The Zebra Surari Ballpoint looks like a typical cheap office ballpoint. In actuality, it’s much more. Even so, it features a very simple plastic body and rubber grip. The clip and click mechanism are plastic as well.
The Surari costs about $1.65 per pen and is a Japanese import. It’s available with black, blue, and red ink. You can also get 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0mm tips sizes. There is a dark black body available, but the clear one is much more common.
The Surari’s body is simple but ergonomic. It features a subtle contour with a thinner waist just below the clip. It’s widest at the grip and clicker. The clear body also allows you to see your current ink level. The pen disassembles like most pens in this price range by unscrewing the cone to access the refill.
The refill is the most interesting part and is what sets it apart from other office ballpoint pens. The Surari uses Zebra’s EQ refill, which they refer to as an Emulsion ink. This is Zebra’s low-viscosity/hybrid ink and their answer to the Uni’s Jetstream.
Zebra Surari Review
The Zebra Surari is very light — as expected of an all-plastic pen — but balances well. It’s very comfortable to use. I have been using it about a month now for notes at work and crossword puzzles and its performance has been impeccable.
The rubber grip is quite nice. It seems smooth at first but after writing for a bit, I noticed how effective it is. I’ve mentioned before that I suffer from sweaty hands at times and the rubber kept my grip very solid. I’ve also experience no real hand fatigue when using it. Even after several hours of note taking.
I really like the click on this pen. It’s clean, audible, and feels very satisfying. It has one of the best clicks I’ve come across in an all-plastic pen. I even went a step further and stretched the spring a tiny bit to make it even stronger. Now I can’t stop playing with it.
The clip is quite strong. It’s on par with other similar pens and won’t break under normal conditions. It also carried well in my shirt pocket for the past month. Not once did it fall out when I bent over.
Surari Writing Experience
This is where the Surari really shines. The Emulsion ink is a solid performer and is now one of my favorite hybrid inks. It’s silky smooth and the color saturation is superb. Far too often a “Black” ballpoint ink is more blue/gray. The Zebra EQ ink is actually black.
The ink is also very consistent and reliable. I have not had to scribble for a second to get it going. I also haven’t had a single skip. It does railroad occasionally but even hybrid ballpoints can’t avoid that.
The smoothness is completely on par with Uni’s Jetstream in a 1.0mm tip. The smaller tip sizes are a little scratchy but don’t have any drag like standard ballpoints do. All the Surari tips sizes are very pleasurable to use. The 1.0mm is just my preferred.
Extended writing is excellent. The light ergonomic body and effortless writing are perfect for when you need to write a lot.
The only downside is dry time. It takes about 10 seconds to completely dry. This could be a little problematic for lefties if you write fast.
Verdict
I like this pen a lot. Usually, I go for gels or rollerballs for general use but I have found myself grabbing this pen more and more. The buttery smooth writing is very enjoyable and its consistency makes me keep using it.
If you need a smooth ballpoint pen then the Surari is a great choice. I’ve been nothing but pleased with it. It’s very affordable, comfortable, and reliable. The only downside is dry time. If this is a major concern then go for the Jetstream.
Zebra Surari Emulsion Ink Pen Information
| Street Price | Check Price |
| Manufacturer | Zebra |
| Pen Type | Ballpoint |
| Rating | |
| Barrel Color | Light Blue, Clear, Pink, Dark Blue |
| Barrel Material | Plastic |
| Body Diameter (mm) | 11.0 |
| Grip Color | Light Blue, Clear, Pink, Dark Blue |
| Grip Material | Rubber |
| Grip Diameter (mm) | 11.0 |
| Country of Origin | Japan |
| MSRP | $1.65 |
| Still Sold | Yes |
| Similar To | |
| Refills | |
| Capped? Retractable? | Retractable - Top Button |
| Clip? | Plastic |
| Length Capped / Retracted (cm) | 14.0 |
| Weight (g) | 10 grams |
| Refillable | Yes |
| Ink Color Shipped | Black, Blue, Red, Green |
| Writing Sizes | 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 1.0 mm |