What is the Most Comfortable Pen to Write With?   

Regardless of whether or not carpal tunnel has been keeping you down from writing with a pen already come or you just want to prevent that problem from bubbling up in the future, finding the most comfortable pen to write with is a big piece of the puzzle.

A lot of things contribute to the comfortability of a pen. Things like ergonomic design, weight, grip design, the writing angle of the pen, and a bunch of other details all come together to make a pen either a pleasure to use or a real nightmare.

In this detailed guide, we go over just about everything you need to know about not only how to find the most comfortable pen to write with, but we also highlight some of our favorite ultra-comfortable pens available on the market right now.

Shall we get started?

Pen Features That Impact Comfort

A lot of people get sucked into the idea that “a pen is a pen is a pen”, and that there’s not a whole lot of difference between the different writing instruments.

While that may be true if you’re only looking at the surface level of pens on the market today, once you start to dig just a little bit deeper a recognize that nothing could be further from the truth.

Certain pens are built like a brick, the least comfortable things to write with for anything more than a quick note or scribble.

Other pens, though, feel like they have been designed to be extensions of your hands and fingers – a joy to use for hours and hours on end with absolutely zero cramping or discomfort whatsoever.

Pens with the features we highlight below are the kinds of pens you’ll want to fill your desk drawer with.

A Little Chunk on Them

It sounds counterintuitive at first, that the most comfortable pens to write with would be a little bit on the heavier side of things, but it’s the truth!

Thin, featherweight pens might appear comfortable on the surface. But these are the pens that require you to use the most force to manipulate them, the most force to get ink to flow consistently and smoothly.

Pens that have a little chunk on them – pens that are a little heavier but also that have a bit more size as well – are going to be a lot more comfortable and capable of “gliding themselves” to some degree.

If you have the opportunity to pick between a really thin and really lightweight pen and one that has a bit of beef to it, go with the bigger pen. It’ll almost always be more comfortable to use.

Grip Design

Grip design is another major contributor to the overall comfort level you’ll have using one pen versus another.

Some pens have “straight barrels” without any real grip on them whatsoever. Think about your everyday BIC ballpoint, for example. There’s really not a whole lot of ergonomics that went into that almost straw-like setup.

On the flip side of things, though, there are some companies that put the same kind of thought into the ergonomics of their pen grips that the people at Eames put into building their legendary lounge chairs.

You might not need to go to that extreme to keep your hand comfortable when you’re writing for longer blocks of time, but you definitely want a grip that was intentionally crafted.

Universal Writing Angle

Any pen that forces you to write in a specific way to get the ink to flow smoothly and consistently or it will jitter and sputter is a pen that you want to avoid at all costs.

Look instead for pens that have “universal writing angles”. Pens like the Fisher Space Pen, for example, can famously right at any angle – including upside down and in zero gravity.

That might be a little bit overkill (but maybe not), but you want something that gives you a lot of flexibility when you put pen to paper the way you want to.

Uses Hand Weight for Pressure

Finally, be on the lookout for pens that use the weight of your hand in the movement of your handwriting to unlock the flow of ink rather than those that force you to really “gorilla grip” the pen just to get it to write a little bit.

Well-engineered pens really don’t need a whole lot of pressure on the paper to let the ink run smoothly.

Poorly engineered pens, though, have to be boot forced even just a scratch a couple of words out. Avoid those whenever possible.

What is the Most Comfortable Pen to Write With?

Pilot G2

The Pilot G2 is America’s best-selling gel pen for a reason – it writes with a buttery smooth sort of flourish, but it’s also really comfortable for writing over the long haul.

Sale
Pilot, G2 Premium Gel Roller Pens, Bold Point 1 mm, Pack of 8, Black
  • Smooth & Long-lasting: Enjoy a smooth writing experience thanks to the gel ink that glides effortlessly across paper; G2...
  • Comfortable Grip: A contoured rubber grip provides ergonomic support, making long writing projects easier
  • Versatile: Perfect for everyday writing tasks such as taking notes and jotting down grocery lists; The G2 tip delivers...
  • Refillable & Quick Drying: Save money and reduce waste by reusing and refilling your retractable pen with Pilot G2...
  • Power to the Pen: Express yourself effortlessly with Pilot's line of innovative writing tools, including gel ink,...

Uni-Ball Jetstream

The Uni-Ball Jetstream is another very popular option, offering streamlined and simple ergonomic choices that make this a dream to use when writing for long blocks of time at a stretch.

