I’ve been throwing around the idea of adding different types of pens to the site. While I use a fountain pen probabaly 90% of the time, there are other pens I carry. I’ve reviewed a few different gel pens, next up in the non-fountain pen department is the Zebra Sarasa – 0.7mm in Dark Green.
Zebra Sarasa 0.7mm
Gel Ink Pen
– Handwritten Review –
Review Paper: Rhodia DotPad
Specs:
Description: One of the standard big store offerings, in 0.7mm
After hearing many good things about the Zebra Sarasa, I put the pen on my to-buy list. After coming across a multi-colored 10 pack at Staples for only $5.00 – it was an easily justifiable impulse buy. Done deal. Unfortunately it was between Bold (1.0mm) or Medium (o.7mm) and there were no finer offerings, so I opted for the Mediums.
Appearance:
Packaging was nothing crazy, as is the trend with most cheaper pens. It is worth noting that the 10-pack came with a heavier (but by no means durable) plastic carrying case. It’s nice to keep all of them in the same spot instead of throwing them into a pen cup. The Sarasa looks like your standard, every day retractable pen. The plastic body is tinted grey, giving the pen a less intense appearance (which I like). The rubber grip is soft and comfortable with minimal texturization going on. Unlike the Pilot Hi-Tec-C and the Uni Signo DX, the Sarasa is completely plastic and rubber, including the tip of the pen (which is metal on the other two aforementioned pens). The pen is very light and the barrel diameter is not too thin and not too wide, making it very comfortable to hold and write with. The Sarasa is just slightly thicker than the Uni Signo.
Performance & Ink:
This is where the Sarasa shines. I really, really like the way the Sarasa writes. The ink is super smooth, and highly saturated. I’ve mistaken the dried ink on paper for a fine/medium fountain pen several times. The pen lays down a nice, consistent line of ink with no globbing and dries relatively quick on Rhodia. The ink is archival quality, so you don’t have to worry about it ruining paper or disappearing over long periods of time. The fast-drying quality makes this a great option for lefties as well. It’s much smoother than the Hi-Tec-C’s I’ve used, but the writing surface of the pen is wider (0.4mm v. 0.7mm). The way the ink goes on the page is similar to how a Lamy fine nib writes, which I happen to like. The Sarasa comes in a broad range of colors and widths, so there’s something for everyone.
Pros:
Super smooth
Many options
Fast drying
Archival ink
Could pass for a fountain pen (in writing)
Widely available
Cons:
It’s very light
I really can’t find any more cons…
Conclusion:
There’s a reason that this pen keeps getting mentioned on blogs. That’s because it’s great. It rivals the much-hyped Pilot Hi-Tec-C in terms of smoothness and writing experience, and it’s giving my #1 gel pen (Uni Signo DX) a run for its money. I need to get my hands on some of the 0.4mm versions, ASAP. On top of being widely available, there are plenty of options and colors. Definitely check this one out.
10 thoughts on “Zebra Sarasa, 0.7mm – Gel Ink Pen Review”
I have a couple of these in a finer tip that I purchased from with either JetPens.com or JStationery.com and I like them a lot. I didn’t realize they are available in stores. I will have a look at Staples next time.
Ed- Great review thanks. The Sarasa has been my go to roller disposable for quite some time. The other to try is the same pen but called Sarasa Clip. It comes with an awesome heavy duty pocket clip with integrated spring steel that allows it to clip to alot more things. Same pen.
Nice review, thanks for that!
I like the Sarasa too, but I use the SE version. Like the Energel even better, though. Energel just writes smoother and in black has a darker colour.
These were my pen of choice up until the end of 2013, when they changed the ink formula so it would be super fast drying. The new ink doesn’t smudge, which I guess is good (though it wasn’t an issue for me).
However the new ink lays down an inferior line–has a tendency to barf out too much ink. Also it is incredibly water soluable when dry. Much more so than the old formulation was. A tiny drop of water soaks up all the ink around instantly so you can’t even tell what was written there. Never sweat near the new Sarasas or take documents outside when there is a chance of rain.
Zebra Sarasa 0.7mm
Appearance:
Pros:
Conclusion:
edjelley.com - Fountain Pen, Ink, and Stationery Reviews 
I have a couple of these in a finer tip that I purchased from with either JetPens.com or JStationery.com and I like them a lot. I didn’t realize they are available in stores. I will have a look at Staples next time.
Ed- Great review thanks. The Sarasa has been my go to roller disposable for quite some time. The other to try is the same pen but called Sarasa Clip. It comes with an awesome heavy duty pocket clip with integrated spring steel that allows it to clip to alot more things. Same pen.
Thanks for reading! I’ll have to check that one out, I’ve definitely seen it on JetPens, but never committed.
Nice review, thanks for that!
I like the Sarasa too, but I use the SE version. Like the Energel even better, though. Energel just writes smoother and in black has a darker colour.
Thanks! I’ll check those out. They’re on the list, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
These were my pen of choice up until the end of 2013, when they changed the ink formula so it would be super fast drying. The new ink doesn’t smudge, which I guess is good (though it wasn’t an issue for me).
However the new ink lays down an inferior line–has a tendency to barf out too much ink. Also it is incredibly water soluable when dry. Much more so than the old formulation was. A tiny drop of water soaks up all the ink around instantly so you can’t even tell what was written there. Never sweat near the new Sarasas or take documents outside when there is a chance of rain.