I compared every black 1.0 mm gel pen I could find and settled on the Uni-ball Signo Broad UM-153 as the best for general use. The Pilot G2 and Juice 1.0 mm gel pens are unusually dry and narrow, actually little different from the 0.7 mm in each line. The Pentel EnerGel is dark and wide, but has a slight sloppy feeling to the tip and just a hint of bleed through on some papers. The Zebra Sarasa Retractable is the wettest and boldest 1.0 mm, making a line that is wider and darker than any other brand, but with serious bleed through on most papers. The Signo makes a line as wide as the Pentel EnerGel, but drier, so there is no spreading, bleeding, or sloppy feeling. I would use the Signo where neatness matters, like in a notebook, and use the Sarasa where I wanted the richest possible line and didn't care about the bleeding, like on labels and envelopes.

This has quickly become my go-to pen for writing in my art journal because it will write over any surface without clogging and getting ruined. I use a lot of paint, magazine images, gel mediums, and it writes over everything with no problems. I loved this pen some much in white that I had to try other colors... black is now my go-to, but definitely check out the white, too! LOVE these pens. I quickly used up my first one and have since ordered 3 more.

I love this pen!! It writes smoothly and is archivally safe. If you write slowly, the ink can leave a raised/embossed look. It covers great for small fixes when scrapbooking and crafting. They used to sell it by the box and I should have bought that since everyone who tries my pen takes it! I'm now without one and need to order a bunch more. I would consider this a medium point; if you need something smaller try the UM 151.

As an author, for years I used a Montblanc I bought in Paris in the '80s for book signings. But it kept leaking, and as I prefer a broad point for all handwriting, on the basis of many positive reviews I bought the Uni-ball Signa Broad UM-153 Gel Pen. I'm not about to return to my Montblanc. This is by far the best pen I've ever used, and JetPens, as always, delivers quickly and with the best prices.

What can I say? Uni-ball Signo Broad pens never let me down. The quality is top notch and the pen's ink is rich in color. I love how easily the ink flows out of the pen. My number one favorite writing pen.