BICCristal Xtra Smooth Black Ballpoint Pens, Medium Point (1.0mm), 144-Count Bundle, Extra Smooth and Reliable Ballpoint Pens

They work

There are some situations in life that call for 'cheap and cheerful': products that don't cost a fortune and do what they promise with a minimum of fuss.The BIC Cristal is pretty much the textbook definition of this for pens. This is the pen you've been picking up your whole life at the bank to sign your checks, or at a restaurant to sign your bill, or at a conference or doctor's office when you're filling out your registration form. Early in the pandemic, when there were "clean" and "dirty" pen jars, this is the pen that populated them. You know it well - clear, multi-faceted body, with a simple roller ball nib and a pencap with a ventilated hole in the end.Are these fancy? Not at all. Do they work? Yes. Are they satisfying to use? Kinda, but not really. Has anyone ever actually run one out of ink before losing or breaking it in all of recorded history? Absolutely not. Can you chew on the pencap and use it as a whistle? You betcha. Are they comfortable to hold? They're not uncomfortable, does that answer your question?The better question is, do you need a gross of pens? Maybe you run a hotel front desk, or are a server in a restaurant, or are planning a conference with some corny icebreaker that requires everyone to have a pen. If so, this is the pen you want. It's good enough that nobody will chuck it at you in anger because it fails to write. It's cheap enough that you won't care if every single person you give one to never returns it. And it's functional enough that when you inevitably grab one yourself and try to write with it, you won't be disappointed.It feels weird reviewing a modern classic - BIC doesn't need my approval for what is arguably the most popular pen in modern history. But if you're wondering if this is the bulk pen you're looking for, the answer is yes.

So I kinda didn't think too much about the number of pens in this pack. I saw it and wanted to try it and boy, 144 pens is plenty for one person to have. I could pass out pens to everyone I saw for a week or two and still have a dozen for myself. BUT If you're the kind of person who uses a lot of ballpoint pens in black ink, this is great!It claims to be "xtra smooth" and it does feel a lot better than the usual ballpoint pens which are sometimes a bit scratchy. It doesn't really feel like a medium point pen to me, but it's not enough to call it ultra-fine or fine point, so it probably is close enough.There isn't a whole lot else to say about this product. I feel like just about everyone has used a Bic Pen sometime in their life and this feels a tad better than the usual pens but not enough to call it "premium". I think I read somewhere else that these particular pens were made in Mexico, but I don't see anything on the box claiming it's made in Mexico. However the box DOES have bilingual text in English and Spanish so it's possible that it's true.In short, these are great pens and worth the money if you're the kind of person that uses a lot of pens (like I do). This should last me for a year at least though if I can keep everyone else from taking them.

When you think about pens (and who doesn’t?) this is one of the designs that likely comes to mind. It’s a classic!The body has easy-to-grip edges similar to your old trusty No. 2 pencil from back in the day. Each pen includes a cap for you to lose. If you are trying not to lose the cap you can secure it on the opposite end of the pen while you’re writing.The cap has a hole on the end and the body of the pen itself has a tiny hole too. These holes prevent air pressure build-up, and the resulting ink catastrophe in your bag, shirt, or favorite jeans. Be thankful for them.BIC says that the ink is extra smooth in this version. I found it to be pretty much the same as most pens, which is to say that it’s pretty smooth and easy to write with. I’m not an ink smoothness expert though.You get 144 pens. The downside is you’ll have to store them somewhere and if you’re like me you can probably make each one last for quite some time. This could very well be a decade’s worth of pens! The upside is that if you are using them in an environment where they tend to get lost or stolen you won’t really worry that much about the cost of each one and will always have spares!

I'm no pen snob, though I love finer instruments. I have fountain pens, fancy pencils, and nib holders, but Bic pens are always in my arsenal too. They're great for having in places where I won't worry about it getting lost (backpack, car, etc.) and are reliable. These write just as well as they always have.

The best pens. Great ink flow without bleeding. Anyone who enjoys nice hand writing will love these pens!

I am amazed at how hard it is to get good pens anymore, cheap or expensive, they just don't work. Makes me crazy. These are pretty much classic BIC, but the seem on the fine side of medium point to me and not quite as fluid as the older ones I used to use. Perhaps there is something about the composition of inks now, that they no longer use ingredients deemed hazardous? Regardless, out of the box these are far better than the primarialy Thailand manufactured products I have ended up with trying to buy inexpensive pens. (these are manufactured in Mexico).

I can never have enough quality pens! I also like to give them to others. These are medium-point pens, which are good for things like taking notes and writing on my calendar. I often use gel pens, but they tend to write large, thick lines, which can make my notes look messy. These Bic pens are a great alternative.Are they 35% smoother? I've used Bic pens since I was a kid (I'm now 61). I can say that these pens do tend to write a bit smoother. The ink does not seem to back up and clog on the tip of the pen. The caps stay on well.Bic Pens are ubiquitous and I'm glad that they keep improving! The essential design, though, is a classic. So much so that its design is part of the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection!