I need a good ballpoint, which one??

S

Spydiefan04

Joined
Jan 8, 2005
Messages
819
I posted asking about a Lamy 2000 not too long ago, and it looks good and I may buy one but I'd like some more input from you guys. I'm a med student so I write ALL day. I've got some Watermans and Parkers and Crosses (the Crosses were given as gifts so I don't used them (only brands I'm really familiar with are Parker and Waterman and I like Watermans slightly better) but most of mine are too nice to carry all day in a hospital environment in my opinion. So here's what I'd like some advice/help on, what is a GREAT all day carry, good quality ballpoint for such an environment. I prefer click tops, but can live with a twist top, I like a fairly heavy and fat pen (my hands cramp when using small pens), and I just have to have a lifetime warranty and would like to keep it under or around 60 bucks. So far I'm considering: Lamy 2000, Waterman Hemisphere SS, Parker Sonnet, Cross Century II Medalist, Sheaffer Prelude, Fisher Astronaut or I may just buy another Waterman Expert (my fav) to use as a beater.

Also, availabilty of Cross, Waterman, and Parker refills are NO PROB where I am, but I'd have to order all Lamy or Fisher refills on-line. And I like Cross pens, but don't like the fact that they have smaller refills than Parkers, etc.

Any reviews/opinions from anyone that has carried any of these pens would be greatly appreciated, also any pen options I may have overlooked would be welcome.
 
I like pens that take Parker type ballpoint refills though not necessary Parker brand, I am particularly fond of the Spanish made Inoxcrom refills, I find them good and not expensive, they make a regular ballpoint and a gel refill that fits the ballpoints (Parker makes these too but I haven't tried them). Fisher also sells their regular pressurized refills with an adapter to fit Parkers.

As for the pen, there are so many to choose from, I just try them at the store and pick one that feels strong, good and comfortable, currently carrying a bullet clone that takes Parker refills fitted with a Fisher refill with Parker adapter, and a no brand (probably Chinese) fat strong and heavy twist top with Inoxcrom gel refill. Either of these costs well under US $10 in Mexico.

Luis

21pohd


21poip
 
Stay with the Lamy's. There's two advantages to the Lamy M16 refills.

1) The Broad tip is the smoothest, and it'll help reduce fatigue.
2) The M16 is a very large capacity refill. It should last you quite a while before you need to replace it.

If price is an issue, the economy Safari line, with it's triangulated grip is very comfortable.
 
so, just out of curiousity, what makes for a good ballpoint pen?


because i'm fan of the el cheapo pilot retractables
p_betrtblack.jpg

*they are like $3/2pens
*refillable
*reliable
*grippy/comfortable
*see through
*retractable
*easy to find, both the barrel as well as the pen refills

i guess i'm still a believer that expensive doesn't necessarily mean better ;)

also the bic round stick. hoooray!
round_stic_300dpi2.jpg

*reliable
*cheap cheap cheap




i'm seriously asking this question, though. cause if there are some reasonable arguements, maybe i'll invest in a nicer pen as well. think of this as you convincing a newbie as to why that delica is really worth 40.00. ;)
 
Bics are ROUGH writing. Their balls dont like to roll much and they feel..cheap. Cheap plastic also wears pretty badly. Then again, I'm a fountain pen guy
 
I too prefer a foutain pen, nothing compares to their smoothness. But for all day every day, every use it's hard to beat a GOOD ballpoint.

As far as more expensive NOT ALWAYS being better I'll agree with that, and Pilot ballpoints write almost as smooth as any and are probably the best cheaper refills out there. But I can say from personal experience that higher end ballpoint refills (Cross, Lamy, Parker, Montblanc, Waterman, and Sheaffer, I've owned do own or have used em all) all tend to write about the same and are MUCH smoother than cheaper pens. Also, I've just recently started using a Fisher Pressurized refill in a Montblanc copy, and I must say I am VERY IMPRESSED. Again overall among highend ballpens the difference in writing ability is negligible, with the exception of a Fisher being able to write in any position and under any circumstances. Also, like previously mentioned Lamys, Montblancs, and Parkers have large ink capacities (though not sure which of the three is largest) which means more writing and less refilling. Also with high end pens you get a lifetime warranty, the only brand I've mentioned that doesn't have one is Montblanc, and I feel they are overhyped, overrated and overpriced, but they're so good lookin' and good writing I like them anyway.

