After posting my favorite ballpoint pens, gel pens and erasable pens, a reader emailed me asking what my favorite needle tip pens are.

l don’t tend to use needle tip pens as I write on an angle and the tip usually ends up being scratchy. I also don’t like how thin the ink is (even if you write straight up with it).

However, there are a few needle tip pens that I’ve come across that aren’t too scratchy to write with:

Favorite Needle Tip Pens

Stabilo Point 88 Fine

These pens come in 88 different colors so you’re sure to find the exact shade you need!

I normally stay away from anything less than 7mm, but I actually like the 0.4mm, it feels thicker than that and works well with no ink skipping if you write on an angle like I do.

These pens are readily available to purchase individually on in sets ranging from 10 to 65 (!) different colors. I’ve seen them at office supply stores in Australia, Japan, the USA and Germany. And of course, on Amazon.

Staedtler Triplus Fineliner 0.3mm

I avoided these pens for a long time as knew they were needle tip. The difference though, is that these are fineliner needle tip. So the pen end is bigger than a true needle tip.

I’m so glad I ended up getting these pens as they’re now one of my all time favorite planner pens. The only downside is that if you make a mistake and use whiteout tape to cover it up you have to be really gentle otherwise it’ll tear through.

Yep that’s it. A very short list of only 2 pens. And to be honest.. they’re not ‘true’ needle tip pens. One’s a needle tip / gel pen and the other is a fineliner / needle tip pen.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is… I don’t really like, use or recommend needle tip pens.

Of the few ‘true’ needle tip pens that I’ve tried… I didn’t like any of them.

Needle Tip Pens I Don’t Recommend

Hi Tec C Maica

Super scratchy and not even nice or unique colors. They’re pricey too. There’s nothing special about these pens

Kikki k needle tip

These can be a bit temperamental – sometimes they write great, sometimes the ink skips or doesn’t come out at all. If you write on an angle these are not the pens for you.

Artline fineliner 0.4mm

I do like the teal color but these pens have too much resistance – you have to write so slow with them. Plus they’re really expensive.

Pentel Energel

Expensive ($5 here in Australia!) and nothing special about them. Ink runs out really fast. I’ve only been able to find them for sale individually at Officeworks on the stand with all the unsealed pens. I.e you don’t know how many people have touched (germs) and tested that pen before you. I know it’s a bit more pricey because it’s refillable but realistically am I going to go to the effort of refilling it? No, I’m just going to grab another pen that writes better anyway.

TUL

I used to recommend these as they were like a gel pen, but the ink didn’t last long in these pens.

More pen reviews

• Ultimate list of the best planner pen brands and how to choose colors for color coding 
• Planner pens I don’t recommend (prone to smearing, bleed through etc.) 
• Favorite pens for writing headings in my planner 

Planning tips

• DIY Tutorial: How to make planner stickers using Microsoft Word (includes video walkthrough)
• MAMBI Happy Planner Discbound Punch versus the ARC (are they compatible?)
• 50 Themes for your planner or bullet journal spreads

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