The energel going into the C tier is just...i don't know how to put this...inaccurate. It's super smooth, dries instantly (and truly I am yet to see another gel pen that does such besides the uniball one). I can highlight over it with a MILDLINER (the smudging queen) instantly. The clena is just one of the prettiest gel pens, and it belongs in the S tier! Also putting the clena in the same tier as the BIC is really humilating
Nothing beats a Pentel Energel. I’ve used them enough to replace refill replacements and they are just as juicy as the start at the end. I prefer the metal body and non-needle point, though.
The energel is literally one of the BEST gel pens I tried like so much to the point if I write with any cheap ballpoint pens it would feel absolutely horrible 😢😢😢
I actually hate the Uniball One. :( I want to love it because it comes in pretty and unusual ink colors, but the 0.5 skips like crazy for me. I'm going to try it in 0.38 because I'm used to tiny nibs but my expectations are low based on the 0.5. my favorites are the Uni Style Fit 0.28 (my most used because it writes the finest but is admittedly scratchy), Uni Signo RT1 0.28, and Hi-Tec C Coleto 0.3.
I do have to say a retailer putting out 30 minutes of someone saying "most of these pens are mid or stink" is pretty great. Don't see that level of honesty all the time.
I spent some time going through about 30 rollerball and gel pens to try and find my favourite. The best for writing (for me) is the jetstream, it's so smooth - but it doesn't come in brown... so I had to go on a quest to find the best brown pen I could. I was looking for Dark brown ink fine tip (0.3 ideally) click mechanism (no cap) Smooth writing experience clean aesthetics. For your list here, my top two are the energel clena and the G2 - they both write decently, and are solid quality. I don't like the styling on the Clena and the brown is a little too light. The G2 writes too thick for my liking... but they're my top two from your list. The Sarasa and the Uni One... they both feel bad in the hand - too light, too plasticy. The Sarasa Grande is a huge upgrade just for the quality of the pen case. Both the Uni One and the Sarasa are *Really* scratchy though, so they're out of the running for me. For a long time, the best I'd found was the Energel Noir, which has a beautiful soft-grip body that looks really swanky. Most of the Energel line write a little nicer than the Clena, probably because they're 0.7 tips. I used the energel Noir for a few months until I got my recent haul, and I've now found three pens that I actually *like* The first is the Sakura Ballsign. It's beautiful, writes cleanly, and is available in a fine tip size and a range of colours, very clean styling, similar to the Uni One, but a superior writing experience. The second was the Pilot Ilmily Nuance. It writes wonderfully, and looks nice, comes in a range of colours and tip sizes. It's a little unusual in that the clicker is JUST the clip, which moves along the side of the pen to click it on and off. I like it a lot, but if you don't like rattly pens, it might be one to avoid as it's very rattly. My top pick right now is the glossy Pilot Juice Up. It's the best at fulfilling all my criteria. --- Of course, your mileage will vary, especially if your requirements vary, but for me, none of the pens on THIS list are above a C-tier except the Clena, and by S-tier pens are completely different!
They should have hired you to do this review. You actually thought about it as opposed to this girl who leans on vague and inexplicable intuition for ranking pens on what is usually a serious channel.
@@IsmaelAmodeo Ann's a good egg. The problem with stuff like this is it always comes down to intuition and feel. The best advice I can give really is to try and find a physical location that'll let you test stuff out. Big office supplies/stationery stores and art stores usually have a range of pens on offer. Get a testing pad, and try everything they have - they often don't have the most specialist stuff, but it's a good place to start. If you've got money to burn, then it can be good to order one of everything that interests you and try them side-by-side at home where you've got time to really mess with them, then when you've found the stuff you like, you can give the rest away to friends, or take them to your workplace.
As a lefty, .5 Sarasa Dry is my ride or die and I also really like Energels. I like the Clena but it can get scratchy on me. I had to laugh at Ann’s low-standard comments about the G2, bc that was my staple before I fell into JetPens! Target always had them and if I was lucky, the office supply cabinet at work had a few G2s among the basic Bics! 😂
I use a black 0.5 mm Pentel Energel on a white Zebra Sarasa body for most of my writing! It's the best of both worlds, smooth inky ink and comfortable body and grip (I have petite hands). 😁 Would definitely recommend you to try it.
