Which Rollerball / Ballpoint?

[wmfowler]

I know I read a thread about this here some time ago, but I have spent some time with the search function and cannot find it. Anyway, I am in a situation where much of my writing will now be on 2 and 3 part forms. I know there are fountain pens that can handle this type of writing, but applying pressure with a fountain pen just seems wrong. So, what I need is a nice rollerball / ballpoint / etc. that i can be proud to carry, but that will work with 2 part forms and much air travel.

That said, I have a Cross SelecTip pen, but don't really like it as the only refills I can find are M (0.7mm) point, and I would much prefer a 0.5 point. I like the looks of the Waterman Carene, but it is just outside my budget.

 

Does anyone here (feel free to create a new login name before replying to protect yourself from the blowback) have experience with a nice looking, nice writing (smooth and consistent) rollerball or ballpoint that you would recommend? My price range would be $100 or less. I really appreciate any input and/or recommendations anyone could make. Thanks for your time and have a great weekend.

 

WRITE ON!

[ChelleW]

My husband recently got a Chilton 1923 Collection BP in navy blue. It looks nice and writes beautifully. We picked it up at the Phila Pen show for (discounted) $56.

[mcbender]

I like the Fisher Space Pen refills, and they fit in quite a lot of pens (the standard Fisher refills are compatible with the common Parker-style refills, and they alao make refills to fit Cross pens and some Papermates). They require some pressure to write, more so than many other ballpoints (but not more than most of the free/cheap ones I've used), but generally if I'm going to be using a ballpoint it'll be for something like carbon forms where I need pressure anyway.

 

The main thing I like about the Fisher refills is that they always start up reliably (which is not my experience with most other ballpoints). For a pen I'm not going to be using frequently, I think that's one of the most important qualities for it to have. They also have a bunch of other properties which are cool but largely irrelevant (e.g. writing in the absence of gravity); also, they recently came out with a version called "Check Guardian" that has cellulose-reactive ink (IIRC, the only BP refill to do so).

 

The Fisher pen bodies are all right, if you like that sort of thing, but I'm not too crazy about them myself. I just use the refills in a (rather nice, metal-bodied) freebie pen I was given by my employer.

 

That said... it's still a ballpoint, and I use it only when I have to. I like a very low writing angle, so ballpoints tend to hurt my wrist.

[dex138]

I found myself in the same boat a while back and after trying a few ballpoints and rollerballs, this was my ultimate solution.

 

I found myself a nice, comfortable, parker refill compatible ballpoint, in my case a Rotring Freeway for about $10.00 but I'm sure there's a lot nicer out there, and filled it with a Parker Quink Gel refill. Both the black and the blue lay down a nice line, yet can go through multiple copies. However, I suspect these refills wont last very long but they work for me for the few times that I need it.

 

What was originally my first choice, but is now my second, is 'mcbeder's suggestion of the Fisher Space Pen refills.

 

Good luck.

 

 

[PaperDarts]

I carry a Tornado Retro 51 rollerball as a backup. It comes in two sizes and is a lovely pen to write with.

[wmfowler]

Thanks for the input so far. I have an old Parker pen (part of a 51 FP/BP set) that has a Space pen refill in it. It is OK, but not the writing experience I am looking for. Don't get me wrong, it does it's job, but doesn't do much for me as far as the experience. Now, trying to find a non FP that gives a writing "experience" may be like trying to find a unicorn, but with all the pen use and knowledge here, I am sure that through the suggestions, I will find my pen...

 

Thanks again...

[Sparky2]

My favorite is the Ohto ceramic roller ball series. The meticulously packaged refills come in 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 mm. The medium and bold are the smoothest writing pens I have ever used. I do not have much experience with the fine point, but I would expect that it is also very smooth for its class. They do not have a lot of variety in the ceramics, but I prefer the classic black cigar-type of pen bodies and they have a nice one of those. It has been my everyday carry for years. The prices are very attractive (sub $20). I have bought several from ipenstore (no affiliation).

 

Ohto at ipenstore

Edited March 10, 2012 by Sparky2

[imadeadend]

I know I read a thread about this here some time ago, but I have spent some time with the search function and cannot find it. Anyway, I am in a situation where much of my writing will now be on 2 and 3 part forms. I know there are fountain pens that can handle this type of writing, but applying pressure with a fountain pen just seems wrong. So, what I need is a nice rollerball / ballpoint / etc. that i can be proud to carry, but that will work with 2 part forms and much air travel.

That said, I have a Cross SelecTip pen, but don't really like it as the only refills I can find are M (0.7mm) point, and I would much prefer a 0.5 point. I like the looks of the Waterman Carene, but it is just outside my budget.

