Product Spotlight: Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint (Affiliate Links)

It’s January, and everyone’s focus is, for the most part, still on their work and “productivity” resolutions for the New Year. Around this time of year, I’m often asked for a recommendation for one pen that I couldn’t go without having in my kit, and without exception, my answer has always been the Lamy 2000 Multi Pen, or as Lamy calls it, the 4-Color Ballpoint. Featuring a cool gravity-driven mechanism that allows you to change colors simply by turning the pen as you depress the knock, as well as the same brushed Makrolon and stainless steel construction as all pens in the classic Lamy 2000 lineup, this is a pen that won’t look out of place in the classroom or the office and it should last you for the long haul.

You can read my full review of this pen here, and purchase it via Amazon, along with a wide variety of D1 refills that includes my favorite, the Uniball Jetstream.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to allow participating sites to earn from qualifying purchases made by visitors.

Pen Review: Tombow Zoom L104 Multifunction Pen

When I published my Guide to Multifunction Pens back in January, my friend Leigh immediately reached out and asked why I hadn't yet tried one of Tombow's multi pens. Though I had purchased a LOT of multi pens in preparation for that piece, I had missed Tombow entirely, probably because they are not easy to find here in the U.S. Leigh was kind enough to send me (via Dan the pen mule) a Tombow Zoom L104 multipen, in metallic orange.  

The Tombow branding is minimal, and blends into the finish. You might even miss it if you don't look carefully. 

Tombow is a well-known Japanese stationery company that makes a wide range of excellent products, from high-end woodcase pencils like the Mono line to multifunction pens and mechanical pencils to fountain pens. The Zoom L104 is no exception.  It's a sturdy, utilitarian writing instrument that still manages to look interesting. I especially like the combination of the metallic orange pen body with the matte black clip. 

One drawback - the coating on the matte black clip tends to scratch, so I'll have to ding Tombow a little for that. Still, it's held up pretty well, considering how hard I've used this, slinging it around in bags and pockets. 

If I had to compare the Zoom L104 to another multi pen on the market, it would be Zebra's Sharbo X. The Zoom is ever-so-slightly longer, and a bit heavier, which gives it a nice balance. The Sharbo, while it makes a great "planner pen," can feel a bit light and short. I've used the Tombow to take pages of notes in meetings and found this a very comfortable pen in the hand.  

Both the Zoom and the Sharbo have three refill slots - two pen refills and a mechanical pencil. While the Sharbo X requires that you purchase separately Zebra's excellent (but expensive) D1 gel refill, the Tombow Zoom L104 ships with two Tombow .7mm ballpoint refills that remind me of the Sailor refills in the Imperial Black multi pen. These Tombow ballpoint refills write smoothly and are all-around excellent D1 ballpoint refills, if you can find them. That said, my favorite D1 refill of all time remains the .5mm Uniball Jetstream refill, which gives you the smooth writing experience of a gel pen with the write-anywhere reliability of a ballpoint. 

Pull off the bottom part of the barrel to expose the refills. D1 refills are universal, so any pen that accepts them is exceptionally versatile.

The L104 and the Sharbo X also use the same style of "shifter" to switch between refills. As you rotate the lower part of the barrel, a different refill unit clicks into place. If I had one critique of this design, it's that there's no secure way to retract the refill for "safe" carry (for example, when you're carrying the pen in a shirt pocket). To retract the tip, you rotate the barrel halfway between refills and basically leave the pen in "in-between" mode, which raises the risk of accidentally extending the refill and staining your shirt, or purse, or pen case, etc. This isn't so much an issue with a ballpoint refill, but if you swap in gel refills, consider yourself warned. 

And, like many multi pens, you unscrew the end cap to expose the eraser. You can also get a glimpse of the shimmer on the metallic finish here. 

Where to Buy

The Tombow Zoom L104 typically runs around $30, and you may have to hunt for it. If you're in the U.S., Amazon is probably your best option, as there are multiple Japanese sellers who stock the pen. The Zoom L104 is a solid multi pen option, and this one has won a spot in my rotation as a reliable workhorse. Many thanks to Leigh for my first introduction to Tombow products - I wish they were more widely available over here!  

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. 