Tried a lot of gel pens. For me the best is, consistently, the 0.7 Pilot G2. Capped pens don't work for me. I don't want to keep track of the cap. And since the G2 body isn't all that great, I use G2 0.7 inserts in an Energel aluminium body.
Dear Ann, I like your rankings. In my work life, I find that I can use either gel pens or pencils. When the paper supplies budget shrank to zero, and all the gel pens became unavailable, I accepted my lot in life and now use pencils. Can you rank pencils? I'd be very interested because your comments are quite honest and they make me smile. A lot.
Are you looking for graphite pencils, mechanical pencils or for colour pencils? Anyway, I'm an artist and I do a lot of work with pencils, so here's some thoughts. ----- *For Regular Wooden Pencils* There's difference in quality with regular wooden pencils, but honestly, there's not a HUGE difference between cheap unbranded stuff and the most expensive pencils out there. A Staedtler Mars Lumograph or even a Noris will do you fine. If you want slightly nicer pencils, then Faber Castell 9000 or the Mitsubishi Hi-Uni are both great. If you want to get the absolute nicest wooden pencils, then look at blackwing. They're pricey, but they're really really nice to use. If you're using wooden pencils a lot, you're going to want a good sharpener. The KUM Masterpoint is a top pick, but I use a swordfish Pointi (it's a stand crank sharpener that makes a very long needlepoint). ----- *For mechanical pencils* For this it depends if you're drawing or writing. For writing, I don't think you can do better than the Uni Kuru Toga line. The Kuru Toga rotates the lead laterally as you write, meaning the tip of the lead wears down into a bullet point for consistent line width. There's a very slight springiness to it, which makes it very comfortable to write with. I'd recommend the Uni Kuru Toga Advance Upgrade, because it's the smoothest writing experience you can get with any pencil, and it looks really pretty as a bonus. For Drawing, I don't recommend Kuru Togas, because I want really precise tip control, and the aforementioned springiness makes them a little difficult to control. What you get will depend on your budget a bit, but here's my picks Cheapest that I think is good: Rotring Tikky (usually about $4-5) - durable, solid feel, and lasts a good time. The rubber grip section will eventually wear out Workhorse that'll last a lifetime: Pentel P20x sharp series. If you don't know what thickness to get, start with a P205. I used one of these pencils for over a decade and it's as good as new. More expensive drafting pencil: Pentel Graphgear 1000 or Rotring 600. This is largely preference-based, but these two pencils are often lauded as the kings of mechanical pencils. Personally, I prefer the graphgear. Money to burn: Take a look at Spoke Design's "Spoke 4 titanium" pencil. This uses pentel internals, but has a custom machined aluminium body with a choice of grip styles in different metals. It's light in the hand, and well balanced, but with a premium look and feel. Just be aware that the pencil doesn't have a rollstop (although you can steal the clip from a pentel stein and it fits perfectly.) ----- *For colour pencils* The difference between a low quality and a high quality colouring pencil is night and day, if you've only ever used cheap crayolas or off brand stuff, you've probably never really experienced what you can accomplish with colour pencils. This is one area where you can't really get by with cheaping out. Cheapest that's good: If you can still find them, get a tin of 36 staedtler ergosoft pencils. They're discontinued, but some places still have stock. Decent and good value: Uni 888 Best as a gift set: Tombow Irojiten color dictionary Ultimate champion: Faber Castell Polychromos. Polychromos are expensive, but if you're looking for the best colour pencils and have the cash, get a full set of 120 polychromos and you'll be set. All four of these are available as singles, which is important if you're an artist using colour pencils, you don't want to buy an entire new tin to replace the one pencil you use the most.
@@SocksAndPuppets I want to thank you deeply for your suggestions. I have written them down in my notebook and I'll try them out. I certainly agree about Blackwing pencils. I need to write a lot of technical notes, so all my pencil use is for writing. I use wooden pencils a lot and need to find a good sharpener. I'll try the KUM Masterpoint and the Swordfish Pointi both. I am also planning to try mechanical pencils. I will check out the Uni Kuro Toga line. I am very deeply grateful to you for taking the time to let me know your thoughts.
