Very Correct Lifehacker Staff Opinion Written in Pen
After it became known that scandal-prone Scott Pruitt, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, bought pens worth $ 1,560 for a taxpayer dime, we wondered: which pen is better? (He also bought personalized magazines, but that’s a topic for another day.)
Surely, “personalized silver fountain pens from DC’s prestigious Tiny Jewel Box” could not be the best on the market. I hate to brag too much, but I’ve used a fountain pen before, and guess what, they’re good, not the best. I wouldn’t spend $ 130 on one, even if it was “adorned with the EPA seal” and Pruitt’s signature. As staff writer Nick Douglas said, “Unless you’re some weirdo, your favorite pen costs about a dollar and you can buy a ton and never skimp or use your unloved pens.”
When it comes to pens, everyone has an opinion (or “pen,” as staffer Joel Kahn indignantly put it). Different handles are suitable for different people. My handwriting is incredibly sloppy, so I need a pen that doesn’t bleed too much or is too inky – it just makes my horrible handwriting look worse than it actually is. However, other employees expressed the exact opposite opinion.
So here’s the pen that every LH employee prefers (from Vice’s Eva Peizer, who inspired us to create this smart gear pen ):
Patrick Allan, staff writer
I love pens. My favorite available pens are the 0.7mm Pilot G-2s. I don’t like cheap pens with caps.
* Bonus thoughts from Patrick: Love Mooji. some of my favorite notepads and mechanical pencils. I also like a good brush pen. So much.
Nick Douglas, staff writer
I love the exact same 0.7mm Pilot G-2 as Patrick. Twins! Sometimes I get it in blue because life is a party.
Alicia Adamchik, staff writer
Don’t get hung up on this. The Paper Mate ComfortMate Ultra 1.0M is a great everyday pen. I love Sharpie pens too, but they seep through the pages of my magazines, so I need to use something lighter. For a thick stock, however, Sharpie handles are what you need. I also like to use the Stabilo Point 88 in turquoise for journaling.
Michelle Wu, parenting editor
I always try to squeeze more notes into small notepads, and Muji gel ink ballpoint pens are great for writing tiny letters. They are bright without bleeding or smudging. Take 0.5mm or 0.38mm.
Claire Lower, cookery editor
I love Stabilo ballpoint pens for everyday typing.
* Bonus tip from Claire: I hold lousy pens to give to the guy who’s trying to steal the good ones.
Beth Skorecki, Health Editor
The Uni-Ball Air is the best pen because it writes a thick, smooth river of ink from any angle, and you can refill it (carefully) with Bulletproof Black from Noodler. If I’m in the mood for a fountain pen, Lamy Safari is perfect; and if I need a retractable gel pen, I go for the PaperMate Ink Joy.
Joel Kahn, video editor
I like the ink pen. It feels like you are writing in liquid. Uni-Balls are great because they are durable, have a very nice lid click (Copyright 2018) and look much prettier than they actually are. I also carry a pen with me all my life. You never know when you will meet a famous person and want his autograph, or when the cashier cannot find you a pen, it’s good that I always have one at hand! Because of this, click pens do not work because they can click in your pocket and ruin your pants.
* Bonus tip from Joel: Lend pens you don’t like to people who won’t give them back. Then you don’t get upset about losing a good pen!
David Murphy, Senior Technical Editor
Yassss for uni-ball vision, I won’t use anything else (micro, not normal).
Alice Bradley, Associate Editor
These are the very best: the Signo UM-151 uni-ball.
Melissa Kirsch, Editor-in-Chief
The only pen you have to use is the uni-ball Deluxe :
So what’s your hot pen? Let us know in the comments.