Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens, Fine Point, Black, 4 Count

If you are reading this, you probably care a lot about the best cheap pens you can buy. tl;dr: just buy these already!Compared directly with the Pilot G2 and Pentel Energel (both in 0.5mm and 0.7mm), these Inkjoy 0.5mm gels are hands down my favorite. Yeah, I had written off Papermate as a contender long ago too, and I'm glad I gave them another try.I never thought I could find a pen that:1. Could write smoothly like a fountain pen2. Could draw accurately like a felt-tip3. Had deep dark ink like a SharpieBut the Papermate Inkjoy 0.5mm gel does that, all for about $1 a pen.I know you care about this, so some head to head comparisons:vs. Pilot G2:- The Inkjoy is MUCH smoother. The 0.5mm Inkjoy feels similar in smoothness to the G2 0.7mm, and the 0.7mm Inkjoy is smoother still (though the line on the 0.7mm is broader, which is why I prefer the 0.5mm generally).- The darkness of the ink is similar, though I find the darkness of the Inkjoys to be more even than the 0.5mm G2.vs. Pentel Energel:- Pentel Energels are renowned for their smoothness, and overall I have to say the Energel 0.7mm is the smoothest pen in this class.- However, the 0.5mm Inkjoy is smoother than the Energel 0.5mm and ALMOST as smooth as the Energel 0.7mm- And, the Inkjoy is much better for line drawing. Thinner line and more consistent darkness, whereas the Energel feels more "ballpoint-like" to me when drawing (messier and less consistent line).0.7mm vs. 0.5mm: The 0.7mms InkJoys are much more common, and I got a pack of them first. They write phenomenally smooth, but I found them a bit too wet. The stroke comes out closer to a 1.0mm bold. I found the 0.5mm to be a better all-in-one package.And here's the clincher for me: I find that I can get a writing experience pretty close to a fountain pen with the InkJoys - that is write with little pressure. The only other gel pen I've had this experience with before is the Energel 0.7mm. However, that same 0.5mm InkJoy also lets me draw as precisely and accurately as with a 0.5mm G2.I've tested these on a variety of paper, mostly on common cheap spiral-bound notebooks. That's another point: Gel pens (in general) work great on cheap paper where fountain pens flounder, and the InkJoys are no exception.The one slight downside I've found is that the InkJoy ink does tend to be wetter and bleeds through thin paper at spots. Mainly a problem for the 0.7mm, and only at criss-cross points when drawing with the 0.5mm. Not an issue for me, as I just write on one side of the sheet, but might be something to consider if you want to use thin paper like in Moleskines.If you've read all this (and probably dozens of other reviews too), I highly recommend just getting a cheap pack and trying them out. Papermate has a winner on their hands.

__ Ink Joy's have surprised us and several others with their ultra-smooth writing properties... it's something you have to try to appreciate.__ The Ink Joy's write quite well on many (but not all) surfaces that other pens and gels don't handle well.__ The ink dries quite a bit faster than most other pens or gels and thereby avoids smudging as long as the line are typical single stroke entries -- a real bonus to people who must handle paperwork considerably after filled-out. (Note that multiple stroke entries that you've made to thicken lines or make entries solid on a hard to write-on surface do NOT dry faster than normal and will smudge easilly for quite a while.)__ These pens appear to last longer than many others - more ink supply - under the usage that I give them daily. The quality of the tip and the extra-easy writing advantage seem to hold up very well over extended life of the pen, too.__ BOTTOM LINE: An amazingly smooth writing experience that outperforms and outlasts competitors for a nice price, especially when the longer useful life is also considered.

I LOVE this fauxdori/bullet journal! After researching different types, I ultimately chose this because it looked thick, durable, and beautiful. Since it came with 2 journals and a pen sheath, I gave my daughter the smaller, passport sized one, and kept the larger one to use as my bullet journal. I had difficulty fitting any of my favorite pens into the sheath, but quickly decided to try sliding the pens I normally use (6 Papermate InkJoy Gel click pens and a medium point Sharpie pen) around the sheath on the outside, and it holds them perfectly, as well as keeping them easily accessible and together, so it's actually better than I anticipated.The quality of the leather is quite nice. The inserts are great, as well. The calendar is one that you fill in yourself, which I like, but I wasn't happy with the 1-31 starting in just the same spot on each month isn't ideal. I'd prefer just the days of the week to be on it where I can just input dates for the month (like on the smaller one), but I needed the bigger space allowed in the bigger calendar, so I just write in M, Tu, W, Th, F, Sa, Su on the corresponding date. It works, but lime I said, it's not ideal.It comes with a dust bag, which I'm keeping the journal and sheath with pens inside so it's all together and free from getting scratched or pages bent if I put it in my purse or bag. Love this aspect, too!

I’m left-handed and have been trying different pens with my work over the past year, and this will be my go-to from now on. There’s really no performance aspect that I feel is compromised with this pen. With the new faster drying, I am seeing no smudging. The pen itself is to my eye the most attractive casing of any of the mass-produced pens, and it feels nice to my grip. Additionally, I’m surprised that the fine point for this pen doesn’t have the paper-scratching effect that most other 0.5’s have. Thus, it has the stark contrast of a gel pen, without the smudging, and lastly, and an oft-underestimated quality, the ink lasts me a long time. What more could you ask for? Please stock up, even if they will run out long after the average pen. Papermate, I implore you not to mess with this formulation; it is perfection.

I am a gelpen-aholic. I kept seeing the commercial for these pens and decided to dry it based on the smudge free comments. And it's true. I write a lot at work and have to highlight often and my gel pens ALWAYS RUN. Not this pen. Very impressed at the quick dry ink. I wouldn't use it on a glossy surface because it will take longer to dr, od course, because the ink has nothing to soak into. But if your using this for regular writing, school work, etc., then its perfect. I love the thin tip (I don't want to feel like I'm writing with a marker) and the rubber feel of the pen. It makes it very comfortable to use for long periods of time. This is the best gel pen I've ever owned (and I've owned and used TONS). Definitely a great pen and I would recommend this to everyone.

Great pens, they feel “expensive” and they’re comfortable to hold, as a writer I’ve not experienced cramping from using them yet. The ink doesn’t smear, it dries in very little time and it doesn’t bleed through the pages which is great. The only complain I have is that they’re a bit too pricy, but then I’m in Canada and the taxes are way higher than in the US so the US will have a better price for quality.

I usually like writing in my planner with Gel pens however these ones are amazing! They write finely, are very smooth and do not smudge/take forever to dry! I would highly recommend these!

Great pens. Good colours. Doesn’t bleed

These pens are just what I needed for my noting system. Fine and clear scripts with no smearing.

These fine point pens glide so smoothly across my notebooks. The ink dries fast and hardly ever smears (the only exception being if the ink has been written on whiteout). I also really like the shade of black this ink has. I definitely would recommend