Energel rules!!! Needle tip rules!!! Anne…no, no, no. Well, everyone likes different things, and it’s great there is such a large selection! I do agree that the Pilot G2 is my absolute least favorite, I loathe them. I noticed how high the Signo was ranked, and a few weeks ago, I would have agreed…until I started making out gift cards and wanting to use my 1.0 Signo metallics…and half of them had died. I’ve picked up Energels from the bottom of a purse I haven’t touched in years and it writes perfectly!!! (Note, half of my metallic Gelly Rolls were also dead. I’m about to not ever buy one again, particularly the last time I did…two were dead right off the bad, and no recovery method brought them back to life…grrrrrrrrr.) My Zigg Metallic Dot Dual Tips saved the day, they are absolutely awesome (I know…not a gel pen.) Also, with my Energel Clena’s 0.4, I don’t get smear from most of my Mildliners if I wait a second…which I do cause I don’t hit it 1 second later. I still have never tried the Uni ball One. Might have to they look interesting…but only if they come in needle tip.
Please keep rating pens on how quickly the ink dries. We lefties are only ten percent of the population, but we are also picky. Those of us who are upside-down lefties are an even smaller minority, but we can be easily identifiable by the ink on our knuckles and we appreciate your efforts ❤
Doesn't the Energel Clena use an ordinary Energel refill? It was my understanding that only the body was different? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I love my Energels ❤
This is really a satisfying, fun, and helpful video. I've loved pens and art tools for years but I'm learning to appreciate pens for their writing quality now too. I'm thrilled I've fallen for the Uniball series.
My favorite is the Pentel Energel Clena with the light blue and pink stripes. However, the dark blue ones I bought both fell apart and I had to replace them. I don't understand why they didn't hold up as long as the light blue and pink striped ones have. I also like the Pilot Juice and Uniball Signo 0.5. Anything narrower is too scratchy for me and doesn't have enough contrast against the paper. I am not a big fan of the Pilot G-2, Hi-Tec C, or the Gelly Roll gel pens.
1:21 I don't like needle points either. 🤣 I love the Zebra Sarasa dry pens for my Hobonichi Techos. The Pilot G2 used to be my #1 favorite, but the ZSD feels better to write with.
Suggestion - test each pen on a separate card, then line up the cards & pens together on the desk. Do systematic tests, smoothness, lubricity, smudge, bleed, waterproof, density, line quality, skipping, cold start, etc. also esthetic, pocketable, clip function... Great 2025 y'all!
Oooooh Ann, how could you? I love my Frixions! Yes, they are rattly, but it's like that one chatty friend. My favorites right now are the Sarasa Clips. I like that little bit of feedback and the colors are deep! I also use the light brown from the vintage series and love it. Same with the deep red that comes in the pack. The Uni 1 is terrific, but I had to give my niece the last one I bought because I went with the short body and it felt too small for my hand.
Ann, this was really fun. Thank you for your hot takes. We got a box of Sharpie s-gel pens at work and everyone hates them. Mostly because when you pick it back up, it gets goopy. Pilot G2 is everyone's first gel pen, and I am still really fond of them, but the Sarasa Dry series has won my heart. Aided by storing my pens on their sides, not point down. Frixion is really annoying, it won't write well on the slick paper surfaces I end up with at work:plus, if I needed to erase what I was writing, I'd use a damn mechanical pencil (Kokuyo enpitsu sharp, thank you Jet Pens, in every color) and a soft lead. Whew! This was fun!
love at first sight: the g2 1.0. tried zebra sarasa, uniball, but.. they dont capture the magic, the old-school feelings of g2. never looked back since.
I am not going to fight Ann :) simply because I also talk to my pens.... the number of times I've said to my Sharpie S-gel "don't you dare fail me...don't do it!!" because it was skipping and rail-roading like a Pilot G2 would -_- it was not a good day, or a good sketch. I did get a box of colorful Uni-ball One 0.38 for coloring, per JetPen's recommendation. Now I am going to try Signo for that per Ann's recommendation. Thank you Ann for such an entertaining gel pen ranking process and Happy New Year!
You did the Piliot G2 dirty! Lol, it was also my first gel pen, and I used it exclusively for over a decade. I recently switched to the Zebra G-750, and I LOVE it! I also really like the Uniball One *when it doesn't skip.* Any tips on how to get the Uniball One not to skip?
