pen frustration

[jcs0001]

Warning - this may regress into a rant!!

I have a number of decent but inexpensive pens including a fisher bullet, fisher trecker, zebra 701, zebra 301 compact, parker jotter,  a couple of zebra telescopic pens etc.

I go to a local gym regularly and carry a notebook along with a zebra telescoping pen - until the other day when some Klepto stole it.  Now the value of the pen is low (about $3.50) so it wasn't a big deal - in fact if they had admired it I'd have given it to them.

Anyway it reminded me of my pen "fetish" (along with my knife, multitool and flashlight fetishes (feti??)) and I decided to do a search today for a decent small pen that I could use in the gym.  It has to be about 5 in. long when capped and also when used for writing and not too large in diameter.

It turns out that in our city of well over 100,000 people there isn't such a thing unless you want to spend $20 plus.  The only one I could find was the zebra tele and I bought another couple just in case.  Is it because of computers, tablets, phones etc. that very few stores stock anything more than a bic or two?  Or is it because we have all become illiterate as far as writing goes?  I know my writing (never the best) is really poor now as I don't have to write very often.  It's well beyond poor after a hard set at the gym - I feel sorry for some researcher in the distant future who has to decipher my notes.

It appears that my main choices are available on ebay - being in Canada most of the big pen retailers have fairly high shipping charges.

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year.

John.

[Jothra]

A sad truth: people love disposable pens. It's liberating to never have to care about your pen at all.

Mind you, I've been carrying the same engraved bullet pen for two years.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I recently lost one of the two Fisher Bullets I've been caring and using for years.  I went to Office Depot to replace it and while I was there I started looking at other pens to replace it.

I ended up getting a Cross Tech 2 for about $5 less than a Bullet and it came with two spare ink cartridges and two spare v stylus tips.  Can't go wrong, right?

Wrong.  My second attempt to use it was in the rain and it was pretty much useless, even in my Rite in the Rain notebook.  So, nice pen, but it's being relegated to back up duty. 

I know that story might not help you make up your mind, but there is something to be said for sticking with what you know.  I've complained about a few different pens here over the years and keep going back to the Bullet.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[kirk13]

I'm a big fan of Zebra Mini Expandz. Good enough to buy a refill for,cheap enough not to hurt if you lose one...which I did a couple of weeks ago. Ordered a replacement off amazon today,less than £5 delivered!

[jcs0001]

For a general purpose small pen the zebra telescoping pens are excellent - decently made, price is right and they collapse to a very small size.  One complaint is that the refills are very small so I doubt they will last a long time.  They do come with a spare and refills are available so perhaps that isn't a big complaint.

One refill I do like is that in the zebra f-701 - it's a decent size and I find they write very well.  I would love to find a decent pen that takes one of these and is as short as possible.  The f-301 compact takes these and is ok - the cap doesn't post very solidly but otherwise it's pretty good.  However Staples in Canada does not seem to carry them anymore and they aren't widely available anywhere else for a decent price.  How I wish I'd stocked up a couple of years ago.

Kirk - I haven't seen the zebra Mini Expandz.  Looks interesting.  I checked amazon.ca and it is approaching the price of a fisher bullet when shipping is included.  Will watch for them though.

Def - I think you are right there.  The bullet is nice and small and a decent size with the end posted.  I got lucky and found one at a flea market last summer for $3 or so.  Case and all.  It appears to be made in Germany but is identical to the us made ones - no markings on the pen but the refill is a Culmer pressurized.  It isn't as smooth as the zebra refills but not too bad.

Jothra - it's too bad that disposable is so popular.  Over the years I've found that generally it's worth buying better quality (particularly tools). 

Our city used to have a few stationary stores then Staples and Office Depot came to town.  That put pretty much all of the little guys out of business.  Then a few years back Office Depot shut it's doors and that left us with Staples and not much else.  Result - little local choice.

It seems to me that there used to be pens available for a decent price that were advertised for nurses - a bit smaller than usual and had a cap that could be posted.  Perhaps on a lanyard although that isn't necessary.  Didn't see any of those at all recently.  I've got a fisher trekker and it writes quite nicely however the cap does not post and it's a bit too short to write with - makes my chicken scratch even worse.

