Pilot Acroball
As you should already know, JetPens.com supported the #PensPlease quest by donating four sample pens. This is Part One of a four-part series that will review these pens.
First up is the Pilot Acroball. This particular pen has a 1.0 mm tip, but the Acroball is available in a variety of colors and tip sizes.
First up is the Pilot Acroball. This particular pen has a 1.0 mm tip, but the Acroball is available in a variety of colors and tip sizes.
Three things you should notice from that writing sample:
1. My handwriting is bad.
2. The ink from the Acroball is dark.
3. The image quality is better than past reviews.
I was so excited about reviewing these donated pens that I decided it was time to start using a real digital camera. I can already tell a difference. Ignore the information about the Uniball pen; I'll have more to say about that ink pen Thursday (Lord willing).
1. My handwriting is bad.
2. The ink from the Acroball is dark.
3. The image quality is better than past reviews.
I was so excited about reviewing these donated pens that I decided it was time to start using a real digital camera. I can already tell a difference. Ignore the information about the Uniball pen; I'll have more to say about that ink pen Thursday (Lord willing).
Pilot named this pen the "Acroball" because you can clip it to a tightrope and pretend it's an acrobat.
Not buying it? Fair enough. I really don't know why they named it Acroball; and I actually tried to learn why.
What I do know is that this pen writes very smoothly. I was genuinely startled when I began writing with this thing. The ink is allegedly a "hybrid ink" that JetPens.com says "has the vibrancy of gel ink and the quick-drying and water-resistant properties of conventional ballpoint ink."
That roughly translates into: this is one of the smoothest pens I've ever used.
A week or so ago I noticed a Twitter user claimed that they used an Acroball and couldn't go back to a regular ball point pen again. I was skeptical, but I have learned that's not a stretch.
The Acroball is refillable (a fact I stumbled upon while looking over the pen). The rubberized grip of this pen is suitable. It is not something I'll rave on and on about, but it does its job nicely enough. This pen was suitably comfortable for extended writing, a boast not every pen I use can make.
Not buying it? Fair enough. I really don't know why they named it Acroball; and I actually tried to learn why.
What I do know is that this pen writes very smoothly. I was genuinely startled when I began writing with this thing. The ink is allegedly a "hybrid ink" that JetPens.com says "has the vibrancy of gel ink and the quick-drying and water-resistant properties of conventional ballpoint ink."
That roughly translates into: this is one of the smoothest pens I've ever used.
A week or so ago I noticed a Twitter user claimed that they used an Acroball and couldn't go back to a regular ball point pen again. I was skeptical, but I have learned that's not a stretch.
The Acroball is refillable (a fact I stumbled upon while looking over the pen). The rubberized grip of this pen is suitable. It is not something I'll rave on and on about, but it does its job nicely enough. This pen was suitably comfortable for extended writing, a boast not every pen I use can make.
While I have been very impressed by the Acroball there are a few drawbacks to this particular model of the pen.
The first one is solely a matter of personal preference: I like Fine point pens and simply cannot bring myself to use a 1.0 tip on a regular basis. That is remedied easily enough: I can just go buy an Acroball with a smaller tip.
The second drawback is not as easy to get around. This pen lacks sufficient "heft" for me to use it as my everyday pen. This might not be a problem for you, but I like the size and weight of my Dr. Grip Gel and the Acroball just doesn't match it.
I suspect that my wife is going to end up with this Pilot Acroball once I have completed the review. Otherwise it would be finding its way into my pocket often as a backup to my Dr. Grip.
The first one is solely a matter of personal preference: I like Fine point pens and simply cannot bring myself to use a 1.0 tip on a regular basis. That is remedied easily enough: I can just go buy an Acroball with a smaller tip.
The second drawback is not as easy to get around. This pen lacks sufficient "heft" for me to use it as my everyday pen. This might not be a problem for you, but I like the size and weight of my Dr. Grip Gel and the Acroball just doesn't match it.
I suspect that my wife is going to end up with this Pilot Acroball once I have completed the review. Otherwise it would be finding its way into my pocket often as a backup to my Dr. Grip.
Final Thoughts:
The Pilot Acroball genuinely surprised me. I did not expect to like this pen as much as I do. It is surprisingly smooth, readily-refillable (bonus points if you say that fast five times), and versatile enough to use every day.
In the space of a few days it has jumped from obscurity (from my perspective) to serious consideration for one of my five favorite pens.
You can purchase a two-pack of this model from JetPens.com or search other colors and tip sizes while you're there.
Full disclaimer: As part of JetPens.com's support of my #PensPlease campaign I received this ink pen at no charge.
The Pilot Acroball genuinely surprised me. I did not expect to like this pen as much as I do. It is surprisingly smooth, readily-refillable (bonus points if you say that fast five times), and versatile enough to use every day.
In the space of a few days it has jumped from obscurity (from my perspective) to serious consideration for one of my five favorite pens.
You can purchase a two-pack of this model from JetPens.com or search other colors and tip sizes while you're there.
Full disclaimer: As part of JetPens.com's support of my #PensPlease campaign I received this ink pen at no charge.