Signo is my favorite gel for writing.. I like the G2 in .38... agree on the G2 med tip. Don't like it at all. I also like the sarasa vintage line too. I think the only reason G2 is so popular is because it is the best available in a standard store like Target, Walmart, etc
I may have moved to prefer fountain pens as of recent, but dang, the G2 smudges like heck even after a few days! But alas it was what I preferred in school too lol
Energel is my favorite, and I don't like Uniball One because it skips a lot, I've tried different paper on Uniball one, from cheap paper to rhodia and clairefontaine, but it skips! Hitec C isn't that good because it's scratchy and hard starting for me (i have the 0.3mm), but I do enjoy it and the small tip helps to write small. I'm not that picky on gel pens, even the very cheap local brands here, like the one you buys a pack of 12 for just about 2-3 dollars some are fine. But Uniball One, IDK why, it's just not good, but I really like the design so I have a few, including the Uniball One P. Even I change the Uniball One P refill because I don't like it, I refill using Sakura ballsign ID the mysterious black color..
Hear me out, Sarasa bodies with a mix of refills - I'll give you that Uniball One 0.38 is the best black ink and it lives in my favorite Eevee print body, the deliciously warm Sarasa vintage purple and Ener-Gel in turquoise because they have the most luminous turquoise ink are my other two go-tos. I am also a needle point truther because they're perfect for precise diagrams. I also will throw down for Frixion, although the Ball Knock Zone and Point Knock bodies are much better than the classic. I like the Waai bodies too!
Well...I really love stationery and your videos. I don't love the AI voice with the translation. Some words (in italian languages) are wrong and the robotic pranounciation are not friendly for me. I really prefear the original voice of person with subtitles 😂. Love you Jetpens
The signo is, for me, one of the worst pens I have ever tried. I gave it away without a second thought. My ride or die has been the Energel for years, and lately the UniBall One. I love the UniBall One F bodies, unfortunately they don’t fit my beloved Energel refills, the P does but is too chunky for my liking and makes my hand hurt 😢 I use the friction to write appointments and tasks on my calendar because ADHD, I need to write everything or I forget.
EEnjoyed watching these videos, feasting my eyes on the things adorable. But yeah because I like needle point pen and pen with caps, I feel left out and sad thar needle point are under Appreciated. Well.. everyone has different taste so go easy hating 😅
Please do this again with someone who is a little more interested in reviewing pens rather than express her already made-up preferences. This is one of the most disappointing video on this channel.
“Fight” Ann and let us know how you would rank these gel pens below! 😅
@@JetPens if it writes good it’s probably gonna be an A tier, but I’m also left handed and write pretty fast so that’s also took into consideration ☺️
The energel going into the C tier is just...i don't know how to put this...inaccurate. It's super smooth, dries instantly (and truly I am yet to see another gel pen that does such besides the uniball one). I can highlight over it with a MILDLINER (the smudging queen) instantly. The clena is just one of the prettiest gel pens, and it belongs in the S tier! Also putting the clena in the same tier as the BIC is really humilating
I'd rank needle point pens higher than the rest, unlike Ann I love them!
May I ask what point is the Uniball One she used @jetpens?
@@verschwenderin same
i find it hilarious that you picked the pickiest person for this
😂 Ann knows exactly what she's looking for in a gel pen!
Perfect for a test this rigorous.
I prefer a needle point, so the Energel is my favourite. 🤷♀️
Same! But then again my handwriting is both small and cursive so😂
Nothing beats a Pentel Energel. I’ve used them enough to replace refill replacements and they are just as juicy as the start at the end. I prefer the metal body and non-needle point, though.
Pentel Energel 0.7 in 12 colors are the only pens for me! The flow of the ink is phenomenal, and the ink selections map out my day and notetaking.
The energel is literally one of the BEST gel pens I tried like so much to the point if I write with any cheap ballpoint pens it would feel absolutely horrible 😢😢😢
I respect Ann's opinion, I just wanted to rep my girl the Pentel Energel for being one of the best gel pens for lefties like me
I actually hate the Uniball One. :( I want to love it because it comes in pretty and unusual ink colors, but the 0.5 skips like crazy for me. I'm going to try it in 0.38 because I'm used to tiny nibs but my expectations are low based on the 0.5.
my favorites are the Uni Style Fit 0.28 (my most used because it writes the finest but is admittedly scratchy), Uni Signo RT1 0.28, and Hi-Tec C Coleto 0.3.
All my uniball Ones skip too.
True. I hate the Uniball One although it comes in pretty colors. Both the 0.5 and 0.38 skips. Plus it performs terribly with highlighters.
I do have to say a retailer putting out 30 minutes of someone saying "most of these pens are mid or stink" is pretty great. Don't see that level of honesty all the time.
