UGLee Pen Super Comfortable Ergonomic Pen
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The UGLee Pen, ergonomically designed by an actual doctor
The UGLee Pen might be one of the most interesting looking pens I’ve ever seen, but just looking cool isnt enough to fit into the cool office supplies category. Lucky for this pen, it has much more than just a unique look going for it. It was designed by Doctor James Lee who has spent a good deal of his life in search of a pen that can be used all day that doesnt result in cramping, or fatiuge.
The full body of the UGLee Pen designed for comfortable writing
The UGLee Pen was given to me by its inventor, Dr. James Lee, who has spent a good deal of time and money trying to find a pen that he could use every day that didnt cause some type of pain or discomfort while writing. In his very dedicated efforts to create a comfortable pen, he took to X-Raying his own hand while holding a pen to see how the bones, joints, tendons, and muscles in his hand aligned and reacted to being in that position. Doing this allowed Dr. Lee to figure out how to design a pen that greatly reduced the need for your hand and fingers to grip and push a pen. The super cushioned grip takes little to no effort to hold onto due to the amount of friction that its materiel creates between it and your fingers. It takes not much more than a slight amount of pressure on the unique contour of the grip to effortlessly slide the pen across paper with some very nice results.
A closer look at the grip of the UGLee Pen
A close look at the grip of the UGLee Pen reveals some unique contours and ridges that are designed to let you hold the pen in multiple positions, which is something that most ergonomically designed pens dont allow you to do. Other ergonomically designed pens force you to hold the pen in one very specific position, which can actually end up causing even more discomfort than a pen that has no ergonomic design which you can continue to rotate in your hand. Something about this pen that is great as compared some of the more well known “grippy” pens is that the grip covers such a large part of the body, right down to the very end of the tip. This has always been a complaint of mine, that the grips on some of those pens dont go low enough for the tips of my fingers to actually enjoy, and the UGLee Pen totally solves that problem.
In some of the videos that Dr. Lee created to talk about his pens, he mentions the testing that a college did to compare his pens to other pens. They used a pain scale that is typically used by doctors to try and determine the amount of pain that a patient is experiencing. The scale ranks pain from 1-10 with 1 being the equivalent of a light breeze and a 10 being the worst pain you have ever felt. After writing with a regular pen for 2 minutes, most subjects ranked their level of pain at a 4, while after 2 minutes of writing with the UGLee pen, they ranked their level of pain to be a 1. In addition to writing with less pain, people also reported being able to write faster due to the more comfortable and pain free writing experience of the pen.
This pen is great for people who either write a lot, or write in situations that require more pressure, such as filling out forms that use multiple layers of carbon copy paper. Additionally, for those who are concerned about carpal tunnel syndrome or who have arthritis or other issues that cause difficulty writing, this pen can really do wonders in making writing easier for you.
Additional comfort provided by the notch above the main grip of the UGLee Pen
In addition to the elongated rubbery grip that the UGLee Pen has, there is also a thin tapered section of the pen that is designed to rest right on the knuckle of your pointer finger that is near the webbing between your thumb and finger. Im sure that the last sentence there is choc full of medical inaccuracies and laymens terms that Dr. Lee will probably chuckle at when reading this review, but for the average non-doctor reading, I think you probably understand what Im talking about. Anyway, this little notch above the grip does make for a comfortable resting spot that seems to help evenly distribute the weight of the pen across your hand rather than pinpoint it all in the same place on the back of your hand.
A longer than usual writing sample with my super comfortable UGLee Pen
The ink that this pen comes with is described by Dr. Lee as a mix of gel and ballpoint ink, which results in a very smooth writing experience. I did find that the pen writes very smoothly on the Levenger paper that I used. The ink is very solid and does a great job of leaving a smooth solid line with the most minimal of effort, and it did not have any bleed through or show through. I did find that there was the very occasional small clump of ink, but certainly not anything that became an issue while writing with this pen, and its benefits far outweigh anything like a little extra ink. One thing that was interesting about this pen was that it took me a little while to get used to not gripping it like a normal pen. I had to get myself to trust the fact that I could hold it very lightly between my fingers without fear that it would slip or write too lightly.
