[Pen/Pencil Review] The Editing Pen Side-by-Side Comparison

What’s new for the 2012 pen review blog? Well, I’m going to try to put a more objective grading system in place so maybe a more consistent way of awarding the Bronze Pencils evolves. That way there can actually be some kind of plan to this blog. Not sure how that’s all going to work out, but that’s the idea.

This week, however, I’m attempting the side-by-side comparison of the three “editing” pens I’ve discovered over the last month or so. I’ll be looking at the Uniball Signo bit 0.18 mm, the Pentel Slicci 0.25mm, and the Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.25mm – all using red ink. For this I am using a “ranking” system of 1-3. 1 being the pen I liked most on a feature, and 3 being the one I cared for least.

Price point. I’ll start here. When it comes to price, these three are a dead heat. On JetPens.com all three pens sell for $3.30. The differences may come with refills in deciding value. JetPens carries the Hi-Tec-C refills, but you’d have to look elsewhere for the Uniball and Pentel Slicci. All things are equal here.

So let’s move on to more defining factors.

How the pen writes. All three are needle point, ultra-fine gel pens, so this is looking at how the ink looks, feels, etc.
1. Pentel Slicci hands down has the darkest, richest looking ink. It flows smoothly from the point with little skipping or scratching. In many ways it reminds me of other pens 0.4mm lines in depth and darkness.
2. Uniball Signo Bit edged out the Hi-Tec-C by a fraction. In a lot of ways they’re equal. The Uni is scratchy and has some skipping. It’s also the finest point I’ve ever used. The ink is still clear and readable.
3. Pilot Hi-Tec-C is only last because it has all the same features of scratchy and occasionally skipping that the Signo has…and looks darned identical in the writing sample, but it’s a 0.25 rather than a 0.18.

Grip
1. Uniball Signo Bit has a bit more cushion with rubber accents to the plastic ribbing. Adds a touch of padding.
2. Pilot Hi-Tec-C has less ribbing on the grip and a smooth run up the barrel so there’s nothing to dig in. It’s a decent diameter for my fingers.
3. Pentel Slicci has a ridge behind the ribbing on the grip that can dig in. It’s also a slightly narrower diameter than the Hi-Tec-C which makes me grip it harder to keep hold.

Materials
1. Pilot Hi-Tec-C feels the most solid in my hand. They’re all plastic, but this one is the most balanced to me. The stainless steel hardware seems in good proportion and solid to me. The footing for the point is thick and solid going into the tip. I don’t feel like I’m going to break anything .
2. Pentel Slicci is lighter and shorter than the Hi-Tec-C. The point seems to come out farther from the stainless steel tip and throws it just slightly off balance to me.
3. Uniball Signo Bit feels the most cheaply made. The point comes out of a plastic tip molded into the grip. The only metal is the needlepoint. It’s also the shortest and lightest, giving it a less solid feel.

Overall, even though these pens run fairly even on all things, for consistency and solidity, I’ll probably pick up the Pilot Hi-Tec-C more than the Pentel Slicci – even though the ink it is darker. It’s the one that fits my hand the best. The decision was CLOSE, let me tell you. The Slicci and the Uniball Signo Bit are ones I might travel with because if something happened to them, I wouldn’t cry over them, but the Pilot is the one I see myself grabbing for long-term editing.

Though…if I could put the Slicci ink in the Hi-Tec-C barrel, THAT would be the perfect pen. But alas…not possible.

Tags: editing, pens, Pentel, Pilot, red, Uniball, writing instruments