7 Fountain Pens Under $45 That You HAVE to See!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ส.ค. 2024
- Drew shares his TOP 7 favorite fountain pens under $45 in this video, and puts some very popular pens head-to-head which ends up with a few hot takes!
Listen to The Goulet Pencast here: gouletpencast.fireside.fm/
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LINKS TO PRODUCTS FEATURED:
Kaweco Sport: www.gouletpens.com/products/k...
Kaweco Perkeo: www.gouletpens.com/products/k...
TWSBI SWIPE: www.gouletpens.com/products/t...
Platinum Preppy:www.gouletpens.com/products/p...
LAMY AL-Star:www.gouletpens.com/products/l...
LAMY Safari: www.gouletpens.com/products/l...
Pilot Kakuno:www.gouletpens.com/products/p...
Platinum Plaisir: www.gouletpens.com/products/p...
Pilot Metropolitan: www.gouletpens.com/products/p...
Pilot Explorer: www.gouletpens.com/products/p...
TWSBI ECO: www.gouletpens.com/products/t...
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
00:20 Kaweco Sport vs Perkeo
01:25 TWSBI SWIPE
02:25 Platinum Preppy vs Plaisir
03:02 LAMY AL-Star vs Safari
04:01 Pilot Kakuno
04:40 Pilot Explorer vs Metro
05:25 TWSBI Eco
06:23 Request for debate
ABOUT GOULET PENS:
Brian & Rachel Goulet started The Goulet Pen Company in 2009 and you can see the evolution of our mom and pop into a full-blown company through this channel. We run a dedicated online store with fountain pens, ink, paper, and other fine writing accessories. Our goal with this channel is to provide fountain pen fans at all levels of experience with comprehensive product reviews, round ups, and how-to videos to answer all the fountain pen questions you may have. Shop at www.gouletpens.com.
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"All these pens cost less than a trip to Target to look around." Why you gotta call me out like that Drew?!? Geez!
Me too, Nick! I know how it be. - Drew
The Twsbi Eco is such a killer pen. Knowing all that I know how, if I had to start from scratch the Eco would hands down be my first pen.
Same.
Agreed, I ALWAYS gift beginners a Twisbi Eco
totally was my first pen. kept me in the game!
It was my first. Now I have almost every kind of twsbi. Easily my favorite edc pens.
Though I am a metropolitan guy, I have a wandering eye for the TWSBI Eco
100% agreed Drew. Drew needs a Late Night Show.
And he has such a nice voice! He should narrate films or t.v shows or do voice overs.
@icecream808it with my eyes closed the first character that came to mind was the fox from zootopia lol.
I think it’s terrific that you mention pens from the previous list that can compete with these more expensive options. I suggest when you’re done with each category, you make a video listing the repeating “stars” up from one section to the next. Those will be your ultimate top picks for each price range.
The video editing and zooming in on this video is so great, so much fun! I'm loving these videos from Drew.
Thanks, Hannah! - Drew
Drew's genuine enthusiasm is infectious.
@@McAmeron089III Brian is the head, and Drew is the heart of Goulet Pens.
My absolute favourite Pilot is the 78g EF from the Italian collection: for £15 you get that lovely, consistent EF nib; you get silver trim, you get the wonderful con40(know others hate this convertor but it holds loads of ink if you’re writing w EF nib) and love the blue/grey and olive green barrels - Kaweco & TWSBI make great pens but they write too broad for those of us w small handwriting:)
Drew…..you have to be one of the best..if not THE BEST presenter on any channel. You’re entertaining and informative. Clearly, you have a background in drama, right?
The TWSBI swipe spring converter is also great for flushing the pen after use insuring a clean pen for your next ink!
genius. thank you.
Good tip, but I removed the spring and put it somewhere in a box - in Europe they sell Swipe only with spring converter and I do not like it.