Pen Review: Sailor Imperial Black Multifunction Pen

Sailor makes great looking pens, and the pens that make up Sailor's "Imperial Black" series are some of the best, IMHO. The Imperial Black Professional Gear fountain pen has long been a stalwart in my collection, and gets regular use. Despite it's high MSRP outside of Japan, it's still one of the pens that I regularly recommend, and I consider it to be the premiere "stealth pen" available. As it turns out, Sailor has expanded the Imperial Black lineup to include both a multifunction pen and a ballpoint at much lower and more readily accessible price points. If you like the look of the Imperial Black pens, but aren't quite ready to make the investment in the Pro Gear fountain pen, you should consider adding the multi pen to your collection. (I can't personally speak to the ballpoint, as I don't own it, but in light of my positive experiences with the other two pens you can probably assume it's good as well.) 

The black ion-plated trim on the multi pen matches the trim on the Professional Gear fountain pen nicely. 

Given the wide disparity in price points, I expected the Imperial Black multi pen to look cheap compared to the fountain pen, and for there to be a noticeable difference in the build quality. Not the case. The black ion-plated clip and trim are the same as on the fountain pen, and the matte black finish is equally well-applied. (Note: Nearly four years later, the matte finish on my Imperial Black fountain pen has become a bit glossy and worn from use. I expect the same from the multi pen, and from any "matte black" pen for that matter. It's normal and gives the pen a nice wabi-sabi effect.) Photographed together, these two pens look stunning. Sailor should consider selling these as a two or three-pen set. 

The Imperial Black fountain pen is a relatively light and compact writing instrument that's easily carried in a shirt pocket. The multi pen also makes a great daily carry tool, but it's heftier than its fountain pen equivalent. While the fountain pen is made from matte-black acrylic, the multi pen appears to be coated brass. The metal construction gives the pen some weight, though I still find it to be well-balanced and very comfortable to use. The pen is almost exactly the same length as the Lamy 2000 four-color ballpoint, but slimmer around the middle.  

The Imperial Black multi pen uses widely available D1 refills. The stock Sailor refill is excellent, though a bit hard to find.   

In my recent Guide to Multifunction Pens, I noted that one of the big decision points when selecting a multi pen is the price/availability of the refills. Fortunately, this pen uses the non-proprietary D1 refill, which is relatively easy to find and available in a wide range of ink types. (There's even a highlighter refill made by Lamy, which I've been using a fair bit.) I will say that Sailor's "Chalana"-brand D1 ballpoint refills have impressed me. I'd compare them to the Uniball Jetstream refills in terms of smoothness, even in the "fine" or "extra fine" tip size. Like the Jetstream, there's not a wide range of colors - you're restricted to black, blue, and red - but they can be shockingly inexpensive for how good they are. Pen Chalet currently has the blue and the black in stock at less than $1.50 each.

The stock Sailor D1 refill writes a fine line that's smooth and very dark for a ballpoint. 

So if I had to make a recommendation between this and the Lamy 2000 multi pen, what would I go with? That's a tough one. For me, it comes down to two things: (1) weight, and (2) whether you need a mechanical pencil function. While I don't consider the Imperial Black multi pen too heavy to use, it's definitely heavier than the Lamy 2000, so anyone particularly sensitive to that sort of thing should be advised. The Sailor also has a built-in .5mm mechanical pencil taking up one of it's four slots, whereas the Lamy is strictly a 4-color pen. Since I use pencils a lot during the workday, I find my self reaching more and more for the Sailor, and if I'm only carrying one pen, more often than not it's the Imperial Black that goes into my shirt pocket. Either one is excellent, however, and what you ultimately choose should determined by your personal needs and preferences.  

One of the big selling points of the Sailor Imperial Black multi pen is the mechanical pencil function. The top of the "cap" unscrews to reveal a pink eraser. 

Where to Buy

As far as I can tell, neither the Imperial Black Multifunction Pen and the Imperial Black Ballpoint (which I have not tried) are available outside Japan, so you have to order both pens from a Japanese vendor. With respect to the multi pen, there are multiple Amazon sources you can purchase from, but as is common with overseas vendors, both price and availability can vary. Shop around.  

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own personal collection. This post contains affiliate links.  

Guide to Multifunction Pens: Picking the Best Multi Pen for your Needs

Apart from fountain pens, I find myself using multifunction pens (or "multi pens") often. At work, I usually alternate between writing in pen and pencil, and on the pen side I regularly switch colors when I’m annotating documents and taking notes. When I’m at my desk at home, it’s easy to grab a pencil out of my pencil cup, or to simply reach for a different pen when I want to change colors, but if I’m sitting in a meeting at work or on an airplane, multi pens are the way to go. The universe of multi pens out there on the market, however, can be confusing and frustrating, and if you don’t do your research on the front end you can wind up with an unpleasant surprise when your refills run out and you realize replacements are unexpectedly expensive or difficult to find.

