One product category that we are seeing more and more is the refillable rollerball (sometimes referred to as the "inkball") pen. These first went mainstream several years ago with an inexpensive version released by ink maker Herbin, followed by TRAVELER'S Company releasing a version of their Brass Fountain Pen with a refillable rollerball tip. Recently, another pen garnering a lot of attention is Kakimori's "Frost" pen, which is available in both a fountain pen and rollerball format. We've had a lot of questions recently about the rollerball/inkball functionality, so I thought I'd take the opportunity and do a bit of an overview of how these work and how they perform.

Inkball Rollerball Pens Showing two different cartridge-converter-filling systems — The Kakimori Frost pen ships with a twist converter, while the TRAVELER’S Company brass pen is advertised as cartridge only. However, it will take the Kaweco Mini Converter if you absolutely insist on using bottled ink.

How they work: This one's pretty easy. These refillable rollerballs all use a fountain pen-style nib unit that accepts standard international ink cartridges and Schmidt-style converters. You fill the pen as you would any standard cartridge/converter fountain pen, using fountain pen ink. (While not every manufacturer announces the maker of the rollerball nib/tip unit, Kakimori has specified that it is Schmidt, so if you see "made in Germany" you can probably assume that's who it is.)

Kakimori Frost Rollerball/Inkball Pen Close-up

Predictably, early iterations of these products weren't as reliable as the versions now available. Performance has improved - particularly the consistency of the ink flow - and I've found the pens themselves easier to clean. But why would you opt for one of these "inkball" refillable rollerballs as opposed to a fountain pen? Here are a few considerations:

Office Use. Despite their growing popularity, fountain pens continue to draw a lot of attention in the workplace. If you prefer to remain inconspicuous while still being able to write with your fountain pen ink, these pens are a good alternative.
Permanent or Pigmented Inks. Kakimori makes an extensive line of pigment inks, which are both lightfast and water-resistant. While I've not had a bad experience using Kakimori inks in standard fountain pens, those who are concerned about cleaning and clogging might feel better using a Kakimori-branded pen or a non-fountain pen altogether. I currently have a Frost rollerball loaded with the special ink I mixed in Tokyo at the Kakimori store, and I have had no issues.
Consistent Line Width. While fountain pens are known for line variation depending on the angle of your handwriting and the grind of the nib, ballpoints and rollerballs typically produce a single consistent line width while writing. Note that the one variable here is ink and paper. Since these "inkball" pens use fountain pen ink, the wetness of the ink and absorbency of the paper you are using can cause a wider line than the stated .5mm tip size.

Schmidt Inkball Writing Sample on Rhodia Paper — A writing sample of the .5mm rollerballs, on Rhodia Premium paper. Note the consistent line width across both brands, with two very different inks.

A Few Downside Considerations

Cleaning and Clogging. I would be more conscientious about cleaning these rollerball tips than a standard fountain pen nib, since any sort of roller tip does have extra moving parts (the metal ball) that can get gummed up. The good news is that refillable rollerballs using the Schmidt nib unit clean identically to standard fountain pen nib units, though sometimes you have to flush them a few more times to remove stubborn clogs and residual ink. I typically take a bulb syringe and flush these pens in the same way you would flush a fountain pen. Ultrasonic cleaners can also be helpful.
Leakage. Especially wet, free-flowing fountain pen inks may leak out the front of the nib and/or cause the pen to "blob" on the page while writing. I've only had this happen with a couple of inks, one of which was the ultra-lubricated Tom's Studio Fineliner-specific Midnight Blue ink that probably wasn't intended to be used with this pen in the first place. Most standard inks work perfectly fine.

