OK, so I admit it’s a bit incongruous to follow up a post on the intricacies of fountain pen filling mechanisms with a discussion of ballpoint pen refills, but that’s the reality of my working life these days. I’ve never been one of those people who’s 100%-all-fountain-pens-all-the-time; rather, it’s 50/50 on most days, and as of late 30/70, in favor of ballpoints, gel pens, and even pencils.
Personally, I find Caran d’Ache pens comfortable to use due to their hexagonal shape. If you find the 849 model (shown at right) too narrow, the 888 “Infinite” (shown left) is larger and has a more rounded hex shape.
But I’m still picky. As far as writing experiences go, there’s nothing worse than a dry, skippy ballpoint pen that won’t write a solid line, especially if the pen itself is uncomfortable to hold. Fortunately, the ballpoint remains the default writing instrument for many, and it’s not difficult to find good ones. But what makes a “good one”? For me, it’s a combination of three factors:
The Pen Writes a Consistently Solid Line. If you’ve ever spent much time taking notes with a poorly made ballpoint, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Bad ballpoint ink has a tendency to lay down an inconsistent line, meaning that your writing will have “skips” or “gaps” in it where the tip fails to apply a layer of ink. Because it’s oil-based, and doesn't flow as easily as gel or water-based inks found in gel pens and rollerballs, ballpoint ink is more susceptible to this sort of skipping, especially in older refills that have partially dried out. In my experience, the ballpoint pens and refills that lay down the most consistent line are the Lamy Pico, the Caran d’Ache Infinite (featuring the “Swissride” refill, which I find smoother than the still respectable “Goliath” in the 849), the medium Bic Cristal, and the Schmidt Easyflow 9000.
The Pen Has a Comfortable Grip, Preferably Hexagonal. I find that ballpoint pens offer a tactile writing experience more akin to a woodcase pencil; therefore, it seems logical that my favorite ballpoints for longer writing sessions duplicate the feel of a pencil in hand. The two most famous are iconic stationery items: the Bic Cristal and the Caran d’Ache 849. I’ve also recently discovered a line of pens from Marks, Inc. that takes this a step further, using actual hexagonal wooden barrels to house a retractable ballpoint refill.
The Availability of a Narrower Tip Size Without Sacrificing Legibility. Last but not least, we come to the most important attribute for those of us who write small: finding a ballpoint pen with a narrow tip size that also satisfies the previous two criteria (but mostly the first one). Lately, I’ve gravitated towards needle-tip ballpoint pens, whether it be the Bic Cristal “Xtra Precision” (which now seems to have been discontinued though I have a stash), the Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint, and the Marks, Inc. “Tous Les Jours” woodcase ballpoint that I mentioned above. While I love needle tips because of the precision they offer, the Uniball Jetstream SXR Parker-style refill, the Lamy M22 (Pico Refill), and the Caran d’Ache Goliath in the 849 offer reliable non-needle tip “fine” options that can get you a narrow line without sacrificing too much smoothness or legibility.
If the pen has a quality, legible refill, needle-tip ballpoints are excellent choices for those of us who like to write small and favor precise lines.
So What Ballpoint Pens Have I Been Writing With Recently?
You may have noticed that there’s not much overlap between the pens I mention in each of the three categories above. Nobody has “perfected” the ballpoint pen, so you end up with necessary trade-offs depending on what is most important to you at any particular moment (i.e., sacrificing some comfort for legibility and/or a narrow tip size, and vice-versa). For an overall combination of portability, durability, and performance, both the Lamy Pico and the Caran d’Ache 849 are excellent choices, and both come with “fine” refill options which, if not perfect, are still very good. Comfort-wise, I’ve been exceptionally impressed with the Caran d’Ache Infinite 888, though the refill is a bit on the wider side without a finer option. For annotating books or writing on the go, I’ve relied heavily on the Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint, since it has both a needle-tip AND a clip that can secure the pen to the front cover of a book or pocket notebook. All that aside, for its combination of value, performance, and I-just-don’t-want-to-have-to-think-about-it practicality, I still reach for the classic Bic Cristal, and these days Cristal fans can even dress the refill up in a fancy housing from Baux Pens. (I have three in rotation.)
A selection of writing samples from my current favorite ballpoints. Note that the Marks and Traveler’s Company refills easily offer the finest line.
If there’s one thing to be said for the humble ballpoint pen, you have a plethora of quality choices at very low price points, and as I explore the “higher-end offerings,” I’m increasingly convinced that ballpoints offer superior performance and versatility compared to rollerballs and even gel pens. Ballpoints tend to write more consistently at different angles, and are water-resistant. Of course, such advantages depend entirely on the context in which you use your pens - lately I’ve been focused on everyday use, and your own mileage may vary.
Do you have a favorite ballpoint? Drop me a line and let me know! For more pen recommendations and discussions of some of my personal favorites, check out my “Best Pen” Recommendations page, recently updated for 2021.
Two pocket ballpoint options: The Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint (left) and the Lamy Pico (right).
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