Reliable Pen For Work As Waitress

[kysthei]

I have never posted here, and am unsure if this is an appropriate post for this topic, and will/delete move as necessary.

 

I am looking for opinions on which is the best pen for my situation and tastes, I am not an pen enthusiast, I am not looking for a high end pen, but if it costs money for what I am looking for I am willing to spend it.

I am a waitress at a local restaurant, and I need a pen that writes smoothly and dries quickly because of the constant opening and closing of my book. I prefer finer lines (I usually write with 0.5mm), but still dark and bold if possible. I would like a pen with a rubber stylus for use on the touchscreen computers we use to input orders. I prefer not to have a cap so the caps don't disappear, and I would like it to be lightweight (Plastic or lightweight metal) and thicker than about the same size as a pencil, as I like to wear my main pen behind my ear, heavy ones tend to fall out. I like a good rubber grip too, but am not picky about that.

 

If such a pen exists, I would appreciate your help finding it, knowing I have nothing in return but gratitude. Thank you for your time.

 

 

*edit: Have discovered thinner pens to be more to my taste

Edited November 30, 2015 by kysthei

[linearM]

Boy, you've got me! At first I would have said a Pilot Vanishing Point. It seems like it would really fit the bill...no cap to fumble with, fine line and a smooth writer and fast drying. I love it for meetings because it is so easy to use. But then you through in the rubber stylus and wanting to wear it behind your ear. I can't think of any pen that would give you completely what you ask for.

[dk76]

I would suggest a rollerball to start. But from there, I don't know of pens that you ask. I can offer 2 out of 3 for:

 

Bold line

Lightweight

Stylus

 

Granted, I haven't tried Monteverde's rollerball. I'm projecting here. I've got a Cross Click. This pen uses a gel rollerball. Really smooth and thick lines. However, no stylus, and a somewhat small diameter.

 

Continuing on, I see Monteverde offers a rollerball+stylus pen. (not sure if I can link to Goulet Pens, however, they have the following pens:

 

Monteverde One Touch Engage Stylus

Monteverde One Touch Tool Pen (although this one just seems huge and heavy.

[kysthei]

"I would suggest a rollerball to start. But from there, I don't know of pens that you ask. I can offer 2 out of 3 for:

 

Bold line

Lightweight

Stylus"

 

 

 

 

Bold Line

Lightweight

Stylus

 

Bold line's not that important to me. Just need to be able to read it.

 

 

 

 

That One Touch looks amazing, but I don't think I'm prepared to use a $91 pen where the Floor where it could easily be lost or stolen. I would be comfortable with a $30 or $40 one, maybe. I would like them to be cheap enough to replace if possible, but I'm pretty careful, I'm certain I'll take care of it.

[dk76]

Sorry, reading comprehension < me. Somehow I thought bold line.

 

Hmmmm.

 

My Google skills are lacking. If you don't have issues with using ballpoint pens, a trip to Office Max (or their equivalent) for a Cross Tech 2. Or the Tech 3. I have a Tech 3. Then I discovered rollerballs and fountain pens.

[jabberwock11]

The Monteverde One Touch Stylus ballpoint is $20-$30 in price from most retailers. It is a good looking pen available in multiple colors.

 

Staples ($20.99):

http://www.staples.com/monteverde+one+touch+stylus/directory_monteverde+one+touch+stylus?

 

Bed Bath and Beyond ($29.99):

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/monteverde-one-touch-stylus-ballpoint-pen/3247175?skuId=41678626&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand__&adpos=1o1&creative=43742621869&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=Cj0KEQiA4eqyBRDUh7Omv9vCtsoBEiQAspfs8iKiltbj7bsiTq5zyA4Ofn9T1PFMqvRrISnoNHS-UNIaAuzR8P8HAQ

[RMN]

Hi and welcome to FPN

 

That question is quite OK. and I think it is the right (sub) forum for this question.

 

I notice you are from East Timor, so that makes me suspect you do not have many well stacked penshops near you.

Would you be able to order from Amazon?

