Pens are a mainstay of every day carry gear, and the Zebra F-701 is one of the most often recommended options. It has a lot going for it, but I just can’t recommend it. Read on to learn why.
What is the Zebra F-701 and Why is it Favored in the EDC World?
The Zebra F-701 is an all metal retractable ballpoint pen. It has some great features that lend themselves well to every day carry. It is made entirely of metal, including the refill. The stainless steel gives it a professional look and sturdy feel. The clip is designed and placed than most widely available pens, with good retention and deep carry. The body is a great width for comfortable writing, and the knurled grip area helps to keep a secure hold when in use. Finally, it writes perfectly fine for a ballpoint. All this, and it’s less than $10 per pen and available both online and in person at ubiquitous stores like Wal-Mart and Target.
Why don’t I recommend it?
While the Zebra F-701 has some great features, it has one fatal flaw. I’ve had several of these, probably 4-6, and they all start out great. Unfortunately, they all also develop the same problem. After some time of carry and use, the retraction action becomes sluggish or just fails to actually retract the tip. Once this starts, you can bet that the ink has leaked from the top of the refill, coating it and the inside of the pen body at the top. If this was something that was an aberration or easily fixed it could be overlooked, but in my experience it happens with every pen / refill and would take some serious cleaning to rectify. A pen that doesn’t retract when it should just isn’t fun or practical to use.
Have you tried the Zebra F-701? If so, did you encounter this issue? It’s certainly possible that some aspect of how I carry and use pens is causing these to leak. It’s hard for me to imagine that so many EDC enthusiasts would recommend this pen if they all leak, but my experience has been consistent.
A Solution?!
Thanks to two great subscribers, Paul D. & Andrew T., I have been made aware that the Zebra F-701 can accept Fisher Refills! While I have not tried this yet you can check out this video showing that it works, and being that the Fisher refills don’t have an opening at the top they shouldn’t cause this same issue. While I don’t love that you have to get a third party refill, I have used Fisher pens extensively and they’re a great option for EDC. It’s good to know you can use this pen body without issue with a slight work around and some increased cost. You can get them at these links: Zebra F-701 & Fisher Refills.
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