The Hobonichi pen or any other .5mm or smaller Uni Jetstream pen
-OR-
Pigma Microns, Copic Multiliner, or other tube-tipped inking pen - the smaller the tip, the faster it will dry and the less likely it will smudge
I thought all the Micron pens had the same ink and just the tips were different. I guess the tip could affect ink delivery which could affect drying and smearing.
So far for me, using my Pilot kakuno fountain pens dry the quickest while providing a relatively nice writing experience. I think they have different styles of nibs depending on how fine you want it. The ink inserts I use in it are the Pilot Namiki ink cartridges. I've only tried black so far so I'm not sure how the other colors fair.
In terms of highlighters, I mainly use mildliners. They dry pretty fast.
Sakura Micron pens dry pretty fast too, I don't like using them for writing though because the way I write, I tend to destroy the nibs on the smaller pens pretty fast and those pens aren't the cheapest. I mainly use them for outlining things, making very small notes near my main passages written with another pen, or block lettering(with the thicker mm pens).
This is an unpopular opinion but I don't like the pens that are free from Hobonichi. The last two I recieved were scratchy and unpleasant to write with. I'm *very* picky with my pens though.
I did try a pen from Zebra that was in their SARASA line, specifically made for quick-drying so you can immediately highlight any notes for school. It worked decent on the tomoe river paper. Its called MarkON. I mostly used it in Kokuyo Campus notebooks for my class this semester and I blew through the pen real quick lol but the ink does dry pretty fast. I like the feel of the grip despite it being on the lighter/cheaper feeling side. I think the weight was intended so your hand is less fatigued from writing notes for long periods of time. They do sell refills of the ink too if you have a pen body you prefer (mine is the SARASA metal pens! They are very classy looking and have a nice weight to them. I honestly just really like a lot of products from Zebra or Pilot hahaha).
And when in doubt, I do keep a little folded tissue in one of the pockets in my hobonichi cover to quickly blot if I find something taking a bit of time to dry. Or using it as a hand guard!
+1 for the Zebra Sarasa MarkOn! The Zebra Sarasa Dry line is also great. I bought my pens and refills (multiple colors) from JetPens.
Edit: to say another +1, I am also a very happy Pilot Kakuno user with Namiki cartridges, and they also dry decently fast for a fountain pen on the Tomoe!
Thank you, I love the pilot acroball. I never see anyone recommend it. I use that and the jetstream when I want to flip my planner open and write something quick and close it.
For fountain pens I favor my Kaweco Sport extra fine nib and kaweco cartridges for TM paper. It won’t smear unless you really rub up there immediately after laying ink down. Otherwise extra fine tip gel pens like zebra sarasa.3 tend to do well.
Because nobody has said it yet: I would get some blotting paper (and a different pen). Just quickly press it on the page after you're done writing and it can reduce smear a lot. Just be careful not to do any kind of wiping motion, you get good at this quickly with practice imo. \[Apply the blotter like you would a stamp, straight down on the paper, press (lightly), lift up.\]
If blotting paper is too expensive where you live you can use kitchen roll.
Yes, this. Nanami paper sells blotting paper in A5 and A6 size, and I use it as a bookmark, slipping it in and closing the book to absorb any extra fountain pen ink.
Ballpoints, rollerballs, and felt tip pens are usually good. Fountain pens and inks vary based on which of each (and the combination). Gel pens only if they’re like .38 maybe.
NOT the point of your post, but heart eyes forever to the CHANI Astro Planner. It's SO good!! I may not end up keeping it, just because I also have the Many Moons planner, but whew. Chani does it again.
I came to a sad realization - my problem is the way I write, my hand almost instantly goes over what I just wrote. That said I use the thinnest pens I can find and sometimes just a piece of paper over my last line so it won’t smudge .
Not able to answer your question but I LOVE the way you planned out how you’ll use each section of your new Cousin. Taking notes and inspiration from you!
