Best erasable pens

Top pick: Pilot FriXion Ball Knock Zone (0.5mm). FriXion's thermosensitive gel ink is the erasable standard — it rubs out cleanly with the built-in tip and rewrites over the same spot, and the metal conical tip and knock body make it the most solid-feeling of the bunch for everyday notes and planners.

Who the others suit:

• Uni-ball R:E 0.5mm — extra-fine line for small handwriting and tight margins; sold in a 10-pack, so good for a class or office.
• Pilot FriXion Synergy Knock 0.4mm — the finest line here, for tiny annotations and detailed diagrams.
• Pilot FriXion 3-pack — refillable with BLS-FR refills and a rubber grip; the practical choice if you write for long stretches.
• Paper Mate Erasable Gel / Erasermate — familiar ballpoint-style feel and cheap to stock up on; the Erasermate is retractable for quick jotting.
• Grabie 36-colour set — for colour-coding, journaling and art rather than plain note-taking.
• Passion Planner starter pack — comes with 8 refills, so it's the one to get if you erase and rewrite constantly.
• Legami, Gummy Bear, multicolour and Offline Humans pens — fun, pocketable single pens; the multicolour one covers black, red, blue and green in one barrel.

One caveat with all erasable inks: heat fades them, so don't leave a notebook in a hot car.