My Pen Addiction
I am a total pen snob. If you walked into a stationery shop I would be the person trying every single pen till I found one I liked. I have loved some pens so much that I have actually mourned them when they broke or ran out. And now that you know I’m a total nut case here are some of my favourite pens.
Bic 4 Colour: I agree that its totally stupid that Bic made a special line of pens “just for girls” but I have to admit I really like this pen. I would prefer if the nib was just a little smaller but its nice to write with and I like the colours.
Paperchase Gel Pen: This pen comes in so many different colours. And its super cheap, £1 I think. Again I would have preferred if the nib was a bit smaller and sometimes the ball doesn’t work so well but I like these.
Staedtler Tri Plus: I didn’t really choose the best colour to show off this pen. But I love them. They come in so many different colours and are fantastic for taking notes. I got a new set of these every year all the way through high school and college and they never ran out. That is also the reason why I have a giant pile of them now.
Pigma Micron 02: This is just a really good artist pen. It works really well and hasn’t run out on me yet. And you get super tiny nibs which are good for really small details.
Pilot Hi-Techpoint V5: I can’t say anything about this pen other than I like it. It feels nice to write with and again it was fantastic for taking notes in college.
Rotring Tikky 05: Okay so technically this isn’t a pen, its a mechanical pencil. Sometimes I prefer to write in pencil but I’m too lazy for sharpeners and all that. I got this pencil in a pack with an extra tube of lead, I’ve been using it for nearly a year and I still have half a tube of lead left. The only problem I have with this pencil is the eraser that comes with it is way too small.
116 Comments
Lovely Sami Anne
I, too, am a pen-obsessive person, hahah. My husband actually calls me the pen lady and sometimes makes fun of me for it, and then questions me when I ask for a pen and points me to my abyss of a purse. I have so many from different places and in a variety of colors. I love it. Your post made me happy, so I guess that’s saying something right!? HAHA, I definitely need new pens so I’m going to take notes on the ones you just reviewed and get some for myself. It’s a fun obsession, lol! Take care.
bluchickenninja
I’m glad I’m not the only one 🙂 If you’re wanting to buy new pens get a pack of the Staedtler ones. I think Amazon are selling a special 30 pen pack just now.
I was actually in an art store once and came across them in a few colours I hadn’t seen before. Its ridiculous how excited I got over them.
Lovely Sami Anne
I love stationary and pens as much as I love signing birthday cards and writing letters with those pens. Honestly it is kind of scary. Haha. I get terribly excited when in the same circumstances. It’s kind of comical.
But yeah, thank you for the (tips-pen tips)! I’ll be sure to check that deal out and get the pens you’ve recommended. After all, we gotta (stick together-like they do in their packs) right!?
So many pennuendos. Just so many. 🙂
Have a nice day.
bluchickenninja
So many pen puns and I can’t think of a single one!
rgemom
When I was a kid, my mom worked in an office supply store….pure heaven. I would spend hours in the pen aisle testing them all out. Love a pen that writes smoothly, without noise, and without dripping extra ink everywhere.
bluchickenninja
Yes, that would be heaven 🙂
Celia
When I was younger, my best friend’s aunt had her own shop and her own pens and they were incredible those pens. I’m honestly still mourning them! Haha 🙂
bluchickenninja
I’m jealous!
Kelbly
I have recently mourned the disappearance of a pen! It was lovely just a promotional one for our school. I have a feeling I left it in the staff room, so probably disappeared forever!
bluchickenninja
omg yes. I lost so many pens at work it got to the point where I would literally refuse to let anyone borrow them. One time the general manager needed a pen and I had to give her mine. She walked off with it and I never saw it again. Sad times.
Norm 2.0
The red version of the PaperChase Gel is my go-to pen for proofreading because it just feels so comfortable in my hand, even for long periods.
But my all-time favourite is my Montblanc Meisterstück that I was given as an award at work many years ago. I keep it in a safe place and only take it out for special occasions. It writes so smooth. If I wasn’t so afraid of losing it, I’d use it every day.
bluchickenninja
What! £385 for a pen. And heres me thinking spending £5 on a pen is too much.
I love those paperchase gel pens but they can be temperamental. I’ve found that sometimes they just refuse to work.
Norm 2.0
Oh and here’s a hilarious comedy sketch from Kids in the Hall for those who are pen-obsessed: http://youtu.be/Cy0UpRIncYM
julial213
That was great. I have been know to look all over for my pen at our circulation desk. Always keep ones for customers.