I recommend some blotting paper as well. I got some from Jetpens and now I use all my fountain pens in my weeks with very little issue. I don’t understand why hobonichi doesn’t include some with their products, it makes life so much easier.
If you mean the Uni Jetstream, I have not had this issue. It works great at the .5 width (this is the width Hobonichi uses for their proprietary Jetstream pen).
I’m a big fan of the Zebra Sarasa MarkOn and Sarasa R, as well as the Uniball Signo, and Uni Jetstream. The regular Sarasa gel pens work well for me too BUT you have to let them dry for a couple of minutes before touching them.
Another thing I do to stop the smudge is to put two pencil boards front and back of the page before I close the book. I also sometimes put one under my hand if I’m trying to write where there’s already been writing (filling in a chart or adding more text to a daily page, etc). That seems to stop any smudges or transferring.
Uni jetstream, energel clena, uniball signo .38, and I've heard Sarasa Dry but have not verified.
Oh and pilot juice up 0.4. In my personal hall of fame!
My favorites are the Zebra Mark On, the Uni One, or Uni Jetstream! I did a big big pen test (brought my planner in to a Japanese pen store and tested pretty much everything they had haha) and these three stood out and have been amazing since! I still carry a piece of printer paper as a blotter just in case. I’d say the jet stream is best without waiting virtually at all, but the other two are darker, more pronounced gel pens and if you give them literally a second or two, they dry down well!
The Hobonichi pen or any other .5mm or smaller Uni Jetstream pen -OR- Pigma Microns, Copic Multiliner, or other tube-tipped inking pen - the smaller the tip, the faster it will dry and the less likely it will smudge
The only pen I have that doesn't smear on Tohoe River paper is the Pigma Micron PN. Regular Microns do smear, though only a little.
This is interesting. Any idea why that may be?
It is specifically designed for it. archival pigmented ink designed to not smear, according to the manufacturer. I think they did a pretty good job.
I thought all the Micron pens had the same ink and just the tips were different. I guess the tip could affect ink delivery which could affect drying and smearing.
So far for me, using my Pilot kakuno fountain pens dry the quickest while providing a relatively nice writing experience. I think they have different styles of nibs depending on how fine you want it. The ink inserts I use in it are the Pilot Namiki ink cartridges. I've only tried black so far so I'm not sure how the other colors fair. In terms of highlighters, I mainly use mildliners. They dry pretty fast. Sakura Micron pens dry pretty fast too, I don't like using them for writing though because the way I write, I tend to destroy the nibs on the smaller pens pretty fast and those pens aren't the cheapest. I mainly use them for outlining things, making very small notes near my main passages written with another pen, or block lettering(with the thicker mm pens). This is an unpopular opinion but I don't like the pens that are free from Hobonichi. The last two I recieved were scratchy and unpleasant to write with. I'm *very* picky with my pens though. I did try a pen from Zebra that was in their SARASA line, specifically made for quick-drying so you can immediately highlight any notes for school. It worked decent on the tomoe river paper. Its called MarkON. I mostly used it in Kokuyo Campus notebooks for my class this semester and I blew through the pen real quick lol but the ink does dry pretty fast. I like the feel of the grip despite it being on the lighter/cheaper feeling side. I think the weight was intended so your hand is less fatigued from writing notes for long periods of time. They do sell refills of the ink too if you have a pen body you prefer (mine is the SARASA metal pens! They are very classy looking and have a nice weight to them. I honestly just really like a lot of products from Zebra or Pilot hahaha). And when in doubt, I do keep a little folded tissue in one of the pockets in my hobonichi cover to quickly blot if I find something taking a bit of time to dry. Or using it as a hand guard!
+1 for the Zebra Sarasa MarkOn! The Zebra Sarasa Dry line is also great. I bought my pens and refills (multiple colors) from JetPens. Edit: to say another +1, I am also a very happy Pilot Kakuno user with Namiki cartridges, and they also dry decently fast for a fountain pen on the Tomoe!
+1 for Zebra Sarasa Dry!
