Choosing the Right Pen

How do I choose between Ballpoint, Rollerball and Fountain styles?

Each style has its own distinctive feel. Which pen you choose depends largely on how you write, how much you write, and personal preference. 

Ballpoint pens are a low maintenance, traditional choice. They do require some pressure on the paper to deliver the ink. If you write a lot, then a rollerball or a fountain pen may be a better choice for you.

Rollerball pens are exceptionally smooth, with vibrant lines and require little pressure on the paper. A fine rollerball pen is a joy to write with! Rollerball pens have a distinct feel, with a slight "springy-ness" in the tip, making contact with the paper effortless.

Fountain pens require practically no pressure on the paper when writing. A finely tuned nib is smooth, and glides across the paper with almost no effort and also delivers a vibrant lines. An added benefit is the wide variety of bottled inks available (using an ink pump instead of cartridges) - a rainbow of colors, metallics, shimmer/glitter inks, color-shifting inks, etc. While the maintenance of a fountain pen is important, it is not difficult or particularly time consuming. See my blog entry Caring For Your Fountain Pen for details. Once you become accustomed to using a fountain pen, you'll fall in love with them.

The illustration below highlights these choices and considerations when selecting the right pen for you.