16 ms·

The Best Pens for 2023: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

412 points by axiomdata316 4y ago

musicale 4y ago
Can someone recommend something like a Micron pen but with a chisel rather than round tip? I greatly prefer chisel tips/nibs but I like the convenience of felt tip pens as well as waterproof ink that dries quickly and doesn't smear. The closest thing I've found is a fine tip calligraphy marker, but they don't seem to last very long. Alternately something like a Flair pen but with a chisel tip and waterproof ink. I haven't tried the Pilot Parallel, but the finest nib is 1.5mm which seems too bold, and it's basically a fountain pen so is likely to have the same issues of messiness and running out of ink. edit: the Staedtler Pigment Liner Marker has a 2mm chisel tip but I'd like something smaller.
egberts1 4y ago
Looking for best gel pen for anti-check tampering.
Alifatisk 4y ago
I am a huge fan of the Pilot Frixion Clicker, the weight felt good and writing with it felt so smooth. Are there any other pens that have a bit of weight to it? Any Recommendations?
eschneider 4y ago
I heartily agree with their fountain pen choices. The Pilot Metropolitan is insanely good for a cheap pen that you can take anywhere and the TWSBI GO is my go-to daily driver. It leads me to believe that the rest of the reviews are likely good.
- falcolas 4y ago
  How TF did Pilot be the company to create such great inexpensive fountain pens? I mean, I'm not upset about it, I love them.
  - todd8 4y ago
    In the early 1900s, three Japanese fountain pen companies were founded: Sailor (1911), Namiki (1918), and Platinum (1919). Namiki changed its name to Pilot in the 1930s, but some Pilot pens are still sold under the Namiki brand. I have pens from all of these companies and they are some of my favorite brands.
- rektide 4y ago
  I bought a moonman m2 a long time ago and really love it but also if I travel with it I end up bringing a whole cleanup kit because even with care I tend to have at least once where ink comes out into the cap. Is this just a fact of life with fountain pens in general? I love the writing but keeping them clean & operational has been non-trivial for me.
  - convolvatron 4y ago
    it seems to depend on the pen for me. some deposit substantial ink in the cap and some don't (except flying, that's always gonna be a mess unless you prepare).
  - falcolas 4y ago
    Not in my experience. Though ink seepage definitely seems to be related to how it's stored (and probably shaken). I've had one seep when stored point down, and dozens not seep when stored horizontally or point up. That said, I don't travel with them, practically speaking.
  - giraffe_lady 4y ago
    If you drop one or bang it hard you'll usually get some ink in the cap yeah. Finer or more recessed nibs reduce the effect. Pilot also has a line of retractable fountain pens that almost completely eliminate it. The pressure changes when flying can force ink out the nib as well. I've heard people say you can prevent it by having the reservoir completely full but I fly with it empty or usually just leave it at home.
  - BeetleB 4y ago
    Flying can cause the ink to come out (happened only once with me). Otherwise, ink shouldn't come out unless there is a flaw in the pen (which many ultra cheap pens have). I've not tried the Moonman, but Jinhao/PenBBS are solid for me. Rarely do they "leak".
- RobotToaster 4y ago
  The vanishing point is an amazing pen too, if a little pricy.
iammjm 4y ago
I own a LAMY ST Steel Fountain Pen and I love it. I really like its steel, simple bauhaus-like design. Feels like something Dieter Rams would've designed.
falcolas 4y ago
Jet Pens is a dangerous site. They'll convince you to part with your money far too easily. Studio Ghibli pens. I mean, how can you not buy them?! On a slightly more serious note - I agree with the Uniball Signo recommendations. They're good, reliable pens. I don't care for writing with Frixion pens, but they are the player in the erasable pen arena. I really appreciate how they provide samples with metadata on how each pen/paper works. Even if you disagree with their "Best of" lists, they give you the data you need to make informed buying choices. Something all too absent for other online ordering. And they have a better selection of really fine point pens than other sites.
- entelechy0 4y ago
  the uniball signo rt 0.38mm tip has been my goto pen since 2002 at least, to a degree that i do not purchase other pens.
- morsch 4y ago
  I bought a couple of Frixion pens after reading a similar thread here. I like them. But keep them away from kids, Stiftung Warentest (essentially, German Consumer Affairs) found lead in the ink and recommends other pens. https://www.test.de/Stifte-und-Tinten-im-Test-Unterm-Strich-unerfreulich-1707740-0/ https://www.test.de/Stifte-und-Tinten-im-Test-Unterm-Strich-...
- deleted 4y ago
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rcarr 4y ago
I’ve been working my way through Kawecos, started with a Brass Sport with F nib which I’ve still got, then I bought a stainless steel Sport with BB nib that I ended up selling. Next I tried a copper Liliput with B nib and a plastic sport with M nib. I love the Liliput more than any of the sports so I think I’m going to buy the fireblue one with a M nib and I might end up selling all the rest.
- sudosteph 4y ago
  I've tried a bunch of the "entry" fountain pens, but I agree, the Liliput is my favorite by far. It fits my hand a lot better than the Pilot Metro / ECO / Lamy Safari, and it writes so consistently how I expect it to. Only real downside is smaller ink capacity, but it's still been a convenience upgrade overall.
ablyveiled 4y ago
I've tried a few fancy pens, but still prefer my Pilot G2 07s.
- oaththrowaway 4y ago
  Pilot G2 .38 or .5 for me
  - MengerSponge 4y ago
    Did Pilot ever fix the G2's failed rollerball retention issue? I had a few pop loose before I gave up on the line. I've been a uniball signo 0.25 (math/subscripts) and 0.38 (text) fan for years now. It's one of the few pens that actually makes my handwriting better.
  - deleted 4y ago
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- cyanf 4y ago
  Have you tried the 0.7 energels? G2s used to be my favorite until I gave them a try. Very smooth.
  - unmole 4y ago
    The Energel pens are a bit too light for my liking. So, I use Energel refills in G2's body. Best of both worlds.
- jasode 4y ago
  >Pilot G2 I like Pilot G2 pens but unfortunately, they have a limited shelf life as the gel ink inside dries out. I just found this out recently when I went to get some more "new" Pilot pens from my supply closet and noticed every one of them was dried out. I bought them 7 years ago. Various websites and youtube hacks suggested putting the tips in boiling water for a while to try and revive them but that didn't work. I had 3 boxes of black, blue, and red Pilot pens so I guess that's about $30 wasted.
zohvek 4y ago
Jetpens is an evil website, truly. Spent so much money on fountain pens on brands I didnt even know existed until I saw it on that site.
doabell 4y ago
The Nevada State Bank once recommended a Uni-ball 207 (any pigment ink pen will probably do) to prevent check washing fraud: [video] https://youtu.be/zhR-koBU4zM https://youtu.be/zhR-koBU4zM
- todd8 4y ago
  I've seen Uni-ball 207 recommended too. I also have some Mont Blanc fountain pen ink that claims to forgery resistant (meeting ISO 14145-2) that I've used to for check writing. Here's a YouTube video about the subject [1]. Noodlers ink (also available on jetpens.com) is said to have forgery resistant inks as well. I don't have any of it, but I do have some of Noodlers invisible ink--you need an ultraviolet light source to see it. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH_Yb4-0p0o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH_Yb4-0p0o
- wrp 4y ago
  Gel pens in general are recommended over ballpoint, because the ink is water-based and resistant to solvents.
bmarquez 4y ago
I can vouch for the Pentel EnerGel recommendation. As a left-handed person who tends to smudge a lot of other inks, EnerGels write smoothly without smudging. They're also cheap enough to buy a whole pack and not worry about losing them.
- eitally 4y ago
  +1 Additionally, they come in a number of colors, all of which are quite rich. Big fan!
- 0x00washere 4y ago
  Agreed. These are gold for lefties. I have yet to find a better pen. It's a joy to use and the .5mm ball also makes my writing look very neat and tidy.
- armoredkitten 4y ago
  I had a friend of mine recommend them a while back. I was extremely dubious -- a gel pen? For lefties?? No way. Well, he was right. I've been converted to the church of EnerGel.
- Mezzie 4y ago
  You'll pry my EnerGels out of my cold, dead left hand.
- m463 4y ago
  Pentel Energel 0.7mm is the best pen I've ever used, period. Effortless writing with almost no friction. Clear contrasty quick-drying ink. Never too much ink (blotchy) or too little (streaky). I don't trust the recommendations of this page. They recommend pens as blanket statements not mentioning size, and that's just... wrong. and imprecise. For example, the Pentel Energel 1.0mm is too blotchy. The 0.5mm is too scratchy. The 0.7mm is just right. Also their uniball recommendation is strange. I've tried all kinds of uniball pens and never liked any of them. They seemed to require too much effort, or had ink that wouldn't go down cleanly.
- john-tells-all 4y ago
  I adore gel pens. I go through a good number since I'm writing a book and am also an artist. I searched for "Pentel EnerGel" on jetpens.com... 971 results! Haha. Let me get my coffee... Thanks!
warner25 4y ago
I have a bag of BIC Cristal pens that I've been working through for over a decade now. There are still a few left. What am I missing? I've used a lot of random pens when signing my name at various places of business, and none of them seemed better to me than a BIC Cristal. In fact, many are so much worse that I usually bring my own BIC Cristal to places where I know I'll be filling out paperwork.
- giraffe_lady 4y ago
  Tactile experience and aesthetics mostly. If you're fine with what you use don't worry about it.
  - ArcMex 4y ago
    Highly agree on tactile experience. I have Zebra Blen 0.7 and 0.5 for everyday use and they are much better than my BIC pens to me.
- nordsieck 4y ago
  My favorite are the Bic Round Stic pens. I like to write small, and I find that most other pens have more flow than I want. It also helps that they're dirt cheap, so I can just get a big bunch like you and I don't have to care if I lose one here or there. Ironically, I find that if I only have a few pens, I start to lose them over time, but if I have a large amount, I actually accumulate pens. Not sure how that works.
  - zikduruqe 4y ago
    I have been using the same Bic Round Stic pen for almost ten years. Whenever the ink is used up, I just switch the ink out from a brand new one. It has almost a decade of battle scars and character.
- dumpsterlid 4y ago
  A bic pen isn't a bad pen, it is stunningly successful type of pen. There are meaningful differences between how it feels to write with a fountain pen or other type of nice pen vs a bic but there is no reason you might not just prefer how a bic writes. I like the relaxed, but controlled feeling of a fountain pen. Writing with bic like pens my whole life I got into the habit of gripping the pen hard and pressing down hard and it made me hate writing.
kstrauser 4y ago
