My Stationery Life

According to me, that is...

I’m starting this occasional series called "Best of" and dividing it into categories—because trying to crown one stationery item as the ultimate best just isn’t fair. Gel pens, multi-pens, fineliners, pencils, planners, notebooks, sticky-notes -- they all have their own strengths, and I want to do each category justice.

Today’s pick is the Best Three-Color Ballpoint Multi-Pen.

This is, as always, based on my own research and (many) personal purchases. I've tested a lot of multi-pens over the years—some hyped, some hidden gems—and there’s one I keep coming back to.

But before we get into the winner, here’s what I look for when evaluating a ballpoint multi-pen:

What Makes a Great Multi-Pen?

• Durability – Will the clip survive a commute in my commuter bag or a pocket, or does it literally snap under pressure?
• Comfort – Can I write with it for ten minutes without my wrist falling asleep?
• Tip Performance – Regardless of tip size, does the ink flow smoothly? Does the tip get gummed up?
• Clickiness – A little niche, but it matters to me! Do the different color options click into place cleanly and stay put?

With all of that in mind, here’s my top pick:

Winner: Uni Jetstream 3 Color Ballpoint Multi Pen (0.5mm)

If you’ve used this pen, you probably saw this coming.

The Uni Jetstream 3-Color (0.5mm) hits every point I care about. The tip never gums up on me, which means the ink flows consistently and smoothly every time I write. Since it's light and slender, I can write with it comfortably for long stretches at a time without my hand cramping up. I’ve never had an issue with the color tabs snapping back up unexpectedly; each color clicks into place cleanly and stays put.

Fun fact: If you’ve ever ordered a Hobonichi Techo from the official store, this is the pen they include—just in a limited-edition. So if you’ve used it and loved it, now you know what it is!

Runner-Up: Uni Jetstream SXE3-507 (0.5mm)

This one is so close to number 1. It’s basically the same pen with a slightly different body.

The SXE3-507 uses the same reliable Jetstream ink, which means you get all the benefits of smooth, skip-free writing. I really appreciate the design of this one, too—the red and blue color sliders are built into the body, while the black ink is controlled by the top clicker. It’s intuitive and makes selecting your color feel effortless.

The reason it lands in second place? The body is just a bit thicker than the regular Jetstream 3-Color. That doesn't mean it's unusable and hard to write with. It just means that you (like me) might prefer a slightly slimmer pen to write with. While a thick pen might be better for larger hands, smaller-handed people could find this a bit bulky during longer writing sessions.

Final Thoughts

Your mileage may vary when it comes to pens. Writing preferences, hand sizes, and pen habits are unique to everyone. But you really can't go wrong with the Uni Jetstream 3-Color. It's a reliable, high-quality three-color ballpoint pen and one I keep buying—and using—again and again (I think I have three now -- I'll have to check). 

Of course, here are plenty more pens out there and I keep buying/getting more. Who knows? Maybe next year’s “Best Of” list will look different.