Uni-ball Jetstream Standard Ballpoint Pen - 0.5 mm - Black Ink - Light Pink Body

Out of all my pens, this is not a pen I would write with often. I like this pen it doesn't skip, and it's good for 0.5. It's smooth, but not to smooth to where it would like just slide across the page if you don't hold it correctly. It would be a good pen to write fast with because it is really smooth.

The signature Jetstream ink is so rich and dark, it's almost like a gel pen but it's a ballpoint, which I LOVE!! The colors are so cute too.

HOWEVER...

It skips sooo much, it's driving me crazy. I keep having to retrace over all the skipping whenever I write notes. The 1.0 Jetstream RT I got elsewhere isn't as bad as this 0.5 but there is skipping, nonetheless.

I really really wanted to like these pens. I really did. All I can say is, good thing I only bought one.

2 stars for the dark gel-like ink and cute barrel.

hm... every review that i've read says that this pen is completely skip-free. in order for mine not to skip, i have to make sure the paper is completely flat on the surface i am writing on.

pro: the ink. oh, the ink! it is delicious and black.
aesthetically beautiful. most japanese pens are
light, precise.

con: (skips... a lot)
not archival-safe. put a drop of rubbing alcohol on it, you'll see.

Smoothness: okay
Precision: Good for 0.5 mm
weight: light
Grip feeling: okay
Cushion: solid

Overall impression: Okay, for better comfort but less precise pen I recommend Pilot G-Knock Retractable Gel Ink Pen - 0.38 mm

I absolutely love the Jetstream line of pens! I was introduced to Jetstream after picking up a promotional pen at a scientific conference. I was immediately impressed with how smoothly it wrote, and how dark the resulting line was. You get used to how nicely these write, but then if you switch to another pen you can immediately see how much fainter other pens are. These pens always write, down to the last drop of ink. After using the promotional pen for a while I was so impressed, I went online to find the exact pen and that's how I found Jetpens!

The Jetstream Basic Series are my favorites for everyday writing. The rubber grip is on the hard side but comfortable, and the size is just right for me. I use this pen, and the red pen for corrections, on a daily basis. In fact, I bought a whole bunch of them in black, blue and red and gave them out to my family so that they could try them out as well.

A quick note to anybody that may experience skipping. If you write on plasticized paper at some point, I believe that this can gum up the small ball at the end of the pen. I had this happen once, and had to switched in a new refill because the pen became unreliable.