In the event the tip does become irreparably clogged or damaged - which I personally have yet to experience in either of the models shown here - these nib units are replaceable. Both TRAVELER'S Company and Kakimori use a standard rollerball unit manufactured in Germany by Schmidt, and sell replacements to fit their respective pens. You are also not locked into one writing "mode." Note that these rollerball units are threaded identically to each brand’s fountain pen nib units, so you can use them interchangeably in your Kakimori Frost Pens and TRAVELER'S Brass Fountain Pen. (I do not believe these nib units are interchangeable between brands, since they use slightly different housings.)

Kakimori Frost and Traveler's Brass Inkball Pens Sitting Side by Side — Both pens are compact, but I would only call the TRAVELER’S Brass Pen a true “pocket pen”.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I've enjoyed using the "inkball" option fairly regularly, and overall I'm pleased with how these pens perform. While I might not reach for them as my primary writing option (I still prefer the softer feel of fountain pens and refillable fineliners), those looking for a reliable second option for using their fountain pen ink should give these a try. I am consistently impressed with how clean a line this current generation of refillable rollerballs can write.

The two pens featured in this post are the Kakimori Frost and the TRAVELER'S Company Brass Ballpoint, and are priced at $54 and $75, respectively. Additional nibs can be purchase for around $16. As noted above, both pens are compatible with their brand's fountain pen nibs, so there's no need to purchase a second pen - just the nib - unless you'd like to have both inked up at once.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of both Kakimori and TRAVELER'S Company products. You can view these both in our physical Nashville Shop or our online store.

The rollerball and I have shared a fraught relationship over the years. Yes, I’ve tried. I really want to love what many describe as the most “elegant” writing instrument short of a fountain pen. I know they’re supposed to be smoother. I know they’re the “professional” choice. I know the ink is permanent. But for nearly twenty-plus years I haven’t been able to find one that truly works for me. Lately I’ve been trying a bit harder.

What prompted me to revisit rollerballs? I still get weekly questions about them, for one thing, and it’s hard for me to recommend specific items if I’m not familiar with the product category. But beyond that is a general sense that I’m missing something. I regularly have customers who bulk order rollerball refills - there are pen people out there who really love their rollerballs - so I figured I should do a deeper dive.

Five Different Rollerball Writing Samples — Five different writing samples, from the top: Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Fine in Blue; Montblanc Medium St. Exupery limited edition rollerball refill; Pilot G2 gel refill, for comparison; Schneider Topball 580 fine; and Baron Fig/Schmidt P8127. Note the new “Hex” Baron Fig Squire at the bottom, which Baron Fig was kind enough to send me to test out!

Reasons Why People Love Rollerball Pens

Dark, Permanent Lines. As I remarked in my recent writeup of the Lamy AL-Star Rollerball, there’s something deeply satisfying about a pen that lays down a dark, bold line, especially when you’re brainstorming on a legal pad or a giant desk blotter. Since the majority of rollerball refills only come in black or dark blue (and less commonly red and green), you’re sure to get a dark line, and the ink is almost always permanent.
The Smoothness Factor. If you ask rollerball enthusiasts why they love their pen so much, many - if not most - will tell you that it’s because the writing experience is so smooth. Rollerball cartridges contain liquid ink, and most companies use relatively wide tip sizes (.7mm-1.0mm) to guarantee a wet, “smooth” writing experience that seems to glide across the page, especially compared to an oil-based ballpoint.
Ubiquity and Convenience. Rollerballs are popular, having assumed the mantle of the “executive” pen of choice over the fountain pen during the 1990s. You can typically find rollerball refills in any big-box store, even for higher-end brands like Montblanc, and it’s quite easy to change the cartridge. (Which you may have to do often - see below.)
Versatility: Both Capped and Capless Options are Available. Over the past 20 years, rollerball technology has improved to the point where there are very good capless refills that allow for a retractable design. Pens such as the Retro 51 Tornado, the Baron Fig Squire, and the Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball all use capless refills and twist or click mechanisms.

Rollerball Writing Samples on MD Paper Reverse Side — Even on relatively thick Midori MD Paper, you still see the Montblanc and Schmidt refills come through the paper a bit.

