Write On! – Are Rollerball Pens Good Writing Instruments?

Rollerball pens are a popular choice for many people, and their suitability depends on individual preferences and specific use cases, but are rollerball pens GOOD writing instruments? It is estimated that 125 rollerball pens are sold every second, meaning that nearly 4 BILLION rollerball pens are sold every year. In a world dominated by technologies like email and text messages, that's a LOT of pens. Despite the huge demand for rollerball pens, they still get a lot of criticism especially from people who enjoy writing instruments. But is this criticism valid? Let's take a look at the pros and cons of rollerball pens and hopefully we can come to a consensus that whether rollerball pens are good writing instruments or not.

Rollerball pens have made major advancements in both ink and ball bearing technologies, making for some of the smoothest writing instruments ever. The use of liquid or gel inks make for effortless writing often referred to as "gliding across the page". Several of the modern rollerball pens write almost as smoothly as a prized thousand dollar fountain pen at a fraction of the price. Inks have also broadened in color from the traditional blue or black, now you can get rollerballs in hundreds of colors much like you can find massive varieties of colors in fountain pen inks. While there still is a gap between a fountain pen and a rollerball, it's no longer the massive gulf in user experience it once was, these two writing instruments are much closer than many people are willing to admit.

The times of only having a few tip size options are firmly in the past. Rollerball ball bearings are now being made in extremely fine sizes that rival the finest of needle-tipped fountain pens. These super extrafine rollerballs provide ultra precise lines that are perfect for fine sketching or even drafting without the incredible cost of nib grinding or investing in expensive super fine tipped tools. But rollerballs aren't just about getting tinier, there are a ton of size options in rollerball tips available. Enough that even the most picky of writers can find something that works for them.

Finally, the rollerball pen exceeds at writing with little or no pressure applied to the paper. Unlike ballpoint pens and some types of pencils, the rollerball pen can write with very minimal pressure on the paper because it uses liquid or gel ink. This means that hand fatigue is a rarity among rollerball users. One need only lightly apply pressure to have the ink glide out of the pen onto the paper. This along with the gel ink provides the effortless writing experience so many of us crave in our pens.

Having said all of that, there are some considerations to take into account when using rollerball pens. Firstly, the gel or liquid in does tend to smudge if you're not careful. The ink can require quite some time to dry, and in some circumstances the ink won't ever dry, i.e. writing on coated paper. Writing with a rollerball for legal documents requires specialized inks and great care to ensure the annotations and signatures aren't compromised. Even with this in mind, a rollerball does not require the same wait times that most fountain pens require.

Rollerball pens aren't cheap. While vastly cheaper than fountain pens, they're still more expensive than pencils or ballpoint pens. The cost of refills can add up because they also run out of ink faster than many ballpoint pens. Plus they're vastly more expensive than a bottle of ink. However, the cost is still very low if you replace the refills themselves instead of replacing the entire pen, and if you do a lot of writing, it's very easy to find replacement refills for most of the popular rollerball pens.

Finally, rollerball pens can be finicky where paper is concerned. Many of them prefer the same high quality paper fountain pen users prefer. This can be an incredible expense for a pen designed for daily, on-the-go use. This extra cost isn't something to be taken lightly, it can add up especially if the user gets addicted to certain types of paper (trust me, that's a real thing). But again, this is minimal compared to most fountain pen users, and isn't something that makes a rollerball inherently "bad.

Where does all that leave us? Are rollerball pens good writing instruments? Subjectively, and honestly, a pen is only a bad writing instrument if it doesn't work. Therefore, rollerball pens are good writing instruments. But that doesn't mean they're good for everyone or good at every task that needs a writing instrument. Personally, rollerball pens are the best option for everyday carry, full stop. A durable rollerball pen with the right refill can perform in almost any situation AND if you're a tactile person who really wants to experience "writing" they provide a great writing experience. This is especially true when considering the cost of purchase, upkeep, and accessories needed for a rollerball pen. Rollerball pens aren't the best pens but they're definitely good writing instruments and some of them are even great writing instruments.