 

Does anyone here (feel free to create a new login name before replying to protect yourself from the blowback) have experience with a nice looking, nice writing (smooth and consistent) rollerball or ballpoint that you would recommend? My price range would be $100 or less. I really appreciate any input and/or recommendations anyone could make. Thanks for your time and have a great weekend.

 

WRITE ON!

 

Find a nice fountain pen you like, and chances are there will be a rollerball version in the same model.

 

Otherwise I would recommend the Lamy Swift (great retractable clip), or the Lamy Dialog 2 (retractable clip, and quite heavy). I own both and LOVE both. Although I am heavily obsessed with FPs, rollerballs are, IMO, a single step down from them. I own several nice rollerballs and they all get some use from me.

[Braindrain]

I recently was looking for the same thing. If you want a ballpoint, just find any pen that takes the standard "Parker" refill as you'll have tons of choices between a ballpoint/gel/rollerball refill.

 

If you want a rollerball, you can choose one that uses a standard rollerball refill. Myself, I decided on an Omas that takes either its' own refill or a compatible Schmidt.

 

The advice of finding a style that you like first is good as that worked for me. Chances are, that style will have a rollerball and ballpoint version.

[penocd]

I think the way to go is the Montverde Onetouch Engage. It is a retractable rollerball that uses a converter to supply fountain pen ink. Your cost will run about $75-90. I have one and can say I have no problems with hard starts, even after sitting for a few weeks and it writes like any good rollerball. I would describe its line as more bold than fine. If you are further inclined, you can specify a plunger with a capacitive tip for use with a tablet.

[ddustinn]

Coming in at well under $100, I would highly recommend one of the Noodler's rollerballs. You still have a choice of ink, you're being environmentally friendly by not throwing away refills (a big plus for me), and you won't be out of a great deal of money if you lose it or someone accidentally picks it up.

[FlatCactus]

I got a Lamy Swift a week ago (I tried it about 3 months ago at a pen shop though) and it's a great retractable rollerball. It writes very smoothly almost under its own weight. Highly Recommended!

 

If you would rather a ballpoint I would go with anything that takes a standard Parker refill. It really only depends on what style of body you prefer.

[liapuyat]

I use a Parker IM ballpoint in matte black and silver trim. The girth and the weight make it comfortable to hold. And of course the pen itself is quite affordable yet attractive, and the refills are easy to find.

 

Here's an exampleon Amazon.

[wmfowler]

WOW! Thanks all. This gives me quite a few options to study and check out. Thanks again to all who helped out with info and suggestions. you guys ROCK!

 

WRITE ON!

[nanahcub]

I have a kaweco Sport rollerball for using at work when an FP isn't practical (I also have to fill out lots of mulit-part forms). The nice thing about the Kaweco Sport is that it takes standard Fountain Pen cartridges, so you can still use your favourite ink (even if this may mean filling from a syringe) for consistency with your FP.

 

I'm sure there must be other Rollerballs that take fountain pen ink.

 

 

[Namru]

I always have a Lamy rollerball clipped inside my jean pocket for the plebs and idiots to use... Honest. Either an Al-Star or 2000.

[nicholasyeo]

Lamy Swift. Most economical yet innovative rollerball. Caran d'Ache for Ballpoints!!

[79spitfire]

I found some of the Xezo FP/Roller ball sets coming up for sale on Ebay at $36 for the set, and the roller ball comes with the Schmidt ceramic tip refill, not bad for a matched set of acrylic pens. The only problem I have is they are too well matched, and I keep grabbing the wrong pen when I need it!

[nxn96]

My personal favorite ballpoint is a Parker 45 Flighter with a Inoxcrom refill. The Parker gel refills are really nice, but also pretty pricey. I haven't tried the new Quinkflow bp refills yet, but the reviews here seem pretty good.

 

By the time Parker entered the ballpoint market big-time with the Jotter, there was plenty of time to see what others had done; and in classic Parker fashion, did it better. Pens with nice balance, good looks, and refills easy to find. Most important, years later, they work.

 

Rollerballs are a harder question. Right now, I've got a Parker Insignia rollerball (gold cap, black barrel) in the "non-fountain pen rotation" that has great looks and balance. The Parker rollerball refills are OK. Better in my opinion than the Cross refills. They are very much like the Sonnet rollerballs, and if you like the Sonnet, the rollerball is a good option.

 

To that last thought, The Sonnet ballpoint (and here I think the Flighters are the true "value pen" of the line) is a good way to go if you are looking for a quality ballpoint.

 

Hope this helps.

[vdiantonio]

Have you considered http://pensofdistinktion.com/ I bought a parker vac which had been refit into a roller. Great pen! good luck.