Pilot V Pen Disposable Fountain Pen - Black, Box of 12

Product Information

The medium nib included with the Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen is stainless steel. It has a reputation for laying down lines that are slightly thinner than other medium-sized nibs, but in the eyes of many, this is an advantage. It leads to crisp letters, whether you’re writing in cursive or print. It’s worth noting that the nib is technically not interchangeable and Pilot doesn’t sell the nibs separately, but many people have replaced it with a nib from another Pilot Metropolitan pen. Protecting the nib of a fountain pen is important since it’s essential for smooth writing action. While most fountain pens have a cap for protection, a retractable fountain pen—like this option from the Pilot Vanishing Point Collection—houses the nib inside the barrel of the pen when not in use. This makes the pen more portable and even airplane-safe. The V-PEN is ideal for left-handers too, with its rounded nib, so there really has never been a better time to rediscover the fine art of writing with a fountain pen! Available in a variety of fashionable and distinctive colours. These pens tend to write with a very wet line. On some paper the Varsity will feather just a little bit, but on most paper you’ll just get a nice line of ink. Of all the pens in this roundup, I think the Varsity has the most saturated ink (at least the two blues that I tested). You must use a specific category of liquid inks designed for fountain pens. Chris cautions that dip pen or India inks shouldn't be used in fountain pens. “They dry up and turn into a glue and will ruin a fountain pen.”

Disposable Fountain Pen - Etsy UK

Splurging on a luxury fountain pen is usually about the artisanship that goes into making the pen, says Chris. That’s what has made premier fountain pen brands like Montblanc and Cross worth the splurge. But for durability, Chris recommends a metal barrel and steel nib—both of which are common. Unlike most other disposable fountain pens, the Vpen nib has real tipping, making for a smooth, rounded writing point, and a much more enjoyable writing experience. The rounded shape of the tip makes the Vpen more forgiving of angle, so it's great for left-handed people, and those new to fountain pens, but also a great casual-use pen for people who love fountain pens. Experienced fountain pen users who want to invest in their writing will love the sleek and high-quality design of the Souverän M605 by Pelikan. It features a rhodium-plated 14-carat gold nib as well as a palladium clip and decorative rings. The decorative presentation box makes this writing instrument a wonderful gift for a fountain pen-lover. I did have a problem with one pink one – it would not write consistently. I solved the problem by storing it nib-down for two days.

Luxury Fountain Pens

The fountain pen is a stylish writing implement found on business desks or in personal journals. Unlike your standard ballpoint pen, it requires more finesse to use and refill, but it produces a polished look for signatures, formal correspondence, or sending elegant invitations. It’s also popular for use in journaling or art. A pre-filled fountain pen is a simple and convenient way to explore this type of writing instrument. Many students start with this type of disposable fountain pen, rather than starting with the challenge of learning to appropriately fill the pen with ink. One of the most popular options for students is the Pilot Varsity Fountain Pen. The classic and popular Pilot V4, or Vpen, is a disposable fountain pen with a quality steel nib in 0.58mm medium point. As for the feel of the pen, I think the Preppy feels like the highest quality pen of the bunch. It’s the largest pen, both in length and in grip size, so if you have larger hands you’ll probably find it the most comfortable.

Best Fountain Pens of 2023 - The Spruce The 11 Best Fountain Pens of 2023 - The Spruce

The Pilot Falcon is a more opulent version of the Pilot Metropolitan. While the design is similar, the Falcon features a heavier metal barrel and a 14-carat gold nib that enhances the flow of ink.A fountain pen with a medium nib is a versatile choice for journaling, signatures, drawing, or any other task where you want to put personality to paper. The Scriveiner Fountain Pen is a popular choice, thanks to its enameled brass body and medium nib gilded with 18K gold. The Pilot Kakuno Fountain Pen is often recommended for beginners but can be appreciated by anyone. This is a demonstrator fountain pen, meaning that it has a translucent body that allows you to see the filling system and monitor ink levels. Despite having a plastic body, most people find it to be well-balanced and well-made, with sufficient weight and a slightly tapered barrel for grip. There is no pen clip but the cap is faceted to prevent the pen from rolling off flat surfaces. Searching for the smoothest-writing fountain pen is a lifelong journey for some people. Chris Elfering, the founder of Lochby, a store that supplies journals and accessories specifically for fountain pens, says that the features most important to people shopping for fountain pens are the writing experience and materials. “For [the] writing experience, it's usually about how smooth the nib is and how heavy or balanced the pen is," he says. In regards to materials, he adds that certain items command a higher price—“for example, gold nibs over steel and arco celluloid bodies over acrylic.” Finally, I wouldn’t recommend the Thornton’s Novice. While they aren’t bad pens, there is the illusion of value with the number of pens you get for the price. Unfortunately, they just don’t hold up when compared to a set of Varsity, Preppy or even Petit1 pens. They’re not bad pens, by any means, but the Novice are truly the only disposable pens of the bunch, as they are impossible to easily refill.

Pilot V Pen Disposable Fountain Pen - Black, Box of 12

I have a long history with these pens. In 2010 I filled a bunch of these “disposable” pens up with ink for an ink testing station at an event at the Smithsonian Air and Postal Museum. Much to my surprise, 7 years and 2 moves later and I still have a few that have not evaporated and write just fine! With that being said, I don’t think you’ll experience any drying out or leaks with a Varsity. One other benefit is that you can refill a Pilot Varsity. By gripping the nib and pulling it out of the barrel (you’ll want to use something to grip it without damaging it), you’ll be able to fill the pen with ink like you would an eyedropper. Now you can use any color of ink you want!

Snopake Platignum Black Fountain Pens (Pack of 12)

NOTE: does NOT work with Platinum Preppy or Plaisir fountain pens. While the converter will fit perfectly well inside the pens, ink is only drawn into the feed, not into the converter. Can be used with these pens if you fill the converter outside the pen, then fit it pre-filled. Works normally with other Platinum pens.” The material of the fountain pen barrel and its nib will have a big impact on the feel and functionality of the pen. In fact, Chris says that the nib “has the most impact over writing performance.” He explains that the finish will determine how smooth it writes, noting that “gold nibs are softer and bouncier compared to steel nibs.” A fountain pen with a gold nib is often considered one of the smoothest writing fountain pens, but it should be noted that a stainless steel nib is very long-lasting when compared to the softer metal of gold, which can bend or wear more easily. The Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, our top overall choice, has a stainless steel nib that is widely known for being reliable in ink output and durability. Since nibs are usually interchangeable, it’s not necessary to choose a fountain pen solely because of the nib. While it’s hard to select one material as the best for fountain pens, Chris does point out that specialty pen materials and finishes, like a lacquered body, wil fetch higher prices. “Lacquered pens are among the most expensive. They're hand painted and require many layers to produce.” Other features that will add to the price of a fountain pen are gold or platinum plating, often seen on the body or cap of the pen. The Lamy Safari Pen is a long-lasting and reliable writing utensil. Its functional design makes this pen easier to hold than many standard fountain pens, so you can start creating straight away.