First Impressions - Easyflow 9000M
Schmidt Easyflow 9000 - its a popular hybrid refill that I've heard lovingly referred to as the ballpoint refill for ballpoint haters.
The blue refill has a lovely hue, is impossibly smooth (perhaps too smooth for some), and is well priced for refills these days. I am not a ballpoint pen fan, so it is a testament that this ranks among the few that I would ever choose to use.
However, I must echo the experiences of some online reviews and say this refill really does need a scribble to get going. I normally leave my pen out on my notebook for work, and it only takes a few minutes before I need to color in the corner of my page to get the ink flowing again. Not a deal breaker for me as the experience once writing is fantastic, but if you want to avoid hard starts and need first letter reliability, you should look elsewhere.
I'm using my an EF9K refill in 2 places, in the Parker Jotter that I carry in my TN Passport wallet, and in my Spoke Design Roady, which is serving as my notes pen for work. Ironically, the black refill in my Jotter seems to be much more reliable and easier to get going than the blue one in my Roady. I think the black one will take up permanent residence in the wallet Jotter.
That being said, I'll be sticking to my gel pens at work, and fountain pens at home.
~ later nerds