Intro

If you saw my Instagram post yesterday, disregard this first bit. I have fallen behind in posting for the past month because I got incredibly busy with finals and tennis. Either way, I'm back now (until I get busy again, which is very likely).

Today I wanted to write a little bit about some pens I have been using daily. I’m sure you all remember the Paper Mate Flair Pen craze a few years back. I always hated the way they felt to write with. This is probably because I was using them on notebook paper, and at this time didn’t know how to actually use a pen. I always saw fine liner type pens as being in the same camp as flairs: scratchy and unsatisfying. I have tried a few recently, and I regret not doing so sooner.

Sakura Pigma Micron

Sakura Pigma Microns are mainly targeted towards artists needing fine-tip pens for sketching. I used them for this for a couple of years. Once I realized that my handwriting looks much better when I use a smaller tip size pen, I decided to break out my Microns. They are very nice to write with. I usually stick to the 03 size, since it is a little more forgiving with how hard you press. The 02 is good as well, as long as you’re careful. They use archival ink, with almost no feathering on Rhodia paper.

You can get them in various packs, ranging from 3 all the way to 72. I have the 6 pack (005, 01, 02, 03, 05, 08).

Muji-esque Gel

One of my favorite pens of late is this one. My girlfriend’s dad gave it to me. I’m not sure the brand, but I read online that they are very similar to Muji gel pens. Mysterious identity aside, it is a great pen. It has a 0.35 mm tip and nice wet ink. There’s a black plastic insert to stop the refill from shaking, and provide a nice design feature. The clear cap has a decent clip, but I wouldn’t beat up on it too much.

This pack from Amazon is the closest I could find. Not a bad deal!

Bic Intensity

This pen is a complete hidden gem. I was at Dollar General the other day and figured I might as well take a look in the pen aisle. Nothing caught my eye until I got to the poster board section, where a few Intensities and some cheapo gel pens were hanging out. Bic was the only name I recognized, so I got it. For only a dollar, it’s a great deal. This pen writes great and feels very nice. Overall, I would recommend getting one of these if you can find them. The only place the exact one I have seems to be available is this site. Also, always peruse the pen aisle at every store.

Overall, I 100% recommend giving fine liners a shot if you haven’t already. I hope you enjoyed these ramblings. Until next time, stay sharp