Zebra F-301 Compact Stainless Steel Body Ballpoint Pen - 0.7 mm - Black

The cap is too loose when it is placed in the writing position. It will fall if the pen is inverted. Faulty design that needs to be fixed.

This pen, which is now impossible to find in any retail store, has always been my go to. I will admit that I like a scratchy, fine point pen and this one is it. This pen is a perfect size (I enjoy a compact pen), the cap prevents leaking, the ink cartridge is smooth and doesn't clog. I used this pen on Law School Exams and can guarantee that over 3-4 hours of writing it's a very comfortable pen. I find that the smaller size helps prevent hand cramping.

LOVE this pen. And at this price how can you NOT give it a go?

I have bought this pen again and again. It has a great line and I love how it fits into small spaces. I agree with others who complain that it doesn't "click" when opened and extended. The odd thing is I think Zebra F-301 Compact pens I bought in the beginning DID click...but inexplicably they changed the design. Or, am I just imagining things. Perhaps if lots of us write to Zebra asking them to tweak the design a bit, they'll listen. Anyway, that little problem doesn't dampen my enthusiasm for this pen at all. I love it.

As a guy who always likes to always carry a pen, there are 2 locations to carry it: shirt pocket, or back pants pocket. Shirt pockets keep getting smaller, so often won't easily hold a full size pen, and it's getting tough to find a causual shirt with a pocket. Back pocket a full size pen is uncomfortable when you sit down, wears a hole in the pocket or frays the top of the pocket, may break (if plastic), or "unretracts" and leaves an ink stain. The Zebra compact is the best compromise I've found--short for either pocket (or even front pants pocket), full size for use, mostly steel so it won't break if you sit on it, and a good fine point black ink writing tool. I agree, the only major shortfall is that the cap doesn't click into place during use, only when closed.

This is a nice looking compact pen for a low price (compared to, say, the Inka). As some have pointed out, the cap is loose when the pen is extended - there's no reassuring "click" to lock it in place when extended. It is not really a problem though - it fits securely enough, and takes a moderate shaking to dislodge it. It's also meant to be extended only when writing, and then put into its compact form again. If you need it extended most of the time, another pen would probably be more suitable. It closes very securely in its "normal" position.