---
title: "Best Pens That Don't Smudge (2026): Fast-Drying Picks"
canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-pens-that-dont-smudge/"
description: "The best pens that don't smudge, compared: uni Jetstream RT, Zebra Sarasa Dry, Pentel EnerGel, Pilot Acroball, Signo 207, Juice Up and Jetstream Edge."
category: "Pens"
type: "Ballpoint"
published: 2026-10-23
updated: 2026-10-23
author: "Ellis Penhale"
publisher: "Stationery Times"
sources: 10
products:
  - name: "uni-ball Jetstream RT retractable ballpoint (0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; SXN-210 in Japan)"
    brand: "uni-ball"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan"
    material: "PC/PP plastic barrel, rubber grip"
    released: "2006"
    price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd."
    model: "SXN-210"
    mpn: "62152"
    url: "https://www.unibrands.co/products/jetstream-rt-ballpoint-pens"
    guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-jetstream-rt/"
  - name: "Zebra Sarasa Dry X20 retractable gel pen (0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm US; 0.4 / 0.5 / 0.7 mm Japan)"
    brand: "Zebra"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Not stated"
    material: "Translucent plastic barrel, rubber grip"
    price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Zebra Pen Corporation"
    model: "Sarasa Dry X20"
    mpn: "46710"
    gtin: "045888467101"
    url: "https://www.zebra.co.jp/pro/detail/sarasa_dry/"
    guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/zebra-sarasa-dry/"
  - name: "Pentel EnerGel RTX (BL77, BLN75, BLN73, BLN77, BL80)"
    brand: "Pentel"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan or Mexico"
    material: "54% recycled plastic body, latex-free rubber grip"
    released: "2001"
    price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand"
    model: "BLN73, BLN75, BL77, BLN77, BL80"
    gtin: "072512200544"
    url: "https://www.pentel.com/products/energel-rtx-gel-pen"
    guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-energel/"
  - name: "Pilot Acroball retractable ballpoint (0.3 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; BAB-15 in Japan)"
    brand: "Pilot"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan"
    material: "Recycled plastics (recycled PP barrel, recycled PC cap and front, per Pilot Japan), rubber grip"
    released: "2008"
    price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America"
    model: "BAB-15"
    mpn: "BAB-15F-BB"
    gtin: "4902505375279"
    url: "https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000572"
    guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-acroball/"
  - name: "uni-ball Signo 207 retractable gel pen (0.38 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; UMR-87 refill)"
    brand: "uni-ball"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan"
    material: "Translucent PC/PP plastic barrel, rubber grip, stainless steel clip, chrome-finished plastic tip cone"
    price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd."
    model: "UMN-207"
    url: "https://uniball.co.uk/brands/signo/uni-ball-signo-207-umn-207/"
    guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-signo-207/"
  - name: "Pilot Juice Up retractable gel pen (0.3 / 0.4 / 0.5 mm; LJP-20S4)"
    brand: "Pilot"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan"
    material: "Plastic barrel and grip, metal Synergy Tip"
    released: "2016-08-10"
    price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Pilot Corporation (Japan)"
    model: "LJP-20S4"
    mpn: "LJP-20S4-B"
    gtin: "4902505521423"
    url: "https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000942"
    guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-juice-up/"
  - name: "Zebra bLen retractable pen (US: 0.7 mm gel; Japan: BAS88 0.5 mm and BA88 0.7 mm emulsion ballpoint)"
    brand: "Zebra"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Not stated"
    material: "Plastic body with a metal weight inside the grip"
    released: "2018-12-12"
    price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Zebra Pen Corporation"
    model: "BA88 (0.7 mm) / BAS88 (0.5 mm)"
    mpn: "49501"
    url: "https://www.zebra.co.jp/pro/detail/blen/"
    guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/zebra-blen/"
  - name: "uni Jetstream Edge 0.28 mm retractable ballpoint (SXN-1003-28)"
    brand: "uni-ball"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan"
    material: "Plastic hexagonal body, metal front grip with fine grooves, wire clip (Mitsubishi Pencil)"
    released: "2019-12-20"
    price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd."
    model: "Jetstream Edge"
    mpn: "SXN-1003-28"
    gtin: "4902778258774"
    url: "https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/ballpoint_pens/jetstream/jetstream_edge/edge/sxn_1003_28.html"
    guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-jetstream-edge/"
---

