Pen Review: Lamy Swift Retractable Rollerball

Lately I’ve surprised myself by discovering that there is a fairly deep back catalogue of pens from major brands that I’ve never tried. Take today’s pen, for example: the Lamy Swift Retractable Rollerball. I’ve only recently “rediscovered” rollerballs, as manufacturers have seemingly been tweaking their ink formulations to reduce smearing, feathering, and bleedthrough. Or maybe I’m use using more rollerball-friendly paper, but for whatever reason this category of pens has been working much better for me than in the past. In addition to the Ohto CR series, I’ve added an Imperial Blue Lamy Swift to the mix.

The spring-loaded clip on the Lamy Swift easily slips over most pockets, pen holders, and cases. It also functions as a roll-stop.

What Makes the Swift Unique? The Interaction Between the Knock and Clip

By far the coolest thing about the Lamy Swift is the fact that the clip retracts into the barrel when you depress the knock and deploy the tip for writing. Not only does this get the clip out of the way of your hand, but it prevents you from accidentally clipping the pen to your shirt pocket, pen case, or bag with the tip extended. I can’t tell you how many dress shirts I’ve personally ruined over the years with retractable liquid and gel ink pens like Sensas, Retro 51s, and even Pilot G2s.

The Matte Black Lamy Swift, shown here in “writing mode” with the knock depressed and the clip retracted.

Because the Swift is round with a matte texture, I find it comfortable to use. There is no real “grip section,” but the lower part of the barrel uses a punched-out pattern to create some additional texture. I’ve had no issues with slippage or other discomfort/inconvenience when writing.

The added texture on the aluminum barrel.

Writing Experience and the Lamy M66 Capless Refill

Lamy’s M66 capless rollerball refill - one of which is included with the Swift - is only available in a medium tip size, but it does come in black, blue, red, and green, offering a range of color options not typically found in many rollerball refills. I would rate the M66 a solid performer, and I’ve had no trouble with skipping or the refill drying out in the four months that this pen has been in rotation.

If capless rollerballs aren’t your thing, the Swift is relatively versatile in that it will fit a Pilot G2 refill or any of the other G2-like cartridges such as the Pilot Juice and the retractable version of the Pilot Hi-Tec-C. While I’ve not experimented extensively with different options, I’ve read that you can modify other cartridges (such as the Zebra Sarasa) to fit the Swift by cutting off a small bit of the plastic tubing. In other words, if a cartridge can be modified to fit a retractable Pilot G2 pen, you can probably make it fit the Swift.

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The Lamy Swift (center) compared against a Montblanc 144 Fineliner/Rollerball (top) and a Lamy Safari Ballpoint (Bottom).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

With it’s minimalist, industrial design (a Lamy hallmark) and practicality, the Swift is a sound choice for those looking for a rollerball pen to use in professional settings, as well as those looking for a nice, but not extravagant, gift for anyone who appreciates a good pen. I’ve been looking for a mid-tier retractable rollerball to fill this niche in our shop lineup, and the Swift has done nicely. Of the four standard colors, the Matte Black and Imperial Blue are my favorites, though the Graphite and Palladium options also look nice.

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You can purchase the Lamy Swift directly from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, where it’s priced at $52. It has a prime spot in our rotating Lamy display, so if you’d like to swing by and see one in person, it’s available for testing! We also have the M66 refill available in all colors.

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The Jetstream Prime Lite Touch 3: Can Uni Improve on the Jetstream Experience?

The Jetstream Prime is the upscale version of Uni’s ubiquitous Jetstream low viscosity ballpoint pen, featuring sleeker barrels in more stylish colors. While I love pretty much everything Jetstream, I truly enjoy the Jetstream Prime lineup, and the standard Jetstream Prime Twist Ballpoint is one of my most recommended pens for those looking for a no-nonsense everyday writer to use in the professional context. Regardless of the new Lite Touch ink, the Jetstream Prime Lite Touch 3 multi pen was inevitably going to end up in my pen case.

