Zebra's Z-GRIP Smooth sits in the brand's everyday ballpoint range, competing with the likes of Bic Atlantis and Paper Mate InkJoy for quick, reliable note-taking. This 5-pack pairs black ink with pastel barrels and a retractable click mechanism, so they're suited to desks, pencil cases and shared office drawers without needing caps to keep track of. The headline here is the low-viscosity ink, which tends to feel lighter on the page than traditional ballpoints and helps reduce drag when you're writing at speed.

Who are these pens best for?

If you write a lot, meeting notes, revision, forms, the 1mm medium tip gives bolder lines that stay readable on cheaper paper. That also means it can look a touch broader than fine tips, so it's less suited to tiny margins or very small handwriting.

• Retractable, quick to deploy, less chance of losing a lid
• 1mm medium point, darker, more confident lines for everyday writing
• Low-viscosity ink, smoother feel with fewer skips during fast scribbles