I'm playing around with making one right now but not being very good with a lathe it is taking some time.  If I ever get it done and working decently I'll post a few photos.

John.

[jekostas]

I'm a big fan of Zebra Mini Expandz. Good enough to buy a refill for,cheap enough not to hurt if you lose one...which I did a couple of weeks ago. Ordered a replacement off amazon today,less than £5 delivered!

You can also jam a Fisher multifunction pen refill in the expanding Zebra mini pens.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'd suggest that you count out the Inka pens too:

I recently tried an Inka pen because some have suggested it was good- well I was unimpressed.  The cartridge died quickly, and to get the "full sized" pen effect from it requires a couple of minutes of transformation as you swap this end for that end of a part that comes out of another part- ok if you are writing a fair bit, but far too much effort for taking a quick note here and there, as I do at work.

I'll be sticking with my Bullet pens thank you... in fact, I've another one on the way as I type this! 

Def

Inka Mobile

Def

[jcs0001]

I read that about the inka's.  Whatever I have needs to be available without a lot of fiddling.

Just looking online and found the fisher stowaway - uses a regular fisher refill, is made of aluminium coated with plastic and 3 7/8 in. long capped and 5 1/4 in. long when in use.  Quite thin.  On ebay its in the area of $12 cad shipped.

Has anyone had anything to do with these - any comments.  Seems like they would be great for edc or storing in a notebook if one didn't plan to write a book with it.

Also looks like the zebra mini expandz may take a decent sized refill.  Only problem is that they are quite pricey here.


John.

[parnass]

I don't live anywhere special.  Every town, large or small, in this area has at least one office supply store with an entire aisle full of pens and pencils.   The more common stores are Office Depot, Office Max, and Staples.  Office Depot and Office Max are now the same company so I expect some of those stores to be closing this year.

The Zebra Telescopic pen is my favorite,  though the first one I bought had a habit of expanding by itself in my shirt pocket.

[dks]

I have, lately, developed an affinity for the larger Parker pens (the jotter? Is too small for my hands/grip). Still, my most used pen, in situations when I am not in an office/house/work etc. is the one on my Victorinox manager.

[jekostas]

I've actually gone right back around to using fountain pens again since I've found a couple of really nice to use portable options.

[eddie1115]

I have, lately, developed an affinity for the larger Parker pens (the jotter? Is too small for my hands/grip). Still, my most used pen, in situations when I am not in an office/house/work etc. is the one on my Victorinox manager.

I agree that the Jotter is a bit small, but it fits in the pocket well and it works for quick, well, jotting   I keep a couple loaded with fisher refills.

When I'm not really expecting to write or sign anything, I call on the Vic Manager as well.

[enki_ck]

Another vote to getting a replacement Zebra Telescopic pen. I've carried them for years and it's my by far favorite pocket pen. Really small in the pocket but full sized when you need to write with it. I carried it vertically clipped to the right front pocket parallel to my belt. I say carried cause I lost my original and my backup within a month. And both in the same pub too.

I think I'll order myself a 5 or so replacements. Just to be safe.

As for regular refills, they last a fairly long time, couple months of writing and note making, less if it's your dedicated pen. The refills are fairly cheap, you use the multipen refills you can find in most stationary supplies stores.

An old picture next to a Zebra T3 and a SS multipen.

[enki_ck]

I'm a big fan of Zebra Mini Expandz. Good enough to buy a refill for,cheap enough not to hurt if you lose one...which I did a couple of weeks ago. Ordered a replacement off amazon today,less than £5 delivered!

You can also jam a Fisher multifunction pen refill in the expanding Zebra mini pens.

Yup, I think I already linked Kirky to that one recently.

http://www.spacepen.com/blueinkfinepointfisherpressurizeduniversalrefill.aspx

[kirk13]

I'm a big fan of Zebra Mini Expandz. Good enough to buy a refill for,cheap enough not to hurt if you lose one...which I did a couple of weeks ago. Ordered a replacement off amazon today,less than £5 delivered!

You can also jam a Fisher multifunction pen refill in the expanding Zebra mini pens.

Yup, I think I already linked Kirky to that one recently.

http://www.spacepen.com/blueinkfinepointfisherpressurizeduniversalrefill.aspx

Yup,you did indeed. In fact,I think it was you who switched me onto Zebras

[Jothra]

Another sad truth: the vast bulk of the pens I see people carry around are free advertising pens.

