I usually have low expectations when picking up a regular ballpoint pen.
Before the point even touches the page, I know the writing experience is going to be less than smooth, and the ink is going to be ‘meh.’ That’s just the nature of ballpoint pens – they’re meant to be inexpensive and adequate, but uninspiring. Plow-horses, not thoroughbreds.
I recently picked up a PaperMate Replay Max from my friends at Tiger Pens. For some strange reason, this had me reminiscing over my school days. In those days I frequently used a yellow pencil with an eraser at the end because I’d write the first thing that came into my mind, realize my mistakes & then be able to correct them.
With pen in hand I wondered, had ballpoint erasers been around when I was in the classroom would they have been any more useful than my trusty pencil had been. The only way to find out was to put it to the test.
Zebra is a company that likes to have fun with its pens, especially the versatile and reliable Z-Grip ballpoint.
Over the years, we’ve seen Z-Grips come in a range of colors, from fuchsia to orange, and in wild animal prints, including cheetah spots and bright tiger stripes. Always with the same sturdy barrel, comfortable grip and smooth writing we’ve come to expect from Zebra pens, even the low-priced ballpoints.
One thing that we’ve always tried to do here at the Pen Vibe Blog is focus not just on the writing instruments, but also on the things we do with them, whether it’s journaling, writing letters, drawing, or signing contracts.
See, while it’s fun to talk about all the unique little aspects of our favorite pens, we actually buy them for a reason, to express ourselves in ways both mundane and extraordinary. We enjoy pens and pencils not solely for themselves, but for what we can accomplish through them. That’s the whole point of a writing instrument (no pun intended).
With the class & quality that you would expect from a pen made by a Japanese company, the Pentel Lancelot is a retractable, refillable sleek looking ballpoint. Part of the luxury collection, this pen comes in black, blue, pink & silver barrels. Made from lacquered brass they have chrome plated fittings, including an eye catching band around the barrel, & all have a lifetime warranty against defects & workmanship issues.