The impact of digitalisation on society has resulted in handwritten notes, letters and reminders trailing off into obscurity. Gone are the days of quills, ink and crumpled-up pieces of paper thrown into wastebins because you can’t quite get the wording right. Indeed, you’re currently reading this article in the perfectly uniform lettering of the curated, stylish and accessible font we’ve painstakingly chosen for our website.
Yet, there remains a place for handwritten words in modern society. Automatically generated reminders are all well and good, but nothing gets the blood pumping quite like an aggressively penned Post-It note stuck to the bottom of your computer monitor.
Likewise, scholars will know all too well the necessity of handwriting revision notes in order to fully commit facts and figures to memory. School and university examinations remain handwritten, and some university professors are even known to ban technology from their lecture halls entirely.
For those of us who continue to scribble notes in the margins of our favourite books, rigorously keep immaculate journals, keep written notes of important dates, lovingly handwrite birthday cards and more – finding the perfect writing instrument is incredibly important. Classic bulk-bought ball-point pens cause painful writer’s bumps, while traditional fountain pens can often be too messy and high-maintenance for some.
That one, unbranded hotel pen you’d clutched onto until its dying day is gone, and you can’t quite bring yourself to test out dozens of inferior alternatives at Ryman’s, alongside the back-to-school kids. Luckily, we’re here to help.
We take proper stationery very seriously here at ES Best, with the majority of us opting for handwritten notes and classic, physical diaries. As such, we’ve created an edit of the best writing pens on the market so you can perfect your lettering with the utmost ease.
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uni-ball Vision Elite E Airplane Safe Rollerball Pens Black (Pack of 3)
The pièce de résistance of this article. A tried and true ES Best favourite.
We’re not quite sure how, but this pen ensures your handwriting remains silky smooth, gliding between every stroke of the pen. The ink is relatively thick, so you have to take care not to smudge it while jotting away, meaning this pen is perhaps not the best option for left-handers. The 0.8mm rollerball pen also features a pocket clip and a grip area for extra comfort while writing.
The Vision Elite also come equipped with airplane-safe technology, which prevents leaks due to changes in pressure – making it perfect for the frequent traveller. You can pick up this dream instrument in blue, black or red.
Buy now £9.99, WHSmith
Parker 51 Ballpoint Pen Forest Green with Gold Trim
The model originally used by poet Dylan Thomas, the iconic Parker 51 is a fantastic mid-range contemporary option for wordsmiths looking to elevate their writing game. Available with a ballpoint or fountain pen tip, we’re partial to the perennially stylish forest green and gold trim design.
Buy now £90.00, Cult Pens
Uni-Ball Jetstream Retractable Ball Point Pens,0.7mm, Black Ink
A brilliant hybrid writing instrument, the Uni-Ball Jetstream glides across the page with a gel pen-like smoothness yet has the quick-dry properties of a ballpoint. The retractable pen is also equipped with an embossed grip for extra comfort, and it’s available in blue, black and red for all your notetaking needs.
Buy now £23.98, Amazon
Bic Cristal 10 x 1.6mm Black Ink Pens
The elevated model of the classic Bic ballpoint pen, the Bic Cristal delivers a thick, ultra-smooth and bold 0.6mm line which can be easily adapted based on the amount of pressure you apply to the hexagonal nib.
Buy now £5.93, Amazon
Rhodia Script Refillable Ballpoint Pen In Rosewood 0,7mm
This attractive, refillable ballpoint pen by Rhodia is realised in a durable, brushed aluminium hexagonal frame and is equipped with a highly precise 0.7mm tip. The retracting mechanism is light and smooth and the pen itself is compatible with D1-style refills.
Buy now £34.95, London Graphic Centre
Pilot Frixion Erasable Retractable Rollerball 0.7 mm Tip
For the clumsy, indecisive lover of all things handwritten, the Frixon erasable rollerball pen is a saviour. The refillable pen is available in a vast range of colours, making this a fantastic option for colour-coordinated notetakers. When you make a mistake, simply rub it out with the special integrated eraser just like you would with a pencil.
Buy now £10.45, Amazon
Bic 4 Colours Retractable Ballpoint Pens
The iconic four-colour retractable ballpoint from Bic is a tried and true classic. Forget holding various coloured pens in between your fingers like a mock wolverine, for colour-coded notes have never been easier. These pens are also incredibly long-lasting, with each of the four cartridges capable of writing up to 2km of text.
Buy now £6.45, Amazon
Leuchtturm1917 Drehgriffel Ballpoint Pen
Beloved stationer Lechtturm1917 has revived one of the brand’s most popular pens from the 1920s, the ‘drehgriffel’ – a German compound noun which translates to ‘twist stylus’. The distinctive, wide hexagonal barrel provides ergonomic ease, and it’s available in a variety of contemporary hues to suit your personality.
Buy now £18.50, London Graphic Centre
Platinum Plaisir Fountain Pen PGB-1000 Black
Fountain pens aren’t for everyone, not just due to their often extortionate price – but because they don’t always accommodate everyone’s writing style. This sleek, durable and value-for-money option, however, is a great entry point for those looking to elevate their handwriting. It’s available with either a medium (0.5mm) or fine (0.3mm) steel nib.
Buy now £12.75, Cult Pens
Faber-Castell Grip 2010 Fountain Pen and Ballpoint Set Coconut Milk
This award-winning fountain pen with Faber Castell’s signature ergonomic grip design is a fan-favourite for a reason. The triangular-shaped profile boasts raised grip dots to prevent slippage and smudging, while the push-button retract system ensures you can control the flow of ink at all times.
Available in multiple sizes for both right and left-handers, this pen is an ideal option for those looking for a stand-out, refillable fountain pen for daily use.
Buy now £18.00, Cult Pens
Liberty Floral Pen Set
Can’t get enough of those iconic Liberty florals? Bring your personal workspace up a notch with this delightful trio from our favourite department store. The capped ballpoint pens feature black ink and adorable rose gold hardware. You certainly won’t be putting these pens down.
Buy now £21.99, Liberty
Caran D’Ache Colour Treasure Ecridor Sunlight ballpoint pen gift set
If you’re looking to splash out on some serious stationery, you can’t go wrong with this Colour Treasure Ecridor Sunlight ballpoint pen by premium brand Caran D’Ache.
Known for its exceptional range of high-end writing instruments, Caran D’Ache was founded in Geneva in 1915 and has been at the top of its game ever since. The name itself means pencil in Russian and has its roots in the Turkish word ‘kara-tash’, which means black stone – a reference to graphite.
This particular ballpoint pen is made from 100 per cent aluminium and comes with a leather case, gold metal box, rainbow sleeve and a Goliath cartridge in medium black. Finely engraved with a sun-effect diamond guilocharge, the pen’s design seeks to recreate the arc of a rainbow. It’s definitely a gift worth saving up for.
Buy now £206.03, Amazon
Verdict
When it comes to daily writing accessories, it doesn't get better than the Uni-Ball Vision Elite. For the poets and dreamers, however, we highly recommend the Parker 51.