Fountain pens completely changed how I write. I've always gripped ballpoints like my life depended on it and gotten hand cramps from how hard I press them down. I don't want to, and can temporarily stop doing that when I consciously notice, but then I forget and go back to trying to stab the desktop through the paper. A Lamy Safari's triangular shape makes it physically hard to hold the "wrong" way. It nudges me to write with my fingertips, not my wrist. The effect on my hand pain, and my ability to hand-write long bits of test, was immediate and huge. I wouldn't have thought that simply switching pens would make such an enormous difference in my ability to put ink on paper. It sure did, though.
- saint-loup 4y ago
  Your comment opened my eyes on the matter a little bit. As some others in this page, I loathe the act of writing, but it's also a negative feedback loop where I use disposable ballpoint pen. I remember I used to prefer foutain pen in high school. Still, for my case I see two potential downsides with foutain pen: - mobility (train trips and bike commuting). I remember instances of leaks. - Infrequent use. I'll keep being a keyboard-first note-taker. :) I guess I need to shop for shake-proof, non-drying pen and cartridges.
  - kstrauser 4y ago
    I have a Fisher Space Pen in my bag for when I really need to write something on the go. It's just that I wouldn't want to write a whole novel with it. By analogy, I think the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio is an excellent portable keyboard. When I'm out and about, it does the job. But when I sit down at my desk, I much prefer my full-size mechanical keyboard.
- mrexroad 4y ago
  This. About a decade ago I switched to writing exclusively with fountain pens because of wrist and arm pain. I couldn’t get beyond maybe a paragraph until I’d be shaking out my hand from cramping. I tried different pens, grips, etc. but would always fall back to writing with my wrist. Switching to fountain pens stumbling through re-learning cursive has made a tremendous difference.
dragontamer 4y ago
I spend way more money on jetpens's selection of notebooks than pens though. Also, I tend to prefer pencil, and will recommend the Pentel Kerry. --------- I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The future of online stores is jetpens and websites like it. Jetpens is useful because I trust their reviews. They're a store, yes, but more importantly, they're a trustworthy source of information. Amazon reviews are no longer trusted by me, but all of the discussion / reviews from Jetpens has been 100% accurate in my experience. They've managed to build up this relationship with their customers (such as myself) where I will trust their reviews and prefer to buy from them. Bonus points: a shop like Jetpens organizes their journals in A5, B5, A4, (etc. etc.) sizes. Amazon does not. Custom browsing experiences / categorizations is a big deal. Logically presenting Jetpen's catalog to the user makes me more likely to use their site and end up buying something.
- bluGill 4y ago
  I always look for small suppliers of a small niche. The people tend to know something about what they sell. It is worth paying a little more just to get good advice from someone who cares more than I do about the subject.
- dan-robertson 4y ago
  When I was a student I think I read online that (for water based inks) laser printer paper works well and better than a lot of notebook paper. I think something about feathering or drying time but I don’t really remember. I’m not sure how true it was and I preferred having loose leaf paper with no lines so I was pretty happy feeling like I was getting well suited paper on the cheap.
  - dragontamer 4y ago
    A notebook isn't just about the paper, but also the binding. If you're making your own notebook out of printer paper, I suggest you spend $10 on a 2-point hole punch and then buy the 2-point binders, which is far superior over staples. This should get you a good binding for personal use (sized for ~10 pages to 100 pages or so) with only 10-cents or so for the binding. Still, this gets you a "notebook" of size 8.5 x 11, which is too large for most purposes. (3-hole punch binders are a bit too big / heavy in most purposes in my experience, the 2-hole punch methods / folders / binders are superior for most purposes) Folding in half is usable, but now you gotta cut the edge if you want the paper to line up right. I guess good for ~10 sheets (20 pages after folding), but any more and things are pretty bad in my experience. ----------- B5 notebooks are just the right size: fitting inside of purses, my desk on the go. They're also auto-numbered (If you're buying higher-priced ones like LEUCHTTURM1917), come with built-in bookmarks, and come in a variety of styles (lines, dots, or plain). The main advantage to "making your own" is the ability to print out whatever design you want (ex: music sheets, or in my case... breadboarding plans for electronics). So I still make my own notes with 2-point binder + 8.5x11 paper these days. But for typical note-taking / day-to-day use, nothing beats a properly sized B5 notebook or pocket "Field Notes". -------- Auto-numbering is a surprisingly important thing in my experience, to the point that I have bought an automatic counting machine (aka: a stamp that auto-increments). This is useful not only for page numbers, but also for lists within a page. It turns a $2 Walmart notebook into something usable for work and is cheaper than buying a fancy pre-numbered notebook. Still though, those higher-quality notebooks from Jetpens are just really, really nice. And the fact that they have tested their paper and pages with a variety of inks, pens, and pencils with photographic proof is proof of Jetpen's quality of information.
chrisweekly 4y ago
Tangent: When it comes to mechanical pencils, the Pentel GraphGear 1000 is really, really good. Let alone for like $10.
- dragontamer 4y ago
  Depends. Its a heavy pencil with a sharp-ish point, making it ill-suited for carrying in your pocket. I'd say the GraphGear 1000 is great as a "stay on the table" kind of mechanical pencil. But if you plan to carry it around with you all day, Pentel Kerry is far superior. GraphGear 1000 might be good for a backpack or purse though.
  - ideal-stingray 4y ago
    Maybe you're thinking of the GraphGear 500? The 1000 has a retractable point -- the clip is actually part of the retraction mechanism, so it's impossible to clip it to your pocket with the point out. (Since around 2016 I've carried at least one GraphGear 1000 in my jeans pocket on a daily basis, and they've never let me down.)
    - dragontamer 4y ago
      The retractable point does nothing. If your leg moves in such a way that squeezes the top, you'll end up with a hole in your pocket. I know, because I did this and ruined my pocket in one of my jeans. The heavy metal construction is also extremely abrasive. If I ever accidentally put my phone into the pocket with the GraphGear 1000, the screen protector would crack. As I said earlier: its a great pencil for writing / desk usage. But in my experience, its terrible to carry it around all day, especially in a pocket. --------- Pentel Kerry still has a sharp point... but the cap mechanism is just more "correctly braindead" in regards to protecting your pockets from the sharp point. The cap also balances out the Kerry to an appropriate "swing-weight / balance" for writing. GraphGear 1000 is actually very well balanced for writing, though the heft / weight might surprise someone. Its a joy to use, until you get a hole in your pocket.
      - 4y ago
MisterPea 4y ago
Glad to see fountain pen enthusiasts here. I'm embarrassed to say how much I've spent on them over the years. I agree with their recommendations, especially the TWSBI ECO Fountain Pen - would recommend that over the Pilot Metropolitan, but both are great.
ben7799 4y ago
I'm left handed and have used this site before. I have a bunch of Uni-ball Jetstream pens that I'm real happy about. I learned about those from this site in one of their previous articles. I can't tell if they're saying the Jetstream is no longer as good as it was, or these other new pens are even better, or they're just kind of pushing something new. I'm tempted to order some of the Pentel Energels, Pilot Multiball, etc.. I'm not a highlighter person so don't care about that one. I guess the other thing is knowing some other options to look for in a pinch. The Uni-ball Jetstream is not commonly found in stores near me. I generally have to order them. If the Pentel/Pilot options are more common I need to keep that in mind. Their specific articles on left handedness explain a ton.. I never connected any of the effects (cramping, calluses, scraping the paper, etc..) other than smudging because I never really thought about how righties are pulling across the paper in left-to-right languages and lefties are pushing across the paper. It also explains why fountain pens are so brutal for lefties. They're so annoying maybe it explains why they used to try so hard to get left handed people to learn to switch for writing. I actually think I'd have been fine if forced to switch. My silliest pen story was walking into a fancy pen store and the sales person was a total snob. He lost a sure fire sale instantly based on judging me on my clothes or something. None of the pens had prices and when I asked about one he said if I had to ask I couldn't afford it. I wanted to come back and say I could buy every pen in the store or maybe the whole store, which I might have very well been able to. They went out of business. (Part of this was they were renting space in the mall, they didn't own their premises)
- Rebelgecko 4y ago
  As a fellow southpaw, I was convinced to buy a bunch of their recommended pens (IIRC their standalone "best pens for lefties" article is more thorough than the left section in the "best pens of $current_year" article). The Pentel EnerGel (specifically, the "Pentel EnerGel Alloy Gel Pen - 0.7 mm - Black Ink - Silver Body") is the best pen I've ever used. It feels magically smooth with minimal smudging. For me it writes much better than the Jetstream, although if you do a ton of writing you might prefer the grip on those. I also really like the multiball (for writing on non-paper surfaces), the power tank (aka the poor man's space pen) and the Sarasa dry gel pens (less smooth than the Energel but the designs are fun)
todd8 4y ago
Featured in this list are two of my favorite fountain pens, the Pilot Vanishing Point and the Lamy 2000. Both of these in my collection write very well and both have unique and interesting designs. The Pilot Vanishing Point doesn't need a cap, the nib is exposed and protected in a manner akin to clicking a ball point in and out. Mine works perfectly. The Lamy 2000 is sleek and modern looking with a sophisticated design. It looks like a fountain pen that one might see in a Star Trek movie, but this model has been around since the mid 1960's. After half a century, the design is still the favorite of my collection. It operates flawlessly. I own the other, less expensive fountain pens mentioned as well; they would be good choices too. I started out with some of these and I still like them, but it is easy to get hooked on buying more fountain pens and fancy inks.
- TheFreim 4y ago
  > The Lamy 2000 is sleek and modern looking with a sophisticated design. Have mine inked right now, I'd say it's my favorite pen currently.
- mwlp 4y ago
  My Pilot vanishing broke on me within about 2 months of use, sadly. I've since purchased a Sailor 1911 demonstrator which writes super smoothly. It's been my main pen for the past couple years, love it.
  - RBerenguel 4y ago