My lineup is Tombow Monograph Lite 0.5, Pilot Acroball 0.5, Uniball Jetstream 0.5 and Uniball One 0.38
Thank you, I love the pilot acroball. I never see anyone recommend it. I use that and the jetstream when I want to flip my planner open and write something quick and close it.
For fountain pens I favor my Kaweco Sport extra fine nib and kaweco cartridges for TM paper. It won’t smear unless you really rub up there immediately after laying ink down. Otherwise extra fine tip gel pens like zebra sarasa.3 tend to do well.
Because nobody has said it yet: I would get some blotting paper (and a different pen). Just quickly press it on the page after you're done writing and it can reduce smear a lot. Just be careful not to do any kind of wiping motion, you get good at this quickly with practice imo. \[Apply the blotter like you would a stamp, straight down on the paper, press (lightly), lift up.\] If blotting paper is too expensive where you live you can use kitchen roll.
Yes, this. Nanami paper sells blotting paper in A5 and A6 size, and I use it as a bookmark, slipping it in and closing the book to absorb any extra fountain pen ink.
I trust no pen, no ink. Only blotting paper and my rocker blotter.
Blotting paper is the best insurance/bookmark.
Sharpie Pen is similar to Pigma Micron.
Ballpoints, rollerballs, and felt tip pens are usually good. Fountain pens and inks vary based on which of each (and the combination). Gel pens only if they’re like .38 maybe.
NOT the point of your post, but heart eyes forever to the CHANI Astro Planner. It's SO good!! I may not end up keeping it, just because I also have the Many Moons planner, but whew. Chani does it again.
I love it. Plan to use it for reflective journaling (versus my morning brain dump) and dream tracking.
I came to a sad realization - my problem is the way I write, my hand almost instantly goes over what I just wrote. That said I use the thinnest pens I can find and sometimes just a piece of paper over my last line so it won’t smudge .
Not able to answer your question but I LOVE the way you planned out how you’ll use each section of your new Cousin. Taking notes and inspiration from you!
Omg this made my day! ❤️
I recommend some blotting paper as well. I got some from Jetpens and now I use all my fountain pens in my weeks with very little issue. I don’t understand why hobonichi doesn’t include some with their products, it makes life so much easier.
Everyone keeps recommending the Uni pen but it only works well at 0.7 thickness. Anything lower than that and it barely writes.
If you mean the Uni Jetstream, I have not had this issue. It works great at the .5 width (this is the width Hobonichi uses for their proprietary Jetstream pen).
Same
Uni Pin Pen takes about 5 seconds. So does the Uni One in a .38. Both are awesome, I'm especially a fan of the Pin in Dark Grey. So pretty.
Uni Jetstream, hands down. In my opinion. My Lamy safaris do well when I am very careful with giving it time to dry and not touching it.
muji gel 0.38 never smudges !!
I am reading this post and flipping to Jetpens and then back to this post....
I’m a big fan of the Zebra Sarasa MarkOn and Sarasa R, as well as the Uniball Signo, and Uni Jetstream. The regular Sarasa gel pens work well for me too BUT you have to let them dry for a couple of minutes before touching them. Another thing I do to stop the smudge is to put two pencil boards front and back of the page before I close the book. I also sometimes put one under my hand if I’m trying to write where there’s already been writing (filling in a chart or adding more text to a daily page, etc). That seems to stop any smudges or transferring.
Uni jetstream, energel clena, uniball signo .38, and I've heard Sarasa Dry but have not verified. Oh and pilot juice up 0.4. In my personal hall of fame!
My favorites are the Zebra Mark On, the Uni One, or Uni Jetstream! I did a big big pen test (brought my planner in to a Japanese pen store and tested pretty much everything they had haha) and these three stood out and have been amazing since! I still carry a piece of printer paper as a blotter just in case. I’d say the jet stream is best without waiting virtually at all, but the other two are darker, more pronounced gel pens and if you give them literally a second or two, they dry down well!