Ooh. If you want to talk amazing pens, and the art of getting something fantastic for the least possible spend. I went all in on this a while ago. Notable shout outs to Lamy, Kaweco and Pilot.
Y’know, I actually kept hearing good things about Lamy, but I fell face-forward for Parker designs every time. I have… ahem, a couple of Rollers and fountain pens. The fountain pens are, honestly, not the absolute best, kinda’ scratchy, but that may be my style - I like thin’n’heavy. The Rollers, though, are aces. Love sketching with them. The refills are pretty spicy, but they do last a good chunk of time, so there’s that.
I will most certainly start keeping a closer eye on Lamy things, I’m unfortunately still required to keep the “mainline fountain pen” position open for now… Thank you very much for the recs!
But as far as pencils and ballpoints go, Rotring all the way. Or Stabilo (which I now mainline because it’s a bit heavier).
I’ll have a think about thin’n’heavy. Pilot make a thin version of their clicky ‘capless’ fountain pen (think it’s called decimo) that has a platinum nib. It’s one of my more expensive ones but it’s bloody amazing to write with.
Mmmm, that actually sounds interesting, I’m looking it up! Thank you!
I’ve also had a Rotring fountain pen, but it felt very dry when writing, not in terms of the flow, strictly mechanically, dunno why. My guess was the ink, but I couldn’t find better… Other than that, also tried a super-slim Cross, but that one overflows like a calligraphy pen, feels more like painting with ink. It’s not bad, because it’s obvious that the flow is very precise and intentional, it’s just really not my speed. If I could write with a blackened needle point, I would!=)))
Edit: Jeeeeesus, that’s a tiny nib! Maybe I will get that needle after all!=)))
It is a small nib but it’s flexible and writes generously. Also it looks smaller because it’s recessed into the body, very much like a Lamy 2000 nib. Wouldn’t recommend the 2000 though as a) they’re quite pricey and b) quite broad in the hand.
Joyfully cheaper options are things like the platinum preppy and kawecos. I have a kaweco sport with a gold nib which I think was about £40 and it writes like a dream.
Hope this is helping with everybody’s existential dread btw.
Damn, I did not know about the recessed thing, it’s very sexy! As for “broad in the hand,” that doesn’t much bother me, as mine are pretty square and large, what matters most is for it to have some weight to it. If it’s too floaty, I start skidding around, which is why I bought all-metal ones so far - recently bought a Parker IM Royal Roller, and it feels like I could kill someone with it and still be able to leave a note afterwards, so I love it!:)))
The 2000 is made of fibreglass, so that put me off buying it even before I saw the price tag, which sheesh!
Aww, the Platinum Preppy reminds me of high school, it’s a cute system! The Kawekos, too in a way! Hmm, and it would not hurt my wallet as much as an experiment:-? Thank you!
Well, writing has traditionally been the de facto environment for expressing the inner screaming (other than Screamo), so I’d say we’re right on theme!
I’d say it’s a yes from the perspective of two different styles!
For the looser grip, farther away from the tip, the materials are super-soft and grippy, the plastic in the tip is some sort of either nylon or acrylic (from what I can tell), so it picks up body heat fast, it’s comfy.
If you claw it closer to the tip, that ridge really helps with positioning and grip stability, the metal tip feels solid, it’s slippery enough to allow for a lot of micro-adjustments without it feeling like it’s fighting against your finger movements, and the pen itself is pretty well balanced as a whole.
This one is still my all-time favourite in terms of grip comfort, though. I’ve had it for over a decade now, the weathering’s legit, but I sanded off its pocket clip as it was clashing with the shape to my eyes.
Well, another one to the wishlist! I started digging yesterday, did a deep dive into Pilot’s offerings and that all-metal Capless is a sexy bit of kit! And Lamy’s stuff does, indeed, look way more serious than I thought, may have been biased by seeing their consumer grade stuff all over the place so far.
Oh, that sounds perfect! I tend to write in chunks consisting of several hours of hyperfixation, and I usually have to pop the refill’s emergency ration by the end of the second - and they’re those double-long refills, too!
Ooh. If you want to talk amazing pens, and the art of getting something fantastic for the least possible spend. I went all in on this a while ago. Notable shout outs to Lamy, Kaweco and Pilot.
