Another in my latest batch of samples from JetPens, this A.G. Spalding & Bros. Hexagonal Ballpoint really knocked my socks off in the looks and performance category. It writes so smoothly that you could probably handle a dozen journal pages without tiring. I have been very impressed with the Spalding line since first being introduced to them at JetPens. All that I have tried work great and seem very durable.
(Sorry about the scratchout in the picture - I'm a goof!)
9 comments:
Interesting. Do you think it is smoother than the Uni Jetstream Sport? I swear, that Jetstream Sport is the best ballpoint pen I have ever used. I am a little obsessed.
I am going to order this right now, it is on of the best looking pens I have seen.
I couldn't resist, either. JetPens is processing my order "as we speak." Of course, now I've got to check out the JetStream Sport. Y'all are a bad influence on me.
Mariko - the Jetstream Sport is awesome. Changed my opinion on ballpoint pens really. It is hard to compare these two since they are so physically and visually different, but the ballpoint performance is great on both.
I have several more ballpoint reviews coming up as well that may interest you.
I forgot to mention that I do believe the ink is darker in the Jetstream, but I don't have them both on hand right now to test. Looking back at the photos it does appear to be darker, but that's about it. The Spalding is plenty dark though.
I too am addicted to the Jetstream Sport and am searching for more ballpoints with similar writing characteristics. However, in light of the pen's smoothness, I'm wondering if the Jetstream Sport may just be a gel pen that JetPens has mislabeled. Removal of the ink cartridge reveals black ink followed by a clear compound. I'm a little new to this whole Japanese pen thing, but isn't the clear compound following the ink a characteristic of gel pens rather than ballpoints? Just curious. It's a rockin' pen regardless.
I kind of doubt it, only because Jetstream is pretty much synonymous with ballpoint, at least as far as Uni-Ball is concerned. To my knowledge, I don't think there is a Jetstream ballpoint line and a Jetstream gel line. Just the ballpoint.
The plot thickens, my friends. This discussion of Uni-Ball Jetstream Sport ballpoint vs. gel point got me thinking. I had seen a four-pack of Uni-Ball 1.0mm Jetstream Sport "rollerball" pens at Target and was curious, but I thought, hey, I'm now addicted to the ballpoint, so why bother checking out these rollerball pens.
So, after reading your comment that Jetstream is supposed to be ballpoint only, I ran to Target and grabbed a pack of the "rollerball" pens. They look identical to the pens from JetPens. Guess what? I swear these are ballpoints. I am not an expert, but it sure looks like ballpoint ink to me. They are 1.0mm as opposed to the 0.7mm from JetPens, but they are still smooth as silk and a lovely pen. The four-pack comes with four colors of the housing (the ink is black): black, pink, lime, and blue. I think I paid $5.29.
I may be wrong, but I am still pretty excited.
Hehe - I saw your photo on Flickr too! I've almost bought that pack from Target several times, but have never gotten around to it.
Post a Comment