Pens are very useful tool for everyday carry. From jotting quick notes, journals, or for general writing needs. It is one of the basic EDC item that everyone should have in their kit. The best EDC pen is well designed, reliable, and functional.
You may wonder why we still need an everyday carry pen. Electronic gadgets like mobile phones and tablets are now popular and used to take notes. There are a lot of places that need people to fill out forms or ask for a written signature. This means that people still need to have the best pens for writing.
Research shows that you remember things better when you write them by hand. Writing may be slower than typing, but it is more intuitive and more personal. Besides, writing will develop good penmanship. Who doesn’t want to have legible handwriting?
It is a good habit to always have a small notebook and a pen to be able to take notes and capture ideas. It is far simpler to have a pen and paper handy, and it is possible to have one that works anywhere even in difficult weather conditions.
Carrying a good quality pen is better than sticking to cheap ones. Cheap pens get the job done but they are oftentimes unreliable, ugly, and won’t make a good impression.
There are many EDC pens available to get, and you may need help in picking the best one for your needs. The best EDC pen does not need to be expensive. In this post we’ve put together a list of the 15 best EDC pens that you can find.
How to Choose the Best EDC Pen
Type – There are different pen types, ballpoints, roller balls, and fountain pens. Picking the best type will be a matter of preference. It will depend on how and where you intend to use the pen, how often, and for what activities.
How you carry the pen will also factor in deciding. Will it be mostly carried in the shirt pocket, pants pocket, or in a bag.
You may want to use a fancy pen in a business setting whereas a rugged pen may be more suitable when in an industrial environment.
Size – Small pens tend to be compact and lightweight and suited for those always on the go. Pens clipped to a notebook, shirt, or kept in pockets can be easily found when needed. Bigger pens are for those who prefer full sized ones for writing comfort.
Material – The best EDC pen comes in different materials and finishes. The material will have an impact on the pen’s weight, function, and feel. Metal such as stainless steel, copper, brass, are heavier and more durable than plastic or resin. Plastic pens are more lightweight and sometimes preferred during long writing sessions.
Ink Type – Choosing the ink type is a matter of personal preference. Some pens can use ballpoint, roller ball, or gel refills. If your environment suits, you may opt to use fountain pens with refills using ink cartridges or you may load using ink bottles.
Features – There are pen features that is a must have, or a minimalist design will be more suitable. A few of the features that needs to be considered are pocket clip, twist cap, multi-function design, reloading, and operation.
Here are some of the best EDC pens we recommend.
The Best EDC Pens
Zebra F-701
An inexpensive stainless steel pen from Zebra. Zebra F-701 features a solid construction, all metal design, knurled grip, pocket clip, and an easy to use push button with a retractable tip. If you need to upgrade from plastic disposables to a nicer pen with a classic design, check it out.
Parker Jotter
Classic pen with a streamlined style, sleek profile, and easily recognizable design. It has been around for over 50 years and is Parker’s best selling retractable refillable ballpoint pen. Parker Jotter is a reliable pen ideal for daily use. It comes in different colors and material to suit your style.
Rite in the Rain All-Weather Clicker Pen
Rite in the Rain All-Weather clicker pen writes anywhere be it water, grease, mud, and cold or hot weather without smudging. The pressurized ink cartridge won’t leak, evaporate or explode. This tough EDC pen is ideal for any outdoor activities like camping, fishing, boating, and also recommended for those who need to take notes in less than ideal environments.
Caran D’Ache 849 Pen
Caran D’Ache 849 has a distinctive hexagonal aluminum body with a durable powder coated finish. The shape of the body makes it quite comfortable to use when writing. It uses a Goliath refill which lasts longer than normal ballpoint refills. It has a removable chrome clip, and chrome push button. Caran D’Ache 849’s clean looks and reliability makes it a great everyday pen.
Retro 51 Tornado Pen
Retro 51 Tornado pen is a cap less retractable rollerball pen. It comes in a variety of colors and materials to choose from. The barrel is stainless steel with a knurled twist top. The knurled twist operated mechanism at the end is used to operate the retractable ballpoint tip. Retro 51 Tornado is one of the best EDC pens for starters with a solid build and unique styling.
Fisher Bullet Space Pen
Fisher Bullet Space Pen is a ballpoint pen that and the design was first created in 1948. These pens were intended to be used by astronauts in space. Because of this, they are guaranteed to work in extreme conditions like high temperatures, under water, or zero gravity, and can write in any surface. Using a pressurized ink cartridge helps feed the ink to the tip. This allows writing on any angle, even upside down. Fisher Bullet is a well designed minimalist tool that has earned its place in the New York’s Museum of Modern Art. It can easily fit in your pocket and a removable pocket clip can be attached should you wish to clip it on your shirt or notebook.
