Uni-ball RT1 0.28 mm Blue + Uni Promark Highlighter Review

I want to apologize right up front for the text size in my written review above. It is hard to read but if you click on the image it will take you to Flickr where you can view it in larger sizes like this one.

With that out of the way, the small text size is exactly why I love the Uni-ball RT1 0.28 mm more than any previous version before it, even the 0.38 RT1. The original Uni-ball RT has been around for years and has had a place in my arsenal as long as I have known of its existence. The RT is a quality pen, despite the fact it is a little on the scratchy side.

The scratchiness of the original is the reason I always said the RT was not the retractable version of the Uni-ball Signo DX. The DX has always been the superior writer, but the RT1 has closed that gap, if not eliminated it completely. The 0.28 mm RT1 might be the smoothest, cleanest, finest gel ink pen on the market. Expect to hear me talking about this pen a lot.

And if we are lucky, Uni-ball will see fit to start populating the store shelves with the RT1 now that back to school season is upon us. Let me know if you see them in the wild.

Highlighter reviews are difficult to do individually so I thought what better pairing for the Uni Promark View Highlighter than with the RT1. Uni-ball already had a window tip highlighter in the Propus but made it bigger and better with the Promark. It works wonderfully, although I found myself tilting my head a lot when first using it so I could really see the words well. I self-corrected after a few lines to prevent a stationery inflicted neck injury.

The Uni-ball RT1 and Promark both improve on their original designs in every way. What more can you ask for? Nice job Uni-ball!

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)

Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen Review

I'm a little late to the party on the Pilot Metropolitan, but with good reason. I was waiting for MY model to come in - Black Plain Body - and wasn't going to settle for gold or silver or some funky pattern on the barrel. I'm particular!

When I finally did get it I quickly understood what all the hype was about. I noticed two things immediately: The weight of the barrel and the smoothness of the nib. The barrel is made of brass which is something you don't see much with pens in this price range. It gives the Metropolitan a nice heft and the illusion that you are using a much more expensive pen.

The nib, to me, is the real standout. Medium nibs are outside of my normal comfort zone but that doesn't prevent me from knowing quality when I use it. This nib is as good of a steel nib as you will find, regardless of price. It is glassy smooth with nearly no feedback on the page. I loaded my Metropolitan with Aurora Black ink and used a Rhodia 80g DotPad for this review - the ultimate smoothness combination!

While the praise for the Pilot Metropolitan is warranted, it is not without flaws. The biggest one for me is the sharp metal edge on the step-down from the barrel to the grip section. It hits both my thumb and forefinger when writing, making it uncomfortable right out the gate. You can see pretty clearly in this image from JetPens what I am talking about.

The second issue I have isn't as much of a flaw as it is a personal preference: Medium nibs are the only option. Yes, I am aware that you can swap nibs from other Pilot pens into the Metropolitan, but that defeats the purpose of a $15 entry level pen to me. As great as the medium nib is I can't use it all day, every day. I would prefer the choice of an extra fine or a stub nib.

So now the question that many of you are wondering about: Is the Pilot Metropolitan the best entry level fountain pen on the market? No, I'm sticking with the Lamy Safari for the wider range of nib and barrel options. The Pilot Metropolitan is at least in the conversation though, which is more than most under $30 fountain pens can claim.

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)

Pentel Vicuna EX 2 Color 0.7 mm Ballpoint Multi Pen + Pencil Review

Among the hybrid ballpoint ink pens the Pentel Vicuna is a sneaky good option. For me, it ranks only behind the Uni-ball Jetstream and the Pilot Acroball, and it may have darker black ink than both of them. The Pentel Vicuna EX Multi Pen stepped up the Vicuna's game with an upgraded barrel to hold two ink cartridges (red and black) plus an 0.5 mm pencil.

The three cartridge setup works well with the pen design. The barrel diameter is just big enough to fit everything and not have an overly large pen. In fact, it is just about the perfect size. Some multi pens get too wide or have cartridges that come out at a slight angle but that is not an issue with the Vicuna EX.

As I anticipated, the ink cartridges are as smooth, solid, and vibrant as the single color pens. The black leaves a solid line and the red is sharp and bright (my photo makes it look duller than it actually is). The 0.5 mm pencil is a nice addition, and unlike many other multi pens it contains an eraser under the end of the cap.

I won't be leaving my Jetstream's for the Vicuna anytime soon but it is a tougher decision than you would think. Maybe one day Pentel will see fit to bring them to the US.

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)