Best Pens for 2025

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

An annual “best pens” roundup from retailer JetPens prompts enthusiasts to compare gel, ballpoint, rollerball, fountain pens, and mechanical pencils for everyday writing, note‑taking, and journaling. Commenters trade specific favorites—ranging from cheap Bic Cristals and Uni Jetstreams to Lamy Safaris and TWSBI fountain pens—focusing on factors like ergonomics, line thickness, drying time (especially for left‑handers), reliability, and ink behavior on different papers. Alongside praise for JetPens’ curation and customer service, some voices question the list’s role as de facto advertising and highlight complementary gear such as notebooks and specialty inks.

Article & JetPens Reception

  • Several note the 2025 list is largely unchanged from 2024.
  • Some view it as straight advertising or a generic listicle; others argue JetPens is reputable and their tool reviews are genuinely useful.
  • Customer service experiences from JetPens are described as unusually detailed and responsive, including updating product specs based on user questions.
  • Their educational content and social media are praised for teaching about pens and stationery.

Pen Type Preferences

  • Strong camps for fountain pens (comfort, low pressure, sustainability, character) vs gel pens (control, line work, bullet journaling) vs ballpoints (reliability, fast drying, cheap).
  • Pencil-first users still keep one good pen or multi-pen handy.
  • Many say ballpoints are fatiguing for long writing; modern gels and fountain pens are preferred for ergonomics.

Specific Pen Recommendations & Critiques

  • Frequently praised: Uni Jetstream, Uni-ball Signo (various sizes), Zebra Sarasa (especially quick-dry versions), Bic Cristal and BIC 4‑color, Muji 0.38 gel, Pentel EnerGel, Uni-ball Vision Elite, Sharpie S‑Gel, Pilot Precise V5 RT, Uni-ball Power Tank, Pulaman, Bic Gelocity, Penco short pens, various Tactile Turn and Parker Jotter + premium refills.
  • Entry-level fountain favorites repeatedly cited: Lamy Safari, Platinum Preppy, Kaweco Sport, Pilot Metro, plus Pelikan and Parker models.
  • Some love Jetstream’s smoothness; others find it “too slick” and prefer more friction.
  • Reports of issues: certain TWSBI models developing barrel cracks; Safari nibs sometimes scratchy; Jetstreams or other ballpoints occasionally drying or clogging; isolated complaints of Bic Cristal leaking.

Mechanical Pencils & Graphite

  • Strong enthusiasm for Uni Kuru Toga (auto-rotating lead) and classic Pentel mechanicals; lead holders and wooden pencils also get attention.
  • Advice to buy mechanical pencils and leads in bulk; note that JetPens runs a separate “best pencils” list.

Left-Handed Use & Dry Times

  • Left-handed writers emphasize need for fast-drying ink to avoid smearing in left‑to‑right scripts.
  • Differences attributed to “pushing” vs “pulling” the pen across the page.

Ink, Archival, and Sustainability

  • Some highlight fountain pens plus bottled ink as long-lived and more sustainable.
  • Discussion of water-based “permanent”/pigmented inks vs oil-based ballpoint ink for archival documents; no consensus, multiple options offered.

Notebooks & Paper

  • Paper quality is seen as as important as the pen.
  • Rhodia, Leuchtturm1917, Travelers Notebook, and Tomoe River loose leaf in Kokuyo binders are mentioned as particularly good, especially for fountain pens.