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I’ll talk about the pen first, then offer my thoughts on the Jetstream Lite Touch ink, which is a new ink formulation Uni introduced last year. The Jetstream Prime Lite Touch 3 multi pen is a three-slot multi pen (no mechanical pencil option) that uses a rotational mechanism to switch ink colors. In other words, you rotate the barrel until the clip points to the color you want. As far as multi pens go, this one is far more compact and lightweight than what you usually find. Many multi pens are either oversized or on the heavier side, due to both the relative complexity of the mechanism and the weight of the additional refills, so the comfort and usability of this pen made for a pleasant surprise. The matte texture on the coated metal barrel makes the Lite Touch 3 easy to grip and minimizes slippage. The overall length is such that it sits well in my hand, and the pen fits easily into most pen loops I’ve tried. A couple weeks back I carried this one around New York City in my Lochby Field Journal Mini, and for the past few days it’s been in my Plotter A5.

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So now about the ink. Uni introduced the Jetstream “Lite Touch” as a smoother version of the Jetstream low-viscosity ballpoint, engineered for increased darkness and less resistance on the paper. In other words, if the Jetstream was originally designed as a “hybrid gel-ballpoint” pen, then the Jetstream Lite Touch takes things even further towards the “gel” end of the spectrum. The Lite Touch ink flows exceptionally well, leaves a dark line with all three colors (black, blue, and red) that shipped with the pen, and still dried almost instantly. I guess the only question I have is why introduce this particular ink as a new product, as opposed to modifying the formulation of the original Jetstream cartridge? The Jetstream Lite Touch is different for sure, but I’m not sure that it’s so different the average person would remark on it. That may change as I try different Lite Touch formats, which I currently have on order.

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Of all the colors, I found the difference most pronounced in the black ink, which was smoother and noticeably darker. The difference was less pronounced in blue, and honestly almost indistinguishable in red.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’m not sure that I like the Jetstream Lite Touch ink “better” than the standard Jetstream - I’m one of those people who actually does enjoy the tactile feel of a standard ballpoint cartridge so the additional smoothness isn’t a huge selling point for me, as I’d typically just use a gel pen. That said, if what you’re looking for is a ballpoint that writes a smooth, dark, quick-dry line and is as close to a gel pen as you can get, give this cartridge a try. Those who can’t write with heavier pressure may also find the Lite Touch to work better for them. For me personally, I will probably continue to buy either Jetstream or Jetstream Lite Touch pens based on whether I enjoy the form factor of the pen itself, since I can happily use either ink.

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Both the Jetstream 4+1 and the Jetstream Prime Lite Touch 3 come in muted yellow colors, which I love.

As far as the pen itself, The Jetstream Prime Lite Touch 3 is one of the better multi pens that I’ve used. The slimmer, more classic profile fits my own personal preferences, and I love the rotational mechanism. Plus it comes in yellow. If you make it in yellow, I will buy one. Now just make it in dark red too. We currently have a small number of these pens in the shop, with more on the way, as well as Lite Touch versions of the classic Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pen. These pens take the SXR-L80 refills, which are currently on order and will also be available. Each of these pens ship with three .5mm refills already installed in the pen, which should last you a while before you need extras.

Thank you for reading! The Gentleman Stationer is supported by the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to visit our in-person location, you can view directions and up-to-date hours here. Please note that we are experiencing inclement weather (ice and snow) on Feb. 18 and 19, so shipments may be delayed in going out by a day or so.

Comparing Low Viscosity Ballpoint Pens: Jetstream vs. Acroball vs. Anterique vs. Ohto

It’s been interesting to see pen manufacturers - especially the Japanese manufacturers - move away from standard ballpoints to low viscosity refills. You sometimes hear these refills referred to as “hybrid gel-ballpoint”, because they combine the permanence and quick dry times of a classic ballpoint pen with the smoothness of a gel pen. Personally, I love them, and they form a core part of my own everyday writing rotation. The downside is that outside the Jetstream line, you don’t have many color options, with most companies offering these refills only in black.

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In order of darkness, I would rank the inks as follows: Pilot Acro Ink, Uni Jetstream, Anterique Mach Ball, and Ohto. In order of dry time, I would rank them the exact inverse: Ohto, Anterique Mach Ball, Uni Jetstream, and Pilot Acro Ink. That’s not to say that any of them “dry slowly,” but with a darker like, you will get more smoothness, and with that added smoothness comes increased dry time because it means more ink is on the page.

