The “Parker-style” or G2 refill is one of the the most common pen refills sold today. This long-standing design is not only an internationally accepted ISO standard, but is a size and shape that is conducive to making great pens.
So with thousands of different refills to choose from, which Parker-style G2 refills should you be buying?
What Is A Parker-Style G2 Refill?
Simply put, this is the type of refill that goes into a Rotring 600 ballpoint, Parker Jotter, Kaweco Sport Gel Roller, Rotring Tikky, and many other popular pens.
This type of refill is commonly associated with Parker pens so it’s known informally as “Parker-style” refill, but the design is actually based on an international standard set by the International Organization for Standardization. ISO calls this size “G2” hence this officially a G2 refill.
For a full explanation of the naming and pen refill types, as well as a deeper dive into the confusion around G2 refills you can read our Pen Refill Guide.
The Top Parker-style Refills
While the full list of refills is below (above 4 star rating), here we’ll callout some of the most noteworthy Parker-style refills. Consider this the shortlist of refills you can buy to upgrade your pen.
Uni SXR-600 Jetstream Refill
Uni-ball’s Jetstream line of pens is almost universally praised, but it classically has only use a proprietary refill design. Then, a few years ago, Uni-ball Japan released the SXR-700, a Parker-style refill with Jetstream’s wonderful ink. This modern-day ballpoint ink is sold on 0.38 mm, 0.5 mm, and 0.7 mm sizes, but is only available in black at the moment.
This refill has a dark color, great consistency, and a super smooth flow. While not as versatile as an old-fashioned ballpoint refill it still manages to be usable on most surfaces and to last longer than a gel refill.
In addition to the lack of a blue or red color, this refill has another downside: it’s rather expensive, with a current price of about $5 per refill.
Fisher Space Pen PR Series
If you want a traditional ballpoint because you want a refill that last forever and writes on anything, the Fisher PR series is almost impossible to beat. These are the pressurized refills sold in the Fisher Space Pens that can write in freezing cold, underwater, inverted, or at over 200 degrees F.
The PR series is surprisingly smooth and the ink has only improved over the years. It’s sold in a fine, medium, and broad and all the colors you’d expect. These refills aren’t cheap, at about $7 each, but they last almost forever (seriously, we have ones from the 1970s that still work).
One note with the PR is that it’s actually a propriety shape, but Fisher included a converter that makes it a Parker-style refill.
Schmidt EasyFlow 9000
While some people just can’t get behind the “EF9K” this refill there will always be a place in our hearts for it. The EasyFlow 9000 is a hybrid refill with deep colors, nice smoothness, and just enough feedback to make you feel in touch with the paper.
A number of people online have complained about quality control issues over the years but, on the whole, the EasyFlow is a great way to elevate any Parker-style pen to rollerball-like smoothness, deep black writing or a really cool shade of blue. Plus this refill is simply fun to use, with a unique look and feel.
The EasyFlow 9000 is sold in fine and medium, and it used to be available in broad as well. The refills sell for about $2 each.
Schneider Gelion+ and Gelion 39
The best gel refill for Parker-style pens if the Gelion 39, and its replacement, the Gelion+. These refills are not long-lasting and they won’t writing on glossy paper like a ballpoint, but they are super smooth, the ink looks great, and they are really enjoyable to write with. They are also quick-drying, making them a great option for lefties.
These also sell for about $2 each and are sold in fine and medium. Make sure to be careful what size you buy, because Schneider tends to use the writing with, not the ball width — so a 0.7 mm will sometimes be describes as 0.4 mm, which is the width of the line you’ll get when writing!
Best Parker-Style Refills
FAQs
Are all Parker-style refills ballpoints?
No, not all Parker-style refills use ballpoint ink. Most Parker-style refills use ballpoint ink, but some use hybrid ink, which is to say a modern, lubricated ballpoint ink. An example of this is the Schmidt EasyFlow 9000. Still other Parker-style refills use gel ink, like the Ohto Flash Dry gel refill.
Is there a Parker-style rollerball refill?
No. While Parker-style G2 refills are sold with ballpoint, hybrid, and gel ink, no mainstream model is a rollerball. This would be a water-based ink with a wick system to feed the rolling ball at the end. The closest you can get to a rollerball in a Parker-style refill is a gel ink model, like the Parker Quink Gel.