Another advantage of higher end pens is the ability to have more choice in color/material/weight. For example if you like a LARGE but LIGHT pen you could get a Montblanc LeGrand, Parker Duofold, or Lamy 2000 just to name a few, if you prefer Med/Large but with some heft you can get a Waterman Expert, Parker Sonnet, or Cross Townsend. Again these are just a Few examples and I've only mentioned ballpoints, give a quality ballpoint a try and you'll be converted, just stay away from fountain pens bc then you won't want anything else:). If you refuse to spend more then 20 bucks for a pen, the Sheaffer Award is around 10bucks and is a VERY, VERY, good pen.

Good med/highend ballpens to try are: Lamy 2000, Waterman Expert, Parker Sonnet, Montblanc Classique, Cross Century II and Townsend, and Waterman Hemisphere. Also for all but the Lamy you can get FISHER PRESSURIZED refills should you desire. I'm leaning toward buying a 2000, it and the Sonnet are my two favs that I don't already own, I just now wish I could get Fisher refills for the Lamy.
 
Midget said:
so, just out of curiousity, what makes for a good ballpoint pen?
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In my previous long post I think I failed to answer this question so here goes:

1. It HAS to write SMOOTHLY, all high end brands with med/broad points do a much better job than the cheaper pens as a whole, with little difference that I can tell from one good brand to the other.

2. Must had a LARGE ink capacity (for me at least, which is why I don't use Cross ballpens) I prefer a big refill ala Parker, Lamy, Montblanc, even Waterman and Sheaffer refills are adequately large, bc I don't like my pens drying out or having to replace the refill often.

2. (TIE bc to me this is equally important) It HAS to feel good in the hand and while writing. I've held some very expensive pens I didn't like bc of the way they felt in my hand, I know some that love sensas but I don't bc I don't like the feel. Before spending a good deal of money on a high end pen I make sure I encounter one first, then buy where I find the best price. I really like the feel of the Lamy 2000, Waterman Expert, Monblanc Meisterstuck (hope I spelled that right), and Parker Sonnet, but don't like standard Cross ballpens (too thin for me)

3. MUST have a GOOD clip (spring loaded preferred, not required) to keep attached to shirt, pocket, etc.

4. I think a ballpen should be either a click top (ala Lamy 2000, Parker Jotter) or a twist top (ala Waterman Expert, Montblanc). I don't like ballpens with a pull on off cap if I'm going to fool with a cap I want a rollerball or a fountain pen.

5. Lifetime Warranty, is a MUST imho in a good pen, the only top brand I know of without one is Montblanc, and consequently bc of this and their ridiculously high prices for a plastic pen, I wouldn't recommend one as a first pen.

6. Last but certainly not least, is the pen attractive. I like black and gold, like a Montblanc or Parker Sonnet for DRESS or precious metal of some form like a Cross with gold plate, and Bauhaus style utilitarian for EDC, like a Lamy 2000. Think the MB would be too dressy/expensive for jeans and a t-shirt, the Lamy to bland and understated to be worn with a suit.

Hope this helps, I used to carry cheap pens, but I don't any more truth is I have quite a few pens but only use a select few of them. My current favs for USE, BC I don't yet have a 2000 or Sonnet, are a Waterman Expert, Sheaffer Award, and several good quality fake Montblancs using parker and fisher refills (I really like that style pen but real ones are EXPENSIVE and in reality not as durable as Lamys, Parkers, Sheaffers, or Watermans costing far less)
 
hmm...

fair enough, i guess...


i do own several high quality/mid quality pens. the "best", you mentioned, is the mont blanc meisterstuck. i got it for christmas two years ago.

i also have a parker "jotter" and a cross "century."


all of them are sitting in a can in my bookcase. i've carried them all for short periods of time, but in the end, none of them really seemed more beneficial than a pilot retractable. so i went back to my pilot(s) and stopped having to worry about losing a nice pen. ;)


when i get back home i'll dig the monte blanc back out and give it another try.
 
also, none of my "nice" pens have clear cartridges. i like to see how much ink i've got left.
 
I'm pretty fond of my cross morph. I loaded it up with a broad refill and it writes smooth. it's alot like the "select comfort" bed of pens since you can control the size and feel of the grip surface. The pen has a decent heft and is very comfortable to write with. The clip is designed to roll over rather than snag or wrinkle pockets and the whole thing looks pretty sweet.

I gor mine on ebay for $18 shipped which is much better than what they ask for retail.