With so many of these sorts of pens entering the market, I thought it might be helpful to do a quick comparison of my thoughts on four of the most common brands: Pilot (Acro-Ink / Acroball), Uni (Jetstream), Ohto (various needle-tip refills), and Anterique (“Mach-ball”). See below for my thoughts on each. Please note that this post is not intended to be comprehensive, but rather an overview of the more popular refills that I often get asked about, with a focus on how they compare to one another. For a more general overview of low-viscosity ballpoints, including other brands, see this post here.

• Uni Jetstream. Probably the easiest to find of all the refills featured in this post, the Jetstream comes in anything from D1 size to Uni’s own proprietary multi-pen size to a standard Parker-style cartridge. The biggest selling point of the Jetstream is the number of options you have. D1 and multi pen refills come in colors that include black, blue, red, and green, and even though the Parker-style cartridges are available only in black, you still have .38mm, .5mm, and .7mm tip sizes. Jetstreams are smooth writers - maybe not quite as smooth as Pilot’s Acro-ink, but you’d have to be a pretty big ballpoint aficionado to notice the difference.

• Pilot Acro-Ink. In my opinion, the smoothest, easiest-writing refill on this list. While Pilot’s Acro-Ink refills aren’t quite as ubiquitous as the Jetstream line, I like them for longer-form writing. The .7mm writes a smooth line without smearing, and in my opinion it’s a better .7mm tip size than the Jetstream. These refills are found in the Pilot S20 ballpoints, the “Dr. Grip” line, and the Pilot “Acroball” pens that you can sometimes find in larger office supply stores.

• Anterique “Mach Ball” Refill. Anterique is known for taking the classic vintage-style click pen and upgrading it with their excellent refill. It only comes in one tip size (.5mm), with black ink, but it’s a great pen and relatively inexpensive. Pro tip: you can often substitute one of these refills into a standard vintage Bic Clic ballpoint. I have a large collection of vintage ballpoint pens, and it’s been a joy to give many of them a fresh life with a new refill. Sometimes you have to trim or extend the Anterique refill, as I don’t think the specs on the Clic were consistent over the years, but there are only a couple of exceptions where I was unable to make it work. Anterique’s biggest selling point is that it dries nearly instantaneously.

• Ohto Needle-Tip Ballpoint Refill. The ultra-precise .5mm needle-tip ballpoint has become Ohto’s hallmark. Of all the pens on this page, Ohto’s are on the drier side, but what this means is that you will get a very precise line and zero smearing. Ohto makes the refill for Object Index, Traveler’s Company, and Mark’style branded pens. Honestly, if you see any Japanese needle-tip ballpoint pen, chances are it’s an Ohto.

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Writing sample pens are, from left, the Pilot S20 (shown here in brown), the Anterique Mach Ball Standard Size, the Object Index Cedar Pen, and the Uni Jetstream 4+1 Bamboo.

I’m a huge fan of ballpoints and they play a huge role in my everyday working life because, well, they just work. We stock a wide variety in our shop, and if you come visit us in person, ask to try each of the refills featured here, as we have testers generally available.

Thank you for reading! The Gentleman Stationer is supported by the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to visit our in-person location, you can view directions and up-to-date hours here.

Workhorse Pens: Pilot S20 Ballpoint

The T.G.S. “Workhorse Pen” series is where I park all of my recommendations for those pens that I personally rely on to get work done. While this series started out as exclusively focused on fountain pens, as my interests have become more eclectic over the years, I’ve expanded the series to cover other categories - namely low-viscosity ballpoint pens.

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While the low-viscosity ballpoint pen received its own writeup as a category, I wanted to take a moment to highlight an exceptionally good take on the product: the Pilot S20 ballpoint pen. The S20 has been around for a while, in both ballpoint and mechanical pencil format, though like many of Pilot’s best products, distribution has been largely limited to Japan. Featuring Pilot’s “Acro-ink” (the Acroball refill in a Dr. Grip-style cartridge), the S20 stands out due to its unique shape and feel in addition to the excellent writing experience.

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Four different low-viscosity ballpoint pens (well, almost) that I use regularly. From left: Pilot S20, Uni Jetstream 4+1, Anterique Mach Ball in Clear Green, and the Caran d’Ache Infinite 888, which is not technically a low-viscosity ballpoint but has an exceptionally good refill. .

