I need to rethink my pen carry...

[Farmer X]

I favored inexpensive gel pens for a while. Then  Bic Gelocity let go and ruined a pair of Carhartts. (That mothersmurfer got chucked off to the landfill.) My long-term solution is to no longer carry retractable pens. I could just go with a cheapo Bic pen or similar, but I'm exploring other options. One is the Fisher space pen, though I've heard they can skip a little. My basic requirements for a new pen would be:

• Refillable
• Not retractable
• Equipped with a very secure cap
• Not over $50 US

The third requirement is there because I used to own a Hinderer Investigator tactical pen. Its body shook loose from the cap while clipped to my pocket on more than one occasion.

So, with those requirements, what would y'awl recommend?

[IMR4198]

    I don't know if they still do it, but Bic stick pens used to be notorious for leaking in shirt pockets.  Walk around a little.  Let the pen get a little warm.  Blue streak on your shirt.  Best wishes.  G
 

[Farmer X]

I wouldn't be surprised if they never fixed that issue...

[Vidar]

I thought it was their branding? Like Killroy was here, just by pen stains?

[nate j]

Longtime Fisher Bullet carrier here, and have never had one leak in my pocket.

Refillable - check

Not retractable - check

Secure cap - check, thanks to the o-ring

Not over $50 - check, wide variety of finishes available, starting under $30


Additonal features I like include:

- Small when closed, but basically a full size pen when open

- Waterproof (though the value of this is somewhat limited if one doesn’t also have waterproof paper)

- Effectively impervious to temperature swings (lesser pens may leak if they get too hot or stop writing if they get too cold)

- Write at any angle (I find myself writing on vertical surfaces often enough to appreciate this.)

- Various ink colors and points available (I tend to just stick with the basic black medium, but it’s nice to know there are options.)

- Cartridges/refills last a long time (Fisher claims about three times longer than the average pen, or typically more than 12,000 feet)


Cons:

- Pocket clips are poor quality/don’t work well (I like to carry my Fisher Bullet loose in pocket anyway, but if you must have a pocket clip, this could be a dealbreaker.)

- Doesn’t write as smoothly as some other pens (This is a worthwhile trade off for me given all the advantages above, but YMMV.)

- Cost (Certainly not the most expensive pens/refills out there, but not the cheapest either.  Pens, with single cartridge, anywhere from around $25 to $100+ depending on finish and vendor.  Refills about $8 each now.)

[JonesE]

I am going to take you in a different tangent. I view a good pen as a long term investment and a poor ink cartridge can ruin that experience. So, I would spend some time on trying different ink cartridges to determine what you like. Do you like gel ink or ball point ink. How about tip size like 0.5, 0.7, or medium. Once you know what you like, pick a pen then pair the cartridge and enjoy.

I like a fine 0.5  tip and I have run both standard ball point ink and gel ink. Lately, I have been running more gel ink. For cartridges I have had good luck with OHTO.

JonesE

[MadPlumbarian]

Pokka pens, the size of a fisher bullet but cheap, you can also change out the ink with a simple bic, you just have to cut the cartridge to fit, they also have the “rite in the rain” all-weather ones also.. the nice thing is you get so many vs just one, so if you lose it your only losing a couple bucks vs you lose a single fisher bullet at $30 a pop,
JR

[styx]

I EDC a Zebra F-402 but don't think that would work for you. Never had an issue with it though.

Kaweco sport might be more of what you're looking for
https://www.penworld.eu/pen/kaweco/kaweco-sport-classic/kaweco-sport-classic-black-rollerball-pen.html

Or a bit of an extravagant idea - Lamy Safari fountain pen

[BPRoberts]

Love my Kaweco Sport. I splurged for the brass and it's patinaed nicely. Survived a couple drops with no issues.

[pfrsantos]

Love my Kaweco Sport. I splurged for the brass and it's patinaed nicely. Survived a couple drops with no issues.

+1

I'm awlso amazed at how long the ink lasts without drying and how smooth it starts to write as soon as it touches the page.

 

[Farmer X]

I  would spend some time on trying different ink cartridges to determine what you like.

I came to favor gel ink. However, it doesn't stick to slick surfaces (such as freezer bags or glossy labels) very well. And if I can expect issues with leaking...well, 'nuff said. I'm pretty sure that all of my carrier pens are 0.7.

Three of my carrier pens are Zebras. One is an F-401 and two are bLens. The F-401 is a longtime favorite, and should do in the short term as long as I take care to avoid inadvertent deployment.

I like the look of the Kaweco Sport, especially in the Fox colorway. I'll take a look at the Pokka pens as well. The various Fisher space pens remain under consideration. Fountain pens are nice, but they'd be relegated to at-home use only.

Thanks to awl for the recommendations!

[powernoodle]

I'm not sure if this one is retractable in the sense that you describe it, but the micro pen in a Victorinox SAK meets the other criteria.  It is my go-to EDC pen, since I rarely have to deploy it and the teeny size is not a factor.

If you are looking for something to use several times a day, then its not optimal.

OTOH, it is an excuse to buy another SAK.   

Aside from that, I like the Space Pen.  Many are $30 on Amazon Prime.  And it is completely unobtrusive in the bottom of your pocket, if you are into that form of carry.

[Farmer X]

Thanks for the suggestion! :cheers:However, I've tried SAK pens...and I prefer a dedicated pen. My MiniChamp will go penless one of these days.

[fullbreakfast]

If you want versatility it’s worth trying a Fisher space pen refill, as it’ll write on many surfaces and at any angle, etc. Some people don’t like the writing experience but I’ve always found them decent to write with. Not as good as a nice fountain pen, but much more practical, and as good as most ballpoint refills I’ve tried.

Noting, you don’t need to get Fisher Space Pen to do this, the Fisher Universal Refill will fit a lot of different pens.

[rodia77]

Based on my experience with the FP version of Pilot MR (aka Metropolitan), I'd recommend it's rollerball/gel version. It should take Pilot G2 style refills (but double-check that!), so plenty of choices.

If you want super secure, a screw cap would be the way, but I don't have any recommendations. Maybe there's something from Kaweco, indeed?

freezer bags or glossy labels

That's a job for Sharpie or other permanent markers. 

[Jack the Zipper]

I just wish I had pen pockets in all my shirts, sweaters, hoodies, etc. I would proudly sport a nerdy pocket protector with blue, black, red Bic and a marker. But modern garb just doesn't cater for 60s Nasa engineer types.

So it's either unbreakable "tactical" pens, clipped to pocket, or compact and pocketable edc pens. Even upscale tac pens have rather flimsy clips, and that carry doesn't suit driving. Either you stab your own leg, or the clip and/or pen go flying. BTDT. And the pen has to be metal, one piece, and easy to use, so having to screw the cap off and on is not ideal. A solid metal, solid clip clicky or bolt action is the way. I haven't seen too many of those. Machining a cylindrical pen body with a clip certainly adds to the cost.

A pocket pen doesn't have to take the same beating. I still detest caps, but use Fisher Bullet and Backpacker, both with caps. My latest find is the Big Idea Design Mini Pen, bolt action, nice clip suitable for clipping to edc sheaths, notebooks, or wallets. Bolt action. Check it out.

[Farmer X]

That's a job for Sharpie or other permanent markers. 

I stick with ball-point pens for those jobs. Permanent marker ink takes a while to dry when applied to those surfaces. And maybe I need to take another look at Kaweco.

My latest find is the Big Idea Design Mini Pen...

They have some nice-looking stuff, most of which seems to fall into the "Farmer X would be scared smurfless to lose that" price bracket. But I'd probably give their twisty Mini Pen a go.