In addition to the writing sample above, I also did plenty of other writing with this pen. I used it a bit for notes at work, and I also had the opportunity to fill out some forms that required multiple copies, not even carbon copies, but multiple original copies, and just as expected, the UGLee Pen was great for these tasks. One other thing I forgot to mention about this pen is related to its name. The “UG” part actually stands for “Ultimate Grip” and the “L” is for Dr. Lee’s last name, so combine all of that and you get the UGLeePen.
I really enjoyed writing with this pen, its definitely in a class of its own, and if you have ever had any issues with writing discomfort I highly suggest you give this pen a try. They can be purchased at Dr. Lee’s site in multiple colors, and there are also blue and red refills, mine came with black ink. Again, this isnt just some unique office supply that is trendy or stylish, its a pen that can probably make a positive impact on anyone that has suffered even the slightest bit from writing pain, so check out this ergonomically designed pen and check out Dr. Lee’s website for more information on its design.
One last thing, I will be doing a giveaway of 2 of these pens that Dr. Lee kindly provided, so keep your eyes out for that later this week.
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The lumpiness makes it look “ugly,” which I think works well with the namesake of the pen. One of the best selling brands in our store is Sensa pens. Although they have been discontinued for some time, we are still selling through our massive inventory of “Plasimum grip” pens that offer the writer a comfortable writing experience. Apparently, a lot of people have problems with writing too hard and causing themselves hand discomfort.
Everyone just needs to get fountain pens and we would not have to worry about any grip pressure at all.
I’m always on the lookout for a good thick, comfortable pen. I’m with you, I like a longer grip that goes all the way down to the tip. And you’re right about how most ergonomic pens force you to hold the pen one particular way. I think I might order one. At $5 each, that’s not a bad deal. Thanks for the review.
That thing is certainly uglee as sin, that is for sure.
But I am intrigued and tempted to get one. Though the writing sample in OSG’s review gives me pause. The ink doesn’t look all that great on the page.
Tom may have a point. I have been using a few different disposable fountain pens recently and they have all been top-notch.
Unless I missed something, you have to buy a three pack of them at his site for $20 plus shipping.
I did see another site where you can get them for $5.95 per pen.
I love ergonomic pens in general, especially since I tend to write with a tight grip. Ergonomic pens definitely are easy on the hands – even though this pen may not be easy on the eyes!
@Tom – I am guilty of holding/pressing too hard sometimes, it took some getting used to with this pen, but its worth it. Also agree with you on Fountain Pens though.
@TonyB – Yeah, the grip covering so much of the barrel really did it for me, surprised that no other pens do that. If you do buy some Id love to know what you think, feel free to come back and let us know.
@Der Bingle – I hope my sloppy handwriting didnt influence you at all.
You might be able to swap out a different ink cartridge, I tried one other retractable pen that I have on hand, but it was a little too short.
You are correct about the pricing, that is probably a result of the wholesale pricing that he offers. If someone is buying 100+ at a discounted rate and with cheaper shipping per pen, they are probably able to resel them cheaper…I dont know why Im explaining this, you probably knew that already.
@Promotional Products Expert – True, but Im sure that someone with bad hand pain would probably be willing to trade the looks for comfort.
I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Dr. Lee for about the last 5 years. I remeber the excitement and frustration he experienced with the early versions of the pen. To see him take a regular pen, bulk up the barrell with scotch tape and use an exacto knife to carve out various groove patterns was often comical. I was lucky enough to receive one of the first production models of the UGLee pen and have owned every innovation since.
To state it as clearly as I possibly can, I will not use any other pen as long as my UGLee Pens are available.
@Will H – Thanks for stopping by and sharing that feedback. I always enjoy knowing the story behind stuff like this. Dr. Lee seems like a very dedicated and determined guy.