Charlie
I love pens soooo much. I had a set in high school that were the world to me, thick even lines that wrote smoothly. They discontinued the cartridge for the pen and I was heartbroken. I still have the pens but without ink. Currently, I’m using the Sharpie pens.
bluchickenninja
Aww yeah thats annoying. I have the thick sharpies but I’ve never used the sharpie fineliners.
Charlie
For some crazy reason it makes my handwriting neater. Or perhaps that’s just me.
bluchickenninja
Maybe its just you 😛
Actually I remember someone telling me that sharpies were really good for left handed people because the ink dries really quickly.
Charlie
I believe it.
inkedwordsandwrinkles
I love the staedtler fineliners. Such amazing colours and so fun to write with! They have always been my favourite pens to make study notes with – I have a massive box full of them lying around somewhere.
bluchickenninja
The staedtler ones are amazing.
Jonathan 3.141592
Funny. Haven’t seen a Rotring since my time at school. Have to take a look if it’s still somewhere at my desk…
bluchickenninja
Oh really? I think lots of artists use them.
Jonathan 3.141592
Hm, don’t know many artists so far 😉
pennma05
I love love love pens! I have so many different kinds but I will always have my favorites. And I love discovering new awesome pens so I will definitely have to check out some of your pens! 🙂
bluchickenninja
Get the staedtler ones. Trust me 🙂
pennma05
I just placed an order on Amazon for them! 🙂
bluchickenninja
Woooohoooo.
bluchickenninja
Me too!
Poetic Liberty
Power to the Pen!!! I love this
bluchickenninja
Thanks 🙂
Toni Betzner
I have a tote full of pens. I’m never going to be able to use them all. Every year I have to go through and check them all to see if any dried up.
bluchickenninja
You actually check to see if they work? I usually just throw out my pens if I haven’t used them for a while.
Toni Betzner
Yup, I’m a bit of a pen hoarder. Not so much anymore. Any free pen I get I take to work. I never have to order pens for the office. I keep awesome pens for home. No cheap, bics allowed.
Magpiemakingdo
So glad I’m not the only one like this – I’m OBSESSIVE. And I <33333 the Staedtler Triplus and the Sakura Pigma Microns soooo much. I have a few Pigmas that I've had since high school (10 years ago for me… ugh) that still write like they're brand new.
bluchickenninja
I’ve only had my Microns since Christmas so I can’t really say anything about how long they last. But yes, the Staedtlers are amazing.
Laissez Faire
A very good friend of mine does this, or she used to. Oh, the meticulous searching for a place to test a pen.
bluchickenninja
Some places actually have paper out so you can try them before you buy. Brilliant idea.
Dan Antion
I have had a pen and mechanical pencil additiction since I was a little kid. I remember when they invented Flairs. I could not get enough of those and I got in trouble in 5th grade for doing my homework in “unapproved” colors. Prior to Flairs, pens were mainly black, blue-black and blue. Thanks for sharing this. It was fun to read and remember.
bluchickenninja
Gel pens were a thing when I was in school. Can’t remember if we were actually allowed to use them in class. I think not but I had so many gel pens. It was ridiculous.
FlyTrapMan
I’m not too familiar with the pens in your post. I stay away from gel pens and all forms of ballpoints. Personally, I use a 0.5mm needlepoint. Academix makes decent 0.5mm needlepoints.
bluchickenninja
I’ve never heard of Academix before. I will need to have a look at their pens.
rustygarnersmith
Hey Emma, good post, The right (write) pen is important. I don’t write w/paper very much anymore, as I never did anything with it once it was writ. But I too like the feel of various pens and the way the ink flows. You did good! Makes me want to go get another decent pen and write the old fashioned way.
bluchickenninja
I find especially with blog posts I prefer writing them by hand first. Its a nice change since I spend so much time writing on the computer.
rustygarnersmith
My writing has gotten so bad over the years ( sloppy ) that I have to use a keyboard just so I can read it.
bluchickenninja
I grew up using the computer mostly for writing so I never actually got to the point where my handwriting was neat.