 

No cap-quick deploy in fact means: no fountain pen, no roller ball. There are capless options, but I doubt that would be practical.

 

So that leaves us 2 options: Ball point and pencil.

 

You did not specify the paper, and if the pen is just needed for jotting down the customers orders and then read them back at the counter/kitchen or that you will also need it for more serious writing (letters and such)

 

Because I think it can be quite warm and humid where you live I would seriously think about using a pencil. You can get many pencils with 0.5 leads, and I think these days there are also pencils with a touchscreen attachment in stead of the eraser.

And a pencil is instant dry.

 

Some of these pencils are brass but there are light weight ones too.

 

 

If it has to be a ballpoint look at the refills you need. A ballpoint only writes as good as it's refill.

Look for a refill you can easily get where you live. Ordering the pen abroad is one thing, ordering your refills abroad every time is another.

 

I am not sure how the various refills will hold in your climate. Normally I would say: look for a gel refill

 

OK, if you know which refills you can get easily, THEN choose the pen to take that refill.

 

 

About holding a pen behind your ear... I just tried putting a plastic pen there. It would not stay, even if I take of my glasses.

Actually, that pen MIGHT be what you are looking for. (I just thought about it when looking for a plastic BP)

 

It is a Stabilo Smartball 2.0 which takes the standard Parker-type refills (so a wide choice of brands is both standard BP or gel) and has a stylus end. it is plastic and fatter than a pencil. Amazon has them but at some weird prices. I think I paid some 12 euro here, but Amazon USA has them at prices from $11 to $38, so beware!

 

 

 

 

 

D.ick

[Pickwick]

You might like to look on Amazon one pen on offer is a lightweight Gslife which might suit your needs.

Edited November 30, 2015 by Pickwick

[kysthei]

Hi and welcome to FPN

 

That question is quite OK. and I think it is the right (sub) forum for this question.

 

I notice you are from East Timor, so that makes me suspect you do not have many well stacked penshops near you.

Would you be able to order from Amazon?

 

 

 

Thank you. I am from South Carolina, I am not aware of any dedicated pen shops near me, and a quick google search confirms it. I often order from Amazon, however, so order the pen or even refills wont be an issue at all.

 

No cap-quick deploy in fact means: no fountain pen, no roller ball. There are capless options, but I doubt that would be practical.

 

So that leaves us 2 options: Ball point and pencil.

 

You did not specify the paper, and if the pen is just needed for jotting down the customers orders and then read them back at the counter/kitchen or that you will also need it for more serious writing (letters and such)

 

Because I think it can be quite warm and humid where you live I would seriously think about using a pencil. You can get many pencils with 0.5 leads, and I think these days there are also pencils with a touchscreen attachment in stead of the eraser.

And a pencil is instant dry.

 

Some of these pencils are brass but there are light weight ones too.

 

 

I hadn't really considered a pencil, I suppose it would work well if it was a nice mechanical one. I don't know what it would be like to adapt to a mechanical pencil, having to micromanage how much graphite is extruded at any given time while I'm on the floor in the middle of a rush might be a pain. However, I will certainly take recommendations and give a mechanical pencil a try if it fits the other needs I have.

I think your concerns for humidity are irrelevant, it is not particularly humid here. I use a budget Zebra 1.0mm right now, which does smudge a bit, but I think a finer point would solve that problem. The quality of the line doesn't matter much, all I need a reference for when I put the orders into the computer (though, quality would be nice for outside of work). Honestly, if these weren't so damned heavy and slick, it would be exactly what I was looking for.

 

If it has to be a ballpoint look at the refills you need. A ballpoint only writes as good as it's refill.

Look for a refill you can easily get where you live. Ordering the pen abroad is one thing, ordering your refills abroad every time is another.

 

I am not sure how the various refills will hold in your climate. Normally I would say: look for a gel refill

 

OK, if you know which refills you can get easily, THEN choose the pen to take that refill.

 

 

About holding a pen behind your ear... I just tried putting a plastic pen there. It would not stay, even if I take of my glasses.