Glad to also know that you are so satisfied with the results of the pen!
@OSG – No, your handwriting is fine.
I just ordered a couple from this site. http://www.thewritingpenstore.com/ A little cheaper and you don’t have to buy three at a time. I’ll give my thoughts on the pen after I receive them.
@Der Bingle – Glad it wasnt my handwriting.
Looking forward to your feedback on the pens, something about getting a second opinion on a pen from a doctor seems so appropriate. 
Doctor?
I’m not a doctor. I don’t even play one on t.v. I’ll still give you my opinion after I get the pens. 
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@Der Bingle – Looking forward to it!
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Went ahead and ordered one of these. I’m a little concerned about the clumping because that’s my main complaint about the super-comfortable Bic XXL that I use now, but I can’t pass this one up. I’ll let you know how it works out.
@TonyB – Yeah, I found the occasional clump to be a minor nuisance, but the pen was really comfortable to write with so I was able to look past it. Definitely let us know how you like the UGLee pen.
Interesting.
Looks like the back mechanical part of the pen is actually from a Papermate Profile, but had the “UGLee” part screenprinted overtop.
I wonder if the ink is just profile ink as well?
@Steven – The top of the pen (clip section and push button) is exactly the same as that found on the Dong-A Anyball ballpoint (http://www.jetpens.com/index.php/cPath/240_651). Dong-A is a Korean company and the UGLee pen is also made in Korea.
@OSG – I like it. It writes better then I thought based on your writing sample. Yes, there is clumping, but what bp doesn’t have that? I’m not sure that I can add much beyond your, as always, thorough review. Like you, I particularly like that the ergonomic bit goes all the way to the bottom and that there is that little notch under the clip. Kudos to Dr. Lee for all his work and for a fine and unique product. I definitely recommend it.
Is it the only pen I’ll ever use from now on? Certainly not. Comfort is very important, but isn’t the only reason we (or at least I) use a pen. I also got some 1.0 Uni Jetstreams today and they are fantastic. As comfortable as the UGLee pen is and despite all Dr. Lee said in his videos, I do still wonder how much difference I would notice from, say, an hour’s worth of intense writing with the UGLee pen and a Jetstream. But the UGLee is certainly a pen that I’ll have with me the next time I know I’ll have to do a lot of writing.
Wow. That is certainly a strange looking pen. I wonder if it would help me. I was told in grade school that I didn’t have to hold the pen like someone was going to steal it. I would love to give the pen a chance.
I have to agree with Tom about the fountain pens, although I must admist that looking at the Uglee pen has left me intrigued to find out if it is really a truly comfortable pen. I love using different pens to see how they write and what pressure must be used to get the desired effect I’m looking for. Jetpens owes Office Supply Geek some percentage of their sales cause thanks to this website i’ve been buying pens every week.
I haven’t however been able to find the Uglee pen, I will continue my search though because now I have to know how it writes. I found it very interesting that Dr. Lee took xrays of his hand.
@Martie – UGLeePen.com or see my post (#9) above.
@Steven – That is a very astute observation, Der Bingle seems to have found the exact match. I wonder if the ink is the same too?
@Der Bingle – Awesome find, thanks for sharing that. Im also glad that you enjoyed the review, and also relieved to see that you like the pen too. Always a good feeling to know that my review/opinion is supported by another pen junkie.
Also, thanks so much for the follow up responses and sharing all of your knowledge here. Sometimes the comments here provide more value than the review itself, and your contribution is very much appreciated.
@Veronica – you should totally give it a try. It does take a minute or two of writing with it to adjust your style, but it sounds like with your vice grip it might take 3 or 4 minutes to let go a bit.
@Martie – Yep, Im a huge fountain pen fan, so I dont think anything could replace that for me, but the UGLee Pen certainly has its place! Glad you are enjoying the JetPens offerings, they do take care of me now and then with a complimentry pen to review or a minor discount on my orders. I always like to be clear about that though so there is no confusion or any claim of bias…not that a few bucks here or there on a pen would be able to make me hold back my true opinions.