I won’t belabor the benefits of low-viscosity ballpoint ink, because they aren’t necessarily specific to the S20 and I’ve already written about them fairly extensively. To briefly recap, low-viscosity ballpoints are sometimes referred to as “hybrid gel” pens, meaning that they feature smoother ink flow than your typical oil-based ballpoint, while maintaining the faster dry times and increased permanence. The downside? Color selection. I’ve not seen many hybrid ballpoint pens come in colors other than black or blue (and sometimes red and green), as opposed to gel pens, which these days are available in pretty much any color you can think of.

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The combination of the gently shaped section and the tactile wood used in the Pilot S20 make for one of the most “usable” pens I’ve experienced. It’s honestly the first pen in a while that just makes me want to pick it up.

Why do I love the Pilot S20 so much? For starters, both the top and bottom halves of the pen feature a concave hourglass shape, which allows it to rest comfortably in my hand. While “feel”, “balance”, and “comfort” are highly subjective, in that they often depend on variables like hand size and writing pressure, I personally consider this one near perfect. The wood barrel gives the pen a tactile feel, making it one of those pens that’s a pleasure to pick up simply because it feels elegant - almost extravagant - despite only costing $25.

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The Dr. Grip “Cocoon” refill.

As for Pilot’s “Acro-ink”, to me this refill feels more gel-like than the Uni Jetstream or the Anterique Mach-ball refills, which have a more tactile feel akin to a pencil. Part of this might be that the S20 comes in a .7mm tip size, but I’ve always felt that Pilot Acroball pens lay down a darker, wetter line than their counterparts. This pen is a very smooth writer, so much that I’ve recently started using it for journaling - something I can’t say about other ballpoints in my rotation.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

Since I got my hands on the S20 last year, I’ve not taken it out of my personal rotation. The red and black version sits in my Plotter A5 pen loop, and has become an everyday planner pen for me. The brown and black version lives on my writing desk at home. While the Dr. Grip is marketed as Pilot’s “ergonomic” everyday pen, I tend to find it slightly too large. The S20 better fits my own hand and writing style, while keeping the same excellent refill.

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For writing samples, I used standard Target-brand copy paper, since that is how many people have to use their ballpoints at work, school, and otherwise out in the world. Of the three shown here, I think the Pilot Acroball ink is the darkest, followed by the Anterique Mach Ball, and then the Jetstream. All are very good and I use them interchangeably.

As of this week, we have the Pilot S20 ballpoints back in stock in our shop. We sold through our initial shipment around Christmas, but have plenty once again. A few of you have asked about the mechanical pencil version, and the .5mm is on the way as soon as our supplier has it back in stock. (.3mm will depend on interest, so let us know!) The S20 ballpoint is priced at $25 and comes in two colors: Red/Black and Brown/Black. Additional refills are also available. I’ve checked, and these are indeed the same cartridges that fit the Dr. Grip pens sold here in the states, though these are .7mm “Fine” refills whereas most U.S. Dr. Grip pens are sold with the 1.0mm “Medium”. Personally, I prefer the fine, and will likely try to swap one into my Dr. Grip Full Black to see if it gets more use.

Thank you for reading! The Gentleman Stationer is supported by the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to visit our in-person location, you can view directions and up-to-date hours here.

New Arrivals: Pilot Vanishing Point Black and Blue Carbonesque Models and a Fountain Pen Restock

Ok, so these arrived before the New Year, but in the rush of the holidays and all the year-end festivities, I completely forgot to get them listed! We are now happy to offer the Pilot Vanishing Point in both black and blue Carbonesque finishes, along with a restock of the black trim Vanishing Point models, the E95s in both burgundy/ivory and black, and all colors of the Pilot Custom 823. As always, if there is a specific color or nib size you are looking for and don’t see, please do reach out as we can easily special order products on demand and have them in the mail to you shortly.

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The Blue Carbonesque fountain pen is quite possibly my favorite Vanishing Point finish in existence (other than the maybe the Japan-exclusive mustard yellow).

After last week’s snowstorm, our brick and mortar location is open once again. Public hours are Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, Saturday from 10-6pm, and otherwise by appointment. We look forward to seeing you this week!