# Best Pens That Don't Smudge (2026): Fast-Drying Picks

> On published specs, the uni Jetstream RT is the best pen that doesn't smudge for most people: its low-viscosity oil-based ink dries almost at once on copy paper. The Zebra Sarasa Dry is the quick-dry gel pick, the Pentel EnerGel the fast liquid gel, and the Signo 207 the pigment gel that resists water once dry.

- URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-pens-that-dont-smudge/
- Category: Pens
- Author: Ellis Penhale
- Published: 2026-10-23
- Updated: 2026-10-23

![Eight retractable pens standing tip down, drawn to scale: uni Jetstream RT 141.4 mm, Zebra Sarasa Dry 139.4 mm, Pentel EnerGel RTX, Pilot Acroball 142.5 mm, uni-ball Signo 207 142 mm, Pilot Juice Up 142.8 mm, Zebra bLen 143.6 mm and uni Jetstream Edge 142 mm](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/best-pens-that-dont-smudge-16x9.png)

*The eight pens closed, lengths to scale where published (1 mm = 1.2 px); the EnerGel RTX is drawn in proportion.* Original drawing (SVG): <https://stationerytimes.com/images/best-pens-that-dont-smudge-cover.svg>. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

## Product facts

| Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| uni-ball Jetstream RT retractable ballpoint (0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; SXN-210 in Japan) | uni-ball (by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Japan | PC/PP plastic barrel, rubber grip | 2006 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |
| Zebra Sarasa Dry X20 retractable gel pen (0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm US; 0.4 / 0.5 / 0.7 mm Japan) | Zebra (by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Zebra Pen Corporation) | Japan | Not stated | Translucent plastic barrel, rubber grip | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |
| Pentel EnerGel RTX (BL77, BLN75, BLN73, BLN77, BL80) | Pentel (by ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand) | Japan | Japan or Mexico | 54% recycled plastic body, latex-free rubber grip | 2001 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |
| Pilot Acroball retractable ballpoint (0.3 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; BAB-15 in Japan) | Pilot (by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America) | Japan | Japan | Recycled plastics (recycled PP barrel, recycled PC cap and front, per Pilot Japan), rubber grip | 2008 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |
| uni-ball Signo 207 retractable gel pen (0.38 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; UMR-87 refill) | uni-ball (by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Japan | Translucent PC/PP plastic barrel, rubber grip, stainless steel clip, chrome-finished plastic tip cone | – | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |
| Pilot Juice Up retractable gel pen (0.3 / 0.4 / 0.5 mm; LJP-20S4) | Pilot (by Pilot Corporation (Japan)) | Japan | Japan | Plastic barrel and grip, metal Synergy Tip | 2016-08-10 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |
| Zebra bLen retractable pen (US: 0.7 mm gel; Japan: BAS88 0.5 mm and BA88 0.7 mm emulsion ballpoint) | Zebra (by Zebra Co., Ltd. (Tokyo); sold in the US by Zebra Pen Corporation) | Japan | Not stated | Plastic body with a metal weight inside the grip | 2018-12-12 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |
| uni Jetstream Edge 0.28 mm retractable ballpoint (SXN-1003-28) | uni-ball (by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.) | Japan | Japan | Plastic hexagonal body, metal front grip with fine grooves, wire clip (Mitsubishi Pencil) | 2019-12-20 | $$: $5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) |