    I’ve found my VP (which I like a lot though) dries up very quickly. I recently got a Lamy Dialog and it behaves way better (and even though it looks bulky it is a joy to use). For more “casual” (throw-in-the-bag) I really dig the plasticky Pelican Twists (they feel extremely comfortable, I have 3 or 4) and a trusty Kaweco Liliput in brass I always carry on my backpack.
alberth 4y ago
I really appreciate the information density (site design).
mewse-hn 4y ago
Ahh I went down this rabbit hole recently - wanting to find what was good but also affordable from Amazon Canada. Ended up landing on sharpie s-gel metal pen bodies (there's a blacked out variation that is appealing) with pentel energel refills. I am really fond of the zebra G-750 (all metal gel pen, also blacked out) but I'm able to get a dozen of the above combo very, very cheap.
- Maxburn 4y ago
  I did this rabbit hole about 15 years ago and have a couple vanishing points as a result. Today Zebra Sarasa at work. Fountain pens are fun but fiddly with refills and blots. Fun to write with.
jszymborski 4y ago
I bought the TWISBI ECO on a lark. I was hesitant because I already had the GO and the ECO was just more expensive. Well boy-howdy is the ECO not only leagues better than the GO, but I much prefer to all my other pens. Folks recommend the really cheap platinum preppy pens, but be warned they are super scratchy. I would go a size up from what you normally prefer wrt to nib (if you are new, try M as F and EF are extremely scratchy IMHO). The opposite is true about the TWISBI in my experience. Go a size down. Their F nibs write quite fat. Then again, I mostly write on cheap paper so this advice def doesn't apply to e.g. Rhodia pads. Finally, I don't love the metropolitan. Feels great in the hand but I always find myself reaching for the smooth writing I get from my Eco.
- NullInvictus 4y ago
  > Folks recommend the really cheap platinum preppy pens, but be warned they are super scratchy. The reason people recommend the platinum is that its cheap and its cap system is especially good for avoiding dry-out. To me, the platinum preppy feels like a rounded pencil. I think its a good pen, but my reservation is that the plastic is a bit brittle on the preppy. I'd personally probably go with the Pilot Kakuno, or the more expensive Platinum prefonte, or if you're really worried about costs, the interesting and fraught world of Chinese fountain pens > I would go a size up from what you normally prefer wrt to nib (if you are new, try M as F and EF are extremely scratchy IMHO). This is a feature of all the Japanese pens - they tend to have a finer grind. The European and other pens (e.g., Lamy) are about what you expect. > Finally, I don't love the metropolitan. Feels great in the hand but I always find myself reaching for the smooth writing I get from my Eco. The Metropolitan is a love-or-hate pen for some people, due to hand feel. I personally like it. If you can hold one, that'd be best. I think a couple of things make the Metro a better beginning pen than the Eco, if you like how it feels in your hand. It's cheaper; its got a metal body and cap (can be banged around), its got better QC (The first Eco I was given had the infamous 'barrel crack'. The second just flat didn't write. I'm a bit miffed at the brand), It can take cartridges or its included converter-sac, and it is by far one of the easiest pens to tear down and clean. The Eco can be taken apart with its special wrench too, but people commonly crack it in the process. I just wish pilot sold the nibs separately for repair, like Lamy does, of TWSBI does with their more expensive pens. For the crowd around here: I'd also say that one of the joys of a fountain pen is that you can tune, smooth, and even grind your own nibs if you're that adventurous.
bookofjoe 4y ago
Original headline: >The 42 Best Pens for 2023 I dunno, I always have trouble with "Best" lists that feature double figures; it's as if the maker of the lists isn't willing to use their expertise to winnow it down to a few.
- piva00 4y ago
  The article lists multiple categories and considers a best pen in each, they used their expertise to give suggestions for a varied set of usages/styles. Did you check the article or just reacted to the headline?
  - bookofjoe 4y ago
    Both
Infernal 4y ago
Ah jeez. I have 9 tabs open on JetPens now. 30 minutes ago I was reading the linked article and now I'm comparing pocket planner dimensions and researching the practicality of retractable fountain pens. I've been thoroughly nerd-sniped.
upmostly 4y ago
I can't describe the feeling I feel when I view a website like JetPens, but it's there. It's the same feeling I had when I visited my first website. It's that same feeling I got when we had software instead of web apps. Tangible springs to mind.
KRAKRISMOTT 4y ago
Anyone tried the Sharpie "S-gels"? How do they hold up to pilot?
- tky 4y ago
  As a leftie, I value a quick-dry ink. The Sharpie gels have become a quick favorite. The s-gel ink cartridge is compatible with the Energel line, so I usually remove them from the plastic Sharpie body and put them in my metal Energel RT which has a much nicer weight and balance.
jayroh 4y ago
If anyone from JetPens is reading this(?) - would love to hear about the effects of this article ending up on HN today. Why? Because I'm about to drop ~$40 on pens as a result of the post, and discussion here. Echoing other people's sentiments here - love the site, love the density, love the niche'ness, love the information.
- bklyn11201 4y ago
  My unsolicited advice to JetPens owner: This is the first time I've ever seen the Jetpens site, and it's amazing. The guides are great, and I instantly trust the advice. I have a $100 cart though, and I'm not going to checkout because there is no Apple Pay or Shop Pay or Amazon Pay option. Sorry I'm too lazy to add my data to yet another e-com site!
  - Graziano_M 4y ago
    I get it, but just do it.
    - ghostpepper 4y ago
      I honestly don't even consider my credit card information that sensitive anymore. If it gets stolen, VISA will reimburse me and reissue a new card.
      - Alifatisk 4y ago
        I have VISA too, does this apply to me aswell?
        ghostpepper 4y ago
        I've never heard of someone having their credit card stolen, reporting it promptly, and being out of pocket for any amount. I've heard several stories of that happening with regular bank debit cards here in Canada. I almost never use my debit card outside of the actual bank branch, and definitely never at high risk locations like convenience stores, gas stations, ATMs, etc. Always credit.
autoexec 4y ago
For most of us the best pen is the one that is functional and within reach when we need it. Everything else is just for fun or for show. It's nice to know what artists and people who regularly spend hours writing things out by hand think about specific brands/models, but I can't justify the expense of getting anything too fancy when I can go many many months without even touching a pen or a pencil and none of them are so advanced that they can make up for my bad handwriting.
- ghaff 4y ago
  And honestly some of the expensive pens don't write that well. I was given a Waterman pen and its ink cartridge was crap until I replaced it with a compatible cartridge from a cheap gel pen. And it still pretty much sits in a pen holder on my desk because the gel pens I like are lighter and cheap. I mostly go with the Uniball Signos at this point. Though based on the article I should probably investigate more of the variants.
syntheweave 4y ago
My past year involved a lot of pen collecting, and these have been the biggest hits for me: 1. Pentel Kerry. There are slightly more convenient mechanical pencils around for writing, with an autoadvance clicker and rotation. But the Kerry has a cap that posts nicely, and is made to last forever, so now I have three in different colors. Pair with a lead of your preference(I like Nanodia 4H because the harder lead won't smudge and erases well). I will also use regular wood pencils, because they're lighter, but mechanical is good for getting the same line every time. 2. Uni-Pin brush. This is a slightly softer style of felt tip than the Tombow Fudenosuke recommended in the article(which are also good and easy to learn with). It's excellent for learning brush techniques - more forgiving than real bristles but still springy and expressive, and it writes dry enough that most paper will withstand it. It also comes in various shades of grey/sepia. The values on those are pretty dark so they aren't really suitable for highlighting, but they can add some character to a brush drawing. 3. Tombow Mono Stick Eraser - among the plastic erasers, I looked up comparison videos and Tombow probably has the strongest formulation - it immediately grabs graphite and makes it really disappear. In some niche cases you don't actually want that and would rather have a Pink Pearl to fade something with gradually, but the Mono is excellent at cleaning up a page without much effort - and the stick form is good for precision. 3. Papermate Inkjoy Quattro. This is something I picked up because it was the only kind of multipen offered in Office Depot. And it's fine. The Inkjoy refills are decent, and when you want one pen for all your notetaking, a multi is the right thing to keep in your pocket. 4. Uni-ball Signo 207 Plus+. The Plus+ has a new formulation of ink that I find is one of the most consistent gel pens I have - it's smooth enough, handles well, flow is consistent, it doesn't get slippery. 5. Uni-ball One F. This is a much more scratchy and skippy pen than the 207+, but it has the benefit of being the darkest gel I have ever used, and capable of dialing in some super fine lines in the 0.38 version. That makes it a good drawing pen. The F(Feel) body is weighted at the tip which makes it a little less plasticy, but I also use the original One bodies still. All gel refills tend to flow better after having some rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer applied to their tip, so I recommend always doing that with these. 5. "Aen Arts" gel set - this is one of those whitelabel things you can find on Alibaba, but also shows up on Amazon under various seller names. For under $30 you get an array of Gelly Roll knockoffs. And they are pretty good! 6. Ohuhu water-based dual brush marker set. Like with the gel set, this appears to be a whitelabel of Tombow Dual Brush knockoffs. Again, cheap, pretty good for coloring and highlighting, though the tips definitely aren't all that durable. 7. Pilot Kakuno. Like the Metropolitan featured in the article, it's just a well made fountain at an intro price. The ink feed is a relatively difficult thing to QC, and Pilot is one of the best at just making it work out of the box. 8. Uni-ball Vision Needle. Of the different Uni rollers, this is the one I tend to pick up the most. The needle tip design gives extra visibility, and the refill is smooth enough, though if you want to try one that is buttery smooth and gushes ink, get a Schneider One Business. Also worth a mention here is the Uni-Ball Air, which makes more expressive, inky lines. The downside of going for smooth rollers is that you can lose control more easily.
officialchicken 4y ago
How do you realistically compare a fountain pen, and never mention or compare the ink? That makes an enormous difference - as much as the body and nib itself. Some inks feel very wet and runny while others feel kinda like paste.
treypitt 4y ago
I strongly recommend Parker pens, they're not as good for spinning/flipping as Pilot G2s, but they last longer and are higher quality overall
LeftHandPath 4y ago