Actually, that pen MIGHT be what you are looking for. (I just thought about it when looking for a plastic BP)

 

It is a Stabilo Smartball 2.0 which takes the standard Parker-type refills (so a wide choice of brands is both standard BP or gel) and has a stylus end. it is plastic and fatter than a pencil. Amazon has them but at some weird prices. I think I paid some 12 euro here, but Amazon USA has them at prices from $11 to $38, so beware!

 

 

 

 

 

D.ick

 

Gel pens, like the ever famous Pilot G2, seem to smudge far too easily for what I need, so I've been trying to move away from them. I am not concerned about refills, buying from Amazon will be fine, when I am traveling I will certainly have quit my job as a server.

 

Perhaps I was too hasty when I said it needed to be thicker than a pencil. Matter of fact, the pencils I've had the most success with behind my ear were right about pencil size. The above linked 1.0mm I am using is fatter, and I almost seem to be having more trouble with it than a standard sized pen, and I miss skinniness of my previous pens. That Stabilo is nice though, I will certainly look into it.

 

Thanks for your input.

 

You might like to look on Amazon one pen on offer is a lightweight Gslife which might suit your needs.

 

They look nice, but after this realization than fatter is not what I am looking for, they don't seem to be what I am looking for. Thanks though.

[RMN]

OK, I thought you were from East Timor as you show that flag. Most people show the flag of the country they live in, but that is NOT a requisition. You can also show a flag you identify with!.

 

Gel refills, and normal ballpoint refills have a big variation in quality between various brands. In South Carolina you will have enough choice. Is there a Staples or OfficeMax near you? Have a look there.

Schmidt refills have a good name.

 

 

D.ick

[penrivers]

Bic.

[mulrich]

I was going to recommend a Zebra but it sounds like you're already using one. The Zebra I own has a very fine line but is a good writer and is cheap enough you won't be upset if you lose it. I'm not sure what you could do about a stylus. Maybe you could glue a stylus tip to the clicker end of a pen.

 

Where in SC do you work? My family has lived in Columbia for the past four years and are always on the look out for good restaurants.

[Mike 59]

Hi, As mentioned already, BiC make a ballpoint with stylus,

http://www.staples.com/Bic-Tech-2-in-1-Retractable-Ballpoint-Pen-and-Stylus-Medium-Point-Black-Silver-Barrel-Each/product_167227?externalize=certona

I use this one (photo) which is an unknown brand from a supermarket, on a Motorola 9090 HHT, and the pen part uses a D1 refill, which are fairly common refills, for multi pens, and are usually in black, blue and red.

This pen is metal, with some type of coating over it to give the colouring.

It uses a twist action to use the pen, similar to Cross ballpoints, and I have fitted mine with a Cross D1 refill.

It is made to use with a tablet computer, and mobiles, but there are many others similar to this one, some use full size Cross style refills and some Parker style.

Cost was about GBP 5, so about USD 8.

Edited December 1, 2015 by Mike 59

[kysthei]

I was going to recommend a Zebra but it sounds like you're already using one. The Zebra I own has a very fine line but is a good writer and is cheap enough you won't be upset if you lose it. I'm not sure what you could do about a stylus. Maybe you could glue a stylus tip to the clicker end of a pen.

 

Where in SC do you work? My family has lived in Columbia for the past four years and are always on the look out for good restaurants.

 

Zebra's have always served me and my father well. I live in Greenville, so no dice.

 

 

Hi, As mentioned already, BiC make a ballpoint with stylus,

http://www.staples.com/Bic-Tech-2-in-1-Retractable-Ballpoint-Pen-and-Stylus-Medium-Point-Black-Silver-Barrel-Each/product_167227?externalize=certona

I use this one (photo) which is an unknown brand from a supermarket, on a Motorola 9090 HHT, and the pen part uses a D1 refill, which are fairly common refills, for multi pens, and are usually in black, blue and red.

This pen is metal, with some type of coating over it to give the colouring.

It uses a twist action to use the pen, similar to Cross ballpoints, and I have fitted mine with a Cross D1 refill.

