The Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen receives a lot of (well-deserved) attention, both as an excellent lower-cost option for those looking for their first fountain pen and as a reliable daily driver for those needing a pen they can carry around stress-free. Also known as the “MR” in some markets, what many don’t know is that the Metropolitan lineup also features excellent “rollerball” and ballpoint options. I use the term “rollerball” loosely because the pen ships with a Pilot .7mm G2 gel cartridge. so technically it should be called a “gel roller” but we won’t nitpick. Both pens are exceptionally good workhorse pens for the price point, and have a fairly regular place in my rotation since they live in my backpack pen slots alongside my Zento Flow and more.
Comfortable All-Day Writers That Don’t Break the Bank
The Pilot G2 used to be my favorite gel pen option, and I still return to it regularly even if I’ve come to prefer the Synergy Tip that Pilot uses in the revamped Juice line. The fact that the Metro rollerball takes the G2 refill is a huge selling point for me. If you’re looking for a good gel pen that just works, a .7mm G2 is my own “when-I-just-need-to-write-and-not-focus-on-anything-else” pen. Many people assume that I write with fountain pens all the time, but when I need to minimize distraction or find myself stuck in a journaling rut, I nearly always reach for a favorite rollerball or gel pen because it’s one less thing to think about. I’ve been journaling with the Metropolitan Rollerball lately, and it’s done wonders to jumpstart my daily writing habit. (More on this in our upcoming On the Paper Trail episode.)
Despite most of the pen being constructed of metal (lacquered brass with a plastic section), I find the Metropolitan pens well-balanced. The rollerball and fountain pen feel much the same in-hand, and post well with a cap that sits securely on the end of the barrel and closes with a firm snap. The ballpoint pen has a classic twist format where you turn the barrel to extend the refill - everyone should be familiar with this one.
The Metropolitan ballpoint ships with the .7mm Dr. Grip ballpoint refill, marketed in Japan as the “Cocoon”. Those familiar with the Pilot S20 ballpoint will recognize this refill as it’s the same cartridge that ships with the S20 in .5mm size. I swapped out the .7mm for the .5mm since I prefer the finer line. The cartridge contains low-viscosity Pilot Acroball ink, which alternates with the Uni Jetstream as my favorite ballpoint option.
There aren’t many downsides to either of these pens. The only potential drawback to the capped versions of the Metropolitan (the fountain pen and rollerball) is the step down from the barrel to the grip section, which some find sharp. This issue completely depends on how you hold your pen - It doesn’t present a serious issue for me, though I notice it more on the fountain pen and less on the rollerball because I tend to hold the latter closer to the tip. The ballpoint doesn’t present any such issue since the entire barrel is smooth.
Takeaways and Where to Buy
I regularly recommend the entire Metropolitan line to customers in the store, and stand by this reliable option even if it’s not particularly trendy. I use the rollerball the most frequently of any of the Metro options, including as my “airplane pen” when I don’t want to break out a fountain pen mid-flight. The ballpoint has also seen a lot of travel-related usage, as the Cocoon cartridge is one of my everyday favorites.
The Pilot Metropolitan Rollerball and Ballpoint compared against the Uni Zento Flow (top) and Pilot S20 Ballpoint (bottom).
We stock Pilot Metropolitan fountain pens, rollerballs, and ballpoints in our own shop, priced at $34 for the fountain pen and $31.75 for the rollerball and ballpoint. We also carry the Cocoon Refills for the ballpoint, and while we don’t currently stock G2 cartridges, they are extremely easy to find and we will likely bring them in at some point in the near future.
The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come check out these and the rest of the Pilot lineup at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.
