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If you don't think it's amazing I'd really appreciate your recommendations for my "next level" pen, because I got the Metropolitan and _love_ it. I've bought th

If you don't think it's amazing I'd really appreciate your recommendations for my "next level" pen, because I got the Metropolitan and _love_ it. I've bought three already; it's also one of the first I've found flows beautifully even though I'm left-handed. (I prefer the fine nib, that said)

BeetleB 9y ago
For me, I've tried a few pricier ones, and didn't like any more than the Metropolitan. But YMMV. What may work for you: TWSBI Eco. People talk about how smooth it is but I found mine to be scratchy (which may not bother you because you like the Metro Fine and I found it scratchy as well). Be warned, you cannot fill it using a syringe. Another option is the Jinhao X450, but use a Goulet nib instead of the Jinhao nib.
lytfyre 9y ago
Its harder to recommend a second step pen, as it depends more on personal taste. There's two facets to what you get as you step up the price ranges - fancier nibs, and fancier bodies. Fancier bodies is almost entirely a style thing - if you want a certain look, you can pay for it. Nibs is a trickier thing. The "solid gold nib" thing isn't just marketing, there's actual advantages to it - mostly an opportunity to make the nib "softer" as it bends and flexes slightly as you write. This is very much a taste thing as well, but a much more difficult one to judge online! Different brands will generally have house "feels" - Lamy is a popular entry brand, and tends to make all their nibs super stiff, with almost no flex. Pilot or Sailors stlye tends to run softer. It's also worth mentioning that Japanese brands almost all run one size "finer", so if you're looking for a nib from a European company like Lamy or Pelican that's around the size of the pilot fine, order an extra fine. All that said, possibly my favorite nib is the pilot vanishing point, which is ~$120. I don't think there's much in the < $100 range that's significantly better than the metropolitan. I'm also a big fan of Sailor and Visconti's fancier nibs, but that's up a considerable price band.
nanomonkey 9y ago
The next level for me is a Pilot Falcon. The nib has a ton of smooth flex that allows for beautiful line width variation. It is spendy, and the extra fines are hard to come by in the states. That being said, I love my Metropolitan.

BeetleB 9y ago

For me, I've tried a few pricier ones, and didn't like any more than the Metropolitan. But YMMV. What may work for you: TWSBI Eco. People talk about how smooth it is but I found mine to be scratchy (which may not bother you because you like the Metro Fine and I found it scratchy as well). Be warned, you cannot fill it using a syringe. Another option is the Jinhao X450, but use a Goulet nib instead of the Jinhao nib.

lytfyre 9y ago

Its harder to recommend a second step pen, as it depends more on personal taste. There's two facets to what you get as you step up the price ranges - fancier nibs, and fancier bodies. Fancier bodies is almost entirely a style thing - if you want a certain look, you can pay for it. Nibs is a trickier thing. The "solid gold nib" thing isn't just marketing, there's actual advantages to it - mostly an opportunity to make the nib "softer" as it bends and flexes slightly as you write. This is very much a taste thing as well, but a much more difficult one to judge online! Different brands will generally have house "feels" - Lamy is a popular entry brand, and tends to make all their nibs super stiff, with almost no flex. Pilot or Sailors stlye tends to run softer. It's also worth mentioning that Japanese brands almost all run one size "finer", so if you're looking for a nib from a European company like Lamy or Pelican that's around the size of the pilot fine, order an extra fine. All that said, possibly my favorite nib is the pilot vanishing point, which is ~$120. I don't think there's much in the < $100 range that's significantly better than the metropolitan. I'm also a big fan of Sailor and Visconti's fancier nibs, but that's up a considerable price band.

nanomonkey 9y ago

The next level for me is a Pilot Falcon. The nib has a ton of smooth flex that allows for beautiful line width variation. It is spendy, and the extra fines are hard to come by in the states. That being said, I love my Metropolitan.