Great part about these, for the newbies, is that no one need spend more money than this to get a great long-term friend and writing experience. I still have $1 Sheaffer fp's from the sixties that are still working like when I wrote with them in grade school back then. I prefer the Lamy Safari plastic to the metal version, and we are all blessed with our choices in TWSBI with those superb Jowo nibs.
I also have a Sheaffer fountain pen from the late 1960s. I thought I was living large as back then it cost $1.00 and a a BIC Crystal ballpoint was 17 cents. Amazingly you can still buy Sheaffer cartridges that will fit the old pens!
@@stevekail4543 On EBay right now there's a seller offering a dozen Sheaffer school-level cartridge pens new, in various colors, for $58 for the dozen. We were spoiled back then by those transparent colored bodies that showed the ink level long, long before the current craze for 'demonstrator' pens. I have felt for decades that the original 'Skrip' cartridge design was the best: could be inserted with either end, held a generous amount and was so transparent. I have around a dozen or so old 'Skrip' cartridges that I've flushed out clear and when I use one of my 20 or so different cartridge Sheaffer fp's, I'll use those cartridges filled with bottled ink rather than the ink sac converter. I remember when I was in junior high in the late sixties that one of my teachers kept a quart bottle of 'Skrip' washable blue in her closet along with a syringe and needle. For a penny, a student running out of ink could use that to refill their Sheaffer. Can you imagine any teacher now trusting a syringe/needle set to middle school kids? Times have indeed changed...and when BIC Crystals came out we were still required to use fp's in my Texas district.
Love the Preppy, I've always had one in my arsenal and the nib is surprisingly one of my favourites to use.
Well, Drew nailed two of my favorites. I have 3 Twsbi Exo pens, and 3 Platinum Preppy pens. I was astonished with how smooth the Preppy fountain pens write, and there is always one inked in my daily use rotation.
Can you do a list of all pens that have air tight caps?
Thanks, Drew. I’m a journalist, and my TWSBI ECO (RG, bold nib) is my daily-use pen. I can’t praise this pen enough.
I got my Kaweco Sport and Perkeo at the same time and I love them both! The Perkeo in Jungle Green is a perfect (like truly perfect) color match for my sage leuchtturm notebook, which makes it extra fun to use. My personal favourite twsbi is the GO, it's so fast to clean compared to my other pens, and really comfortable to write with.
Just got a broad nib GO but haven't inked it yet. It does feel comfy in-hand. I enjoy the Perkeo stub nibs very much!
Amazing, you named so many pens that I own. The EF nibs I purchased for sketching with pen and ink and watercolor. I use different pens for different inks so it's great having so many to choose from. Great video.
Thanks, Roger! - Drew
Love that Goulet Pen videos are always fun and informative! Thank you for all the time and effort put into each one!
Yes, Drew is so entertaining and informative at the same time : )
@@amandajstar You all are! Just love your channel and your shop!!
Agreed. It's easily my favorite youtube channel.
@@amandajstar And his memory and recall are amazing!
I’ve tried all except the Lamy. I use my Ecos and Kakunos most. My preppy (F) has been filled with carbon black for art for over a year and it writes perfectly no matter how long it’s been. The Eco is the most comfortable for me. And I swear that the Twsbi re-cap sound is addictive!
I love my matte black pilot explorer, just recently bought the converter to replace the ink bladder it came with
Lamy AL-Star > Lami Safari, both as regular writers and as my art pens. I love them both, but I like the extra weight of the AL-Star. Another favorite is the EF Kaküno to replace my disposable 3mm fineliners in my art kit. I also use Noodler's Ahab and my Fude Duke pens for more dynamic sketches. I'm awaiting a special Jinhao X750 fitted with a G Zebra Flex Nib to round out my art collection.
I've taken more to expanding my collection in the way of art pens. I only recently purchased the TWSBI Eco with the Stub 1.1 nib as a regular writer and I'm IN LOVE. I'm already use to piston upkeep from owning my piston Noodler's so, as a result, I might give some shimmer inks a try for the first time ever. I haven't been this stoked to write in a long time! I might get another Eco or possibly the Swipe in the same Stub nib just to have on deck for another color, but we shall see what time tells.