I recently got a rhodia notebook to go with my Pelikan Souveran FP and recently acquired MB LeGrand rollerball. I've been using the RB more and more because it's just a lot easier to keep inked and ready to go (and the size is perfect for my hands). That said, it skips a lot - not sure if I got a bad refill or if that's just the way MB rollerballs are. Definitely invest in a good notebook if you get a nice pen. The pelikan is a pain to write with on regular paper.
zachruss92 4y ago
I love my pilot vanishing point pen. Had it for years and it is one of my all time favorite writing utensils. Glad to see it on the list.
shaftway 4y ago
I love these pens, but my hobby lately has been pen turning. Here's a pen just finished today: https://ibb.co/59bhKP7 https://ibb.co/59bhKP7 I'd love a source of reviews like this for the refills. This pen takes a Parker style refill (Cross is another common refill style), and the ones that come with the kit doesn't last long anyway. So a nice source of reviews for the inserts would be really valuable.
themaninthedark 4y ago
This is a very dangerous thing for me to see... I really like the Mitsubishi Uni-ball Protech pen UB-155. I can't find them here in the states. If anyone knows where to get them, please let me know! Here is a blog post about them: https://penvibe.com/uni-ball-ub-155-micro-deluxe-review/ https://penvibe.com/uni-ball-ub-155-micro-deluxe-review/
motohagiography 4y ago
Pens, pah. Wait until you hold a stainless or matte metal retro1951 tornado pencil, then use it on a pad of graph paper from Edward Tufte, or the reporter notebook (flip) or music art notebook with staff lines from Moleskine. I have pens and pads that were gifts from luxury companies like Montblanc, and Hermés but nothing quite compares to those pencils and pads above.
- derbOac 4y ago
  I know you were mentioning pencils, but Retro1951 pens are my favorite pens. They're ergonomic and I love the refills, and they'll accept other refills in a pinch.
notatoad 4y ago
this isn't the first time i've seen this article (or the version from another year i guess) and it always brings me a lot of joy to see a list of "the best" of something, clearly written by somebody who cares a lot about the subject and really believes that what they're writing is the truth. and the conclusion is that the best ones are the normal ones you can get in every store, you don't need to custom order weird stuff from japan. you don't need to hack together something out of the parts of two different things. the best rollerball pen is the one i've got a dozen of in my cupboard, and i can buy more of at the office supply store down the street.
eternityforest 4y ago
They forgot the best of all(for general use, fountain pens are still fun): The uni-ball powertank. It's a pressurized pen for less than $2 in the ten packs!! It's not the most luxurious feeling to write with, but that doesn't matter when you just need a few quick sentences and checkboxes now and again. Pressurized pens are ideal for the modern use case of occasionally filling out something, usually in a hurry, with a pen you haven't touched in a week.
DennisP 4y ago
I had no idea that some pens are way better than normal ballpoints for writing checks. They have another whole article on the best pens for that: https://www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-Pens-for-Writing-Checks/pt/206 https://www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-Pens-for-Writing-Check...
sergiomattei 4y ago
Just this week I bought some J. Herbin Perle Noire ink for my Muji Fountain Pen. I loved the shopping experience on JetPens and the reviews were comprehensive. As for the Muji, loving this thing. It's so great for math, it's saving my linear algebra grade.
- chang1 4y ago
  I bought the Muji fountain pen a few years ago and it's an amazing pen, especially for only $17! I've been looking for a new ink to try, I'll give J. Herbin Perle Noire a shot. Which converter do you use?
  - sergiomattei 4y ago
    I didn’t use converters this time around. I’m moving to Seattle in a couple of weeks, so I can’t buy ink glasses yet. For now I just purchased the ink in prefilled international cartridges, which they sell in packs of six. :) Chose Perle Noire because it’s widely regarded as a really deep black ink, which is something I like in my daily use ink. It’s also a good balance between quick drying and good waterproofing. As for the converter, I’ve heard that the FP accepts any international converter as well. Make sure to check the subreddit though for compatibility reviews! EDIT: Link https://www.jetpens.com/J.-Herbin-Perle-Noire-Ink-Pearl-Black-6-Cartridges/pd/7850 https://www.jetpens.com/J.-Herbin-Perle-Noire-Ink-Pearl-Blac...
ssharp 4y ago
Unoriginal sales trainer: Sell me this pen Jetpens: Sure! Here’s 10,000 words on why it’s the best pen
mNovak 4y ago
Wow, I'm shocked at the level of depth in this site. I thought for sure something like "best pens for your lab notebook" would be SEO drivel, but they actually test against things like alcohol and acetone, and consider writing on vials and containers and such.
- layer8 4y ago
  20 years ago the internet was brimming with such sites, on all possible topics.
- viewsmyown 3y ago
  Hi, writer of the Best Pens for the Lab blog here in an unofficial capacity—I made an account to respond to this comment! For the record, it's a real joy to get to put information online that's actually in the realm of thoughtful and helpful. The Best XYZ title format is a SEO choice, though, totally correct there ;)
rr808 4y ago
> The TWSBI ECO offers phenomenal value in the under $50 bracket. Most piston-filling fountain pens cost north of $100, Does anyone know why fountain pens are just so expensive? I figure its a low volume niche but a piston filling pen really I'd think would cost a few cents to make. You can get good smartphones for $50.
- ashtonbaker 4y ago
  I guess they’re more popular in China - you can get good quality Chinese fountain pens online for a lot less than these brands.
  - disqard 4y ago
    I'll add my $0.02 here -- I exclusively bought these Chinese fountain pens for a while, before I upgraded to some better ones (like TWSBI Eco). My experience was that these ultra-cheap Chinese pens are fun to play with, but extremely unreliable. The number-one issue was that they'd dry up after a day without use, which renders them annoying as writing tools (but they're still fun to look at and play with!)
    - ashtonbaker 4y ago
      Yeah I don’t think it’s worth the money, the extra QC is worth a lot to me.
kodah 4y ago
I'm pretty surprised the Pilot G-2 .38 is not on there. I buy them in bulk because I enjoy writing with them so much.
noufalibrahim 4y ago
I use a noodles Ahab for my daily work. It's got a flexible nib so i can do artistic stuff from time to time. I searched for the brand and the first hit on ddg was jetpens. Never knew of the site till now
uptownfunk 4y ago
Pilot hi tec c forever!!
dallas 4y ago
Both EDC pens need two hands to get going!
jmspring 4y ago
Jetpens is a nice site. My impulse purchase fountain pens were one off jetpens, one directly from a vendor in Europe and the third I can’t recall where. I need to keep myself from browsing too much for fear of parting with $$$ I purchased my daily writer, a Lamy, was also from jetpens.
hbarka 4y ago
What a beautifully organized website. There’s a bit of 90s throwback to it. May I know how this is hosted? Is there a CMS behind it?
thordenmark 4y ago
jetpens is the best. Please go there first for your stationary and writing needs. Amazon gets enough of our money.
gnicholas 4y ago
Fun fact! > It’s important to keep in mind that Pilot FriXion ink will “erase” with any heat, so we don’t recommend storing your notebooks on top of a radiator or in cars during the summer. Additionally, don’t use FriXion ink to take tests or write on important documents. If your writing disappears inadvertently, you may be able to get it to reappear by placing the paper in a freezer that reaches below 14°F, or -10°C.
anshumankmr 4y ago
My personal favourites are:Pilot V5 Roller Ball Pen ( https://www.amazon.in/Pilot-Roller-Ball-Pack-Black/dp/B08JVFP66K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3538GQ4U1EN05&keywords=v5+pilot&qid=1681276236&sprefix=v5pilot%2Caps%2C246&sr=8-1 https://www.amazon.in/Pilot-Roller-Ball-Pack-Black/dp/B08JVF... ) and this one: https://www.amazon.in/Reynolds-045-Lightweight-Comfortable-Stationery/dp/B0BX5Y2PY9/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=7N8PQ27ZJW1L&keywords=reynolds+ballpoint&qid=1681276288&sprefix=reynolds+ballpoint%2Caps%2C220&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1 https://www.amazon.in/Reynolds-045-Lightweight-Comfortable-S... I have been using these for years now and they are the most comfortable for me to write with.
- crossroadsguy 4y ago
  Oh I still write with a Pilot Hi-Techpoint 05 (not the V5 really; but very similar) almost everyday https://www.amazon.in/dp/B00LOD6BKU/ https://www.amazon.in/dp/B00LOD6BKU/. I have many other pens that I keep buying losing/using/forgetting/discarding but they have been constant. And god Reynolds 045 were the "professional pen" for students when we meant business - that means even writing in the exams or board exams. I still have it one or two in my house. There was one from from Mitsubishi. I can't find a link for that. All the fancy fountain pens keep coming and going (or staying in some pen cases) in my life these were the best.
lannisterstark 4y ago
I'm sad that Goulet Pen Company isn't getting any love here. They've been absolutely fantastic and are a darling of /r/fountainpens over at reddit. https://www.gouletpens.com/ https://www.gouletpens.com/
- ahonhn 4y ago
  And if you're after old & classic pens (including New Old Stock), Peyton Street Pens is an awesome source https://www.peytonstreetpens.com/ https://www.peytonstreetpens.com/
jakkos 4y ago
Bookmark
drumhead 4y ago
I've got a few of the fountain pens mentioned. Without a doubt the best is the TWSBI eco. It feels nice in your hand writes so smoothly. I can see why it's so highly rated.
BLKNSLVR 4y ago
The best pens are found at Pen Island. http://penisland.net http://penisland.net
- eimrine 4y ago
  I used to laugh at this website maybe 15 years ago and I am surprised it still exists. Their logo makes everyone think exactly about pens.
jll29 4y ago
After trying a few hundred types years ago, I have been using Pilot's V ball pen black 0.5 / 0.7, which is close to perfect, except I never looked into refill options to reduce plastic waste (I suspect this one cannot be refilled). Pilot no longer seems to offer the original model, which I insist on, but I was able to acquire large quantities from several Amazon stores. Any B5 notebook with squares, blank pages or dots will do (Leuchtturm ones are nice), as long as the pages are numbered. I have laptops and paper notebooks everywhere, so I do not use one linearly until it is filled, but hop between them. Each entry is dated, though, so this does not cause a problem.
crossroadsguy 4y ago
I am kind of glad that there is no equivalent fountain pen seller portal in India otherwise I would have been spending too much on fountain pens that I would have never used anyway.
johnwalkr 4y ago
Interesting. I spent about a year trying different cheap notebooks and pens in Japan and what I ended up choosing as my favorite was Midori MD notebooks and uni-ball Signo pens. Both are highly rated on this site. The notebooks are 2.5x the price as amazon.co.jp though. I've yet to find a good source for these in Europe.
hoseja 4y ago
... what do yall scribe so much?
TomMasz 4y ago
The Pilot Manhattan fountain pen in medium nib is the best fountain pen I've ever used. Combined with a Maruman Mnemosyne notebook (also from Jet Pens) it's perfect for journaling.