Dagny
To go back some eighty or so years, Muriel Eddy wrote this about Howard Phillips Lovecraft in “The Gentleman from Angell Street”:
“I live with my two devoted aunts,” he told us seriously. “They let me sleep all hours of the day, if I am so inclined. Most of my nights I spend in writing. I write my manuscripts in long-hand, as I detest typing. I have had this Waterman fountain pen for years, and it is my constant companion.” He withdrew a black pen from his pocket and showed it to us.
bluchickenninja
Yes. Pens are important 🙂
jaivyas98
Hahaha that was a fun read. I’m quite the pen enthusiast myself. I try not to go to stationery stores very often so as to not end up buying a pen or two that catch my eye. My dad gifted me a really premium pen recently and as much as I love it, I dread the day its ink runs out.
bluchickenninja
Yeah, I tend to find a pen I like then search for replacement inks for it. It can be difficult sometimes.
jaivyas98
Yes it is difficult. Especially when certain pens are like limited editions or something and they tell you “We don’t make those anymore.”
bluchickenninja
Yeah that can be annoying. If I find a pen I like I just buy as many of them as I can find.
jaivyas98
Haha that’s a good idea.
curtisbausse
Loved that post – it made me check what pens I actually use (never thought about it before). Right now, a Bic Atlantis and a Bic Velcoty, both pretty good. All I need now is a pen that understands the vision I have and writes it for me.
bluchickenninja
But there would be no point in finding the perfect pen if you’re not going to write with it!
Content Catnip
WOW, I can so relate to this, although I never realised I was a pen addict until you brought this addiction into the reality hehe. I too love the gel pens that seem to glide on and feel great in the hands.
I don’t know about the Bic four pens in one though, this is cumbersome to use and the ink itself is pale and crappy on the page hehe
Lovely post 🙂
bluchickenninja
Love gel pens! The bic pen isn’t the greatest but I really like the colours in comes in. Thanks 🙂
the mountain and the stone
it is so comforting to know that there is a community of nutcases that drool emotionally over a pen as much as I do, and the pilot pen i use often when writing lyrics down for tunes, that i will be showing in a few weeks from now, this was such a great read, thank you 🙂
bluchickenninja
You are very welcome 🙂
chousy
Your top pen is the pen we mark with at school! I get through boxes of them every term!
bluchickenninja
Nice!
Jessie Stracener
The perfect pen is extremely important!
bluchickenninja
Yes!!!!!!!
vothikhanhhoa
I love Micron ^^
bluchickenninja
Me too!
Sandy Perry
I worked at an office supply store after high school just so I could be closer to the pens. #truestory
bluchickenninja
Hahaha awesome!
nicollzg
I had a serious pen addiction back in the day. Staedtler is awesome, as is Rotring (my favourite Rotring 0.9mm). My favourite pen of all time was UNI-BALL 0.38mm, black http://www.mymaido.com/127-uni-ball-signo-dx-um-151-gel-ink-pens-038mm. Must have bought like a hundred of those… Cured the disease with a perfect fountain pen that carry with me everywhere, all the time.
writing, writing, words words words.
My all-time favorite was a UNI-BALL as well. Seems like the particulars are the same as the one I had. It had just the right amount of scritch to it. I STILL mourn that pen 😉
bluchickenninja
I’ve used one of those uni-balls but I didn’t like it. Not sure why.
mycreativeresolution2014
Try Tombow (jetpens.com). You can make lines thin or thick with pressure.
bluchickenninja
Cool. I’ve never heard of those pens before. I would normally just use a paintbrush with a pot of ink.
writing, writing, words words words.
Oh my god, I just looked at all you pens and now I’m jealous! 😉 But seriously. I had this PERFECT pen, it ran out of ink but I’ve kept it anyway hoping to find a replacement but no luck yet. I swiped it from my sister’s house but we’re no speaking at the moment (nothing to do with me taking the pen – she didn’t care) and I can’t find a replacement! But now I’m inspired to go hunting tomorrow. Thanks for the GREAT post! 🙂
bluchickenninja
Good luck. Have you tried looking online?
writing, writing, words words words.
No but I will. Thanks!
Aimer Boyz
I can poke around in stationary stores for ever. I live looking at pens. I bought one just yesterday that looks like a crayon. Not terribly expensive but so cute 🙂
bluchickenninja
You can buy pens that look like crayons? omg want!
reesertshadow
You have such readable handwriting 🙂
bluchickenninja
You know, you’re the first person to say that you can understand my handwriting. At my last job pretty much everyone complained because they couldn’t understand what I had written.
tripleclicka
Finally, I have found the people of the pens…. my tribe…
bluchickenninja
Yes… tribe… that is what we are 😀
simonamoon
I used to keep the pens a liked aside until they dry!
bluchickenninja
I’ve never had a pen dry out on me. I must be doing something wrong!
simonamoon
I wasn’t using them because I was waiting for that magical moment to use them. They would dry before that moment.
bluchickenninja
Ahh yes I understand.
regaliamanila
You should try Muji pens too. I’ve been using them for months and they work pretty well.
bluchickenninja
I’ve heard the Muji are pretty good. I think I actually went to buy some once and the pens I wanted were out of stock. I must go have a look again.
coffeennotes
I am too, a pen-obsessive woman, I have my favorites and I have tons of them (just in case, lol).
bluchickenninja
We’re not obsessed we just really really really like pens! There is a difference 🙂
coffeennotes
Really like pens… 😍😍😍
Lynn Love
Surely, everyone has a pen fetish- right? No? The pilot’s a good pen, like that one. Have tried writing with gel pens (I write mainly on public transport) But they’re a bi messy. Could be cos I’m left handed and we smear everything we write! I like a Papermate- the one with the rubbery shaft (excuse my language).