- Made in (uni-ball Jetstream RT retractable ballpoint (0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; SXN-210 in Japan)): Japan. Per US business-supplier spec sheets for items 62152 (0.7 mm black), 62153 (0.7 mm blue) and 73834 (1.0 mm red), all listing Japan; Unsharpen also lists Japan. uni's US store, uni-ball UK and Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese site don't state it. Source: https://www.ontimesupplies.com/ubc62152-jetstream-retractable-ballpoint-pen-fine-07-mm-black-ink-blue-barrel.html
- Made in (Zebra Sarasa Dry X20 retractable gel pen (0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm US; 0.4 / 0.5 / 0.7 mm Japan)): Not stated. Zebra doesn't state it in the sources we found, and US listings disagree: OnTimeSupplies lists Mexico for the 0.5 mm black dozen (46710), PartsSource lists Mexico for the 0.7 mm black 36-pack (46136), while a GSA reseller lists Japan for the Sarasa Dry X20+. Check the pack.
- Made in (Pentel EnerGel RTX (BL77, BLN75, BLN73, BLN77, BL80)): Japan or Mexico. Pentel of America's 2022 product catalog gives the origin of the EnerGel RTX (BL77 metal tip and BLN73/75/77 needle tips) as 'Japan / Mexico' without saying which SKU comes from where. Retailer listings match: OfficeSupply.com lists Mexico for one RTX listing. Pentel's Japanese product page doesn't state a country. Check the package of the exact pen you buy. Source: https://pentel.mywestamerica.com/2022_Product_Catalog/20
- Made in (Pilot Acroball retractable ballpoint (0.3 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; BAB-15 in Japan)): Japan. Per US business-supplier spec sheets: OnTimeSupplies lists Japan for the 0.7 mm 2-pack (item 31895), and FairPrice in Singapore lists Japan for the 0.7 mm BAB-15F. Australian and US retailers also label Acroball refills as made in Japan. Pilot's Japanese web catalog doesn't state it. Source: https://www.ontimesupplies.com/pil31895-acroball-7mm-retractable-pens-fine-pen-point-07-mm-pen-point-size-refillable-retractable-black-advanced-ink-ink-white-barrel-2-pack.html
- Made in (uni-ball Signo 207 retractable gel pen (0.38 / 0.5 / 0.7 / 1.0 mm; UMR-87 refill)): Japan. OnTimeSupplies gives country of origin Japan (JP) for the 0.7 mm black 8-pack and a 0.5 mm 4-pack. uni-ball UK and Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese pages don't state it. Source: https://www.ontimesupplies.com/ubc1756584-signo-207-gel-pen-retractable-medium-07-mm-black-ink-translucent-black-barrel-8-pack.html
- Made in (Pilot Juice Up retractable gel pen (0.3 / 0.4 / 0.5 mm; LJP-20S4)): Japan. Per importer Simple Paper's listing (Origin: Japan). Pilot's Japanese web catalog doesn't state the country of manufacture in the pages we found. Source: https://simplepaper.co/products/pilot-juice-up-gel-pen-0-4-mm-pastel
- Made in (Zebra bLen retractable pen (US: 0.7 mm gel; Japan: BAS88 0.5 mm and BA88 0.7 mm emulsion ballpoint)): Not stated. Neither Zebra's Japanese product page nor the US retailer listings we found state a country of manufacture for the bLen. Check the packaging.
- Made in (uni Jetstream Edge 0.28 mm retractable ballpoint (SXN-1003-28)): Japan. The Amazon US listing for the Jetstream Edge (B082ZXNTRL) states Country of Origin: Japan. Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese product page doesn't state the country of manufacture. Source: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082ZXNTRL

## Key takeaways

- Seven of the eight picks sit in our $ band (under $5 per pen); only the uni Jetstream Edge, at ¥1,100 (about US$7) in Japan, is $$ ($5–20).
- Zebra says Sarasa Dry ink dries about 85% faster than its standard gel; JetPens found it smear-free in 2 to 3 seconds on Rhodia paper.
- The Jetstream RT is 141.4 mm (5.6 in) long in 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 mm and takes SXR-7 refills; the 0.28 mm Jetstream Edge is the finest oil-based pick.
- Pilot's Acro ink has about one-fifth the viscosity of ordinary ballpoint ink, in a 142.5 mm, 9.5 g pen that refills with BRFV-10 cartridges.
- The uni-ball Signo 207 and Pilot Juice Up use pigment gel that is water resistant once dry, but a gel line still takes seconds to set, so left-handers should start with the ballpoints.