Before that I carried a sensa classic that never let me down and rode in my pocket for 2 solid years and wrote miles of checks.

Either of them should serve you well for long periods of writing and both are lifetime warranty and made in the USA (unless sanford rubbermaid has changed something with sensa).

Now if only Fisher made something with a cushy rubber grip...

n2
 
Neko2 said:
Now if only Fisher made something with a cushy rubber grip...

n2
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Got a Cross Morph myself, it is a good pen I just don't especially like it. I too really like Fisher refills, just wish they made pretty pens to put them in. I usually just buy the refills and put them in my Parkers or Montblanc clones.
 
Midget said:
hmm...

fair enough, i guess...


i do own several high quality/mid quality pens. the "best", you mentioned, is the mont blanc meisterstuck. i got it for christmas two years ago.

i also have a parker "jotter" and a cross "century."


all of them are sitting in a can in my bookcase. i've carried them all for short periods of time, but in the end, none of them really seemed more beneficial than a pilot retractable. so i went back to my pilot(s) and stopped having to worry about losing a nice pen. ;)


when i get back home i'll dig the monte blanc back out and give it another try.
Click to expand...

If you like Pilots, you may want to try the Dr. Grip, I can't stand writing with a thin pen. I have many Dr. Grips and of inexpensive brands I prefer Pilot I just use Dr. Grips instead of retractable, what replaced the Dr. Grips were a could of Sheaffer Awards. BTW if you want to stay within the pilot company and go high-end you can buy a Namiki, most excellent pens, but be warned many of them are more expensive than Montblancs.
 
Spydiefan04 said:
I just now wish I could get Fisher refills for the Lamy.
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You kinda can. The Fisher BP refills will fit a Lamy Rollerball body. Although that would mean you would have to go with a cap pen. I've never liked the Fisher BP's. They tend to glob too much.
 
Midget said:
when i get back home i'll dig the monte blanc back out and give it another try.
Click to expand...

BTW Congrats on owning one of the finest, just for kicks you may want to try a Fisher refill in it so you can amaze your friends by having a montblanc the can write on photographs, upside down, through grease, etc. Just remeber you can't use standard Fisher refills in it they're made for Fisher/Parker style pens, but they make a pressurized model specifically for Montblancs, and another for Watermans :) I have found that I really like their refills, just not their pens ;)
 
my favorite pen is the zebra 402. it's cheap and good looking, i've had the mechanical pencil one for about 10 years.

EB041439.gif


you can probably even find this at your local office supply store.
 
I have several Lamy's and I really don't care much for the way that they write.

I prefer the Parker refills-rollerball and the gel ball refills. You won't believe how smooth they write.
 
My best writing ballpoint is a Caran d'ache Ecridor-I think it meets all of your requirements and it is one smooth writer.
 
Daniel said:
I have several Lamy's and I really don't care much for the way that they write.

I prefer the Parker refills-rollerball and the gel ball refills. You won't believe how smooth they write.
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I got several Parker and Waterman rollerballs and REALLY like them, I just prefer a big click-top ballpoint for all day carry. Heck, after this string of posts I've actually dug my Dr. Grips out of the drawer and started carrying them. What I really want is a big, fat, light, click-top but with a higher-end brand catchet and at much larger refill (I write a lot and having to change refills a lot is the ONLY thing I don't like about a Dr. Grip, wish it took a Parker refill). This is why I'm leaning towards a 2000, and I actually like the way a Lamy writes, all a matter of preference I guess. If anyone has another idea for such a pen other than the Lamy I'm open to suggestions, also, how are the Pelikan 400s, I noticed the 400 bp is a clicktop and near the Lamy in price, I know they'll take a Parker refill :) but I've never actually seen/held one, HOW LARGE are they, remember I like a big pen. Also thanks for all the input, so far and I know this is totally off the topic of ballpens, but does anyone own a Cross Century II or Townsend Fountain pen and what do you think of them??? Thinking about getting one, I've owned Cross ballpens and Selectips and think they're wonderful but have never used one of their fountains.
 
Spydiefan04 said:
Got a Cross Morph myself, it is a good pen I just don't especially like it. I too really like Fisher refills, just wish they made pretty pens to put them in. I usually just buy the refills and put them in my Parkers or Montblanc clones.
Click to expand...

At first I was a bit dissapointed but after using it daily as my work pen I have grown to love it. It's very comfortable and writes very well. Plus once and awhile it's nice to broaden the grip for comfort.

Plus, made in the USA

N2
 
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