Uniball One is a nightmare of skipping when you are left-handed. Really!
I love Energels.
I spent some time going through about 30 rollerball and gel pens to try and find my favourite. The best for writing (for me) is the jetstream, it's so smooth - but it doesn't come in brown... so I had to go on a quest to find the best brown pen I could.
I was looking for
Dark brown ink
fine tip (0.3 ideally)
click mechanism (no cap)
Smooth writing experience
clean aesthetics.
For your list here, my top two are the energel clena and the G2 - they both write decently, and are solid quality. I don't like the styling on the Clena and the brown is a little too light. The G2 writes too thick for my liking... but they're my top two from your list.
The Sarasa and the Uni One... they both feel bad in the hand - too light, too plasticy. The Sarasa Grande is a huge upgrade just for the quality of the pen case. Both the Uni One and the Sarasa are *Really* scratchy though, so they're out of the running for me.
For a long time, the best I'd found was the Energel Noir, which has a beautiful soft-grip body that looks really swanky. Most of the Energel line write a little nicer than the Clena, probably because they're 0.7 tips. I used the energel Noir for a few months until I got my recent haul, and I've now found three pens that I actually *like*
The first is the Sakura Ballsign. It's beautiful, writes cleanly, and is available in a fine tip size and a range of colours, very clean styling, similar to the Uni One, but a superior writing experience.
The second was the Pilot Ilmily Nuance. It writes wonderfully, and looks nice, comes in a range of colours and tip sizes. It's a little unusual in that the clicker is JUST the clip, which moves along the side of the pen to click it on and off. I like it a lot, but if you don't like rattly pens, it might be one to avoid as it's very rattly.
My top pick right now is the glossy Pilot Juice Up. It's the best at fulfilling all my criteria.
---
Of course, your mileage will vary, especially if your requirements vary, but for me, none of the pens on THIS list are above a C-tier except the Clena, and by S-tier pens are completely different!
This is a beautifully detailed analysis. Thank you! 😊
They should have hired you to do this review. You actually thought about it as opposed to this girl who leans on vague and inexplicable intuition for ranking pens on what is usually a serious channel.
@@IsmaelAmodeo Ann's a good egg. The problem with stuff like this is it always comes down to intuition and feel.
The best advice I can give really is to try and find a physical location that'll let you test stuff out. Big office supplies/stationery stores and art stores usually have a range of pens on offer. Get a testing pad, and try everything they have - they often don't have the most specialist stuff, but it's a good place to start.
If you've got money to burn, then it can be good to order one of everything that interests you and try them side-by-side at home where you've got time to really mess with them, then when you've found the stuff you like, you can give the rest away to friends, or take them to your workplace.
i just screaming at the sky when i saw pentel energel is rank C
As a lefty, .5 Sarasa Dry is my ride or die and I also really like Energels. I like the Clena but it can get scratchy on me. I had to laugh at Ann’s low-standard comments about the G2, bc that was my staple before I fell into JetPens! Target always had them and if I was lucky, the office supply cabinet at work had a few G2s among the basic Bics! 😂
I love Ann, her personality is awesome!
Me too!
I use a black 0.5 mm Pentel Energel on a white Zebra Sarasa body for most of my writing! It's the best of both worlds, smooth inky ink and comfortable body and grip (I have petite hands). 😁 Would definitely recommend you to try it.
Tried a lot of gel pens. For me the best is, consistently, the 0.7 Pilot G2. Capped pens don't work for me. I don't want to keep track of the cap. And since the G2 body isn't all that great, I use G2 0.7 inserts in an Energel aluminium body.
i find the .7 g2 to be too thick, i prefer .38 - .5 inks
Yayyyyy finally released part 2, mannnn me and Ann are total opposites - cracks me up 😅
Dear Ann, I like your rankings. In my work life, I find that I can use either gel pens or pencils. When the paper supplies budget shrank to zero, and all the gel pens became unavailable, I accepted my lot in life and now use pencils. Can you rank pencils? I'd be very interested because your comments are quite honest and they make me smile. A lot.
Are you looking for graphite pencils, mechanical pencils or for colour pencils?
Anyway, I'm an artist and I do a lot of work with pencils, so here's some thoughts.