## What is the best pen that doesn't smudge?

**On published specs, the uni Jetstream RT is the best pen that doesn't smudge for most people, with the Zebra Sarasa Dry as the quick-dry gel pick and the Pentel EnerGel as the fast liquid gel.** Smudging is a drying problem: oil-based ballpoint paste sets almost at once, while water-based gel and rollerball ink stays wet for seconds. Seven of the eight picks sit in our $ band (under $5 per pen). The Jetstream RT is #1 because its oil-based ink sets almost at once like a ballpoint's but writes dark, so you skip gel's wet seconds without a pale line.

- **Best overall:** [uni Jetstream RT](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-jetstream-rt/). *Why it's here:* low-viscosity oil-based pigment ink that dries like a ballpoint but writes dark; SXR-7 refills.
- **Best quick-dry gel:** [Zebra Sarasa Dry](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/zebra-sarasa-dry/). *Why it's here:* the fastest gel with a published test: Zebra claims about 85% faster drying than standard gel, and JetPens found it smear-free in 2 to 3 seconds on Rhodia.
- **Best fast liquid gel:** [Pentel EnerGel RTX](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-energel/). *Why it's here:* the other fast gel, a thin liquid gel Pentel markets as quick-drying and recommends for left-handers.
- **Best cheap hybrid ballpoint:** [Pilot Acroball](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-acroball/). *Why it's here:* Acro ink with about one-fifth the usual viscosity, for ¥198 (about US$1.25) in Japan, far less than the Jetstream Edge.
- **Best water-resistant gel:** [uni-ball Signo 207](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-ball-signo-207/). *Why it's here:* the only pick whose pigment Super Ink resists water and fraud once set.
- **Best fine gel:** [Pilot Juice Up](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-juice-up/). *Why it's here:* the finest gel here, a 0.3 to 0.5 mm Synergy Tip that lays down less pigment gel to dry.
- **Best for shaky lines:** [Zebra bLen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/zebra-blen/). *Why it's here:* the only pick with a weight in the grip to cut wobble; emulsion ink in Japan, gel in the US.
- **Finest line:** [uni Jetstream Edge](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/uni-jetstream-edge/). *Why it's here:* the finest line here, a 0.28 mm oil-based ballpoint, ¥1,100 (about US$7).

## How did we choose these picks?

**We compiled these picks from published sources, not hands-on testing: makers' ink and dry-time claims, JetPens' timed smear test, retailer spec sheets, US availability and price band.** We ranked oil-based and quick-dry inks first, because smudging is a drying problem, then chose one pen per need.

## How do the pens compare?

**Four picks are oil-based or emulsion ballpoints, four are gel pens; the ballpoints dry fastest.** Figures come from each pen's guide.

