Are you a pen enthusiast or just someone who appreciates a smooth, effortless writing experience? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we unveil the crème de la crème of writing instruments – the 13 best pens of all time. Whether you’re a seasoned writer, an artist, or simply in need of a reliable everyday pen, we’ve got you covered.
When do you really become a pen guy? It’s somewhere along the lines of Fashion Guy, Car Guy and Watch Guy. But we’re not exactly sure which comes first. All we know is that more people should take pride in a good pen. Not only a pen that writes well but also a pen that looks good. We recently wrote all about Parker Jotter. This is a classic “good pen” that even featured in the James Bond film. It has the looks, the performance and the history – the perfect item for everyday use.
Because that’s the thing about carrying a good pen: it makes you feel good. We’re not saying you should become an #EDC guy and post your pocket knife, pen and key combo on the Internet, but it’s always worth enjoying all the little things you carry with you. The bag you keep your laptop in, the wallet you stuff your bills in, and the TV you hang in your living room make a difference when you buy the good version. That’s what we’re all about at Esquire Shopping. Whatever you have will make you smile. Not so that other people will see it and comment on it, but so that you like it. That’s how we feel about good pens.
Wow…can you all get rid of that? Apologize! We love pens and have tried thousands of them. These are 13 of our favorites, from luxury options to corner-store varieties.
1. Parker Jotter Ballpoint Pen
We have already written about this man in detail. For the money, this is the best pen. You can buy refills on Amazon. And it has also appeared in a Bond film. Best RS.395 I’ve ever spent.
2. Montblanc Meisterstück Classique Ballpoint Pen
THE OG FANCY PEN
To be honest, it is a pen. Montblanc’s Meisterstuck is now 100 years old. Try to think of another product that has that kind of staying power. This is the pen that your boss has. This is the pen that your boss’s boss has. And this is the pen you’ll buy with your first big paycheck.
We prefer the ballpoint version, as it’s less fussy than the fountain option. As far as finishes go, we like the look of platinum, but gold and rose gold are equally good choices.
3. Muji Aluminium Hexagonal Pen 0.7mm
THE AFFORDABLE FANCY PEN
Muji is a Japanese lifestyle store that is becoming increasingly popular in the states. Its home goods and clothing are perfect examples of peaceful Japanese minimalism. Many people prefer Muji gel pens, but we believe the aluminum option is a great starter pen.
4. Pilot G2 Gel Pens
THE BEST GEL PEN
When I was in high school, my crush told me that my handwriting looked like the Declaration of Independence, which he meant as a compliment and I took as one. I wasn’t in it alone, though. I had my Pilot to thank.
Pilot’s classic G2 gel pens are the best pens of all time, and do not test me. They’re easy to hold and to write with. As gel pens, they are pretty inky, which means you only need to apply light pressure for perfect form.
But with that ink comes controversy: The writing takes a second to dry, and it smears more easily on certain types of paper. If you are left-handed or otherwise putting your hands all up in your paper’s business, skip the gel.
5. Pilot Dr. Grip Roller Ball Gel Pen
THE BEST ERGONOMIC PEN
This is, yes, the same pen. But it’s bigger, easier to hold, and softer between your writing fingers. Though I have the regular guys stashed all over, I keep this one for those big and important notes.
6. Pilot VBall Liquid Ink Rolling Ball Pen
THE BEST LIQUID INK PEN
A rolling-ball pen is great if you have pretty vertical writing form. The roller ball takes a second to get going (you know how roll-on deodorants need a few spins before the deodorant comes out? it’s like that), but once it catches, it produces a bold, inky look.
7. Arteza Roller-ball Pens
THE BEST ROLLER-BALL PEN
Arteza’s roller-ball pens are not too sensitive to angles and roll out ink fairly quickly. The smaller point (.5 rather than .7) makes it a little scratchier and easier to articulate your writing. If I ever did math or something that required many distinct figures, I’d use these pens for that. They’re a joy.
8. Uni-ball Jetstream RT Retractable Ballpoint Pens
THE BEST PEN FOR LEFTIES
9. Kaweco AL Sport Fountain Pen
THE BEST BEGINNER FOUNTAIN PEN
There are levels to this pen game. Levels. I’m not of the mind that these writing utensils have to be expensive to be high quality. But if you’re looking for something to write with that feels indulgent or special, Kaweco is a good place to start. Its fountain pen is sturdy and pretty and doesn’t require any ink dipping. You load it up with an ink cartridge instead. This one comes with a pack of six.
10. Marvy Uchida Le Pen Set
Calling these “pens” feels like a lie because they’re really more like tiny markers. The flex is in that tiny felt tip, which moves as you write. Bad for thin paper and taking notes, good for card stock and cursive writing.
11. Papier Quintet Fineliners
THE BEST FINELINER PEN
Also more like marker tips but less chaotic. These pens have a super-fine tip, but they will bleed through thin paper. Use them for writing stuff on a calendar or a to-do list. Big, blocky letters welcome.
12. Pentel EnerGel Deluxe RTX Liquid Gel Pen
13. Muji Smooth Gel Knock Type Pens
THE BEST COLORED PEN
Go to Muji for nothing, leave with 3,000 pens and a stack of T-shirts. These are cheap, easy, and fun to use. The colors are easily legible, but they don’t bleed the way some other brightly colored pens do. Buy a pack and stock up.