-----
*For Regular Wooden Pencils*
There's difference in quality with regular wooden pencils, but honestly, there's not a HUGE difference between cheap unbranded stuff and the most expensive pencils out there. A Staedtler Mars Lumograph or even a Noris will do you fine. If you want slightly nicer pencils, then Faber Castell 9000 or the Mitsubishi Hi-Uni are both great. If you want to get the absolute nicest wooden pencils, then look at blackwing. They're pricey, but they're really really nice to use.
If you're using wooden pencils a lot, you're going to want a good sharpener. The KUM Masterpoint is a top pick, but I use a swordfish Pointi (it's a stand crank sharpener that makes a very long needlepoint).
-----
*For mechanical pencils*
For this it depends if you're drawing or writing.
For writing, I don't think you can do better than the Uni Kuru Toga line. The Kuru Toga rotates the lead laterally as you write, meaning the tip of the lead wears down into a bullet point for consistent line width. There's a very slight springiness to it, which makes it very comfortable to write with. I'd recommend the Uni Kuru Toga Advance Upgrade, because it's the smoothest writing experience you can get with any pencil, and it looks really pretty as a bonus.
For Drawing, I don't recommend Kuru Togas, because I want really precise tip control, and the aforementioned springiness makes them a little difficult to control. What you get will depend on your budget a bit, but here's my picks
Cheapest that I think is good: Rotring Tikky (usually about $4-5) - durable, solid feel, and lasts a good time. The rubber grip section will eventually wear out
Workhorse that'll last a lifetime: Pentel P20x sharp series. If you don't know what thickness to get, start with a P205. I used one of these pencils for over a decade and it's as good as new.
More expensive drafting pencil: Pentel Graphgear 1000 or Rotring 600. This is largely preference-based, but these two pencils are often lauded as the kings of mechanical pencils. Personally, I prefer the graphgear.
Money to burn: Take a look at Spoke Design's "Spoke 4 titanium" pencil. This uses pentel internals, but has a custom machined aluminium body with a choice of grip styles in different metals. It's light in the hand, and well balanced, but with a premium look and feel. Just be aware that the pencil doesn't have a rollstop (although you can steal the clip from a pentel stein and it fits perfectly.)
-----
*For colour pencils*
The difference between a low quality and a high quality colouring pencil is night and day, if you've only ever used cheap crayolas or off brand stuff, you've probably never really experienced what you can accomplish with colour pencils. This is one area where you can't really get by with cheaping out.
Cheapest that's good: If you can still find them, get a tin of 36 staedtler ergosoft pencils. They're discontinued, but some places still have stock.
Decent and good value: Uni 888
Best as a gift set: Tombow Irojiten color dictionary
Ultimate champion: Faber Castell Polychromos.
Polychromos are expensive, but if you're looking for the best colour pencils and have the cash, get a full set of 120 polychromos and you'll be set.
All four of these are available as singles, which is important if you're an artist using colour pencils, you don't want to buy an entire new tin to replace the one pencil you use the most.
@@SocksAndPuppets I want to thank you deeply for your suggestions. I have written them down in my notebook and I'll try them out. I certainly agree about Blackwing pencils. I need to write a lot of technical notes, so all my pencil use is for writing. I use wooden pencils a lot and need to find a good sharpener. I'll try the KUM Masterpoint and the Swordfish Pointi both. I am also planning to try mechanical pencils. I will check out the Uni Kuro Toga line. I am very deeply grateful to you for taking the time to let me know your thoughts.
I LOVE needle point pens, energels are some of my favorites, haha!
G-2 rules, but Sharpie is close and very enjoyable
For Christmas I got a ton of pens and a hobonichi from you guys!! ❤
Energel rules!!! Needle tip rules!!! Anne…no, no, no. Well, everyone likes different things, and it’s great there is such a large selection! I do agree that the Pilot G2 is my absolute least favorite, I loathe them. I noticed how high the Signo was ranked, and a few weeks ago, I would have agreed…until I started making out gift cards and wanting to use my 1.0 Signo metallics…and half of them had died. I’ve picked up Energels from the bottom of a purse I haven’t touched in years and it writes perfectly!!! (Note, half of my metallic Gelly Rolls were also dead. I’m about to not ever buy one again, particularly the last time I did…two were dead right off the bad, and no recovery method brought them back to life…grrrrrrrrr.) My Zigg Metallic Dot Dual Tips saved the day, they are absolutely awesome (I know…not a gel pen.) Also, with my Energel Clena’s 0.4, I don’t get smear from most of my Mildliners if I wait a second…which I do cause I don’t hit it 1 second later. I still have never tried the Uni ball One. Might have to they look interesting…but only if they come in needle tip.
my beloved hi tec in c category is making me cry 😭😭
Please keep rating pens on how quickly the ink dries. We lefties are only ten percent of the population, but we are also picky. Those of us who are upside-down lefties are an even smaller minority, but we can be easily identifiable by the ink on our knuckles and we appreciate your efforts ❤
I’d love to hear how the other JetPens staff would rank these gel pens! Maybe another video? 👀
I use the Energel, it’s fantastic. I love the .03, .05 sizes.
