What's The Better Ball Point Refill, Parker Or Cross?

[elysee]

I am not a fan of Parker refills. Rather than using Parker refills, I use Schmidt 9000 Easy Flow refills (Broad Blue and Broad Black), Schneider Slider 755 XB refills (Blue, Black, Red, and Green), and Visconti 1.4 mm Broad refills (Blue). When I want to use a Parker-style gel ink refill, I use the Extra Broad Monteverde (Blue and Blue-Black) or a Broad Visconti (Blue) gel ink refill.

 

In regard to Cross pens, the Broad refill is very nice! I never use the Fine or Medium Cross refills as each feels scratchy and neither provides good ink flow. However, the Broad refill provides smooth ink flow and a pleasant writing experience. I tried the Monteverde refill for Cross pens but it felt scratchy like the Cross Fine and Medium refills. So, all my Cross ballpoint pens have Broad refills (Blue).

[max dog]

Yes the Cross broad blue is what I use mostly and they are smooth. In a weightier Cross like the Apogee or Townsend, they feel ultra smooth.

[Ted_1944]

The power point refill was made by Paper Mate, not Parker. It was the best refill I ever used. Only fit Paper Mate pens. but they were very good pens! Sadly, they went out of production many years ago.

[benrobert]

In general, both Parker and Cross produce high-quality ballpoint pen refills, so you can't go wrong with either choice. It's a matter of personal preference and what works best for your specific needs and tastes.

[kingfisher]

For me the Cross refills blob ink way too much. To me this the cardinal sin of ballpoint pens. I would much prefer a refill that hard starts once in a while to one that blobs. I also actually prefer a line that is not as dark, so the Quink is a bit much for me. 

 

The narrow Jetstream (0.5) is quite good if you like a fine line. The Schmidt that has been mentioned is also pretty good. Schneider is a little bit better for me. I always liked the Pelikan-branded Parker style refill, too. 

 

Finally, there are some surprisingly good aftermarket no-name type refills available on amazon by the 6-pack. I have a Bastion refill in my Visconti right now, and it writes at least as well as a Parker for a fraction of the price. 

[ParramattaPaul]

A fountain pen with your preferred ink

[Black Spot]

I am going to vote for Parker just because I like my parker pen. 

[welch]

I use the Parker Monteverde refills, and I like the rubber grip on my Parker Frontier Flighter. I once had a Rotring ballpoint, probably from Levenger: all steel, knurled grip. It alternated with my Parker Frontier and a Montblanc ballpoint. I was happy with all of them. 

[gone]

The ballpoint refills from Parker and Cross are both pretty awful. There are more, and better, third party alternatives for Parker than there are for Cross.  

[thx1138]

On 12/6/2023 at 2:41 PM, Prawnheed said:

The ballpoint refills from Parker and Cross are both pretty awful. There are more, and better, third party alternatives for Parker than there are for Cross.  

Whilst not being perfect, Parker BP refills are pretty reliable. I've picked up Parker BP's more than 60 years old, with original refill, and they still write.