Let’s talk about gel pens. If you love stationery like I do, you probably have a favorite—or several! A colleague at work, who also uses fountain pens, suggested Pentel EnerGel for signing documents or jotting down quick notes. I tried his EnerGel and enjoyed how smoothly it wrote on regular copy paper.
So, What Makes Gel Pens So Special?
Gel pens are a popular choice for writing tools because they use water-based gel ink that holds more pigment, providing bright colors with less effort. Unlike ballpoint pens that can be scratchy or dry out, gel pens glide smoothly. They excel in smoothness and clarity.
Enter: Pentel EnerGel
Out of all the gel pens I’ve tried, Pentel EnerGel is now my top choice for anyone who likes writing. Why? It has a comfortable grip, glides smoothly on paper, is eco-friendly (refillable), and comes in various tip sizes.
Here’s what makes the EnerGel line so great:
🖊️ Ultra Smooth, Fast-Drying Ink
Whether I’m taking notes on a Teams call or jotting down grocery lists, EnerGel ink flows smoothly and dries quickly. If you’re left-handed, this feature alone might make it worth trying. No smudges or ink dragging on your palm—just clear, neat lines.
🖊️ The Comfort Factor
Many EnerGel models, like the ones in my photos, have a soft rubber grip that is pleasant to hold, especially for long writing sessions. I’ve used these pens for taking notes and annotating papers, and my hand has always been comfortable.
🖊️ Eco-Conscious and Refillable
Some EnerGel pens are refillable and made from recycled materials. This is a small but important step toward sustainability, especially if you use pens as quickly as I do.
🖊️ Sizes and Colors for Every Mood
Feeling bold? Choose the 1.0mm tip. Need fine lines? Try the 0.3 or 0.5mm. There’s a variety of ink colors available. I have my pens filled with indigo blue and turquoise green, and I plan to try brown and blue inks. I do like blue inks!
Final Thoughts: The Pen That Keeps Up With You
We live in a fast-paced world, and it’s important to have a reliable writing tool that won’t skip or smudge. While the Pentel EnerGel gel pens lack the tactile feel of my favorite fountain pen nibs, I choose these gel pens for writing on-the-go to protect my fountain pens from accidental drops.
If you haven’t tried one yet, consider this your sign. And if you already have an EnerGel in your bag? You know exactly what I mean.
Cheers, everyone. – Grass
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The Fabulous Scientist 
I do use a few Zebra Sarasa gel pens, but for most of my on-the-go notes I now almost exclusively use Pilot Vpen “disposable” fountain pens… which are pretty easy to refill with the inks of my choice. The supplied ink is OK but tends to feather and bleed on cheap papers. I keep one with pigmented “waterproof” ink for addressing envelopes, and a variety of other ink colours for different purposes. The ink capacity is huge, and though the nibs are excellent for a nominally throw-away pen, I don’t pretent they’re up there with my favourite fountain pens. A brief wipe with acetone/nail varnish remover removes the printed surface of the body leaving a clear “demonstrator” style to more easily see the remaining ink level too.
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Hi, thank you for your recommendation. I haven’t tried Pilot Vpen but I do like the idea that it can be refilled. 🙂
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Always best to do these things over a sink of course, but with a firm tug the nib/section will pull right out and allow a clean/refill. The Zebra disposable fountain pens are made of more brittle plastic and (in my limited experience) won’t allow this reuse, unfortunately. There’s a few YouTube videos about it. This is as good as any: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1J_QlQ_o8s
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