Which Pen is Better the Zebra Sarasa or the Papermate Gel Silkwriter?

The mechanism of gel pens is similar to that of the ballpoint, the difference is in the ink which gives the advantage of creating a bolder line.   I have put the Zebra Sarasa & Papermate Gel, both 0.7mm in a head to head, here are my findings.

Sarasa V Silkwriter

Zebra Sarasa Gel Pen

Zebra Sarasa Fuchsia

Available in a selection of 10 colors, I am putting the fuchsia to the test.  The pen has a smokey grey barrel & nib housing with a bright pink soft grip, end cap & clip.  The transparent barrel allows easy viewing of ink levels.  The Sarasa gel is retractable & although Zebra says it is not refillable, the nib housing can be unscrewed & I swapped with the Papermate, just to test & it worked, therefore I can’t see why it can’t be recycled.

So on to the performance,  I found this gel rollerball to be a smooth writer that was easy to use.  I’ve noticed that some of the complaints about gel pens refer to them smudging.  The ink in gel pens can take longer to dry, but I rubbed my fingers across the page on several occasions, not a dirty mark in sight.

Papermate Silkwriter Pen

PM Gell 07mm Blue

Claimed to contain specially developed ink that will write a super smooth as silk bright line, said to be quick-drying & will never lose its brightness.  I did find the Papermate Gel Silkwriter pen performed well & the ink was a nice shade of blue.  As I don’t have the first idea how long I need to wait for “never” I can’t comment on the claim of staying power on the brightness front.

The pen itself has a blue transparent barrel that meets a rubberized grip which is a fraction wider than the barrel & also blue.  The nib housing, end cap & clip are a bright white with the exception of a retractable button also color-coded, in this case, blue.  The transparent barrel allows you to keep a check on the ink level until the very last drop, & is refillable.

My conclusion was that both medium tip gel pens performed well, both laid down bold bright text.  As they are a similar price I can’t say there is much to choose from between them.  If I had to pick a favorite I’d say the Zebra has the edge.  This would be on the comfort front for the grip, they also have a wider variety of foxy colors that include unusual mahogany, lime green & orange.

EDitors Update since writing this Paper Mate has launched a whole range of gel pens check out our Ultimate Guide to Paper Mate Pens to see not only gel pens but every pen that Paper Mate makes.

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Tony Bridges

As a seasoned journalist and freelance writer, I've spent over three decades telling stories and exploring the world through the written word. With a passion for writing instruments, I found my niche at The Pen Vibe, a blog that shares our collective fascination with pens, pencils, and other tools that have shaped the art of writing.

4 thoughts on “Which Pen is Better the Zebra Sarasa or the Papermate Gel Silkwriter?”

  1. I used to love Zebra Sarasas. Similar to other gel pens like the pilot G2 but just a little better and cheaper than most.

    However, in 2013 they changed their ink so that it is now super quick drying. I bet you would like that. Unfortunately it also spews out more ink (in a bad way) than the old formula and the new ink is incredibly suceptible to bleeding because of water. Like, it washes completely away at the first drop. I no longer like Sarasas. Unfortunately I bought 24 pens before realizing they had made the change.

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  2. I love the Sarasa retractables, they recently started carrying the Sarasa zebra CLIP series in stores instead and I’m terribly disappointed about it. It has a thinner tip and it’s scratchy and inconsistent. Quel dommage.

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  3. Thanks for your comment Maja, whllst traditional black & blue pens have their place, it brightens my day using alternative colours

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