10 Best Gel Ink Pens UK 2024 | Pilot, Zebra and More
These days, consumers are spoilt for choice with numerous gel pens available from the likes of Pilot, Zebra, Muji, and uni-ball. Whether you are looking for a set of black or white gel ink pens for art and crafting or coloured ones for taking notes in class, in this article we'll run down the best gel ink pens to buy online from Amazon, eBay and Argos.
Quick List - Top Gel Ink Pens
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How to Choose Gel Ink Pens in the UK ― Buying Guide
Compare What Ink Colours and Effects Are Available to Inspire Creativity
Sticking to blue or black ink is perhaps more appropriate for the workplace. Gel ink pens are a good choice for business professionals as they allow allow you to write quickly and deliver a steady, consistent line that won’t fade.
Check the Size of the Tip for the Weight and Thickness of the Line
The thickness of the line will be dependent on the size of the tip. Here's a quick rundown of some of the sizes available to you:
0.38 or 0.4 mm: Extra small tip made for more technical drawings and fine detailing.
0.5 to 0.7 mm: Gives you a medium stroke that's best suited for day to day writing.
1 mm and over: Creates bolder lines for stronger detailing
Choose a Pen With a Grip Made for Comfort When Writing
Pen grips are available in a wide range of variations from soft and malleable to a firm or dotted grip. The type you opt for will depend on the strength of your grip and personal preference. We recommend those with a strong grasp to pick pens with squishier, rubberised grips to avoid hand strain.
A pen grip can also be used to teach children to hold and use pens correctly and re-train adults who may have fallen into bad habits. Strong finger and hand muscles are required to hold a pen properly, and pen grips guide your fingers into the correct placement, improving dexterity and preventing cramping.
Top 10 Best Gel Ink Pens in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Paper Mate 1. Pilot Juice Gel Ink Pens | | Vibrant Gel Ink Pens That Tick All of the Boxes | |
2 | SAKURA 4. Sakura Soufflé 3-D Opaque Gel Pens | | Perfect for Detailed Drawing, Lettering and Journaling | |
3 | Pilot 5. Pilot G-Tec-C Maica Ultra Fine Techpoint Gel Pen | | Best Fine Tip Pen for Technical Drawing | |
4 | Zebra 3. Zebra Sarasa Push Clip Gel Pens – Milk Colour | | Pastel Gel Ink Pens With Fast Drying Ink | |
5 | Smiggle 6. Dong-A Miffy Scented Gel Pens | | A Bumper Selection of Scented, Glitter, Neon and Pastel Gel Pens | |
6 | uni-ball 2. Uni-ball UM-120 Signo Metallic Gel Pens | | Sparkling Gel Ink Pens That Won’t Pool or Bleed | |
7 | Zebra 7. Zebra Sarasa Clip Marble Colour Gel Pens | | A Set of Nostalgic Colour-Changing Gel Ink Pens | |
8 | Sakura 8. Sakura Gelly Roll White Pens | | The Best White Gel Ink Pens Available | |
9 | Muji 9. Muji Gel Ink Ballpoint Pens | | A Good Choice for Student Note-Taking | |
10 | Pilot 10. Pilot FriXion Point Erasable Rollerball Pens | | Heat-Sensitive Gel Ink Pens With Erasable Ink |
Vibrant Gel Ink Pens That Tick All of the Boxes
Each pen's tinted barrel matches the colour of ink inside making them easily identifiable and a translucent window displays the remaining ink supply, so you can see when you’re running low. With textured, rubberized grips these gel ink pens are designed for comfortable, enjoyable use and the durable clip lets you fasten your pen to a notebook, binder or pocket. Brilliant!
Perfect for Detailed Drawing, Lettering and Journaling
Gelly Roll pens contain water-based pigmented gel ink that is lightfast and resistant to water and chemicals, for intense and non-fading colours. The small 06 ball size creates a 0.35 mm line, in a consistent, smooth ink flow. Combine this set with the Urban set of three grey-toned pens to complete the whole range!