Lamy Pico Pen Chrome
A compact ballpoint pocket pen that expands to a full size pen with a simple press. This makes it more comfortable to use and can easily be converted back to its smaller size by just a click and without the need to uncap or unscrew anything. Lamy Pico has the best retractable pen design. Its compact size makes it an ideal travel pen.
Sailor Imperial Black Multi-function Pen
Sailor’s “Imperial Black” multi-function pen is part of the “Imperial Black” series which also consists of a fountain pen and a ballpoint pen. This multi-function pen sports blue, red, and black ink ballpoints and a mechanical pencil. The pen has a nice matte-black finish and feels solid and well balanced when used. It uses non-proprietary D1 ballpoint refills. Sailor Imperial Black multi-function pen is a very versatile tool and the best EDC pen for those who need an all-in-one ballpoint pen and mechanical pencil combination.
Machine Era Solid Brass Pen
This is a well-built, heavy, solid brass EDC pen from Machine Era Co. that has a good balance and feel when writing. This pen is made of brass, and after time, it will develop a gorgeous golden brown patina. The cap can be screwed on the end of the pen while in use because of the threaded design. It uses commonly available Pilot G2 cartridge and a standard size Uni-ball cartridge also fits. Machine Era Solid Brass Pen’s simple design and clean looks and durability makes this one of the best EDC pen to get.
Fisher Space Pen Astronaut AG7
Fisher AG7 is the original astronaut pen. It has been used in all of NASA’s manned space flight, therefore, it is guaranteed to work in extreme temperatures, underwater, zero gravity, and at any angle. Fisher AG7 has a beautiful chrome finish, slender design, and excellent build quality common to all Fisher pens.
Lamy 2000 Ballpoint Pen
Lamy 2000 Ballpoint pen has similar body design as Lamy’s flagship fountain pen. The Makrolon fiberglass material with brushed stainless steel accents makes for a luxurious feel and clean design. This pen can go anywhere and will not look out of place whether you are wearing a suit or jeans. This makes it one of the best writing pen. Ideal for daily use due to its rugged design and reliability. It is also the best EDC pen for business environments.
Karas Kustoms Retrakt
Karas Kustoms Retrakt features a stainless steel pocket clip and a click mechanism made from metal. The aluminum version is lightweight, and can be easily carried in a shirt pocket. It is compatible with Parker and Pilot G2 refills.
Karas Kustoms Render K
For those who like a is pen with minimalist design, Karas Kustoms Render K will suit your needs. This pen model is machined from solid brass and after a while, the finish will develop a beautiful patina. The cap has knurling at the top and it screws on securely. Only 1.5 twist is necessary to fully screw or unscrew the cap. The cap does not post but the pen body is large enough for comfortable writing. It has a strong clip made from stainless steel. It can use Parker or Pilot G2 refills.
Lamy Safari Fountain Pen
For those who prefer fountain pens to ballpoints, Lamy Safari is a perfect choice for the best EDC pen. The pen is made from lightweight and durable ABS plastic. The grip section is triangular in shape for writing comfort. It has a large cap with an integrated clip wich fits securely to the body. An ink window shows how much ink is remaining before refills. There are a variety of nib sizes available depending on your writing preference. This makes it one of the best pens to write with. You can use Lamy’s ink cartrige refills or use a Z24 cartridge converter to be able to use different ink types. For users who prefer fuss free writing tool, Lamy Safari is a fantastic pen.
Kaweco Liliput Copper Fountain Pen
Kaweco Liliput is a thin, lightweight, and compact pocket fountain pen with a stainless steel nib. Its small size will appeal to those who must always have a fountain pen wherever they go. To convert the pen to full size length while being used, there is a threading on the barrel allows the cap to be posted. The copper material will develop a nice unique patina over time. It uses international short size ink cartridges which are readily available from different makers. Kaweco Liliput is also available in silver, brass, or the unique fireblue model.
Write Well with the Best EDC Pen
Carrying a good quality pen is better than sticking to cheap ones. Cheap pens can get the job done but they are often unreliable, ugly, and doesn’t make a good impression. The best EDC pen does not have to be expensive. There are many types to choose from and picking the best EDC pen will based on your preference and how you plan to use it. Oftentimes it is better to have at least two pens for different purposes.
