I was a big fountain pen user in the 1990s, but largely got away from it due to changing conditions. Paper: Back then, I could walk into Staples or the campus

I was a big fountain pen user in the 1990s, but largely got away from it due to changing conditions. Paper: Back then, I could walk into Staples or the campus bookstore and buy inexpensive paper pads that worked well with fountain pen ink. Then, the major American companies like Tops, National, and Ampad moved their production to Mexico and quality went over a cliff. These days, I special order a variety of Japanese stationery. Some people like Clairefontaine paper from France, but not me. Ink: It used to be considered a basic office supply item and bottles of ink cost around $5. Then companies realized they could sell it as a luxury item, so they changed the labels and upped the price. Gel pens: Today we have remarkable quality and variety in ball pens. In the 1990s, ballpoint and gel pens were stiff and tended to glob. The better modern gel pens (from Japan) feel nearly as nice as a fountain pen and glob very little. Color choice has also expanded. There used to be just black, blue, red, green, and sometimes purple. Now you can find a gel pen in practically any hue you can imagine. So, while the FP writing experience is still the nicest, it's not the vast improvement it used to be. A couple other things to note about fountain pen culture...About antique/vintage pens, people outside the hobby make a big deal about using one, but it's actually the more practical option for a high quality pen. Back when fountain pens were everyday tools for the masses, quality control was much higher. Today, most new expensive pens are bought as jewelry and don't see much use, so manufacturers don't waste money on precision fabrication. For a pen in the $100+ range, you will generally get better quality for your money by buying vintage. The other thing is about etiquette...Never ever ask to borrow someone's fountain pen. Not only are the tips easily damaged by the inexperienced, but FPs are considered a very personal item.