[Pen/Pencil Review] The Pilot G2 Family Comparison – G2 vs. G2 Pro vs. G2 Limited
This is a busy week so this is kind of thrown together. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Pilot pens and ink. The G2 is my go to ink. I do wish the 0.38 points came in all the colors and not just blue, black, red, and green. So what’s left to say? My husband suggested comparing the typical G2 to the G2 Pro and the G2 Limited.
The “normal” G2 has a clear casing with the retractable mechanism and the grip matching the color of the ink. It runs just short of 5.75″. The rubber grip is pretty comfortable for an inexpensive, every day pen. One of the things I like about it is the clear barrel that allows you to see how much ink you have left. It’s a good, solid pen. This pen comes in single and multi-packs – which run about $2 individually.
The G2 Pro is snazzier. It has an opaque barrel that comes in navy, dark red, and olive green. The pen has metal accents on the clip, top of the grip, and just under the grip. with a black cap and grip. It runs between 5.5″ and 5.75″ in length – a smidge shorter than the G2. It feels a bit thicker than the G2, but also has a more pronounced ergonomic dip in the grip. This can dig a bit into the fingers, which could cause a little bit of discomfort. My husband thinks is the thickest of the pens and doesn’t fit him as well. The Pro is the middle price point. It runs $5-$7 – depending on the source.
The G2 Limited comes in metallic colors with a full metal clip, more metal accents than the Pro, and more rounded edges. It runs just a touch over 5.75″, making it the longest of the three. The grip is the same color as the barrel, giving it a bit of a more sophisticated look and feel. The barrel and grip are less “edgy” than the Pro, giving it a somewhat softer, easier feel. It’s not quite as wide as the Pro. The Limited is, of course the most expensive one. They run $10-$15 – depending on the source. The photos show the pens in reverse order – Limited on top, G2 on bottom. It’s that kind of week.
Both the Pro and the Limited are heftier than the “normal” G2, which I would expect from an “upper” end pen. However, all three are solid, workhorse pens. It’s hard to say if one is “better” than the other, but both my husband and I drift more toward the Limited. I am quick to discard the “normal” G2 barrel to use the inks in other things. And though I LOVE the olive green barrel of the Pro, the grip does dig a bit into my finger – because I tend to write with a death grip. The Limited is the best of both worlds. Comfortable, hefty, pretty — they just don’t make a green one. 
It’s hard to award “bronze pencils” to a comparison like this. The Pilot G2 is simply a good, steady pen, we’re talking aesthetics mostly in this one. But I would give the Pilot G2 family a solid 4 bronze pencils. They aren’t perfect, but they do get the job done.
