Sanford Uni-ball's Micro Deluxe Vs. Papermate's Grip Pens

There are two types of pens used in my company. We have Uni'Ball's Micro Deluxe Pen, which is like the Mercedes Benz of pens. The other pen I use is Papermate's Grip pen, which is the typically ball point in the pen world.

By the necessity of the industry I work in, we normally use blue and red ink for our documents. (The blue ink on formal documents stands out in a signature line, so that you know that it is an original signature.) This review is for the blue varieties of the pens shown above.

As an office manager for my company, I give people the option to choose their own pens, but I set some strict limits. The casing must not be cast in gold, and the ink must be blue or red.

Deep division resides on people's pen choices in almost every office, ours included - it's not always a simple choice. There are the ball-point die-hards, and the fine-tip connoisseurs. When I first started my job, I was a fine-tip novice, and had to weigh the benefits of each type of pen.

Sanford's Uni-ball micro deluxe pen comes in a sleek steel casing, and looks like a cross between polished aluminum and shiny chrome, only with a gray cast. A cotton reservoir releases the ink in a slow, steady stream. (I have never seen the ink smudge or pool using this pen.) The Uni-balls are perfect if you work with a lot of numbers, since the ink is so easy to read.

There are two varieties available at my local stores - the .5mm superfine type, which is a little too fine for my taste. The writing just looks too skinny on the page. I stick with the .7mm fine point, which is comparable in size to a regular ball point pen width.

Unlike a basic ballpoint pen, Papermate's grip pens have a slimmer design, and a grip area close to the top of the pen. This Papermate's delivers a smooth, fluid stream of ink, although (like many ball point pens) it tends to skip when you first start to use it.

There's something comforting about using a Papermate ball point pen - perhaps it's because you can really bear down and write hard with them. It could be that they're dependable and disposable. (Heck, you can buy a whole pack of Papermates for the price of one Uni-ball.)

For everyday use, I'd have to give a "thumbs-up" to Sanford's Uni-ball pen. It has literally never failed me, except at the very end of its life of five to six months. When it is in decline, you know it immediately, as the ink fades quickly. The Papermate, while usually reliable, is just a pen. Even with the Papermate's comfort grip, I still think the Uni-ball is easier to write with.

The Uni-balls are waterproof, which is a plus when signing legal or permanent records. It's also extremely quick drying, which reduces the risk of smudges or smears. I could not find information anywhere on the Papermate's waterproof claim.

The Uni-ball micro deluxe pens are not cheap. You can find them easily enough for $20 for a box of twelve, so about $1.67 each. These pens, however, last a LONG time -- literally months and months of continual use. (Unlike some other "deluxe" pens, they are not refillable.)

Papermate's Grip pen is a bargain at just over $2.00 for a dozen. (That's nineteen cents per pen!) If you have a large company and don't want to spend a small fortune on pens, or if your pens tend to disappear, this might be a better option.

Some people may laugh at such pen comparisons, but people who work with pens for the majority of the day will look for something that is comfortable, writes well, and lasts long. Sanford's Uni-ball micro deluxe delivers, time and time again. If you just want a run of the mill ball point, Papermate's grip pens are an excellent choice. But if you do have the choice between the two, I would suggest the Uni-ball.