In this brief guide, which is intended to offer a little more information than your typical “top 5 pens” list, I’ll walk you through what I think are the five best multi pen options for most people, with an eye to quality, overall cost, and refill availability. My first two picks, the Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint and the Sailor Imperial Black Multifunction Pen, might come as a surprise to people because they are more expensive pens than the others. However, they top my recommendations list because both are built to take a beating and accept the non-proprietary D1 refill, which comes in a wide variety of ink types and colors, some of which are very inexpensive. While D1 refills have their drawbacks - for one thing, gel versions can run out very quickly - pens that use the D1 “system” are more versatile, and you can usually find some sort of inexpensive D1 refill available at your local office supply store in a pinch.

The Sailor Imperial Black Multi Pen is just as good looking as its fountain pen sibling, with a matte finish. 

For each of the pens I discuss, I link to a purchasing option and also to a full review of the pen in question. If I've personally done a review, I've used that. If not, I've tried to locate a good review by another blogger if one exists.

My Top Five Multi Pen Picks

1. Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint. The multi pen version of Lamy’s iconic fountain pen isn’t just one of the best multi pens I own, it’s one of the best pens I own. It made my recent year-end list of best purchases from 2016, and I haven’t regretted spending the money to snag this pen. If I had to pick one drawback, it’s that there is no mechanical pencil option, which is a capability all the other multi pens on this list have. Despite this, the Lamy 2000’s looks, quality build, and use of the D1 refill keep it at the top. [My Review Here]
2. Sailor Imperial Black Multifunction Pen. Sailor’s latest “Imperial Black” pen was another pleasant surprise for me (though I don't know why because my experience with Sailor has generally been good). If you’re looking for a higher-end multi pen with excellent finishes, a blacked-out "stealth" color scheme, AND a dedicated mechanical pencil slot, this would be my recommendation. The pen also accepts D1 refills, and Sailor’s inexpensive “Chalana” .5mm ballpoint refills write well, even if they are somewhat difficult to find. Oddly, it seems that nobody has written a thorough review of this pen, which I'll have to remedy soon. 
3. Uni Style Fit. I always thought I’d remain a Hi-Tec-C Coleto guy, but after spending some significant time with Uni’s Style Fit multi pen, I’m slowly becoming a convert. While the standard plastic Style Fit pen body doesn’t do much for me, the metal version is quite nice. The proprietary gel refills come in .28, .38, and .5mm sizes, are super smooth, and last an exceptionally long time for a multi pen refill. They also are relatively inexpensive and available in a wide range of colors. [Check out The Pen Addict's Review Here]
4. Uniball Jetstream. An excellent inexpensive option, especially if you are looking for a no-fuss hybrid ballpoint multi pen that has a mechanical pencil option. As I noted in my review last month, the Jetstream multi pen is larger than most of the others on this list, and also takes proprietary refills that are limited to black/blue/red/green colors. The mechanical pencil is available in both .5mm and .7mm sizes. [My Review Here]
5. Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto. The first multi pen I ever purchased, and the version of Pilot’s Hi-Tec-C pen that I use most often. If you’re a fan of the Hi-Tec-C or needle-tip pens in general, you should go with the Coleto. It’s relatively easy to find, and the refills come in a wide range of colors across .3mm, .4mm, and .5mm tip sizes. The .4mm is the sweet spot for me. The .3mm is a bit scratchy, and the .5mm runs out too quickly. Unfortunately, Pilot seems to have discontinued the Coleto Lumio (formerly my favorite pen body). [My Review Here]

Honorable Mention

BIC 4-Color Ballpoint. This childhood classic still rocks, and is sold in both a 1.0mm “medium” tip and a .7mm “fine” tip sizes. I have a bunch of these in lying around in strategic locations (i.e., in the kitchen, in the car, etc.). A great utility writing implement. [Review Here]

Zebra Sharbo X. The Sharbo X is a well-made pen that accepts the universal D1 refill and is available in many different color schemes. It also has a built-in mechanical pencil option. Compared to the Sailor Imperial Black and the Lamy 2000, however, the Sharbo X is too short and too narrow for me to use comfortably for longer periods of time. Plus the Sailor holds 3 colors + a mechanical pencil, while my Sharbo only has 3 slots. That said, this would be a great pen to keep in a planner or for someone with smaller hands. [My Review Here]

Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Multi pens in general aren’t as expensive as fountain pens (or even most high-end ballpoints or rollerballs). Up front, that is. As I mentioned earlier, to be happy with a multi pen system in the long run, you’ll want to keep an eye on refill cost and availability. A multi pen that uses the universal D1 refill will be the easiest and most economical for most people to deal with long-term, especially if you use longer-lasting ballpoint or hybrid ballpoint ink. D1 multi pens are also the most versatile, providing the option of writing with ballpoint, hybrid ballpoint, gel, and even highlighter ink. The only question remaining is whether or not you want a mechanical pencil option.

