The Z-Mulsion ballpoints have been around about a year now. With their emulsion ink Zebra claim to have found the perfect balance between oil & water.
The Z-Mulsion EX Ballpoint is retractable, in my mind a bonus point before we start, it has a 1.0mm tip & is available in a variety of eight colours. All pens have black barrels, shiny chrome features & the ink colour is defined by a relatively small section that sits between the clip & push button.
This pen has a long rubber grip section that is contoured with the plastic to complete the barrel. It is shaped in such a way that the grip is the widest point, add to that the ridges embedded in the rubber & you have a comfortable grip to behold.
I like the way that the clip has the emulsion emblem cut out at the top, adds some interest as I twiddle & twist it when deep in thought. Although the pocket clip feels sturdy it doesn’t have a lot of give, I got the impression that attaching to anything more than a couple of sheets of paper would be difficult, Zebra proved me wrong, it slipped onto a thick notepad with ease.
The hybrid ink is a mix of oil water & pigment, which I have sampled in blue. Being right handed I don’t often have a problem with smudging, but for those lefties out there it may be another story. Although the writing experience was smooth & effortless, as the ink doesn’t dry instantly it is liable to smudge a little, so maybe not the best choice if you are looking to fill up your autograph book with a few priceless signatures.