They're both great! I just think the AL-Star looks soooooo good! - Drew
I can confirm to good sealing of the TWSBI eco. According to my ink diary, I have Rohrer & Klinger Emerald Green sitting there for 18 months now, just uncapped it and it started writing fluently after the first line.
Love this kind of lists and Drew's shirt is always the highlight!
I bought my first Preppy about 10 years ago, I liked it well enough, but didn't feel the need to get into the hobby. I kept the ink in my preppy for two to three years and it never dried out. Then about two years ago, I decided to dive into the fountain pen world and got myself some Kakuno's in various nib sizes. They all wrote perfectly out of the box. I decided to move onto a Lamy Safari. My Lamy fine nib was very disappointing. It was scratchy, and had a ink flow issue. This scared me off buying pens for ten months. The bad Lamy quality control almost ruined my taste for fountain pens. Fortunately, I got myself a TWSBI Eco recently and absolutely loved it. Now I have more than sixteen pens in my growing collection.
Thanks so much for watching! - Drew
I would have included the Jinhao X 750 with these pens, little beats them at any price point
So glad that you showed some love to the ECO. I have a fairly broad variety of pens and nibs in my collection, and by far, the smoothest writing experience is my green ECO with a medium nib. That ECO must be a weird unicorn--the writing experience is so smooth that going to a high feedback pen freaks me out a little until I reacclimate! Even my broad ECO and my VAC 700R with a Kirk Speer grind cannot come close to the green ECO in terms of smoothness. ALSO (sorry for the long comment, but, well, opinions) I have traveled extensively on airplanes with my TWSBI fully inked. Both in checked bags and in the cabin. Never has any one of them leaked a drop. Sadly, not the case for some of my other show pony pens! Thanks, Drew. Keep being you!
I love my TWSBI ECO. I purposely bought the clear, because I was looking strictly for functionality. I plan on buying a few more, so I can several colors inked up and clearly visible.
Excellent list. Nicely presented.
I learned about some pens I've never heard of before! Awesome since they're at such low prices. I'll have to try a couple 😛
I like the color options of the Lamy Safari but like the weight of the Al star. As for Pilot metro vs Pilot explorer, I prefer the explorer! It always writes whereas my metro gives me hard starts. I really enjoy your videos and especially your enthusiasm!
I love the Diplomat Magnum and it's so underrated. Shoutout to the Kaweco Sport, didn't expect to like it as much as I did and now it's my workhorse. Saving up for the carbon fiber version.
Yeah, I was gifted a Sport, which I never considered buying - looked like a gimmick. Now it has its own tin, a bronze clip and has become my EDC! The tiny nib is superb and it is insanely reliable. Of course, I refill the cartridges, although I do own the tiny converter (unused).
I currently have a few of these selections in my own collection. The Pilot Kakuno was one of my first fountain pens and I still love it today after collecting for four years. That nib is just fun to see every time. 😋 As for the debate between the Lamy Safari vs Al-Star I have to agree with you. I have both and I prefer my Al-Star Turmaline over any of my Safari's. I feel like the weight is slightly better and the grip section to me seems more pronounced. The grip section of some of the Safaris I don't like the feel of as much. But these are just tiny details to me. Otherwise they're both great pens, easy to swap nibs being the best thing. Kaweco I find this the same, I prefer the compact nature of the Sport for everyday use. I've used both the Sport Classic in Black and the Lilliput in Brass, which is much higher on the price list. TWSBI's are just amazing pens. I ended up gifting some these pens and got them in the hobby because of it. Overall, this is a great list! Let's see what you have on the next list.
Hi Brian and Drew, i am a regular follower of your channel. Its just awesome. I have a question about Baystate Blue ink from Noodlers. Do u feel i can safely use this ink in my better/ premium fountain pen like Lamy 2000 or Pilot Falcon?
