Never thought I would be obsessed with pens, so this is weird, but I love this pen.
If you are the type of person that is looking for a pen that has the thinnest line then your search can possibly end here. I bought a number of pens that describe themselves as having a ultra/micro/super fine point, but failed when put to the test, the Pentel Slicci 0.25 does not. I've compared it to the following pens: Pilot V5 RT, Uniball Signo RT 0.38, Uniball Signo Micro 207, Uniball Deluxe Micro, Pilot G2 0.38mm, Pilot GTEC-C4 0.4mm. Only the GTEC-C4 (also known as HITEC) came close, but fails in other ways. The Slicci has the thinnest line, but not only that it is dark, writes amazingly smoothly for a fine point (no, of course not as smooth as the Pilot V5 RT, but you can't expect that with a point this sharp), AND doesn't skip. I can apply almost no pressure and the ink flows effortlessly. It also dries very quickly and has very minimal smudging when used on good paper.
I've tested all of the above pens using Black n' Red notebooks, which have the best paper I've found in a reasonably priced notebook.
Pros:
-THINNEST line of the above listed pens
-Dark ink
-Fast drying with low smudging
-Smooth writing
Cons:
-The pen barrel is thin, so if you need a thicker pen barrel, you'll need to look elsewhere or purchase a different pen and use the Slicci ink refill.
-The distributer on amazon charges more than at an alternative site (I'd recommend searching google for "Japanese Pens" and see what you find)
I have another 5 pens in the mail that are all <0.4mm, so I will update this review if one of them bests the Slicci.
Edit: I should also mention that despite other reviewers commenting on the reliability of this pen, I have not had any instances where it "dried out" or stopped working, but have only been using it for a little over a week now, so maybe that will change.
Update June 2014:
I still think this is probably the smoothest ultra-thin gel pen you can buy, and using the multi-ink (Pentel Sliccies BG3) version eliminates the barrel problem.
HOWEVER, the best ultra-thin pen for hospital use has to be the Uni SXR-38 jetstream knock ballpoint pen refill 0.38 mm - Black Ink placed inside of the Uni Alpha-gel Jetstream Ink Ball Point Pen 0.7mm Black-body. The heaviness with comfortable grip and the ultra thin line (thinner than the 0.38 sliccie even) makes it the perfect pen for progress notes, etc. where space is limited and you don't want to risk any smearing.
It's not a gel pen, but it is the smoothest and thinnest writing pen I have ever used.
| Manufacturer | Pentel |
|---|---|
| Brand | Pentel |
| Item Weight | 4 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 2.63 x 5.38 x 1 inches |
| Item model number | BG202-A |
| Color | Black |
| Closure | Snap |
| Pencil Lead Degree (Hardness) | HB |
| Material Type | Metal |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Size | 12 Count (Pack of 1) |
| Point Type | Extra Fine |
| Ink Color | Black |
| Manufacturer Part Number | BG202-A |
