Pilot G-Tec-C Gel Ink Pen - 0.3 mm - Red

Just to remind people as it seems that many do not know... to write with small diameter pens you should use smooth paper, that is quality type of paper such as Rhodia, Clairefontaine etc, not the usual domestic crap you find in Staples and other common stores. You could use it on those cheap rough papers but the pen will skip and you will ruin the tip of the pen. So you have to use good french made paper (other make good paper too eg Japanese, Italian) and you will love drawing or writing with these type of pens.

Had to add that in as some people complain [likely not knowing about quality of paper required for good results] about skipping etc, not only these pens but almost any other tiny diameter of pen.

Remember the two high quality papers: Clairefontaine notebooks of various sizes (this one is best and is much thicker than Rhodia, and Rhodia is very common. I use Rhodia blank notebooks in size A4 for sketching and doodling while for writing I use Clairefontaine notebooks of both pocket and A4 size for writing important notes for home [studies, archival notes...I still have to have written notes/articles on paper as i do not trust computers 100%...they eventually crash..I know backup etc, but that also crashes believe me]. Nothing beats writing on nice paper.

I love these pens for fine tuning watercolors and for making very, very thin lines. I use them, also to fill in very small gaps that my calligraphy pen left. LOVE it!!!! The Signo .18 is also a great pen.... even smaller than this one if you can believe that! This is needle fine.

I think this pen is everything you want a fine-tipped gel pen to be. These are pretty pricey, but ever since my friend bought a pack I'd wanted to try them to. They write like a dream... on thick paper. But like with almost any other fine tip/gel pen, it'll be scratchy on thinner paper. Although, I've never had it skip no matter how thin the paper is. I guess I'm just a ball-point gal (and I remembered the hard--and expensive--way that gels are very prone to smudging, when I wrote on a bunch of senior photos only to have the gel ink smudging all over the photos underneath).

Also, these are pretty expensive, especially considering the fact that the build of the pen is quite poor. The logo "G-Tec-C" wore off very quickly, even though I only ever put my pens in a specific pouch of my backpack. It's hard plastic and can be uncomfortable to write with for a long time, but sometimes, I miss the fluidity and look of gels (much darker in comparison to the 0.5mm Jetstream black ink).

these pens break EASILY!! they are incredibly fragile.
but well, if they aren't broken. these pens are the best pens ever!

Other than the 0.4mm, I've never had a Hi-Tec or G-Tec pen in 0.25mm write smoothly each time. The ink always skips or needs starting before use.

This alone is a 3 star rating.