The Kaweco Sport long ago solidified its status as one of the best pocket pens available, and most of the attention (deservedly) falls on the fountain pen version of the Sport. But you shouldn’t overlook the rollerball and ballpoint versions, especially if, like me, you appreciate the flexibility afforded by non-fountain pens.
The Kaweco Sport rollerball looks essentially identical to the fountain pen and has similar ergonomics when deployed for writing, with the only difference being the grip section. The Sport ships with a Kaweco-branded Parker-style gel refill labeled “Gel Ceramic Roller .07,” and since it says “Made in Japan” the refill is likely manufactured by a company such as Ohto. While the stock refill is excellent, you can find many different compatible Parker-style refills if you’d prefer a finer tip size, a liquid-ink rollerball, or even a classic ballpoint.
The Kaweco Sport ballpoint is a different animal entirely, as it’s a clipless click pen that accepts D1 refills and may honestly be too short for many people. Kaweco has used a variety of different ballpoint formats over the years, including a Kaweco Sport “Luxe” version (now discontinued) that featured a clip and a twist mechanism. Honestly, on a pen this small I think I prefer how the Luxe was set up - I love to clip that pen to my pocket or to the front of a notebook. Without the clip, the Sport ballpoint is otherwise prone to accidentally deploying in your pocket, though if you always carry your pen in a purse or bag this may not present any issues.
The current Kaweco Sport shown here compared against the now-discontinued Kaweco Sport “Luxe”. I will note that the current version best approximates the vintage Sport ballpoint, like this one I have in my collection.
If you’re interested in further exploring different refill options for these two pens, check out Ana’s refill guide over at the Well-Appointed Desk for a comprehensive list of compatible Parker-style and D1 refills.
Takeaways and Where to Buy
The Kaweco Sport remains one of my favorite options for portable, on-the-go writing and a core recommendation whenever someone tells me they’re looking for a reliable pocket pen. The Sport format translates well from fountain pen to rollerball to ballpoint (and even to a clutch pencil), and Kaweco makes these pens in a wide range of materials at pretty much every price point. If you like the look of the Kaweco Sport, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a version that suits you. If you’re interested in reading more on the various versions of the Kaweco Sport and other “Pocket Pen” options, check out my Guide to Pocket Writing, which I recently updated!
You can usually find Kaweco Sport rollerballs and ballpoints sold alongside the fountain pen at any authorized Kaweco retailer, including our sponsor Goldspot who provided the two pens pictured here for review. Both the rollerball and ballpoint are priced at $22. You can’t argue with Kaweco’s value!
Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors. I received the pens featured in this review from Goldspot, free of charge, for review purposes.