That said, if you’re a fine-point gel pen aficionado, and use nothing else, a D1 system will be extremely frustrating, given how fast D1 gel refills run out. You would be better served by going with either the Style Fit or the Coleto, which use larger-capacity proprietary refills. (Zebra also offers a Sarasa multi pen, which I’ve not tried and which has received mixed reviews.)

Neither the Uniball Jetstream nor the BIC 4-Color multi pens are primary carries for me, though I own both and use them regularly in situations where writing with a ballpoint is called for. They’re also priced low enough that I don’t feel guilty about only using them sporadically, whereas my more expensive Lamy 2000 and Sailor Imperial Black pens get used all the time.

Hopefully this overview was helpful. I enjoy using multi pens, and as always, I will try to update this guide as new options come to market.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the pens that I tried for this feature with my own funds, for my own collection. This post contains affiliate links. 

Pen Review: Uniball Jetstream Multi Pen

I've been on a bit of a multifunction pen kick recently, picking up a handful of multi pens as part of a larger project I'm working on comparing the different options currently available on the market. A good multi pen has become an integral part of my daily carry and my workflow, giving me access to different ink types and colors - and sometimes a mechanical pencil - in one pen body. As I've said before, the downside to multi pens in general is that the refills can run out quickly, increasing the long-term cost of your "efficient" purchase. The Uniball Jetstream multi pen, which I'll review today, is probably one of the more cost-effective options of the "higher-end" multi pen bodies. 

Four colors of ink + a .5mm mechanical pencil.

Uniball's Jetstream pens are famous for their smooth, quick-drying hybrid ballpoint ink that doesn't smear, and Jetstream multi pen refills are no different. The model that I purchased features a .5mm mechanical pencil, plus four different ink colors: black, blue, red, and green. With the exception of the green, the inks all lay on dark and smooth. (Like many green ballpoint inks, I found the Jetstream green be a bit skippy and somewhat temperamental.) 

As you can see, most of the colors write a nice, solid line, with the exception of the finicky green. 

The one potential drawback for some people might be the size of the pen. I'd characterize the Jetstream multi pen as moderately large, and since it's a five-unit pen, this thing has some girth. Despite the bit of bulk, it's very comfortable to use due to good ergonomics and a light weight. I also found the soft grip section very comfortable.  

.5mm vs .7mm  

There is something of a debate with respect to .5mm vs .7mm in the Jetstream line. Many people don't like the .5mm and find it writes too thin and scratchy of a line. I've personally had nothing but good experiences with the .5mm, but the .7mm is excellent as well, so if you're on the fence I would go with the wider tip size. You can always swap the refills out later. 

Takeaways/Where to Buy

I'm really enjoying the Jetstream multi pen, especially at work where I need a fine point for annotation and I sometimes have to deal with copy paper so thin that it's impossible to use with fountain pens. The ability to switch between different color inks on the fly, knowing that all of them will write reasonably well on nearly all paper, removes yet another thing from the "worry list" in the midst of a hectic workday.   

In addition to the excellent writing experience it offers, the Uniball Jetstream is probably the most reasonably priced of the good multi pens out there on the market. Right now, you can find both the .5mm version and the .7mm version on Amazon for under $15, including an extra set of refills in addition to the ones that ship in the pen. After that, you can buy the individual color refills in bulk on Amazon or order them individually on Jetpens for as low as $1.35 apiece.  Note that the refills for this particular multi pen are proprietary, so you are limited to the four colors Uniball offers and won't be able to swap in refills from another brand (unless, of course, you figure out a way to hack the pen.)  

For those of you who already use a multi pen that accepts D1 refills (like the Lamy 2000 4-color ballpoint), Jetpens also carries a Uniball Jetstream D1 refill, which is more expensive but makes for a nice writing experience.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds for my personal collection. This post contains affiliate links. All Amazon prices and availability are subject to change, and are only current as of the time of publication of this review.