412 points by axiomdata316 4y ago

Can someone recommend something like a Micron pen but with a chisel rather than round tip? I greatly prefer chisel tips/nibs but I like the convenience of felt tip pens as well as waterproof ink that dries quickly and doesn't smear. The closest thing I've found is a fine tip calligraphy marker, but they don't seem to last very long. Alternately something like a Flair pen but with a chisel tip and waterproof ink. I haven't tried the Pilot Parallel, but the finest nib is 1.5mm which seems too bold, and it's basically a fountain pen so is likely to have the same issues of messiness and running out of ink. edit: the Staedtler Pigment Liner Marker has a 2mm chisel tip but I'd like something smaller.

egberts1 4y ago

Looking for best gel pen for anti-check tampering.

Alifatisk 4y ago

I am a huge fan of the Pilot Frixion Clicker, the weight felt good and writing with it felt so smooth. Are there any other pens that have a bit of weight to it? Any Recommendations?

eschneider 4y ago

I heartily agree with their fountain pen choices. The Pilot Metropolitan is insanely good for a cheap pen that you can take anywhere and the TWSBI GO is my go-to daily driver. It leads me to believe that the rest of the reviews are likely good.

falcolas 4y ago
How TF did Pilot be the company to create such great inexpensive fountain pens? I mean, I'm not upset about it, I love them.
- todd8 4y ago
  In the early 1900s, three Japanese fountain pen companies were founded: Sailor (1911), Namiki (1918), and Platinum (1919). Namiki changed its name to Pilot in the 1930s, but some Pilot pens are still sold under the Namiki brand. I have pens from all of these companies and they are some of my favorite brands.
rektide 4y ago
I bought a moonman m2 a long time ago and really love it but also if I travel with it I end up bringing a whole cleanup kit because even with care I tend to have at least once where ink comes out into the cap. Is this just a fact of life with fountain pens in general? I love the writing but keeping them clean & operational has been non-trivial for me.
- convolvatron 4y ago
  it seems to depend on the pen for me. some deposit substantial ink in the cap and some don't (except flying, that's always gonna be a mess unless you prepare).
- falcolas 4y ago
  Not in my experience. Though ink seepage definitely seems to be related to how it's stored (and probably shaken). I've had one seep when stored point down, and dozens not seep when stored horizontally or point up. That said, I don't travel with them, practically speaking.
- giraffe_lady 4y ago
  If you drop one or bang it hard you'll usually get some ink in the cap yeah. Finer or more recessed nibs reduce the effect. Pilot also has a line of retractable fountain pens that almost completely eliminate it. The pressure changes when flying can force ink out the nib as well. I've heard people say you can prevent it by having the reservoir completely full but I fly with it empty or usually just leave it at home.
- BeetleB 4y ago
  Flying can cause the ink to come out (happened only once with me). Otherwise, ink shouldn't come out unless there is a flaw in the pen (which many ultra cheap pens have). I've not tried the Moonman, but Jinhao/PenBBS are solid for me. Rarely do they "leak".
RobotToaster 4y ago
The vanishing point is an amazing pen too, if a little pricy.

iammjm 4y ago

I own a LAMY ST Steel Fountain Pen and I love it. I really like its steel, simple bauhaus-like design. Feels like something Dieter Rams would've designed.

falcolas 4y ago

Jet Pens is a dangerous site. They'll convince you to part with your money far too easily. Studio Ghibli pens. I mean, how can you not buy them?! On a slightly more serious note - I agree with the Uniball Signo recommendations. They're good, reliable pens. I don't care for writing with Frixion pens, but they are the player in the erasable pen arena. I really appreciate how they provide samples with metadata on how each pen/paper works. Even if you disagree with their "Best of" lists, they give you the data you need to make informed buying choices. Something all too absent for other online ordering. And they have a better selection of really fine point pens than other sites.

entelechy0 4y ago
the uniball signo rt 0.38mm tip has been my goto pen since 2002 at least, to a degree that i do not purchase other pens.
morsch 4y ago
I bought a couple of Frixion pens after reading a similar thread here. I like them. But keep them away from kids, Stiftung Warentest (essentially, German Consumer Affairs) found lead in the ink and recommends other pens. https://www.test.de/Stifte-und-Tinten-im-Test-Unterm-Strich-unerfreulich-1707740-0/ https://www.test.de/Stifte-und-Tinten-im-Test-Unterm-Strich-...
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rcarr 4y ago

I’ve been working my way through Kawecos, started with a Brass Sport with F nib which I’ve still got, then I bought a stainless steel Sport with BB nib that I ended up selling. Next I tried a copper Liliput with B nib and a plastic sport with M nib. I love the Liliput more than any of the sports so I think I’m going to buy the fireblue one with a M nib and I might end up selling all the rest.

sudosteph 4y ago
I've tried a bunch of the "entry" fountain pens, but I agree, the Liliput is my favorite by far. It fits my hand a lot better than the Pilot Metro / ECO / Lamy Safari, and it writes so consistently how I expect it to. Only real downside is smaller ink capacity, but it's still been a convenience upgrade overall.

ablyveiled 4y ago

I've tried a few fancy pens, but still prefer my Pilot G2 07s.

oaththrowaway 4y ago
Pilot G2 .38 or .5 for me
- MengerSponge 4y ago
  Did Pilot ever fix the G2's failed rollerball retention issue? I had a few pop loose before I gave up on the line. I've been a uniball signo 0.25 (math/subscripts) and 0.38 (text) fan for years now. It's one of the few pens that actually makes my handwriting better.
- deleted 4y ago
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cyanf 4y ago
Have you tried the 0.7 energels? G2s used to be my favorite until I gave them a try. Very smooth.
- unmole 4y ago
  The Energel pens are a bit too light for my liking. So, I use Energel refills in G2's body. Best of both worlds.
jasode 4y ago
>Pilot G2 I like Pilot G2 pens but unfortunately, they have a limited shelf life as the gel ink inside dries out. I just found this out recently when I went to get some more "new" Pilot pens from my supply closet and noticed every one of them was dried out. I bought them 7 years ago. Various websites and youtube hacks suggested putting the tips in boiling water for a while to try and revive them but that didn't work. I had 3 boxes of black, blue, and red Pilot pens so I guess that's about $30 wasted.

zohvek 4y ago

Jetpens is an evil website, truly. Spent so much money on fountain pens on brands I didnt even know existed until I saw it on that site.

doabell 4y ago

The Nevada State Bank once recommended a Uni-ball 207 (any pigment ink pen will probably do) to prevent check washing fraud: [video] https://youtu.be/zhR-koBU4zM https://youtu.be/zhR-koBU4zM

todd8 4y ago
I've seen Uni-ball 207 recommended too. I also have some Mont Blanc fountain pen ink that claims to forgery resistant (meeting ISO 14145-2) that I've used to for check writing. Here's a YouTube video about the subject [1]. Noodlers ink (also available on jetpens.com) is said to have forgery resistant inks as well. I don't have any of it, but I do have some of Noodlers invisible ink--you need an ultraviolet light source to see it. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH_Yb4-0p0o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH_Yb4-0p0o
wrp 4y ago
Gel pens in general are recommended over ballpoint, because the ink is water-based and resistant to solvents.

bmarquez 4y ago

I can vouch for the Pentel EnerGel recommendation. As a left-handed person who tends to smudge a lot of other inks, EnerGels write smoothly without smudging. They're also cheap enough to buy a whole pack and not worry about losing them.

eitally 4y ago
+1 Additionally, they come in a number of colors, all of which are quite rich. Big fan!
0x00washere 4y ago
Agreed. These are gold for lefties. I have yet to find a better pen. It's a joy to use and the .5mm ball also makes my writing look very neat and tidy.
armoredkitten 4y ago
I had a friend of mine recommend them a while back. I was extremely dubious -- a gel pen? For lefties?? No way. Well, he was right. I've been converted to the church of EnerGel.
Mezzie 4y ago
You'll pry my EnerGels out of my cold, dead left hand.
m463 4y ago
Pentel Energel 0.7mm is the best pen I've ever used, period. Effortless writing with almost no friction. Clear contrasty quick-drying ink. Never too much ink (blotchy) or too little (streaky). I don't trust the recommendations of this page. They recommend pens as blanket statements not mentioning size, and that's just... wrong. and imprecise. For example, the Pentel Energel 1.0mm is too blotchy. The 0.5mm is too scratchy. The 0.7mm is just right. Also their uniball recommendation is strange. I've tried all kinds of uniball pens and never liked any of them. They seemed to require too much effort, or had ink that wouldn't go down cleanly.
john-tells-all 4y ago
I adore gel pens. I go through a good number since I'm writing a book and am also an artist. I searched for "Pentel EnerGel" on jetpens.com... 971 results! Haha. Let me get my coffee... Thanks!

warner25 4y ago

I have a bag of BIC Cristal pens that I've been working through for over a decade now. There are still a few left. What am I missing? I've used a lot of random pens when signing my name at various places of business, and none of them seemed better to me than a BIC Cristal. In fact, many are so much worse that I usually bring my own BIC Cristal to places where I know I'll be filling out paperwork.

giraffe_lady 4y ago
Tactile experience and aesthetics mostly. If you're fine with what you use don't worry about it.
- ArcMex 4y ago
  Highly agree on tactile experience. I have Zebra Blen 0.7 and 0.5 for everyday use and they are much better than my BIC pens to me.
nordsieck 4y ago
My favorite are the Bic Round Stic pens. I like to write small, and I find that most other pens have more flow than I want. It also helps that they're dirt cheap, so I can just get a big bunch like you and I don't have to care if I lose one here or there. Ironically, I find that if I only have a few pens, I start to lose them over time, but if I have a large amount, I actually accumulate pens. Not sure how that works.
- zikduruqe 4y ago
  I have been using the same Bic Round Stic pen for almost ten years. Whenever the ink is used up, I just switch the ink out from a brand new one. It has almost a decade of battle scars and character.
dumpsterlid 4y ago
A bic pen isn't a bad pen, it is stunningly successful type of pen. There are meaningful differences between how it feels to write with a fountain pen or other type of nice pen vs a bic but there is no reason you might not just prefer how a bic writes. I like the relaxed, but controlled feeling of a fountain pen. Writing with bic like pens my whole life I got into the habit of gripping the pen hard and pressing down hard and it made me hate writing.

