding the pen, etc. In that case, the pen bodies were more important than the refills. Don't get me wrong, I wish my Montblancs would accept Parker refills, but I won't sacrifice a Montblanc for a Parker even though the refills are nicer in the latter. So there are going to be times when the pen body might be more important than the refill especially if the refill is at least average.

[tonydent84]

I know this isn't the Cross thread, but have any of have any experience with the Cross Century I rollerball? I've been thinking about adding one of these to my line up.

 

To answer the original question, have you tried out TUL GL1?http://http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/1373923/TUL-Retractable-Gel-Pens-07-mm/ They're similar to the G2, but the G2 refills don't fit in them. What about the Cross Click gel pen? I don't have one, but I'm partial to that look myself, just as an idea. http://www.cross.com/click-classic-black-gel-ink-pen.aspx

 

I got the Cross Century I roller in the steel and the matte black, and I gotta say they're probably some of my favorite rollers minus a few issues that stopped me from using them regularly.

 

The refills are great. When I used to write with medium point fountain pens, I enjoyed the thick wet line of the Cross roller. However, as time went on, I began enjoying finer points, and Cross doesn't make refills with finer points which was a big turn off from me using their rollerballs.

 

One issue to be said for the refills, though, is that sometimes they just stop writing if they aren't used in a while. Maybe the ink dries up too fast, maybe there's a clog, I don't know, but I know that whenever I do happen to buy a Cross Selectip refill, I have to use it up before putting it to the side just in case it stops working. A number of times I've seen hardly used refills stop functioning altogether.

 

The pen itself, in my hands, feels extremely comfortable - well balanced with the right amount of width. The pens are also pretty sturdy and have been dropped plenty of times without even a scratch or dent.

 

Sad to say, if I'm going to use a rollerball these days it's either a Waterman with a G2 refill in it or a disposable like the Pentel Energel. Cross became impractical for me not only for the thick lines (which I can get used to again) but for the risk of it malfunctioning on me at an inconvenient time.

[tonydent84]

Hey all!

 

I'm in need of a new rollerball. I love my fp's, but sometimes they just aren't the most practical thing to use in class. I've previously used the Pilot G2, but I'm looking for something a bit nicer, something not as disposable.

 

I've been looking into the Lamy Safari or Al Star rollerballs, but I don't quite see how the price tag is justified. What makes a rollerball like the Safari so much better than a G2 that Lamy charges $25? Also does anyone know a better rollerball in a similar price range?

 

Any help is appreciated,

 

Thanks!

I'd also second the Retro 51, for which you can put Parker refills (ballpoint or gel), and there are other non-Parker and non-Retro manufacturers who make Parker-style refills that can be gel, ballpoint, hybrid ink, liquid ink, etc for the pen.

 

If you're willing to spend a little bit of money (or rather have it on your wishlist for a birthday, Christmas, or some other special occasion), I'd look into getting a Waterman. It doesn't even have to be the new Watermans. You can go with a discontinued model.

 

My personal favorite Waterman model(s) is/are the Waterman Laureat I and II:

 

http://www.peytonstreet.com/pens/waterman/laureat_rb_red_mbl_1.jpg

 

http://www.peytonstreetpens.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/650x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/l/a/lauret_green_rb_1_1.jpg

 

The I and slimmer and shorter than the II which is wider and a little taller. There are some minor design differences too like the top of the cap, etc. I have mine filled with Pilot refills (G2 and Vball). I've also used it before with a Waterman ballpoint refill which is a great plus to Waterman rollerballs because they can take either a standard roller refill or a Waterman ballpoint refill.

 

If you're gung ho on a newer model, I love the Expert and the Harmonie:

 

Expert: http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/UncleDearest/Waterman_Expert_II_Rollerball_Pen__Smart_Brown.jpg

 

Harmonie: http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/LwgAAOxylpNTV81L/$_35.JPG

 

I wasn't too crazy about the Phileas or the Hemisphere, though. But plenty of people love the Phileas. Too bad they were also discontinued, now sellers have them at ridiculous prices. When they were on shelves a few years ago, you could get a Phileas rollerball for under $50.

 

Watermans in general look nice, feel good, are sturdy, take refills that are made by many companies, and can even become ballpoints with Waterman refills which are pretty good in a world where luxury ballpoint refills are inferior to many super cheap and disposable ballpoints. Plus if you favor Pilot G2 refills, then you can search the Web a little bit and find a supplier where you can buy refills in bulk at dirt cheap rates so you always have your pen filled with ink. I got dozens of G2 and Vball refills (I actually like the Vballs a little more than the G2s).

Edited June 18, 2015 by tonydent84

[Zookie]

The Pentel Energel is another favorite of mine. I use the 0.7 ones.

[bdez]

 

Perhaps also think about an Acme brand pen as well. They have lots of different designs in a couple of different body types. Quality can be a bit hit and miss put they are interesting nonetheless. They'll take a Schmidt rollerball refill as well as the G2 and others. They are quite heavy as a carrier as well. On the other hand I have a stack of Retro 51s as well so there's plenty of options.

[afcart]

I remember seeing a lot of Kickstarter campaigns that were successful which were nice bodies for G2 refills.

[Chthulhu]

Having recently acquired a Tactile Turn Mover and a Karas Kustoms Render K G2, I can recommend both. Substantial pens, reasonably light (mine are both aluminum), and will accept a broad range of refills.

[LongTrang117]

I own several different color pens and inks for the Caran D'Ache 849.

 

Caran D'Ache 849 is as bad ass a rollerball you can get. It's the fountain pen of rollerballs IMHO. Under normal writing conditions with good paper it will transfer ink as well as a Fisher Space Pen. I've most enjoyed the Medium inks. I used a Fine blue ink cartridge for awhile but dropped my pen on slate tile and now the fine cartridge doesn't write as well. I'm sure I dented the tip a bit. The Goliath inkwells last forever.

 

I lost one and it broke my hart though. It's definitely not a disposable.

[Chthulhu]

Isn't the 849 a ballpoint, rather than a rollerball? Mine is ...

[Runnin_Ute]

The only roller ball I have that gets any use at all (and has a home in my pen wrap) is a Waterman Hemisphere. The way I use a rb,standard refills either dried up or were just bad to begin with. Now it has a G2 refill.

 

Get a used hemisphere rb aND G2 it.

[ylchow]

Get a used hemisphere rb aND G2 it.

I am a demonstrator nut, so mine's a Reform Demonstrator Rollerball with a G2 refill . It's still plastic though, so it might not be what you're looking for.

 

[Stephen2020]

Zebra Sarasa in black is one of my all time favourite pens, looks like a G2, amazing ink. (Unlike their ballpoints)

[flatulent1]

Jinhao makes some fabulous rollerballs for $5 and free shipping. I have several, the X450 being my favorite. Occasionally I find one where the cap spins freely; that one will end up in the trash when the refill dies.

[stevesurf]

Definitely check out the J Herbin rollerball pens. They are compatible with Herbin carts and the Monteverde Mini-Converters, so you can use your favorite FP inks:

 

http://site.shopwritersbloc.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Mini-J-Herbin.jpg