The Jetstream is one of the foundational pens in the category of modern Japanese pens. It’s a click retractable pen with a specially-formulated low-viscosity ballpoint ink. From the standard Jetstream knock-style office pen grew an entire category of pens with this excellent ink.
This pen is the standard Uni Jetstream, and is known by the maker, Mitsuibishi Pencil as the “Jetstream Standard.” There are dozens of related models — Jetstream Prime, Jetstream Premier, Jetstream Stylus — but this is the standard model. Even this comes in a large number of variants and colors, which we’ll get into.
The Jetstream is a modern ballpoint pen, which is to say that it has a lubricated, super smooth ink. Uni calls it a “ballpoint” because the ink is oil-based, but most people would call it some form of hybrid ink. Regardless, it’s an exceptional ink that is perfect for every day use for professionals and students a like. It’s affordable, the refills last a long time, and it works on most surfaces.
The Jetstream Standard uses the SXR refill family, most commonly the SXR-5 (0.5 mm) and SXR-7 (0.7 mm) refills. The pens are also sold in 0.38 mm and 1.0 mm sizes but those are normally only found at specialty sellers.
Old Jetstream Body
Some older models of the Jetstream had a thinner body and used the SXR-81 refill, just as the 1.0 mm SXR-81-10. This is a thinner refill that looks more like a traditional ballpoint refill than you’d expect from the Jetstream series.
These pens are no longer made, but you can find the refill sold today as the SXR-80 multi-pen refill.
Uni Jetstream Standard Review
The Jetstream has set the standard for the modern Japanese pen. It’s excellent in office environments, great for students, and it’s the pick of many, many people are their preferred “everyday” pen.
If there is anything negative to say about it, it’s only that the Jetstream series is a little bit boring and the ink doesn’t have a lot of personality. These are very loose complaints and ones that are difficult to make given how good the pen is. To battle claims of being boring, Mitsubishi Pencil has released the high-end Jetstream Prime pens.
Uni Jetstream Ballpoint Pen Information
| Street Price | Check Price |
| Manufacturer | Uni |
| Pen Type | Ballpoint |
| Rating | |
| Barrel Color | Silver, Black, Green, Clear, Blue, Red, Clear |
| Barrel Material | Plastic |
| Body Diameter (mm) | 12.0 |
| Grip Color | Silver, Black, Green, Clear, Blue, Red, Clear |
| Grip Material | Rubber |
| Grip Diameter (mm) | 11.0 |
| Country of Origin | Japan |
| MSRP | $2.50 |
| Still Sold | Yes |
| Similar To | |
| Refills | |
| Capped? Retractable? | Retractable - Top Button |
| Clip? | Plastic |
| Length Capped / Retracted (cm) | 13.9 |
| Weight (g) | 10.2 |
| Refillable | Yes |
| Ink Color Shipped | Black |
| Writing Sizes | 0.38 mm, 0.5mm, 0.7 mm, 1.0 mm |