kstrauser 4y ago

Fountain pens completely changed how I write. I've always gripped ballpoints like my life depended on it and gotten hand cramps from how hard I press them down. I don't want to, and can temporarily stop doing that when I consciously notice, but then I forget and go back to trying to stab the desktop through the paper. A Lamy Safari's triangular shape makes it physically hard to hold the "wrong" way. It nudges me to write with my fingertips, not my wrist. The effect on my hand pain, and my ability to hand-write long bits of test, was immediate and huge. I wouldn't have thought that simply switching pens would make such an enormous difference in my ability to put ink on paper. It sure did, though.

saint-loup 4y ago
Your comment opened my eyes on the matter a little bit. As some others in this page, I loathe the act of writing, but it's also a negative feedback loop where I use disposable ballpoint pen. I remember I used to prefer foutain pen in high school. Still, for my case I see two potential downsides with foutain pen: - mobility (train trips and bike commuting). I remember instances of leaks. - Infrequent use. I'll keep being a keyboard-first note-taker. :) I guess I need to shop for shake-proof, non-drying pen and cartridges.
- kstrauser 4y ago
  I have a Fisher Space Pen in my bag for when I really need to write something on the go. It's just that I wouldn't want to write a whole novel with it. By analogy, I think the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio is an excellent portable keyboard. When I'm out and about, it does the job. But when I sit down at my desk, I much prefer my full-size mechanical keyboard.
mrexroad 4y ago
This. About a decade ago I switched to writing exclusively with fountain pens because of wrist and arm pain. I couldn’t get beyond maybe a paragraph until I’d be shaking out my hand from cramping. I tried different pens, grips, etc. but would always fall back to writing with my wrist. Switching to fountain pens stumbling through re-learning cursive has made a tremendous difference.

dragontamer 4y ago

I spend way more money on jetpens's selection of notebooks than pens though. Also, I tend to prefer pencil, and will recommend the Pentel Kerry. --------- I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The future of online stores is jetpens and websites like it. Jetpens is useful because I trust their reviews. They're a store, yes, but more importantly, they're a trustworthy source of information. Amazon reviews are no longer trusted by me, but all of the discussion / reviews from Jetpens has been 100% accurate in my experience. They've managed to build up this relationship with their customers (such as myself) where I will trust their reviews and prefer to buy from them. Bonus points: a shop like Jetpens organizes their journals in A5, B5, A4, (etc. etc.) sizes. Amazon does not. Custom browsing experiences / categorizations is a big deal. Logically presenting Jetpen's catalog to the user makes me more likely to use their site and end up buying something.

bluGill 4y ago
I always look for small suppliers of a small niche. The people tend to know something about what they sell. It is worth paying a little more just to get good advice from someone who cares more than I do about the subject.
dan-robertson 4y ago
When I was a student I think I read online that (for water based inks) laser printer paper works well and better than a lot of notebook paper. I think something about feathering or drying time but I don’t really remember. I’m not sure how true it was and I preferred having loose leaf paper with no lines so I was pretty happy feeling like I was getting well suited paper on the cheap.
- dragontamer 4y ago
  A notebook isn't just about the paper, but also the binding. If you're making your own notebook out of printer paper, I suggest you spend $10 on a 2-point hole punch and then buy the 2-point binders, which is far superior over staples. This should get you a good binding for personal use (sized for ~10 pages to 100 pages or so) with only 10-cents or so for the binding. Still, this gets you a "notebook" of size 8.5 x 11, which is too large for most purposes. (3-hole punch binders are a bit too big / heavy in most purposes in my experience, the 2-hole punch methods / folders / binders are superior for most purposes) Folding in half is usable, but now you gotta cut the edge if you want the paper to line up right. I guess good for ~10 sheets (20 pages after folding), but any more and things are pretty bad in my experience. ----------- B5 notebooks are just the right size: fitting inside of purses, my desk on the go. They're also auto-numbered (If you're buying higher-priced ones like LEUCHTTURM1917), come with built-in bookmarks, and come in a variety of styles (lines, dots, or plain). The main advantage to "making your own" is the ability to print out whatever design you want (ex: music sheets, or in my case... breadboarding plans for electronics). So I still make my own notes with 2-point binder + 8.5x11 paper these days. But for typical note-taking / day-to-day use, nothing beats a properly sized B5 notebook or pocket "Field Notes". -------- Auto-numbering is a surprisingly important thing in my experience, to the point that I have bought an automatic counting machine (aka: a stamp that auto-increments). This is useful not only for page numbers, but also for lists within a page. It turns a $2 Walmart notebook into something usable for work and is cheaper than buying a fancy pre-numbered notebook. Still though, those higher-quality notebooks from Jetpens are just really, really nice. And the fact that they have tested their paper and pages with a variety of inks, pens, and pencils with photographic proof is proof of Jetpen's quality of information.

chrisweekly 4y ago

Tangent: When it comes to mechanical pencils, the Pentel GraphGear 1000 is really, really good. Let alone for like $10.

dragontamer 4y ago
Depends. Its a heavy pencil with a sharp-ish point, making it ill-suited for carrying in your pocket. I'd say the GraphGear 1000 is great as a "stay on the table" kind of mechanical pencil. But if you plan to carry it around with you all day, Pentel Kerry is far superior. GraphGear 1000 might be good for a backpack or purse though.
- ideal-stingray 4y ago
  Maybe you're thinking of the GraphGear 500? The 1000 has a retractable point -- the clip is actually part of the retraction mechanism, so it's impossible to clip it to your pocket with the point out. (Since around 2016 I've carried at least one GraphGear 1000 in my jeans pocket on a daily basis, and they've never let me down.)
  - dragontamer 4y ago
    The retractable point does nothing. If your leg moves in such a way that squeezes the top, you'll end up with a hole in your pocket. I know, because I did this and ruined my pocket in one of my jeans. The heavy metal construction is also extremely abrasive. If I ever accidentally put my phone into the pocket with the GraphGear 1000, the screen protector would crack. As I said earlier: its a great pencil for writing / desk usage. But in my experience, its terrible to carry it around all day, especially in a pocket. --------- Pentel Kerry still has a sharp point... but the cap mechanism is just more "correctly braindead" in regards to protecting your pockets from the sharp point. The cap also balances out the Kerry to an appropriate "swing-weight / balance" for writing. GraphGear 1000 is actually very well balanced for writing, though the heft / weight might surprise someone. Its a joy to use, until you get a hole in your pocket.
    - 4y ago

MisterPea 4y ago

Glad to see fountain pen enthusiasts here. I'm embarrassed to say how much I've spent on them over the years. I agree with their recommendations, especially the TWSBI ECO Fountain Pen - would recommend that over the Pilot Metropolitan, but both are great.

ben7799 4y ago

I'm left handed and have used this site before. I have a bunch of Uni-ball Jetstream pens that I'm real happy about. I learned about those from this site in one of their previous articles. I can't tell if they're saying the Jetstream is no longer as good as it was, or these other new pens are even better, or they're just kind of pushing something new. I'm tempted to order some of the Pentel Energels, Pilot Multiball, etc.. I'm not a highlighter person so don't care about that one. I guess the other thing is knowing some other options to look for in a pinch. The Uni-ball Jetstream is not commonly found in stores near me. I generally have to order them. If the Pentel/Pilot options are more common I need to keep that in mind. Their specific articles on left handedness explain a ton.. I never connected any of the effects (cramping, calluses, scraping the paper, etc..) other than smudging because I never really thought about how righties are pulling across the paper in left-to-right languages and lefties are pushing across the paper. It also explains why fountain pens are so brutal for lefties. They're so annoying maybe it explains why they used to try so hard to get left handed people to learn to switch for writing. I actually think I'd have been fine if forced to switch. My silliest pen story was walking into a fancy pen store and the sales person was a total snob. He lost a sure fire sale instantly based on judging me on my clothes or something. None of the pens had prices and when I asked about one he said if I had to ask I couldn't afford it. I wanted to come back and say I could buy every pen in the store or maybe the whole store, which I might have very well been able to. They went out of business. (Part of this was they were renting space in the mall, they didn't own their premises)

Rebelgecko 4y ago
As a fellow southpaw, I was convinced to buy a bunch of their recommended pens (IIRC their standalone "best pens for lefties" article is more thorough than the left section in the "best pens of $current_year" article). The Pentel EnerGel (specifically, the "Pentel EnerGel Alloy Gel Pen - 0.7 mm - Black Ink - Silver Body") is the best pen I've ever used. It feels magically smooth with minimal smudging. For me it writes much better than the Jetstream, although if you do a ton of writing you might prefer the grip on those. I also really like the multiball (for writing on non-paper surfaces), the power tank (aka the poor man's space pen) and the Sarasa dry gel pens (less smooth than the Energel but the designs are fun)

todd8 4y ago

Featured in this list are two of my favorite fountain pens, the Pilot Vanishing Point and the Lamy 2000. Both of these in my collection write very well and both have unique and interesting designs. The Pilot Vanishing Point doesn't need a cap, the nib is exposed and protected in a manner akin to clicking a ball point in and out. Mine works perfectly. The Lamy 2000 is sleek and modern looking with a sophisticated design. It looks like a fountain pen that one might see in a Star Trek movie, but this model has been around since the mid 1960's. After half a century, the design is still the favorite of my collection. It operates flawlessly. I own the other, less expensive fountain pens mentioned as well; they would be good choices too. I started out with some of these and I still like them, but it is easy to get hooked on buying more fountain pens and fancy inks.

TheFreim 4y ago
> The Lamy 2000 is sleek and modern looking with a sophisticated design. Have mine inked right now, I'd say it's my favorite pen currently.
mwlp 4y ago
My Pilot vanishing broke on me within about 2 months of use, sadly. I've since purchased a Sailor 1911 demonstrator which writes super smoothly. It's been my main pen for the past couple years, love it.
- RBerenguel 4y ago
  I’ve found my VP (which I like a lot though) dries up very quickly. I recently got a Lamy Dialog and it behaves way better (and even though it looks bulky it is a joy to use). For more “casual” (throw-in-the-bag) I really dig the plasticky Pelican Twists (they feel extremely comfortable, I have 3 or 4) and a trusty Kaweco Liliput in brass I always carry on my backpack.

alberth 4y ago

I really appreciate the information density (site design).

mewse-hn 4y ago

Ahh I went down this rabbit hole recently - wanting to find what was good but also affordable from Amazon Canada. Ended up landing on sharpie s-gel metal pen bodies (there's a blacked out variation that is appealing) with pentel energel refills. I am really fond of the zebra G-750 (all metal gel pen, also blacked out) but I'm able to get a dozen of the above combo very, very cheap.

