Are gel pens or ballpoint pens better for everyday writing?

It depends on what you value. Gel pens like the Pilot G2 and Sharpie S-Gel lay down a darker, smoother line but can smear and burn through ink faster. Ballpoints, especially hybrid oil-based ballpoints like the Uni-Ball Jetstream, dry almost instantly, last longer, and smudge less, which is why nytimes.com's reviewers have recommended the Jetstream as the best all-purpose pen for over a decade.