It is made to use with a tablet computer, and mobiles, but there are many others similar to this one, some use full size Cross style refills and some Parker style.

Cost was about GBP 5, so about USD 8.

 

Looks awesome, but the one you linked isn't the same one as in the picture. Which pen is that one then?

[Drone]

Edit: Whoops, I missed the stylus requirement - anyway I'll post this (below) anyway since I had it ready:

 

Hello,

 

I think you need a Uniball Vision RT Retractable Rollerball. Allow me to state why:

 

1. Excellent build quality, sturdy steel clip.

 

2. Inexpensive (and refillable), roughly $2-$3 each plus shipping if you buy a box of twelve.

 

3. Lightweight, it doesn't feel cheap, but it's light enough to put behind your ear.

 

3. Rubberized grip, good to hold and it will stay behind your ear.

 

4. Great refill that comes in various colors and line sizes.

 

5. Dries pretty quick (at-least mine does).

 

6. The Vision RT version has an auto-retract mechanism which automatically retracts the point if you if you forget to when you clip the pen to your pocket (or anything else). Note: not all Uniball RT pens have this mechanism. The Uniball Vision RT does.

 

Here's an example of the pen on Amazon (it comes in various colors with various color ink refills):

 

http://www.amazon.com/uni-ball-Vision-Retractable-Roller-Point/dp/B002S0OCQI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1448959673&sr=8-2&keywords=uniball+Vision+rt

 

Here's an example of the blue/black version which, next to the black/black, is my favorite color:

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Uni-ball-Vision-RT-Rollerball-Pens-0-6mm-Blue-Fine-Point-1741779-/321491977652

 

Enjoy, David

Edited December 1, 2015 by Drone

[Mike 59]

The pen/stylus in my photo is made to go along with a tablet pc which might only be sold in the UK.

Our largest supermarket chain is Tesco, who market a tablet pc with the name 'Hudl'.

It is well thought of as a good value for money Android tablet.

This is the pen/stylus that is made as an accessory for it, so I don't know if or how it would be sold in other countries, of course I could be completely wrong too!

I can find some of these accessories on the Amazon.com site as a package.

It seems to be made of brass, with a weight of 15gms, which helps when used on a touch screen.

It's a fairly thin pen, more like a standard pencil thickness in the hand.

The nearest I can find on Amazon.com is;

http://www.amazon.com/Zoukfox%C2%AE-Stylus-Capacitive-Ballpoint-Samsung/dp/B015VWKE0C/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1449018649&sr=1-3&keywords=ballpoint+pen+stylus

Edited December 2, 2015 by Mike 59

[jodi_maloney]

I might have hopped on the bandwagon too slow here, but I love the Pentel EnerGel Gel Pens. A tad pricey, but these pens are definitely worth the money. It comes in fine tipped (.5 mm) sizes and dries quickly, as I am a lefty and it never smudges on me.

 

Edit: EnerGels and the refills can be found at any Staples/Office Depot

Edited December 2, 2015 by jodi_maloney

[Algester]

if oils matter the well beloved fisher pens will be there

else you can take the "pressurized" ink tube route

Uni-ball powertank

Pilot Downforce

fisher pen

Tombow Airpress

[IvoryParker]

How about the Parker Jotter stainless steel finished or just an ordinary colour barrel jotter. Robust, reliable and synonymous to those who care less about pens. I have abandoned the Parker ballpoints for a few years but I was chuffed to try out one of their Quinkflow refills the other day. Just have to be on your guard that customers do not make off with them.

 

I have always been disenchanted when a hospitality professional hands me a broken Bic to sign the bill!

[FOUR X FOUR]

Hey Kysthei. Linearms suggestion was good. The pilot vanishing point is a great pen. However, I'd remove it from the ear. Don't use a pen stylus combo. Use one of of each. As far as the stylus goes. Buy the Adonit Jot Script. That's the best stylus on the market. Yes, it's better than the Montblanc stylus. Also, why don't you go ahead and get your feet wet. If you get the pilot vanishing point, make it a fountain pen