Maxburn 4y ago
I did this rabbit hole about 15 years ago and have a couple vanishing points as a result. Today Zebra Sarasa at work. Fountain pens are fun but fiddly with refills and blots. Fun to write with.

jszymborski 4y ago

I bought the TWISBI ECO on a lark. I was hesitant because I already had the GO and the ECO was just more expensive. Well boy-howdy is the ECO not only leagues better than the GO, but I much prefer to all my other pens. Folks recommend the really cheap platinum preppy pens, but be warned they are super scratchy. I would go a size up from what you normally prefer wrt to nib (if you are new, try M as F and EF are extremely scratchy IMHO). The opposite is true about the TWISBI in my experience. Go a size down. Their F nibs write quite fat. Then again, I mostly write on cheap paper so this advice def doesn't apply to e.g. Rhodia pads. Finally, I don't love the metropolitan. Feels great in the hand but I always find myself reaching for the smooth writing I get from my Eco.

NullInvictus 4y ago
> Folks recommend the really cheap platinum preppy pens, but be warned they are super scratchy. The reason people recommend the platinum is that its cheap and its cap system is especially good for avoiding dry-out. To me, the platinum preppy feels like a rounded pencil. I think its a good pen, but my reservation is that the plastic is a bit brittle on the preppy. I'd personally probably go with the Pilot Kakuno, or the more expensive Platinum prefonte, or if you're really worried about costs, the interesting and fraught world of Chinese fountain pens > I would go a size up from what you normally prefer wrt to nib (if you are new, try M as F and EF are extremely scratchy IMHO). This is a feature of all the Japanese pens - they tend to have a finer grind. The European and other pens (e.g., Lamy) are about what you expect. > Finally, I don't love the metropolitan. Feels great in the hand but I always find myself reaching for the smooth writing I get from my Eco. The Metropolitan is a love-or-hate pen for some people, due to hand feel. I personally like it. If you can hold one, that'd be best. I think a couple of things make the Metro a better beginning pen than the Eco, if you like how it feels in your hand. It's cheaper; its got a metal body and cap (can be banged around), its got better QC (The first Eco I was given had the infamous 'barrel crack'. The second just flat didn't write. I'm a bit miffed at the brand), It can take cartridges or its included converter-sac, and it is by far one of the easiest pens to tear down and clean. The Eco can be taken apart with its special wrench too, but people commonly crack it in the process. I just wish pilot sold the nibs separately for repair, like Lamy does, of TWSBI does with their more expensive pens. For the crowd around here: I'd also say that one of the joys of a fountain pen is that you can tune, smooth, and even grind your own nibs if you're that adventurous.

bookofjoe 4y ago

Original headline: >The 42 Best Pens for 2023 I dunno, I always have trouble with "Best" lists that feature double figures; it's as if the maker of the lists isn't willing to use their expertise to winnow it down to a few.

piva00 4y ago
The article lists multiple categories and considers a best pen in each, they used their expertise to give suggestions for a varied set of usages/styles. Did you check the article or just reacted to the headline?
- bookofjoe 4y ago
  Both

Infernal 4y ago

Ah jeez. I have 9 tabs open on JetPens now. 30 minutes ago I was reading the linked article and now I'm comparing pocket planner dimensions and researching the practicality of retractable fountain pens. I've been thoroughly nerd-sniped.

upmostly 4y ago

I can't describe the feeling I feel when I view a website like JetPens, but it's there. It's the same feeling I had when I visited my first website. It's that same feeling I got when we had software instead of web apps. Tangible springs to mind.

KRAKRISMOTT 4y ago

Anyone tried the Sharpie "S-gels"? How do they hold up to pilot?

tky 4y ago
As a leftie, I value a quick-dry ink. The Sharpie gels have become a quick favorite. The s-gel ink cartridge is compatible with the Energel line, so I usually remove them from the plastic Sharpie body and put them in my metal Energel RT which has a much nicer weight and balance.

jayroh 4y ago

If anyone from JetPens is reading this(?) - would love to hear about the effects of this article ending up on HN today. Why? Because I'm about to drop ~$40 on pens as a result of the post, and discussion here. Echoing other people's sentiments here - love the site, love the density, love the niche'ness, love the information.

bklyn11201 4y ago
My unsolicited advice to JetPens owner: This is the first time I've ever seen the Jetpens site, and it's amazing. The guides are great, and I instantly trust the advice. I have a $100 cart though, and I'm not going to checkout because there is no Apple Pay or Shop Pay or Amazon Pay option. Sorry I'm too lazy to add my data to yet another e-com site!
- Graziano_M 4y ago
  I get it, but just do it.
  - ghostpepper 4y ago
    I honestly don't even consider my credit card information that sensitive anymore. If it gets stolen, VISA will reimburse me and reissue a new card.
    - Alifatisk 4y ago
      I have VISA too, does this apply to me aswell?
      - ghostpepper 4y ago
        I've never heard of someone having their credit card stolen, reporting it promptly, and being out of pocket for any amount. I've heard several stories of that happening with regular bank debit cards here in Canada. I almost never use my debit card outside of the actual bank branch, and definitely never at high risk locations like convenience stores, gas stations, ATMs, etc. Always credit.

autoexec 4y ago

For most of us the best pen is the one that is functional and within reach when we need it. Everything else is just for fun or for show. It's nice to know what artists and people who regularly spend hours writing things out by hand think about specific brands/models, but I can't justify the expense of getting anything too fancy when I can go many many months without even touching a pen or a pencil and none of them are so advanced that they can make up for my bad handwriting.

ghaff 4y ago
And honestly some of the expensive pens don't write that well. I was given a Waterman pen and its ink cartridge was crap until I replaced it with a compatible cartridge from a cheap gel pen. And it still pretty much sits in a pen holder on my desk because the gel pens I like are lighter and cheap. I mostly go with the Uniball Signos at this point. Though based on the article I should probably investigate more of the variants.

syntheweave 4y ago

My past year involved a lot of pen collecting, and these have been the biggest hits for me: 1. Pentel Kerry. There are slightly more convenient mechanical pencils around for writing, with an autoadvance clicker and rotation. But the Kerry has a cap that posts nicely, and is made to last forever, so now I have three in different colors. Pair with a lead of your preference(I like Nanodia 4H because the harder lead won't smudge and erases well). I will also use regular wood pencils, because they're lighter, but mechanical is good for getting the same line every time. 2. Uni-Pin brush. This is a slightly softer style of felt tip than the Tombow Fudenosuke recommended in the article(which are also good and easy to learn with). It's excellent for learning brush techniques - more forgiving than real bristles but still springy and expressive, and it writes dry enough that most paper will withstand it. It also comes in various shades of grey/sepia. The values on those are pretty dark so they aren't really suitable for highlighting, but they can add some character to a brush drawing. 3. Tombow Mono Stick Eraser - among the plastic erasers, I looked up comparison videos and Tombow probably has the strongest formulation - it immediately grabs graphite and makes it really disappear. In some niche cases you don't actually want that and would rather have a Pink Pearl to fade something with gradually, but the Mono is excellent at cleaning up a page without much effort - and the stick form is good for precision. 3. Papermate Inkjoy Quattro. This is something I picked up because it was the only kind of multipen offered in Office Depot. And it's fine. The Inkjoy refills are decent, and when you want one pen for all your notetaking, a multi is the right thing to keep in your pocket. 4. Uni-ball Signo 207 Plus+. The Plus+ has a new formulation of ink that I find is one of the most consistent gel pens I have - it's smooth enough, handles well, flow is consistent, it doesn't get slippery. 5. Uni-ball One F. This is a much more scratchy and skippy pen than the 207+, but it has the benefit of being the darkest gel I have ever used, and capable of dialing in some super fine lines in the 0.38 version. That makes it a good drawing pen. The F(Feel) body is weighted at the tip which makes it a little less plasticy, but I also use the original One bodies still. All gel refills tend to flow better after having some rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer applied to their tip, so I recommend always doing that with these. 5. "Aen Arts" gel set - this is one of those whitelabel things you can find on Alibaba, but also shows up on Amazon under various seller names. For under $30 you get an array of Gelly Roll knockoffs. And they are pretty good! 6. Ohuhu water-based dual brush marker set. Like with the gel set, this appears to be a whitelabel of Tombow Dual Brush knockoffs. Again, cheap, pretty good for coloring and highlighting, though the tips definitely aren't all that durable. 7. Pilot Kakuno. Like the Metropolitan featured in the article, it's just a well made fountain at an intro price. The ink feed is a relatively difficult thing to QC, and Pilot is one of the best at just making it work out of the box. 8. Uni-ball Vision Needle. Of the different Uni rollers, this is the one I tend to pick up the most. The needle tip design gives extra visibility, and the refill is smooth enough, though if you want to try one that is buttery smooth and gushes ink, get a Schneider One Business. Also worth a mention here is the Uni-Ball Air, which makes more expressive, inky lines. The downside of going for smooth rollers is that you can lose control more easily.

officialchicken 4y ago

How do you realistically compare a fountain pen, and never mention or compare the ink? That makes an enormous difference - as much as the body and nib itself. Some inks feel very wet and runny while others feel kinda like paste.

treypitt 4y ago

I strongly recommend Parker pens, they're not as good for spinning/flipping as Pilot G2s, but they last longer and are higher quality overall

LeftHandPath 4y ago

I recently got a rhodia notebook to go with my Pelikan Souveran FP and recently acquired MB LeGrand rollerball. I've been using the RB more and more because it's just a lot easier to keep inked and ready to go (and the size is perfect for my hands). That said, it skips a lot - not sure if I got a bad refill or if that's just the way MB rollerballs are. Definitely invest in a good notebook if you get a nice pen. The pelikan is a pain to write with on regular paper.

zachruss92 4y ago

I love my pilot vanishing point pen. Had it for years and it is one of my all time favorite writing utensils. Glad to see it on the list.

