Sorry for the long update time – I’ve been super busy with last-minute assignments (that means I was doing them at the last minute) and haven’t had much time to review pens. After writing multiple essays, I now know which pens are next on the list to review, and the first on that list is one of my favorite pens, the Uniball Signo DX 0.38.

This is – for now – my most used and favorite pen. It combines a fine line with smoothness, minimal skipping, and a very, very quick dry time. The refill is also the right size to fit a decent amount of custom pens (such as the iconic Render K). There’s a very fine line (get it) between too thin and the right size, and I think this pen gets the balance right. It’s fine enough to be able to write very small and read clearly when you write properly, but also isn’t so thin that writing is scratchy or halting. The ink seems to be less of a deep black and more of a very dark gray. I don’t know if this has anything to do with the lighting or the paper I use, but the ink just generally seems lighter than normal black pens. Not exactly something I dislike, but it’s worth noting.

For its price, it is great, but I’d like a little more premium barrel. This looks like something I could get at the local grocery store, and there is one big design flaw that I rather dislike – the grip. I generally write with my hand very close to the tip of the pen. However, there’s a 1 cm gap between the end of the top of the pen and the grip, and this results in me holding the pen somewhat awkwardly. Not a huge drawback either, but it’s a qualm that I’d fix if I was running designs for Uniball. A side note – I suggest using this pen in a notebook or legal pad, not on a sheet of paper on a desk. I’ve noticed that this pen in particular writes better with a smooth surface beneath it.

The fantastic and smooth ink, affordability, and great and fine line are excellent features of this pen. Perhaps the rather cheaply made barrel could have been a little more premium, and maybe the ink could have been darker, but I cannot find any major drawbacks to this pen. I’d give it a 9/10 and is currently my go-to for essay writing. This is my first choice for most assignments/writing, but I have a few more pens that I’ve used before and am yet to review, and those could take the cake as #1 (Uniball Jetstream 0.38, Parker Rollerball, etc.). For now, though, this is a great deal and one of the best gel pens you can get. You can buy a 10-pack on Amazon (I couldn’t find anything in a lower amount) or a single one on Jetpens.com.

Up Next: Uniball Jetstream 0.38 – The Chosen One.

PSA/Side Note: There will be a few changes going on here. First off, I will no longer use a Moleskine notebook for reviews. They’ve consistently been less absorbent and for some reason, bleed a little more. I will use the highly-recommended Rhodia Dotpad instead – I needed a use for it anyways :). Second, I’m going to be posting an update about once a week, and for that week, I will exclusively use the next pen I plan to review. This will allow me to gauge how good it really is, rather than only giving a day or two to experience one. That’s it for now, please share/read and stuff!