There are thousands of black pens on the market around the world and as much as I normally prefer using coloured ink there are some applications - like signing official documents - where you need black ink. Goldspot asked for a list of the best black pens for smooth, bold writing. So, for this blog post I have broken down the black pen world into 4 main categories for us to look at.
11 Best Black Pens for Smooth & Bold Writing
"Traditional"
These pens are a constant in our house and have come up in some of my content before on YouTube as being my Grandmother’s favourite pens. It only took her into her 80’s to start using them… don’t be like her, just try them because they are inexpensive and worth the purchase.
Pilot V5 or V7 Hi-Tecpoint
As far as I can tell the only difference with V5 and V7 is the nib size, 0.5mm vs 0.7mm. These pens are not waterproof but are apparently refillable though I have never successfully done it (maybe a future Goldspot video). With the needlepoint nib on these pens you get a very clean line and the see-through section of the barrel means you know exactly how much ink you have left.
Pilot VBall
These pens are lovely and unlike a lot of other “fancy” pens they work well on newspapers, very important if you want to use them for doing crossword puzzles. They are available in 05 (0.3mm line) & 07 (0.5 mm line) meaning you get some line variation but not as much as some of the pens to come. The big perk of these pens is that due to the ink they use and shape of the feed system, Pilot advertises them as skip-free writing and in my experience I have found that to be true. Unlike the V5 or V7 this pen is not refillable but I find that the writing experience makes up for that “flaw”.
Gel Pen
These pens are a constant in our house and have come up in some of my content before on YouTube as being my Grandmother’s favourite pens. It only took her into her 80’s to start using them… don’t be like her, just try them because they are inexpensive and worth the purchase.
Sharpie S Gel
Four tip sizes (0.38mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, 1.0mm) and a less than $2 price tag make this pen incredibly appealing to people wanting to dip their toes into the practical gel pen world. This pen is an incredibly smooth writer though unfortunately it is not waterproof at all This means you need to be careful with your cup of coffee or bottle of water around your notes.
Pilot G2
Water-resistant, archival & under $2; this pen is described at times as the “entrance to the world of Japanese gel pens” and that is 100% correct. Once you have tried this pen, you will most likely want to try a variety of other Japanese gel pens and luckily there are many out there to try. This pen comes in 4 widths ranging from 0.38mm-1.0mm meaning no matter the size of your writing, there is a pen for you. The downside is that the ink is water-resistant and not waterproof so you need to be sure not to get your page wet as the ink is likely to still bleed a little bit.
Uniball Signo 207
Coming in 4 widths and retailing for under $3 the Signo 207 is waterproof and fraud/chemical resistant making it impervious to check washing (something not needed by most of us these days but it is an added bonus). The ink is pigment-based meaning once it is on the paper it is totally permanent. This used to be my go-to pen in the lab as I could never be 100% sure my page would stay dry.
Wildcard
Sharpie Felt Tip Pen
These were my Mother’s go-to pens for almost two decades until I converted her to fountain pens in late 2023. Waterproof and a thin line width make these pens perfect for use in a variety of applications from recipe cards to taking notes to art to journaling. The pens are currently available in 0.4mm, 0.8mm and brush tips. An added bonus, they come in 23 colours meaning you have options for every mood.
The Refillable Pens
Kaweco Skyline Rollerball
I collect Kaweco sports like they are jelly beans but somehow I don’t have one of these on my desk. As much as I love a Sport the downside of this pen for me is that it only fits proprietary Kaweco refills. You always need to be carrying a spare refill with you as they may not be easily available if your pen runs dry. Weighing about 11.5 grams the pen is on the lighter side for refillable pens and it is a very good ‘toss in your bag’ pen, as the lid twists on securely. As an added bonus, you have the option of adding a clip to the pen.
Monteverde Dakota Gel
This is by far my favourite refillable gel pen and the only one I currently have on my desk. This pen takes a number of refills and though it comes as a gel pen, it can be converted to a ballpoint by changing the refill. Weighing 28 grams I find this pen incredibly well-balanced in my hand and even though it is only 112 mm. When the cap is posted, it is a comfortable 149 mm.
Esterbrook Raven Ballpoint
A switch from Esterbrook’s normal style, the Raven is totally matte black including the Esterbrook logo. Weighing in at nearly 23g and taking Parker style pen refills, this pen is a solid choice for someone looking for an everyday, refillable ballpoint pen. Parker refills are available pretty much everywhere from bookstores to pen stores to office supply stores like Staples. I think that this pen taking a fairly ‘normal’ refill is a huge perk because this pen is easy to add to both your own collection or to gift to someone, knowing that they will be able to easily refill it when it runs dry. I think sometimes we make fountain pens and refillable ballpoint quite complicated with proprietary systems but in my mind Esterbrook has done everything right with this pen.
Retro 51 Tornado Deluxe Black Stealth Rollerball
Much like the Raven, Retro 51 got the memo and pulled off this fully, black pen perfectly. Unfortunately it loses marks in my very next sentence because much like the Kaweco Skyline, I find the proprietary refills to be a huge downside. They can be hard to find when out and about as they cannot always be purchased at every stationary shop. Unlike other pens on this list though, Goldspot has created a handy set of instructions for dismantling the proprietary rollerballs and refilling them with fountain pen ink. At 28 grams this ties with the Monteverde Dakota for weight. It’s a retractable pen, unlike the Dakota that uncaps, so for our ‘fidgety friends’ this is the pen I would recommend.
Sailor Cylint Ballpoint
By far the most expensive pen on the list, the Cylint is also the heaviest and it looks absolutely stunning. Unfortunately Sailor uses proprietary ballpoint refills, which shouldn't be surprising as they have proprietary cartridges for their fountain pens as well. I do wish they came in more widths as they only come in 2 widths and 3 colours (2 colours only available in 1 width). At approximately 44.5 grams this pen weighs more than a King of Pens but for the aesthetic it is totally worth the added weight.
This is a fairly large list of options but in my opinion there are 3 options that really stand out for the daily writer and artists alike.
Everyday Essential - Sharpie Felt Tip Pen
This pen is waterproof and even though this blog is on black ink pens these pens do come in a huge variety of colours making them perfect for colour coding notes. They don’t bleed or ghost on most papers making them great for sketching on the go especially if you want to use both sides of the notebook pages. Their waterproofness makes them an excellent choice for watercolor artists who do line and wash or en plein air.
Most Versatile Gel Pen - Uni Ball Signo 207
Unlike most gel pens this one is waterproof, a major bonus in my book. I tended to use the Signo 207 in science labs as I was always afraid of notes running but this pen is fantastic for any application where you want a smooth writing experience and where your page may not stay dry.
Introduction to the Refillable World - Monteverde Dakota Gel
Personally I love the Dakota. The reason why it is my top pick for a refillable pen is that the Dakota takes both gel and ballpoint refills, in 3 sizes each, making it a very versatile pen. It has all the benefits of its less expensive ‘pen cousins’ but looks like a Monteverde Dakota fountain pen and a great option for dipping your toes in the refill world. It lets you experiment with a variety of refills and learn what you like before potentially upgrading to a more expensive pen in the future. If it is your preference to use a gel or ballpoint pen, the Dakota will be a very sleek addition to your lineup.