[sawman]

I've been carrying my bullet pen for a while and wouldn't trade it for any pen. It always writes when I need it to and carries compact in my pocket.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Maybe I'll check out a Zebra pen.  I'm pretty much hooked on the Fisher cartridges since I work outside in wet weather.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[enki_ck]

I'm a big fan of Zebra Mini Expandz. Good enough to buy a refill for,cheap enough not to hurt if you lose one...which I did a couple of weeks ago. Ordered a replacement off amazon today,less than £5 delivered!

You can also jam a Fisher multifunction pen refill in the expanding Zebra mini pens.

Yup, I think I already linked Kirky to that one recently.

http://www.spacepen.com/blueinkfinepointfisherpressurizeduniversalrefill.aspx

Yup,you did indeed. In fact,I think it was you who switched me onto Zebras

Quite possibly.

[enki_ck]

Maybe I'll check out a Zebra pen.  I'm pretty much hooked on the Fisher cartridges since I work outside in wet weather.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

Biggest advantage over the Bullet is the sturdy pocket clip. Try it with the fisher universal refill and let us know how you like it.

[Sazabi]

I read that about the inka's.  Whatever I have needs to be available without a lot of fiddling.

Just looking online and found the fisher stowaway - uses a regular fisher refill, is made of aluminium coated with plastic and 3 7/8 in. long capped and 5 1/4 in. long when in use.  Quite thin.  On ebay its in the area of $12 cad shipped.

Has anyone had anything to do with these - any comments.  Seems like they would be great for edc or storing in a notebook if one didn't plan to write a book with it.

Also looks like the zebra mini expandz may take a decent sized refill.  Only problem is that they are quite pricey here.


John.

The Stowaway is barely larger than the refill itself; stick with a bullet instead.

[HarleyXJGuy]

You all have me curious about this Zebra pen.

Which model do you guys like the best?

Been using a Pilot G2 for a long time and a Pentel Wow Gel for the last few months and I love how they write but they are worthless on certain papers.

[enki_ck]

You all have me curious about this Zebra pen.

Which model do you guys like the best?

Been using a Pilot G2 for a long time and a Pentel Wow Gel for the last few months and I love how they write but they are worthless on certain papers.

The Zebra we've been talking about is the Zebra Telescopic pen. Collapses to very pocketable size but is full size when you need it.

[HarleyXJGuy]

It is a good writer I take it?

I looked them up and don't seem to expensive.

[Sazabi]

I might've lost my Stowaway, as I can't find it. Anyway, here's a couple pens to give you an idea of sizes.



From left to right: Ruler, Pilot B2P gel, Zebra F301 compact assembled, Zebra F301 compact stowed, Zebra F301A, Fisher military, Inks pen components, Fisher Explorer, Fisher something, 91mm Spartan, chapstick.

If you look at the bare refill for a Zebra F series pen, the Stowaway pen itself is the same thickness, but shorter.

Sorry for the potato quality; I'm posting from my soon to be phone.

[HarleyXJGuy]

Very cool Enki and Sazabi thanks.

Will have to get 5 or 6 of these when I get a chance.

Also the SAK arrived today Sazabi thanks again. Do you have a feedback thread yet?

[Sazabi]

Sweet, I hope you like it. I do but you can make a new one if you want.

[Jothra]

I might've lost my Stowaway, as I can't find it. Anyway, here's a couple pens to give you an idea of sizes.

(Image removed from quote.)

From left to right: Ruler, Pilot B2P gel, Zebra F301 compact assembled, Zebra F301 compact stowed, Zebra F301A, Fisher military, Inks pen components, Fisher Explorer, Fisher something, 91mm Spartan, chapstick.

My Dad's Zebra F301 compact has been truckin' for half a decade now. It's pretty awesome. It's also just small enough that I can't believe we haven't lost it yet.

Also, nice Spartan.

Sorry for the potato quality; I'm posting from my soon to be phone.

I'm calling autocorrect on that one.

[HarleyXJGuy]

"Your soon to be phone."

What is it now a jelly danish?

[Jothra]

I've never seen a Fisher Explorer. It looks all adventuresome and rugged in that picture. I can get behind that kind of thing.