Summary: The Uni-ball Signo DX (UM-151) is another great writer in the Signo series
Rating: 9/10
Price: ~$2.50
Where I buy it: jetpens.com
I am impressed with every pen I've used in Uni-ball's Sigo series. Apparently I have the older DX model, rather than the newer UM-151, but I believe I've used the UM-151 as well.
I prefer the 0.38 size, as it fits my writing style well. The main difference between this pen and the Signo RT is that the DX is a stick pen, and the RT is retractable. This winner is available in several colors and in 0.28, 0.38, and 0.50 widths.
Summary: The Zebra Sarasa Clip (0.4) is one of my top three favorite gel pens.
Rating: 9/10
Price: ~$2.20
Where I buy it: jetpens.com
This was a sleeper pen for me. For years I wasn't aware of its existence. And even when I learned about it (thanks, Brad!), I didn't jump on it right away for whatever reason. Maybe I was just so happy with my Uni-ball Signos and Pilot Hi-Tec-Cs. I'm not sure. But this pen is a great writer. I've used both the gray and the blue-black versions. If I were ever stranded on a dessert island (notice I said "dessert" and not "desert" — who would ever want to be stranded on a desert island?!), I would be perfectly happy documenting my delectable experience with one of the blue-blacks.
Initially, I wasn't impressed with the unusual clip. However, after using it for a while, I've found that it doesn't get in the way. In fact, this is one of the few pens that I can attach to a Field Notes size notebook without having to worry about snapping the clip.
This beautiful baby is available in a variety of sizes and colors.
Summary: The Pilot Hi-Tec-C (0.4) is one of my two favorite pens for taking notes.
Rating: 9/10
Price: ~$3.30
Where I buy it: jetpens.com
I love this pen. It is a great, but somewhat more delicate pen than, say, a Uni-ball Signo UM-151. By delicate I mean that it writes best on smooth, high quality papers (and not so well on rough paper). I also mean that the tip will not stand up to as much abuse as some other pens. But if you respect the pen and use decent paper, it's hard to beat.
Note: The Hi-Tec-C family of pens comes in a variety of widths (0.25 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, and 0.5 mm) and many colors. The G-Tec-C is the international version of the Hi-Tec-C. Other than the name, I don't think there is any difference.
Summary: The Uni-ball Signo 207 (0.7) pen is a great pen for signatures.
Rating: 8/10
Price: ~$1.50
Where I buy it: Target
For most of my note-taking I prefer a pen with a narrower tip. But when I need to sign a document, this is the pen I reach for.
Summary: The Pilot G-2 Gel (0.5) pen has a cult following for good reason.
Rating: 8/10
Price: ~$1.75
Where I buy it: Target
The G-2 is a well-built pen. Like the Uni-ball Signo 207, this pen just keeps working. The thing that keeps it from being a perfect pen is its ink — it doesn't dry as quickly as other gel pens I've used.
Summary: The Uni-ball Signo 207 Micro (0.5) pen is one of my favorite general-purpose pens.
Rating: 9/10
Price: ~$1.75
Where I buy it: Target, Office Max, Office Depot
This pen is a workhorse. If I were to be exiled to a desert island, and got to choose one pen to take with me, this would be it.
My handwriting tends to be on the small side of the spectrum, and this pen's 0.5mm pen tip really helps keep my letters from running together. The tiny point also helps prevent bleed-through from the notes I write in the margins of my books.
I've found that gel ink tends to spread and feather less than rollerballs, and it creates a more uniform and consistent line than ballpoints.
I like using the Signo 207 Micro to:
- track project time in my Franklin Covey notebook
- journal in my small Moleskine sketchbook
- take notes in my larger Moleskine notebook
Summary: The Uni-ball Signo RT Gel (0.38) pen is my favorite ultra-fine-point pen.
Rating: 9/10
Price: ~$1.65
Where I buy it: jetpens.com
This pen is fabulous! It may be too fine for some uses (like signing documents), but if you have smallish handwriting like I do, it is unparalleled for precision note taking.
