The Pen Addict

What are your Analog Defaults?

This is something I’m always thinking about. The year-in, year-out products that I use to get the job done, or fulfill a need I have. This idea comes from the tech world, where users list out the suite of apps/tools that feature the most in their day-to-day activities, be it work or play.

Friend of the Show Robb Knight keeps an amazing page of App Defaults that collects these posts from the tech world, and you can see his personal list there as well. Since I love this idea so much, could I translate it into stationery? I think so.

Many of the categories below will line up with some of the Top 5 Pens categories, but Analog Defaults will be my personal use products as opposed to the recommendations that the Top 5 Pens represent. Also, this list is a snapshot, not a permanent list. As tools change, the default gets updated. For example, my “primary” gel ink pen changes around a lot, but is sticky enough for long enough that it should be frequently updated.

Let me know any questions, thoughts, or comments you have.

(Updated 2/18/2026)

🖊️ Gel Ink Pen: uniball One F, 0.38 mm Black ink

🖊️ Ballpoint Pen: LAMY AL-Star Denim, LAMY M17 Jetstream Extra Fine Black ink

🖊️ Rollerball Pen: Retro 51 2025 “PEN”, Schmidt P8127 Black ink

🖊️ Fineliner: Sakura Pigma Micron 03, Black ink

🖋️ Fountain Pen: Pilot Custom 74, Teal Barrel, Medium Nib with Fine Cursive Italic grind, Pilot Turquoise ink cartridge

🖋️ Fountain Pen 2: Sailor Pro Gear Slim Mini “Seagull”, Extra Fine nib, Sailor Nano Black ink cartridge

✏️ Mechanical Pencil: Pentel Sharp P205, Neon Orange barrel, Pentel HB graphite

✏️ Wooden Pencil: Blackwing Volumes 292 Keith Haring Edition, Balanced Core

🟠 Highlighter/Marker: Kuretake Zig Clean Color Dot Marker, Light Blue and Fluorescent Pink

📒 Planner: PLOTTER Narrow with Monthly, Weekly, and Grid PLOTTER inserts

📗 Journal: PLOTTER Personal with several types of paper, including Tsubame, Canopus, and Graphilo

👝 Pen Case: Superior Labor Pen and Wallet Case