@0SG – *tips cap* Thank you.
I should have checked the refills earlier, sorry. Indeed, the UGLee and the Dong-A Anyball bp take the same style of refills. I can’t say for certain if the UGLees have a different type of ink or not. I suspect they simply have a 1.0 or 1.2 Dong-A Anyball refill in them. In any case, the Dong-A Anyballs come in a 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 points in black, blue and red. So, there are some options available if you want to change the point size your UGLee pen writes with.
My UGLee Pen arrived today from thewritingpenstore.com.
First impression, I was a little disappointed. After spending $8 and change (the pen and shipping), I was expecting something a little more…substantial. The pen feels a bit cheaply put together, and I doubt it will survive much hard use. It also arrived with no packaging, just slipped into a ziplock bag in a padded envelope.
On the plus side, I love the grip! Once I got a good, natural hold on it, I realized that my fingers rested perfectly on the raised portion of the grip, and that my thumb fit right into one of the indented sections. Still trying to make up my mind whether I like the notch above the grip.
I also was not prepared for how smoothly this pen writes. Yes, it does clump quite a bit, but I decided that is a very minor issue compared to the extremely low drag. It felt twice as smooth as the Bic XXL I normally favor (for the size of its barrel and the soft grip). And like OSG mentioned, it took only the lightest grip to make it write.
For now, it will become my new desk pen, but I’ll continue my search for a favorite.
@Der Bingle – Again, adding so much more insight.
@TonyB – Thanks for coming back to update us on your experience with the UGLee Pen. I think your feedback is something that you tend to see with any very specialized product. It does some things REALLY well, but it usually means sacrificing other things. I am however glad to hear that you got to try it out and are having some good experiences with it.
OSG, you’re right…and in this case, I think the things that were sacrificed are relatively minor.
I ordered a set of three (green bodies) and refills on October 3rd, but still no pens in hand. Dr. Lee has been great about emailing updates and assured me that they went out on October 9th. Problem is, the envelope that arrived today was absolutely ravaged (torn wide open), stamped “damaged” by the PO, with no trace of the pens or the refills, just a few torn package inserts. Sheesh! I’m DYING to try these, and I KNEW they would arrive today (was looking forward to the package all day!), so to say I’m frustrated would be an understatement. I sent Dr. Lee photos of the envelope carnage and hope that he’ll send out my order again. THEN I can test-drive and review! Will post an update as the saga continues.
@Mary – Thats so frustrating, I know that feeling and its terrible. I always get so excited when Im waiting for stuff like that. I’ve had the chance to communicate with Dr. Lee a few times, and he is very nice, and also seems VERY intent on making sure his customers are satisfied, so Im sure that he will take care of the problem, but let us know how it works out.
I just got my pens yesterday. I love them and they are like no other pen I have. And I have a whole lot of pens. Nothing like them.
Mailing debacle update: Dr. Lee emailed back and said that a new set is on its way. He wants me to have the pens, too! Can’t wait! Customer service has been GREAT!
@Veronica Honer – Awesome, glad that you like them so much.
@Mary – Thanks so much for the update. Dr. Lee strikes me as a guy who does things right and just wants people to be happy with his product. I knew he would take care of the situation for you.
The pens are here and they are great! I even found myself looking forward to a meeting just so I could use them. The grip is absolutely addictive. One tiny wish– that they came in a finer point size. But really, they are awesome.
@Mary – “One tiny wish– that they came in a finer point size. But really, they are awesome.” They will take a finer point. Read posts 16 and 21 above.
@Mary – So glad to see that everything got straightened out and that Dr. Lee cam through with some great customer service. The grip is pretty interesting, and comfortable, huh?
@Der Bingle – Again…you rock, thanks for helping out and sharing such great info.
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