Y’know, I actually kept hearing good things about Lamy, but I fell face-forward for Parker designs every time. I have… ahem, a couple of Rollers and fountain pens. The fountain pens are, honestly, not the absolute best, kinda’ scratchy, but that may be my style - I like thin’n’heavy. The Rollers, though, are aces. Love sketching with them. The refills are pretty spicy, but they do last a good chunk of time, so there’s that.
I will most certainly start keeping a closer eye on Lamy things, I’m unfortunately still required to keep the “mainline fountain pen” position open for now… Thank you very much for the recs!
But as far as pencils and ballpoints go, Rotring all the way. Or Stabilo (which I now mainline because it’s a bit heavier).
Rotring is amazing, agree.
I’ll have a think about thin’n’heavy. Pilot make a thin version of their clicky ‘capless’ fountain pen (think it’s called decimo) that has a platinum nib. It’s one of my more expensive ones but it’s bloody amazing to write with.
Mmmm, that actually sounds interesting, I’m looking it up! Thank you!
I’ve also had a Rotring fountain pen, but it felt very dry when writing, not in terms of the flow, strictly mechanically, dunno why. My guess was the ink, but I couldn’t find better… Other than that, also tried a super-slim Cross, but that one overflows like a calligraphy pen, feels more like painting with ink. It’s not bad, because it’s obvious that the flow is very precise and intentional, it’s just really not my speed. If I could write with a blackened needle point, I would!=)))
Edit: Jeeeeesus, that’s a tiny nib! Maybe I will get that needle after all!=)))
It is a small nib but it’s flexible and writes generously. Also it looks smaller because it’s recessed into the body, very much like a Lamy 2000 nib. Wouldn’t recommend the 2000 though as a) they’re quite pricey and b) quite broad in the hand.
Joyfully cheaper options are things like the platinum preppy and kawecos. I have a kaweco sport with a gold nib which I think was about £40 and it writes like a dream.
Hope this is helping with everybody’s existential dread btw.
Damn, I did not know about the recessed thing, it’s very sexy! As for “broad in the hand,” that doesn’t much bother me, as mine are pretty square and large, what matters most is for it to have some weight to it. If it’s too floaty, I start skidding around, which is why I bought all-metal ones so far - recently bought a Parker IM Royal Roller, and it feels like I could kill someone with it and still be able to leave a note afterwards, so I love it!:)))
The 2000 is made of fibreglass, so that put me off buying it even before I saw the price tag, which sheesh!
Aww, the Platinum Preppy reminds me of high school, it’s a cute system! The Kawekos, too in a way! Hmm, and it would not hurt my wallet as much as an experiment:-? Thank you!
Well, writing has traditionally been the de facto environment for expressing the inner screaming (other than Screamo), so I’d say we’re right on theme!
That Parker looks nice. Is the grip as comfy as it looks?
You want hefty in hand then can recommend this baby:
It’s the stainless steel version of the 2000. Not cheap though. The Kawecos are a gateway drug. I’m some years in to my addictions.
It’s a piston filler so bloody loads of ink to journal the demise of civilisation.
I’d say it’s a yes from the perspective of two different styles!
For the looser grip, farther away from the tip, the materials are super-soft and grippy, the plastic in the tip is some sort of either nylon or acrylic (from what I can tell), so it picks up body heat fast, it’s comfy.
If you claw it closer to the tip, that ridge really helps with positioning and grip stability, the metal tip feels solid, it’s slippery enough to allow for a lot of micro-adjustments without it feeling like it’s fighting against your finger movements, and the pen itself is pretty well balanced as a whole.
This one is still my all-time favourite in terms of grip comfort, though. I’ve had it for over a decade now, the weathering’s legit, but I sanded off its pocket clip as it was clashing with the shape to my eyes.
Well, another one to the wishlist! I started digging yesterday, did a deep dive into Pilot’s offerings and that all-metal Capless is a sexy bit of kit! And Lamy’s stuff does, indeed, look way more serious than I thought, may have been biased by seeing their consumer grade stuff all over the place so far.
Oh, that sounds perfect! I tend to write in chunks consisting of several hours of hyperfixation, and I usually have to pop the refill’s emergency ration by the end of the second - and they’re those double-long refills, too!