Over the last couple months, I’ve seen such enthusiasm around the new Zento line of Uni-Ball gel pens. They are consistently sold out with massive fervor when they are re-stocked. I wanted to find out what the big deal was about. I decided to try both the standard Uni-ball ZENTO Gel Pen (0.38 mm Cloud Body) ($3.30) and the fancier Uni-ball ZENTO Gel Pen Flow Model (0.38 mm Fluorite Body) ($12.25).
The Zento pen line is available in 0.38mm and 0.5mm and are only sold with black ink. Blue and Red ink refills are available. If you like these pen shapes and styles, many other refills will fit into the pens including Jetstream, Sarasa, Energel and more.
The Standard model features a softly colored ABS plastic upper barrel, with a long rubber grip section for a comfortable hold. On the back end, a spring-loaded wire clip opens wide for attaching the pen to a notebook or textbook.
The Flow model features a softly colored ABS plastic upper barrel, with a long matching metal grip section for two-tone design that adds a touch of elegance to your desk. On the back end, a spring-loaded wire clip in the same shade opens wide for attaching the pen to a notebook or textbook.
The Standard model Zento weight 10gms and the Flow model which features a metal grip section weighs 14gms. I expected there to be a bigger difference in the weights but the clip end on both pens is the same so the extra 3gms in the Flow model is down towards the tip making the balance nice.
Both pens had the same ink and same tip size so the comparison was in how they felt in my hand. TheFlow model has a cool slick metal feeling in my hand. The Standard model had a squishy rubber grip section that felt softer in the hand.
While I enjoyed the weight, I didn’t like the feel of the metal against my hand. The Flow model felt slippery in my hand. I preferred the softer, squishy feel of the Standard model despite the fact that the rubber grip attracts cat hair like crazy.
There are a couple of others models available: Basic and Signature. The Basic model looks similar in available material and tip size to the Standard but offers a slightly smaller, more neutral color range. The Basic model is also the same price as the Standard. The Signature is a metallic body with magnetic cap, not a knock but an actual cap. The Signature is oddly shaped and priced at $38.50 per pen. I’m not sure its worth the extra costs unless you really want or need a capped gel pen.
Overall, I do like the deep, dark black gel ink in the Zento pens but I am not sure its worth springing for the Flow model unless you really prefer metal barrels. You can also test drive the refills for $1.75 each in any pen body you might already own that take the G2/Schmidt/Euro style refill.
DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by JetPens for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.
After months of watching the Flow models consistently, I capitulated when JetPens had the Birch White body version. This one has some “ribs” on the barrel for improved grip. I like it quite a bit. I don’t find it slippery, but I tend to prefer metal-bodied pens anyway. It’s a nice writer and the body’s attractive, but I prefer my Zebra Sarasa Grand pens instead.
The model that everyone wants that is consistently sold out is the Zento Signature.