shaftway 4y ago

I love these pens, but my hobby lately has been pen turning. Here's a pen just finished today: https://ibb.co/59bhKP7 https://ibb.co/59bhKP7 I'd love a source of reviews like this for the refills. This pen takes a Parker style refill (Cross is another common refill style), and the ones that come with the kit doesn't last long anyway. So a nice source of reviews for the inserts would be really valuable.

themaninthedark 4y ago

This is a very dangerous thing for me to see... I really like the Mitsubishi Uni-ball Protech pen UB-155. I can't find them here in the states. If anyone knows where to get them, please let me know! Here is a blog post about them: https://penvibe.com/uni-ball-ub-155-micro-deluxe-review/ https://penvibe.com/uni-ball-ub-155-micro-deluxe-review/

motohagiography 4y ago

Pens, pah. Wait until you hold a stainless or matte metal retro1951 tornado pencil, then use it on a pad of graph paper from Edward Tufte, or the reporter notebook (flip) or music art notebook with staff lines from Moleskine. I have pens and pads that were gifts from luxury companies like Montblanc, and Hermés but nothing quite compares to those pencils and pads above.

derbOac 4y ago
I know you were mentioning pencils, but Retro1951 pens are my favorite pens. They're ergonomic and I love the refills, and they'll accept other refills in a pinch.

notatoad 4y ago

this isn't the first time i've seen this article (or the version from another year i guess) and it always brings me a lot of joy to see a list of "the best" of something, clearly written by somebody who cares a lot about the subject and really believes that what they're writing is the truth. and the conclusion is that the best ones are the normal ones you can get in every store, you don't need to custom order weird stuff from japan. you don't need to hack together something out of the parts of two different things. the best rollerball pen is the one i've got a dozen of in my cupboard, and i can buy more of at the office supply store down the street.

eternityforest 4y ago

They forgot the best of all(for general use, fountain pens are still fun): The uni-ball powertank. It's a pressurized pen for less than $2 in the ten packs!! It's not the most luxurious feeling to write with, but that doesn't matter when you just need a few quick sentences and checkboxes now and again. Pressurized pens are ideal for the modern use case of occasionally filling out something, usually in a hurry, with a pen you haven't touched in a week.

DennisP 4y ago

I had no idea that some pens are way better than normal ballpoints for writing checks. They have another whole article on the best pens for that: https://www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-Pens-for-Writing-Checks/pt/206 https://www.jetpens.com/blog/The-Best-Pens-for-Writing-Check...

sergiomattei 4y ago

Just this week I bought some J. Herbin Perle Noire ink for my Muji Fountain Pen. I loved the shopping experience on JetPens and the reviews were comprehensive. As for the Muji, loving this thing. It's so great for math, it's saving my linear algebra grade.

chang1 4y ago
I bought the Muji fountain pen a few years ago and it's an amazing pen, especially for only $17! I've been looking for a new ink to try, I'll give J. Herbin Perle Noire a shot. Which converter do you use?
- sergiomattei 4y ago
  I didn’t use converters this time around. I’m moving to Seattle in a couple of weeks, so I can’t buy ink glasses yet. For now I just purchased the ink in prefilled international cartridges, which they sell in packs of six. :) Chose Perle Noire because it’s widely regarded as a really deep black ink, which is something I like in my daily use ink. It’s also a good balance between quick drying and good waterproofing. As for the converter, I’ve heard that the FP accepts any international converter as well. Make sure to check the subreddit though for compatibility reviews! EDIT: Link https://www.jetpens.com/J.-Herbin-Perle-Noire-Ink-Pearl-Black-6-Cartridges/pd/7850 https://www.jetpens.com/J.-Herbin-Perle-Noire-Ink-Pearl-Blac...

ssharp 4y ago

Unoriginal sales trainer: Sell me this pen Jetpens: Sure! Here’s 10,000 words on why it’s the best pen

mNovak 4y ago

Wow, I'm shocked at the level of depth in this site. I thought for sure something like "best pens for your lab notebook" would be SEO drivel, but they actually test against things like alcohol and acetone, and consider writing on vials and containers and such.

layer8 4y ago
20 years ago the internet was brimming with such sites, on all possible topics.
viewsmyown 3y ago
Hi, writer of the Best Pens for the Lab blog here in an unofficial capacity—I made an account to respond to this comment! For the record, it's a real joy to get to put information online that's actually in the realm of thoughtful and helpful. The Best XYZ title format is a SEO choice, though, totally correct there ;)

rr808 4y ago

> The TWSBI ECO offers phenomenal value in the under $50 bracket. Most piston-filling fountain pens cost north of $100, Does anyone know why fountain pens are just so expensive? I figure its a low volume niche but a piston filling pen really I'd think would cost a few cents to make. You can get good smartphones for $50.

ashtonbaker 4y ago
I guess they’re more popular in China - you can get good quality Chinese fountain pens online for a lot less than these brands.
- disqard 4y ago
  I'll add my $0.02 here -- I exclusively bought these Chinese fountain pens for a while, before I upgraded to some better ones (like TWSBI Eco). My experience was that these ultra-cheap Chinese pens are fun to play with, but extremely unreliable. The number-one issue was that they'd dry up after a day without use, which renders them annoying as writing tools (but they're still fun to look at and play with!)
  - ashtonbaker 4y ago
    Yeah I don’t think it’s worth the money, the extra QC is worth a lot to me.

kodah 4y ago

I'm pretty surprised the Pilot G-2 .38 is not on there. I buy them in bulk because I enjoy writing with them so much.

noufalibrahim 4y ago

I use a noodles Ahab for my daily work. It's got a flexible nib so i can do artistic stuff from time to time. I searched for the brand and the first hit on ddg was jetpens. Never knew of the site till now

uptownfunk 4y ago

Pilot hi tec c forever!!

dallas 4y ago

Both EDC pens need two hands to get going!

jmspring 4y ago

Jetpens is a nice site. My impulse purchase fountain pens were one off jetpens, one directly from a vendor in Europe and the third I can’t recall where. I need to keep myself from browsing too much for fear of parting with $$$ I purchased my daily writer, a Lamy, was also from jetpens.

hbarka 4y ago

What a beautifully organized website. There’s a bit of 90s throwback to it. May I know how this is hosted? Is there a CMS behind it?

thordenmark 4y ago

jetpens is the best. Please go there first for your stationary and writing needs. Amazon gets enough of our money.

gnicholas 4y ago

Fun fact! > It’s important to keep in mind that Pilot FriXion ink will “erase” with any heat, so we don’t recommend storing your notebooks on top of a radiator or in cars during the summer. Additionally, don’t use FriXion ink to take tests or write on important documents. If your writing disappears inadvertently, you may be able to get it to reappear by placing the paper in a freezer that reaches below 14°F, or -10°C.

anshumankmr 4y ago

My personal favourites are:Pilot V5 Roller Ball Pen ( https://www.amazon.in/Pilot-Roller-Ball-Pack-Black/dp/B08JVFP66K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3538GQ4U1EN05&keywords=v5+pilot&qid=1681276236&sprefix=v5pilot%2Caps%2C246&sr=8-1 https://www.amazon.in/Pilot-Roller-Ball-Pack-Black/dp/B08JVF... ) and this one: https://www.amazon.in/Reynolds-045-Lightweight-Comfortable-Stationery/dp/B0BX5Y2PY9/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=7N8PQ27ZJW1L&keywords=reynolds+ballpoint&qid=1681276288&sprefix=reynolds+ballpoint%2Caps%2C220&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1 https://www.amazon.in/Reynolds-045-Lightweight-Comfortable-S... I have been using these for years now and they are the most comfortable for me to write with.

crossroadsguy 4y ago
Oh I still write with a Pilot Hi-Techpoint 05 (not the V5 really; but very similar) almost everyday https://www.amazon.in/dp/B00LOD6BKU/ https://www.amazon.in/dp/B00LOD6BKU/. I have many other pens that I keep buying losing/using/forgetting/discarding but they have been constant. And god Reynolds 045 were the "professional pen" for students when we meant business - that means even writing in the exams or board exams. I still have it one or two in my house. There was one from from Mitsubishi. I can't find a link for that. All the fancy fountain pens keep coming and going (or staying in some pen cases) in my life these were the best.

lannisterstark 4y ago

I'm sad that Goulet Pen Company isn't getting any love here. They've been absolutely fantastic and are a darling of /r/fountainpens over at reddit. https://www.gouletpens.com/ https://www.gouletpens.com/

ahonhn 4y ago
And if you're after old & classic pens (including New Old Stock), Peyton Street Pens is an awesome source https://www.peytonstreetpens.com/ https://www.peytonstreetpens.com/

jakkos 4y ago

Bookmark

drumhead 4y ago

I've got a few of the fountain pens mentioned. Without a doubt the best is the TWSBI eco. It feels nice in your hand writes so smoothly. I can see why it's so highly rated.

BLKNSLVR 4y ago

The best pens are found at Pen Island. http://penisland.net http://penisland.net

eimrine 4y ago
I used to laugh at this website maybe 15 years ago and I am surprised it still exists. Their logo makes everyone think exactly about pens.

jll29 4y ago

After trying a few hundred types years ago, I have been using Pilot's V ball pen black 0.5 / 0.7, which is close to perfect, except I never looked into refill options to reduce plastic waste (I suspect this one cannot be refilled). Pilot no longer seems to offer the original model, which I insist on, but I was able to acquire large quantities from several Amazon stores. Any B5 notebook with squares, blank pages or dots will do (Leuchtturm ones are nice), as long as the pages are numbered. I have laptops and paper notebooks everywhere, so I do not use one linearly until it is filled, but hop between them. Each entry is dated, though, so this does not cause a problem.

crossroadsguy 4y ago

I am kind of glad that there is no equivalent fountain pen seller portal in India otherwise I would have been spending too much on fountain pens that I would have never used anyway.

johnwalkr 4y ago

Interesting. I spent about a year trying different cheap notebooks and pens in Japan and what I ended up choosing as my favorite was Midori MD notebooks and uni-ball Signo pens. Both are highly rated on this site. The notebooks are 2.5x the price as amazon.co.jp though. I've yet to find a good source for these in Europe.

hoseja 4y ago

... what do yall scribe so much?

TomMasz 4y ago

The Pilot Manhattan fountain pen in medium nib is the best fountain pen I've ever used. Combined with a Maruman Mnemosyne notebook (also from Jet Pens) it's perfect for journaling.