Pilot 5. Pilot G-Tec-C Maica Ultra Fine Techpoint Gel Pen
Best Fine Tip Pen for Technical Drawing
The body of the pen is beautifully stylised with a classic, vintage feel and a cut jewel embellishment on the top of the cap. It’s a lot more solid and rounded than the HI-TEC-C with the added weight making it more comfortable and balanced when writing.
Pastel Gel Ink Pens With Fast Drying Ink
Zebra Sarasa Clip gel ink pens use a water-based gel ink formula with rapid dry ink technology. This allows for dry times of less than one second, making them a great choice for left-handed individuals for whom smudging can be a concern when writing quickly. This set of pastel ‘Milk Colour’ pens are light and cheerful, shining most brightly on dark surfaces!
A Bumper Selection of Scented, Glitter, Neon and Pastel Gel Pens
Each pen is scented with a unique sweet and fruity fragrance, which provides added charm when writing cards and letters to family or friends. Kids will love playing and experimenting with Smiggle's Scented Gel Pens when colouring, drawing and writing!
Sparkling Gel Ink Pens That Won’t Pool or Bleed
Also coming in metallic or pastel ink, we especially loved this sparkling ink option as it shines and glimmers like fairy dust! Offering a semi-translucent layer, they are best used on a base of the same colour for optimum results. The viscosity of the ink stops pooling by delivering a steady even stream, but the ink dries quickly preventing feathering and bleeding too.
A Set of Nostalgic Colour-Changing Gel Ink Pens
Zebra gel ink pens are extremely vibrant, utilising acid-free ink to keep colours looking bright for many years to come. Their opaque pigment is suitable for all types of paper, making the Sarasa Clip Marble Color gel ink pens a good choice for journaling, hobbies, and crafting.
The Best White Gel Ink Pens Available
Artists will know that finding a white gel ink pen that works is like searching for a needle in a haystack! Too often they are not pigmented enough or come out too runny and streaky. With decades’ worth of experience engineering excellent gel ink pens, you will find none of these issues present in Sakura’s Gelly Roll series.
A Good Choice for Student Note-Taking
Popular among university students, these pens are an excellent choice for colour-coded note-taking. However, be aware that these pens are slower drying than other gel ink pens on the market and tend to smudge when used with a highlighter even once the ink has dried.
Pilot10. Pilot FriXion Point Erasable Rollerball Pens
Heat-Sensitive Gel Ink Pens With Erasable Ink
However, the same feature that makes FriXion pens stand out is also a potential downside. If the ink is left in warm conditions over a certain temperature, in a sunny spot or subject to vigorous friction it will disappear. In contrast, if exposed to temperatures under -10°C erased ink may suddenly re-appear.
Why You Should Consider Choosing a Gel Ink Pen
The ink in gel pens comprises of colour pigment suspended in a water-based gel. When not in use, the gel is fairly solid which stops it from clumping or leaking. As you write, the movement of the ball in the tip of the pen exerts force which turns the ink into a liquid allowing it to flow out easily.
Gel ink pens are relatively fast drying with the ink returning to a solid state upon contact with paper. Once gel ink has dried it’s not going anywhere; most gel inks are resistant to fading, water and chemicals making them an excellent choice when it comes to permanency.
Looking for More Fun Artsy Things to Do in Your Spare Time?
It's never not a good time to start dabbling in a new arts and crafts project. If you're looking for some inspiration, check out our related articles for lots of ideas sure to keep you occupied!
Summary
Author: Wren Mann
Top 5 Gel Ink Pens
No. 1: Paper Mate｜1. Pilot Juice Gel Ink Pens
No. 2: SAKURA｜4. Sakura Soufflé 3-D Opaque Gel Pens
No. 3: Pilot ｜5. Pilot G-Tec-C Maica Ultra Fine Techpoint Gel Pen
No. 4: Zebra｜3. Zebra Sarasa Push Clip Gel Pens – Milk Colour
No. 5: Smiggle｜6. Dong-A Miffy Scented Gel Pens
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