Uni-ball Style Fit Single Color Slim Gel Ink Pen

Saw these Uni-ball Style Fit Single Color Slim gel ink pens with a 0.38 mm tip and a 0.5mm tip and decided to try them both out so I could see how they compared to each other. I got a 0.5mm  in blue and and a 0.38 in blue-black, and have given them a pretty good writing workout over the past few days doing some research projects that require a lot of note-taking.

The Style Fit Single Color Slim is a little strange looking, but it's a very cool pen:  definitely slim (about half the size of a G2 or B2P), but standard-length so it doesn't get lost in your pencil cup.  The long, clear plastic section gives you a good view of how much ink you have remaining while also making about a third of the pen seem to disappear.

It's a simple pen, just three parts to it.  The ink refill fits into a slot inside the pen where the plunger, so no spring to get lost.  You have a choice of refills, as well: gel ink, ballpoint, and pencil. I like that I can change not only the colors and tip size but the format as well, and may check out the ballpoint options.

I have to say that I really preferred the 0.5mm over the 0.38mm tip.  The latter seemed more like I was writing with a nail, and I found myself really grinding into the paper. The 0.5mm was smoother in my hand, and writing felt easier and more natural. But I do love the blue-black color of the 0.38mm refill, and will have to look for some in 0.5mm at JetPens.

If you are looking for a new pen to add to your collection, check this out. I've really enjoyed writing with it, even the 0.38mm.

Uni-ball Jetstream 3 Color Multi Pen @JetPens

Many thanks to Brad, Pen Addict and JetPens marketing whiz, for generously feeding my habit for new pens by sending me a Uni-ball Jetstream 3 Color multi to review. This one is has a navy colored body with a pink clip and plunger, something I know will stand out among all my other gel ink pens.

I have several Jetstreams in my pen holder, including a different style of 3 pen multi and my favorite retractable ballpoint. Pictured above is the navy/pink Jetstream multi next to the RT ballpoint, a nice comparison of the multi's dimensions.



This Jetstream comes apart in the middle of the barrel, revealing the blue, black, and red ink refills. Uni-ball gel inks are a proprietary formula, and really do glide across the paper. While this has 0,7mm refills, a medium-large width, you can also purchase 0.5mm refills and try out various other brands to see if they fit or have different colors. In this case, I'm quite taken by the brightness of their red, which has some yellow in it and really stands out. The clip is big and solid, and also stands out.


The Jetstream 3 Color Multi is a good looking gel ink multi pen, writes very well, and comes in an assortment of colors. Do take a look when you're at JetPens, particularly if you are interested in a multi pen.

Uni-ball Alpha Gel Slim Ballpoint

The Uni-ball Alpha Gel Slim Ballpoint has a grip that reminds me of the Sensa pens, but it's made out of some type of springy rubber that springs back into its original shape like one of those stress balls.

I like the design of this ballpoint, it's slim only in comparison to the regular Uni-Ball Alpha Gel pen. Otherwise, there are lots of curves to this pen starting with the grip and continuing through the barrel and the clip.

It's also a big pen, measuring 5.75 inches with the plunger fully extended, about a third of an inch longer than my burgundy Zebra Sarasa.

(Just a note that while I adore JetPens, they are selling these Alpha Gels for $13.50 while Tokyo Pen Shop has them for $10. TPS offers free shipping on orders of $25 and up too, and they just added fountain pens to their lineup so do go over there and browse around. I've ordered several times from TPS and found them reliable and fast.)




I can't tell from the packaging if this is a 0.5mm or 0.7mm tip, while the pens are usually marked on the clip or plunger this one isn't. Nor is the ink refill above, so I'll have to guess that it's a 0.7mm (not a 0.5mm as I wrote above).

Something I hadn't noticed before that's a great little detail is the small piece of cotton at the end of the ink refill, which would keep ink from escaping the back. I'm not sure when this would be needed (high altitude?), but it makes you appreciate how much attention to detail is paid on all aspects of these Uni-ball pens.

The royal blue color accents are nicely place, with a darker blue on the tip of the clip and the end of the barrel as well as the top of the plunger and a more powdery blue coloring the grip. The pen is actually very light in the hand even with the metal barrel, and writing takes very little effort.

Looking for a ballpoint in the $10 to $15 range, something that looks good and writes well? Here's a great option for you.

The Magical Appearing/Disappearing Uni-ball Jetstream

About two weeks ago I came into my office and found a Uni-ball Jetstream rubber body pen on my desk. What was unusual is that it wasn't mine, as I use other Jetstreams but not this one. I'd lucked out--instead of someone walking off with one of my (more upscale) pens, someone left one of her (more upscale) pens with me.

The Uni-ball Jetstream rubber body is a great looking pen and I started writing my notes and doodles with it. Smooth ink flow, didn't smear, nice barrel, the 0.7mm width not too wide, and the rubber coating that feels a bit softer in the hand.

Last night I decided I'd write a review of it for the blog, and get it officially on the #dailyarsenal list. I brought my digital camera in with me to take pictures, only to find...no pen. It was on my desk, now it's gone.

Perhaps it is a Quantum Jetstream, only in one place when you are focusing your attention on it. Or perhaps one of my co-workers left it on my desk a few weeks back, then saw it yesterday afternoon and took it back. Not a problem, but it does raise one question: who is coming into my office looking over my desk after I've left for the day?

Another post will be up shortly, but if you like gel ink pens and Jetstreams then try out this rubber body pen.

Uni-ball Jetstream 3 Color Multi-Pen

I was looking at this Uni-ball Jetstream multi-pen on eBay for some time, and decided to give it a try. A three-color multi-pen, this luminous black pen has silver accents and a very heavy silver clip but it remarkably light.


The pen tips are 0.5mm, but seem like a 0.4mm or lower--the line width is quite thin, although it is very readable and doesn't get too lost on lined or graph paper. I thought I'd try it out on my dot ring binder, and definitely like the way it writes in blue, black and red.

These are some of the nicest looking gel inks I've used: the red is solid, not pale, and stands out against ivory paper. The blue is deep and rich, while the black is dark and interesting. There's a touch of blobbing, that dreaded oil-based ink problem that leads to smearing, but nothing particularly excessive that a few extra seconds of drying won't clear up.


One detail I like is that you twist the barrel to change color, with three dots labeled black, red, blue on the silver band, with a blank space in-between when the pen retracts. I like this much better than pushing down a colored tab on the end of the pen, and with this feature I don't accidentally retract the pen with I'm writing by hitting the tab. There's a small clear jewel on the end of the cap, which is a nice design detail.

The only pen I've seen available online is at JetPens, the Jetstream F* series with two inks and a pencil feature. I'm more inclined to the three inks, which Taizo may be offering again at his eBay store. They are similarly priced, so if multis are your thing take a look at this one at either store.