EDC pen ink… what do you like?

[vcdgrips]

Parker Jotter is a great pen. I am a particularly fond of the all steel versions. Perhaps that absolute intersection of nice enough to keep track of, not a tragedy if it is lost, borrowed or stolen. I ALWAYS back up a fountain pen in court/class/training with either a Parker Jotter or the aforementioned all metal bodied Zebra Sarasa.

The all steel Parker Jotter travels extremely well, both domestically and internationally as a “tactical” pen relative to many others, particularly those designated as “tactical.”

[JTQ]

Parker Jotter is a great pen. I am a particularly fond of the all steel versions. Perhaps that absolute intersection of nice enough to keep track of, not a tragedy if it is lost, borrowed or stolen.

I've always preferred the plastic barrel Parker Jotter's, but agree, the Parker fit into that good pen, but one I don't obsess over niche. It seems as if that niche is going away, at least among ball point pens. In today's prices, that would probably fit into the $10 - $20 price range. There are lots of cheap ball points available for under $10 and then there are the "everyday" nicer pens that are in the above $50 range, but that nice, but not too nice ballpoint seems to be a vanishing breed. The low end Fisher pens may be the last of this group.

The basic Jotter with the plastic barrel and steel around the tip seems to have disappeared leaving only the all metal barreled options. Parker seems to want to move into the IM line. The PaperMate Profile pens have been gone for probably more than a decade and PaperMate doesn't even offer refills for them, and Bic's "high end" clicker, the Citation is also long gone. Those were the "Big 3" I usually had on hand, back in the 1980's, rather than use those Government pens linked above.

[vcdgrips]

The Sub 15 Dollar Click Pen Sweet Spot- Prices/Sellers are illustrative and not necessarily bottom dollar. Multipacks are sometimes available and can really drive the per unit price down. Inks can be ball/gel/hybrid etc.
FWIW, I have used all the pens below in Court, Class (Legal and otherwise), Training (Legal and otherwise) with satisfactory results.

Parker Jotter 9-14USD
https://www.jetpens.com/Parker-Jotte...hoCP44QAvD_BwE

Zebra Sarasas 9ish USD
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097FGBY86...ing=UTF8&psc=1

Pilot Acroball 13ish USD max
https://www.amazon.com/PILOT-Acrobal...s%2C151&sr=1-2

Pilot Energel 5-11 USD
https://www.amazon.com/EnerGelTM-All...44&sr=1-1&th=1


All Black and Metal Zebra 750 (think Zebra 701 on steroids) 8ish USD
https://www.amazon.com/Zebra-Pen-Ret...1zcF9tdGY&th=1

[RoyGBiv]

I've been very happy with the performance of Pentel EnerGel...
I'm using the disposables currently, but, they make refills as well.
I also found I prefer the 1.0 over the 0.7mm, but both have been good for me.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And very UN-happy with made-in-Mexico Zebras ... lasted me maybe a month each. Terrible.

[Archer1440]

My EDC pens are Pilot Capless (Vanishing point) fountain pens which I run with Pilot Iroshizuku inks. They fly without leaks, write exceptionally smoothly and are strongly constructed- just in case one finds themselves in need of a slightly vicious stabby thing.

[1911Nut]

Parker Jotter with Fisher Space Pen Black Medium refills.

[camel]

Parker Jotter with Fisher Space Pen Black Medium refills.

I have had good success with this

[Pnut]

Gel ink observation… although I prefer using gel inks, I’ll only use them for notes, journals, etc. Because the ink tends to run if it gets wet, I avoid using them for signatures or other important documents.

[LtDave]

These right here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0824W61QR...roduct_details

OHTO Flash Dry Gel. Apparently only in black, at least via Amazon.

[ragnar_d]

Gel ink observation… although I prefer using gel inks, I’ll only use them for notes, journals, etc. Because the ink tends to run if it gets wet, I avoid using them for signatures or other important documents.

That was what made me move away from gel inks. I had some water get spilled on my desk and screw up some notes I had there, no more gel inks on a day to day basis. Especially since most of them didn't play nice with Rite in the Rain pads. All my every day pens are running Parker "QUINKFlow" refills or Fisher space pen refills.