| | Jetstream RT | Sarasa Dry | EnerGel RTX | Acroball | Signo 207 | Juice Up | bLen | Jetstream Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ink | Low-viscosity oil | Quick-dry gel | Liquid gel | Low-viscosity oil | Pigment gel | Pigment gel | Emulsion (JP), gel (US) | Low-viscosity oil |
| Tip sizes | 0.5 · 0.7 · 1.0 mm | 0.4 · 0.5 · 0.7 mm (JP) | 0.3 to 1.0 mm | 0.3 · 0.5 · 0.7 · 1.0 mm | 0.38 · 0.5 · 0.7 · 1.0 mm | 0.3 · 0.4 · 0.5 mm | 0.5 · 0.7 mm | 0.28 · 0.38 mm |
| Length | 141.4 mm (5.6 in) | 139.4 mm (5.5 in) | Not published | 142.5 mm (5.6 in) | About 142 mm (5.6 in) | 142.8 mm (5.6 in) | 143.6 mm (5.7 in) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Weight | Not published | 10.9 g | Not published | 9.5 g | Not published | 11.6 g | 12.3 g | 14 g |
| Refill | SXR-7 | JLV | LR / LRN | BRFV-10 | UMR-87 | LP3RF | NC (Japan) | SXR-203-28 |
| Japan list price | ¥165 (about US$1.00) | ¥165 (about US$1.00) | ¥275 (about US$1.75) | ¥198 (about US$1.25) | Body discontinued in Japan | ¥220 (about US$1.40) | ¥165 (about US$1.00) | ¥1,100 (about US$7) |
| Band | $ (under $5) | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $$ ($5–20) |

## Why do some pens smudge and others not?

**Oil-based ink dries by setting; water-based ink dries by soaking in and evaporating.** A ballpoint lays down a thin film of oil-based paste that is dry to the touch within a second or two, which is why BIC can claim under 2 seconds for the Cristal. Gel and rollerball ink carries pigment or dye in water, so the line stays wet until the paper absorbs it.

Quick-dry gels change the ink so it soaks in faster. Zebra's figure for the Sarasa Dry is about 85% less drying time than its standard Sarasa gel. Paper matters as much as ink: coated planner paper and glossy stock absorb nothing, so even a quick-dry gel smears there while a Jetstream does not.

## Which no-smudge pen for left-handed writers?

**Start with the Jetstream RT or Acroball, then try the Sarasa Dry or EnerGel for a darker line.** Left-handed writers drag the hand across fresh ink, so the ballpoints' near-instant drying matters most. Both Zebra and Pentel market their quick-dry gels to left-handers, and the 2 to 3 second figure JetPens measured for the Sarasa Dry is short enough for most writing speeds.

Avoid rollerballs and standard gels for left-handed notes. Our [rollerball guide](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-rollerball-pens/) explains why liquid ink stays wet longest.

## Which pen should you choose?

**Match the pen to where you write.**

- **Planners and coated paper:** Jetstream RT or Acroball, the two oil-based picks.
- **Fast gel notes:** Sarasa Dry or EnerGel RTX.
- **Signing checks and forms:** Signo 207, whose pigment ink resists water and fraud once dry.
- **Tiny handwriting:** Jetstream Edge 0.28 mm or Juice Up 0.3 mm.
- **A steadier hand:** bLen, with a brass weight in the grip.


## Where are these pens made?

**Six of the eight are listed as made in Japan.** US supplier spec sheets give Japan for the Jetstream RT, Acroball, Signo 207, Juice Up and Jetstream Edge, and Pentel of America lists Japan or Mexico for the EnerGel RTX. Zebra doesn't state a country on the Sarasa Dry or bLen pages we read, so those read "Not stated" until the packaging settles it.

## Frequently asked questions

### What pen dries the fastest?

On maker claims, an oil-based ballpoint: BIC says its ink dries in under 2 seconds, and the Jetstream's low-viscosity oil ink behaves the same way. Among gel pens, Zebra claims the Sarasa Dry dries about 85% faster than its standard gel, and JetPens timed it at 2 to 3 seconds on Rhodia.

### What is the best pen for left-handed writers?

A Jetstream RT or Acroball if you want a ballpoint, or a Sarasa Dry or EnerGel if you want a dark gel line. Pentel markets the EnerGel to left-handers; Zebra markets the Sarasa Dry the same way. The ballpoints are the safer bet on glossy or coated paper.

### Do gel pens smudge more than ballpoints?

Yes. Gel ink is water based and sits wet on the surface for a few seconds, while oil-based ballpoint paste dries almost at once. Quick-dry gels such as Sarasa Dry and EnerGel narrow the gap, and pigment gels such as the Signo 207 resist water only once they have set.