Clena is still my favorite and I love needlepoints.
Doesn't the Energel Clena use an ordinary Energel refill? It was my understanding that only the body was different? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
I love my Energels ❤
@@Higgler16yes ive been refilling my clena for 7 years. The plastic around the screwing region actually broke 😭.
This is really a satisfying, fun, and helpful video. I've loved pens and art tools for years but I'm learning to appreciate pens for their writing quality now too. I'm thrilled I've fallen for the Uniball series.
There’s next to nothing helpful in this video
My favorite is the Pentel Energel Clena with the light blue and pink stripes. However, the dark blue ones I bought both fell apart and I had to replace them. I don't understand why they didn't hold up as long as the light blue and pink striped ones have. I also like the Pilot Juice and Uniball Signo 0.5. Anything narrower is too scratchy for me and doesn't have enough contrast against the paper. I am not a big fan of the Pilot G-2, Hi-Tec C, or the Gelly Roll gel pens.
Uni signo 370 pleaseeeee
The Energel goes from B to S with the hexagonal body.
1:21 I don't like needle points either. 🤣 I love the Zebra Sarasa dry pens for my Hobonichi Techos. The Pilot G2 used to be my #1 favorite, but the ZSD feels better to write with.
Suggestion - test each pen on a separate card, then line up the cards & pens together on the desk.
Do systematic tests, smoothness, lubricity, smudge, bleed, waterproof, density, line quality, skipping, cold start, etc. also esthetic, pocketable, clip function...
Great 2025 y'all!
I've been using the .38 Uniball one for a while. Which point size do you prefer?
Watching my favourite gelpen of all time hit the bottom of C-tier is hurting me in a way I can't properly articulate XD
Oooooh Ann, how could you? I love my Frixions! Yes, they are rattly, but it's like that one chatty friend. My favorites right now are the Sarasa Clips. I like that little bit of feedback and the colors are deep! I also use the light brown from the vintage series and love it. Same with the deep red that comes in the pack.
The Uni 1 is terrific, but I had to give my niece the last one I bought because I went with the short body and it felt too small for my hand.
Ann, this was really fun. Thank you for your hot takes. We got a box of Sharpie s-gel pens at work and everyone hates them. Mostly because when you pick it back up, it gets goopy. Pilot G2 is everyone's first gel pen, and I am still really fond of them, but the Sarasa Dry series has won my heart. Aided by storing my pens on their sides, not point down. Frixion is really annoying, it won't write well on the slick paper surfaces I end up with at work:plus, if I needed to erase what I was writing, I'd use a damn mechanical pencil (Kokuyo enpitsu sharp, thank you Jet Pens, in every color) and a soft lead. Whew! This was fun!
love at first sight: the g2 1.0. tried zebra sarasa, uniball, but.. they dont capture the magic, the old-school feelings of g2. never looked back since.
Could you do a ballpoint pen tier list.
i'd love this job
We need a finer/smaller tip size edition of this
I am not going to fight Ann :) simply because I also talk to my pens.... the number of times I've said to my Sharpie S-gel "don't you dare fail me...don't do it!!" because it was skipping and rail-roading like a Pilot G2 would -_- it was not a good day, or a good sketch.
I did get a box of colorful Uni-ball One 0.38 for coloring, per JetPen's recommendation. Now I am going to try Signo for that per Ann's recommendation.
Thank you Ann for such an entertaining gel pen ranking process and Happy New Year!
You might want to look at the Stabilo point 88 for colouring. They're super cheap, but really good at what they do.
You did the Piliot G2 dirty! Lol, it was also my first gel pen, and I used it exclusively for over a decade. I recently switched to the Zebra G-750, and I LOVE it! I also really like the Uniball One *when it doesn't skip.* Any tips on how to get the Uniball One not to skip?
I didn’t realize how loud the FriXion was until you demonstrated it and now I can’t stop rattling mine. 😂
These LONG 30' can be summarised as Uniball and no-Uniball.
Signo is my favorite gel for writing.. I like the G2 in .38... agree on the G2 med tip. Don't like it at all. I also like the sarasa vintage line too. I think the only reason G2 is so popular is because it is the best available in a standard store like Target, Walmart, etc
The G2 is the best gel pen you can steal from the supply closet at work :D
I prefer ballpoint pens. Gimme a good old "red leaf"
I like the clena but agree they feel cheap and I’ve found them to dry out and clog easily (at least the .38 mm)
I may have moved to prefer fountain pens as of recent, but dang, the G2 smudges like heck even after a few days! But alas it was what I preferred in school too lol
My favorite gel pen is the Uniball Signo/UM-151 and the UM-153 variant (1 mm). That said, I think I'll have to check out the Uni-ball One. 🤔
From my experience the Signo is not better than the G-2, just different.
For me, it doesn't matter if a gel pen has a conical or a needle tip-as long as it writes well, it's fine for my writing needs.😉❤️😅🇵🇭🖊️📙
I use sarasa dry refils in my energel body ❤
Pentel Juice Up is my fave.
The G2 Pilot is probably the first gel pen many people used. The nostalgia of it, lol I still use those gel pens. ✍🏻🖊️
I am going to go out to JetPens and get a Uniball One. Thanks for the review.
Energel is my favorite, and I don't like Uniball One because it skips a lot, I've tried different paper on Uniball one, from cheap paper to rhodia and clairefontaine, but it skips!
Hitec C isn't that good because it's scratchy and hard starting for me (i have the 0.3mm), but I do enjoy it and the small tip helps to write small.
I'm not that picky on gel pens, even the very cheap local brands here, like the one you buys a pack of 12 for just about 2-3 dollars some are fine.
But Uniball One, IDK why, it's just not good, but I really like the design so I have a few, including the Uniball One P. Even I change the Uniball One P refill because I don't like it, I refill using Sakura ballsign ID the mysterious black color..
Energetic has a conical tip right?
Oooh, choosing a favorite... 😬
Hear me out, Sarasa bodies with a mix of refills - I'll give you that Uniball One 0.38 is the best black ink and it lives in my favorite Eevee print body, the deliciously warm Sarasa vintage purple and Ener-Gel in turquoise because they have the most luminous turquoise ink are my other two go-tos. I am also a needle point truther because they're perfect for precise diagrams. I also will throw down for Frixion, although the Ball Knock Zone and Point Knock bodies are much better than the classic. I like the Waai bodies too!
Goopy tip on the Hi-Tec-C! Man, that's why I hated those too!
I love the G-2 they are the original OGs they last a long time. I'm not a fan of the Sharpie and the Inkjoy they have been inconsistent to me.
I like uniball vision
S Gel is best Gel!
Uniball one is my fave; love them for work. I use g2 in my planner though cuz the uniball one bleeds through 😅
honestly, putting the Sakura lowest is just WRONG.
Well...I really love stationery and your videos. I don't love the AI voice with the translation. Some words (in italian languages) are wrong and the robotic pranounciation are not friendly for me. I really prefear the original voice of person with subtitles 😂. Love you Jetpens
The signo is, for me, one of the worst pens I have ever tried. I gave it away without a second thought. My ride or die has been the Energel for years, and lately the UniBall One. I love the UniBall One F bodies, unfortunately they don’t fit my beloved Energel refills, the P does but is too chunky for my liking and makes my hand hurt 😢 I use the friction to write appointments and tasks on my calendar because ADHD, I need to write everything or I forget.
Early stationery people
I use lrn5 in jotters and uni ones 😐
EEnjoyed watching these videos, feasting my eyes on the things adorable. But yeah because I like needle point pen and pen with caps, I feel left out and sad thar needle point are under Appreciated. Well.. everyone has different taste so go easy hating 😅
Energel are the best. 🤷♂️
Ann is so sweet even when she’s being ruthless about the gel pens. What a cute video!!
Please do this again with someone who is a little more interested in reviewing pens rather than express her already made-up preferences. This is one of the most disappointing video on this channel.
Lol, "o-pen-ions"
Not a fan of these mumbling videos. Please try to speak loud and clear
I enjoy these videos more than I can say
A minute agoo