Don’t get me started on notebooks- I could fill a …. notebook on my notebook preferences 🙂
bluchickenninja
Yeah I’ve found some gel pens can be messy. Someone once told me that sharpies are good for left handers because the ink dries quickly.
Ooooh notebooks. I love my A5 fabric journal from Paperchase. That thing is so beat up and it hasn’t fallen apart yet!
Lynn Love
BTW love your blog- you’re a total book maniac and I love you for it!
bluchickenninja
Hey! I’m not a book maniac I just really really really… yeah you’re right. I am a book maniac 🙂
sb2711
I am a pen hoarder. I love fountain pens the most <3 😀 I love your handwriting as well.
bluchickenninja
Thank you!
vonchris
Cool post. I’ll write with anything that works (ha, ha).
bluchickenninja
That works too!
Sallie
Great blog – I enjoyed the read and will keep popping back for more bluechicken ninja news. Thanks for visiting sasathazblog@wordpress.com
julial213
Hi. As all the other above I love collecting pens. At my desk I have mine and then a pencil/pen holder for anyone who needs one. I also work at a library circulation desk, so when going to conferences I would pick up pens from all the vendors. Of course I would go through them to see if I wanted to keep any (ha-ha) and the rest would go to the circ desk.
Glad to know there are so many other people with this . . . is obsession or hobby the right work? Thanks for sharing this and visiting my site.
bluchickenninja
Yeah I think this is definitely an obsession!
elmdriveimages
I’m a nut for pens. For years I bought new models when I saw someone with a different style pen. Thanks for the, like, on Elm Drive Images – A bit of Color in the Forest.
bluchickenninja
You are very welcome 🙂
jpbohannon
Thanks a lot for visiting my site and “liking” my post. I too love pens–and lately have been collecting a variety of styluses (styli ??) as well. Good luck.
bluchickenninja
You’re welcome 🙂
blkkat49
Another pen addict here. They don’t even have to be unusual, although that’s a plus. I have to make a conscious note to return borrowed pens. It took awhile to realize the chained pens in banks weren’t chained specifically, because of me. I can’t leave pens on the ground. I’m sad when I see pens that are ran,crushed in the street. Yay! I’m part of the ink pen society. Thanks for showing me the light.
bluchickenninja
All pens are good pens but some pens are better than others! Thanks for reading.
nthibodeau7
Thanks for the pen evaluation. I was just at the store staring at the pen section 🙂
bluchickenninja
I love the pen section 🙂
vernon
I have a bucket (ok, I think it was originally a #10 coffee can, but I recycled it) of old pens (and highlighters) that I keep on my desk so all the nibs are pointed down to keep them from drying out. I like your suggestions for their variety – one absolutely must use the right tool for the job!
bluchickenninja
Exactly! I use old jars and mugs to store all my pens.
kyriakh123
The pens you mention in this article are some of my favorites, as well. When ever I go to the grocery story with my aunt and my grandmother, I always love going to the office supplies aisle to look at all of the pens there are available. I’m always looking for something new and unique. I especially love the latest technical fancy pens, that have grips on them, such as a few you have pictured above. Overall, I have a fetish for all sorts of pens. I guess it’s a writer thing. I have a cousin who is a dental hygenist, and she has a fetish with toothbrushes, in very much the same way writers do about pens. I guess folks in various professions have fetishes about different tools and things pertaining to their given fields. It’s really very interesting and fascinating.
beetleypete
What a response over pen addiction, it’s great! Did you ever watch ‘The League of Gentlemen’ on BBC? They had a character called Pauline who was obsessed with her pens. (Played by one of the men of course). Here’s a clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3w0xP8Ixus
Best wishes, Pete.
bluchickenninja
I’ve never seen this before. It is very Little Britain! Thanks for sharing!
Isabelleh
I love pens as well! And I always end up only ever using one and forgetting the others!
Isabelle x
bluchickenninja
Same. I used the same pen for 3 years at high school, I nearly cried when it broke!