﻿Big-box stores have a reputation for carrying low quality stationery,
but we know there are some hidden gems that might’ve helped push you down the stationery rabbit hole.
In this video, we’ll highlight those items as well as other options like pens, highlighters, notebooks, and more.
Ballpoint Pens
The humble Pentel RSVP is a mainstay of office supply stores.
Its budget-friendly price makes it an excellent everyday carry pen:
you can throw it into purses and backpacks, and it’s not a big deal if you accidentally lose it.
It even comes in a variety of colors, like pink and light blue.
If you find that a typical ballpoint pen makes your hand cramp up, try a Uni Jetstream.
It uses a low-viscosity ink that is more fluid.
You can write with a lighter touch and your hand will hurt less too.
The Jetstream comes in more tip sizes from tiny 0.28 millimeters to bold 1.0 millimeters.
Gel Pens
The Pilot G2 is an iconic gel pen: pretty much every student has had a G2 in their pen case!
This gel pen has a rubber grip that keeps your hand comfortable during marathon writing sessions,
and it comes in a variety of colors to color-code your notes.
The G2 is a great pen, although we’ve found that the ink is a little slow to dry.
It’s also not water resistant.
The Uni-ball Signo is a great alternative.
Its quick-drying ink comes in tons of colors and tip sizes, and it’ll stay put if you happen to spill some water on your notes.
Rollerball Pens
The Pilot Precise is known as America’s favorite rollerball pen, and we definitely agree on how popular it is.
The needlepoint tip creates a line similar to that of a 0.5 millimeter gel pen.
The Pilot Precise is excellent for those who have small writing,
but if you’re not already used to rollerball pens, it can feel a little scratchy.
The Uni-ball Vision Elite has a broader tip with smoother flow.
It even comes in understated off-black shades that give your writing a sophisticated hint of color.
Highlighters
If you’ve scurried down the stationery rabbit hole after seeing a lineup of Zebra Mildliner Highlighters, you’re not the only one.
Zebra Mildliners come in many softly colored inks that draw attention to key terms without overwhelming your eyes.
They have a chisel tip on one end and a bullet tip on the other for underlining or doodling.
The Mildliner does have one big flaw:
it tends to smear pretty much every water-based ink, including gel pens.
Iconic 2 Way Marker Pens are surprisingly smear-resistant.
They’re also double-sided with a fineliner tip so you can jot down notes.
Markers
The Paper Mate Flair is the marker for doodlers.
It comes in a bunch of vibrant colors that are sure to bring a smile to your face.
The body color matches the ink inside, so you can pick the right pen when searching through a case.
If you're using the Flair to color, you'll have to keep capping the pens to make sure they don't dry out.
The Zebra Clickart Knock Sign Pen is much more convenient because it's a retractable marker!
Just press down on the top button to extend the bullet tip.
Notebooks
You’ve definitely spotted Moleskine Notebooks at your local bookstore or office supply store.
The hardcover versions are sturdy enough to write with on the go.
And their elastic bands keep the pages closed so you can tuck your notebooks into your bag.
Unfortunately, Moleskine paper can be hit or miss.
Pencil and ballpoint users won’t have any issues, but gel pens might bleed through.
Journalers who need consistent, bleedthrough-resistant paper can’t go wrong with a Rhodia Webnotebook.
It’s packed with cream-colored paper that pairs perfectly with fountain pen inks.
It’s no wonder we recommend it for fountain pen users in our Ultimate Black Notebook Comparison video!
What was your gateway pen? Let us know in the comments below.
You can shop all these items and more at JetPens.com, the place for stationery lovers.
Thanks for watching!
It tends to p-s-- it tends to smear. It tend-- It doesn't 'tend to', it does. (Laughs) Sorry.
It even comes in unique off-black shades-- I hate how I'm saying it, why do I keep saying it the--
It even comes in unique off-black shades. Just say it normal. Just say it like a normal human being. (Laughs)
Color-coding fam, let me know what colors you're using and what colors were your gateway pens please.
Bye~.