Why Rollerball Pens Haven’t Necessarily Worked for Me

Temperamental Refills. My biggest problem with rollerballs has been that the refills are expensive and don’t last very long. Costing anywhere from $8-10, you would expect to get at least a month or more of writing, yet I regularly come across rollerball refills that dry up and clog long before they actually run dry. I’ve even had refills that don’t write out of the box. If this happens I always contact my retailer/distributor and request a replacement, or I return them to the store.
Feathering and Bleedthrough. Whether you are writing with a rollerball or a fountain pen, any ink that’s a combination of “wet” and “permanent” will have a tendency to bleed and feather on most papers. Rollerballs can be even worse than fountain pens because the ink is being applied with a sharp tip, which presses the ink into the paper fibers and makes bleedthrough and feathering even more likely. You can, however, find drier rollerball refills to minimize this tendency, and I’ll discuss a few of my preferred options below.
Lack of Color Options, Namely Blue-Black. Nine times out of 10, I’ll choose a blue-black ink over standard black or standard blue. It turns out that blue-black rollerball refills are hard to come by, and you’ll typically have to seek out third-party “aftermarket” options by companies like Monteverde. That said, I’m more likely to choose a rollerball or fineliner over a fountain pen when I want to write with plain black ink, since it’s typically quite dark.
I Personally Prefer Fineliners. Most capped rollerball pens are also compatible with fineliner cartridges, and since I genuinely love how fineliners write, I will typically opt for one over a rollerball. Lately I’ve enjoyed refillable fineliners, since I can use my fountain pen inks without worrying about expensive and finicky cartridges. I’m also playing around with a Kakimori “inkball” pen that I was sent as a promotional tester, which also allows you to use fountain pen ink in a rollerball-style tip.

Two Sunderland mk1 machined pens, one with a Montblanc rollerball refill (right), and another with a Pilot G2 gel refill (left).

So What’s the Verdict? For Me, a Rollerball Depends Entirely on the Refill

Namely, a drier refill. As much as I may try to “accept it”, I hate feathering and bleedthrough. I think it looks sloppy on paper, and defeats any of the so-called elegance inherent in writing with a nice pen. For this reason, I strongly favor drier rollerball refills that don’t lay a thick line of ink down on the page. My three favorites are:

Caran d’Ache 849 Parker-Style Rollerball Cartridge. While I have no proof, I suspect that there is gel pen technology incorporated into this refill, because it behaves quite differently from most other rollerball cartridges I’ve tried. The ink does not bleed or feather on most papers, and the versatile Parker-style cartridge fits a wide variety of different pens. There’s even a finer tip available. (Disclaimer: We sell these refills, and quite a lot of them.)
Schneider Topball 850 Refill. This has long been my “stick” rollerball cartridge of choice for capped pens. It writes a clean, precise line, and fits most European rollerball pens, though you may have to modify the length with tape or a spacer.
Montblanc Rollerball Refills. Expensive, yes. Short lifespan? You bet. BUT, they’re also well-behaved and feature a relatively wide color selection (including limited editions). Despite being a finicky refill that tends to dry out faster than I would like, Montblanc rollerball cartridges look super nice on the page. Because they are threaded and screw into the pen, there is zero tip wiggle.

I’ve gradually come to accept that a rollerball will never be my everyday carry pen of choice, but I feel like I have a solid stable of refill options I can turn to if I like the design of a specific pen and want to pick one up. It’s also worth remembering that many gel ink cartridges can be hacked to fit rollerball pens, and many smaller manufacturers (like Sunderland Machine Works) are making pens specifically designed to fit both rollerball cartridges and gel refills like the Pilot G2.

What’s your favorite rollerball cartridge? I’m thinking of exploring more Japanese options, such as the Ohto Ceramic series, in the near future, as I’ve heard these tend to favor finer lines and may work better for my style of writing. Stay tuned!

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