### Why does my pen smudge on glossy paper?

Coated and glossy paper doesn't absorb ink, so water-based gel and rollerball ink stays on top until it evaporates. Oil-based ballpoints such as the Jetstream and Acroball dry by absorption into the thin paste layer and work better on coated stock, receipts and planners with smooth paper.

### Is the Jetstream ink gel or ballpoint?

Ballpoint. Mitsubishi Pencil calls it a low-viscosity oil-based pigment ink; uni-ball USA markets it as a gel-ballpoint hybrid because it writes smoother and darker than a classic ballpoint but dries like one.

### Which non-smudge pen writes the finest line?

The uni Jetstream Edge, with a 0.28 mm ball that Mitsubishi Pencil called the smallest on any oil-based ballpoint at launch. The Pilot Juice Up 0.3 mm and Acroball 0.3 mm follow; the Jetstream RT starts at 0.5 mm.

### Which quick-dry pens can you refill?

All eight. The Jetstream RT takes SXR-7, the Sarasa Dry JLV, the EnerGel LR and LRN, the Acroball BRFV-10, the Signo 207 UMR-87, the Juice Up LP3RF, the bLen NC refills in Japan and the Jetstream Edge SXR-203-28.

### Are fast-drying pens waterproof?

Not the same thing. Drying speed is how fast the line sets; water resistance is whether it survives a spill later. The Signo 207 and Juice Up use pigment ink that resists water once dry, and the Jetstream's pigment oil ink holds up well, but for archival lines see our guide to waterproof pens and inks.

## Sources

- [三菱鉛筆: ジェットストリーム スタンダード SXN-150 series (Mitsubishi Pencil Japan: Jetstream ink, sizes, refills; read October 22, 2026)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/ballpoint_pens/jetstream/jetstream/standard/sxn_150_07.html)
- [ゼブラ株式会社: ジェルボールペン サラサドライ (Zebra Japan: 0.4/0.5/0.7 mm, 10.9 × 139.4 mm, 10.9 g, JLV refills, about 85% shorter drying time, ¥165)](https://www.zebra.co.jp/pro/detail/sarasa_dry/)
- [JetPens: Zebra Sarasa Dry review (smear-free in 2 to 3 seconds on Rhodia paper)](https://www.jetpens.com/blog/Zebra-Sarasa-Dry-Gel-Pens-A-Comprehensive-Guide/pt/838)
- [ぺんてる: エナージェル (Pentel Japan: EnerGel product page, quick-drying liquid gel, model codes, ¥275, refills)](https://www.pentel.co.jp/products/ballpointpen/energel/)
- [PILOTウェブカタログ: アクロボール150 0.7細字 BAB-15F (Pilot Japan: 1/5 viscosity Acro ink, 142.5 mm, 11.4 mm, 9.5 g, BRFV-10F refill, ¥198)](https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000572)
- [ゲルインクボールペン替芯 (Mitsubishi Pencil Japan gel refill page: UMR-85N and UMR-87E at ¥88)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/ballpoint_pens/refill_gel.html)
- [Pilot Japan web catalog: LJP-20S4-B ジュースアップ 04 (size, weight, line width, price)](https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000942)
- [Zebra Japan: ブレン 0.5 / 0.7 (bLen product page: size, weight, refill, price)](https://www.zebra.co.jp/pro/detail/blen/)
- [Mitsubishi Pencil (Japanese): ジェットストリーム エッジ 0.28mm SXN-1003-28 (¥1,100, JAN 4902778258774, colors, refill; read October 22, 2026)](https://www.mpuni.co.jp/products/ballpoint_pens/jetstream/jetstream_edge/edge/sxn_1003_28.html)
- [BIC: Cristal Original ballpoint (ink dries in under 2 seconds claim)](https://www.bic.com/en_us/bic-cristal-original-ballpoint-pens-medium-point-1-0mm)