Uniball Jetstream RT 3 Pack, 0.7mm Fine Black, Wirecutter Best Pen, Ballpoint Pens, Ballpoint Ink Pens | Office Supplies, Pens, Ballpoint Pen, Colored Pens, Fine Point, Smooth Writing Pens
  • Ballpoint Pen: Our black ballpoint pens combine the smooth, vivid writing of a gel pen with the quick-drying,...
  • uni Super Ink: Water- and fade-resistant ink helps you compose long-lasting, high-quality documents you can archive; Our...
  • Quick-Drying Technology: Our quick-drying black pen ink resists smudging and smearing, making this pen ideal for...
  • Quality Construction: Our writing pens feature a comfortable embossed grip and sleek stainless steel accents; A...
  • Premium Performance: Our innovative black pens are great for all of your personal and professional writing needs

Pilot Dr. Grip

Pilot pens are home runs across the board, and this ballpoint has one of the most ergonomic cushioned grips in the game today. If you want something that just feels great in the hand (especially if you like to control your pen with your fingertips) this is the way to go.

PILOT Dr. Grip Limited Refillable & Retractable Gel Ink Rolling Ball Pen, Fine Point, Metallic Platinum Barrel, Black Ink, Single Pen (36272)
  • PILOT DR. GRIP: This smooth-writing ergonomic ballpoint pen features our smear-resistant Advanced Ink & a wide barrel...
  • ERGONOMIC PEN: Commended for ease-of-use by the Arthritis Foundation, Pilot's Dr. Grip Ballpoint pen comes in medium &...
  • PRESCRIPTION FOR WRITING COMFORT: If you love Pilot Dr. Grip ballpoint pens, try our full Dr. Grip line including...
  • Retractable and refillable with G2 refills
  • POWER TO THE PEN: Pilot makes exceptional writing instruments to suit all your needs. We have fountain, ballpoint,...

SenseAid Fat Heavy Weighted Pen

While this pen shares a similar shape as pinup models from the 1940s and also happens to be one of the most comfortable pens money can buy right now.

It might look kind of foolish at first glance, but it’s not going to take you long to write with this pen before you wonder how you ever wrote before without it. It’s just that comfortable!

Sale
SenseAid Black Heavy Weighted Ballpoint Pens, Set of 2 with Extra Ink, Ideal for Hand Tremors and Pain
  • Stabilize Handwriting Control: Our fat heavy pens are weighted at the base and weigh 80 grams. It is 14 times heavier...
  • Extra Pen To Use: We want to give you the best experience that you can get that's why we included not just one but TWO...
  • Extra Ink Refills: Our twin-pack weighted pens also include a set of ballpoint ink cartridges. These fat pens use...
  • Comfortable For Your Hands: Our fat non slip grip is 1 inch in diameter making it easier to hold for people with...
  • Perfect Writing Experience: Our fat heavy weighted pens use ballpoint black ink that easily glides on paper requiring...

The Pencil Grip Weighted Pen

Another pen that looks a little wacky, the grip on this pen looks like it had been run over by a car (a couple of times) but it feels fantastic in your fingers.

The barrel itself is oversized, the grip is molded to offer you multiple ergonomic positions to find the one most comfortable for you, and the weight (just under 3 ounces) is beefy enough to let the pen handle the heavy lifting of moving ink onto the paper.

The Pencil Grip Heavyweight Ballpoint Pen with Grip, Ergonomic and Best Pens for Smooth Writing, 2.4 Oz- TPG-651
  • Heavyweight Ballpoint Pen: This Pencil Grip dual-featured ballpoint pen has a patented ergonomic grip and added weight...
  • Ergonomic Grip: The unique and ergonomic shape of our ball pen provides a comfortable position for fingers, which...
  • Doctor Approved: Our smooth writing pens are developed by a doctor and are ideal for individuals with tremors,...
  • Ideal Ball Pen for everyone: Get this “one size fits all” product to develop your fine motor control, stability, and...
  • Smooth Writing Pens: To help with balance and control, the Pencil Grip Original pen weighs 2.4 oz which encourages...

Closing Thoughts

There are a ton of different pens available to pick and choose from these days – and a lot of them are going to cause your hand to cramp if you have to write with them for longer than a minute or two at a time.

The pens that we highlighted above, though, are universally regarded as some of the most ergonomically designed and comfortable pens money can buy.

Focus your attention on them.

You won’t regret it!

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