Well, if you're going to mention the Eco's cap, then I'm going to mention the Preppy/Plaisir cap with its slip-n-seal mechanism. My two Plaisirs both have waterproof/permanent inks in them, and they NEVER dry out. I prefer the Plaisir to the Preppy because its body is more durable, it has a great cap, and a new nib only costs you a Preppy. But they're both great pens if you find the right ink to put in them.
I agree that they never dry out, UNTIL the plastic cap on the Preppy cracks, as it did on 3 out of the 6 Preppies that I have. That is why I bought my Plaisirs. Very frustrated with the plastic caps.
the kaweco sport posted is the perfect size for my hand, so that makes it instantly more portable than all other pens i own since i can’t use those pens comfortably when they’re posted. might be interesting to explore small pens in a future video/on the podcast?
I'd like to see a small pens video, too.
I really appreciate these videos, because it's hard to control the urge to increase my pen collection, so I can at least economize on the price while still getting quality for my buck.
I was a Safari user but after using the AL-Star, the Safari just became too light for me to use. I gotta say the experiences between the two are really similar and I really like the matte look of the Safari more. But I do grab my AL-Star daily instead somehow...
Team AL-Star! - Drew
I prefer the AL-Star too but like the color options for the Safari.
Great entertainment as always! Love those facial expressions, Drew. And a solid list as well.Very good point on the ink capacity of the ECO. Pair it with an extra fine nib and you have a pen that truly *sips* ink. I've been trying to write one dry and I just. Can't. Get. There. I'll write a couple of pages and it looks like it used no ink at all. Am I complaining? Maybe a little bit, because I also don't want to throw out the rest of the ink, or put it back into a vial that I then have to label. So I'm stuck. :D
I had only seen pictures of the safari, and I thought it was metal, so now I'm glad I watched this, thanks!
I have several of these pens, haha! My only gripe with the Sport is it is so light. It's the only pen I post the cap on and it's still uncomfortably light for more than jotting notes. I recently upgraded to the brass Sport and I could not be happier. Love the Swipe and the Safari, too!
The weight is another issue I have with that plastic body. I have Barbie sized hands yet for some reason I prefer heavy pens.
100% in agreement! I LOVE the array of colors offered in the Sport (especially the dark olive with the gold clip 😍), but it's too light.. I prefer the weight and feel of the Al-Sport over the plastic bodied pens. Just wish that they weren't so expensive.
Hahaha you had me there with the tool pen. Phew!
Hahahaaaaa! - Drew
I like both the Safari and the AL-Star. Both great pens. I would say that I preferred the Metropolitan to the Explorer, but I do not like their fancy bands. I have several before that change and still like them, but for now I prefer the Explorer
I got a Lamy Al-Star in Turmaline. Though the drawback of the Al-Star, and it's one that every fountain pen user knows what I'm talking about, is that the pen is more prone to scratches than the Lamy Safari, which means the Al-Star needs more caring. And Drew, please don't haunt me or hunt me down. I'm just an innocent fountain pen addict. . . I mean user. . . who enjoys writing with my pens. Especially with the Lamy Al-Star. I also plan on getting the Lamy Safari in Strawberry.
True, but that body is why I picked up the Al-Star for my job. I wanted something that could take a bit of a beating. It's dented and scratched, but I love it anyway. ^^
@@LunarKnight22 At the time of writing this response, my Al-Star is intact, and I want to keep it that way. I've watched the Top 7 Fountain Pen Mistakes and I put my Al-Star in a free pocket free from anything that can scratch the pen. I also plan on getting a Lamy Safari in Strawberry.
Out of all my pens, I keep reaching for the Twisbi Swipe on a daily basis. The extra fine nib and variety of filling mechanisms make it a beast for the price.
I'd never heard of the Pilot Explorer before. I'll have to check it out.
I didn’t think I’d love my little Sport as much as I do but adding a clip sold it for me. It’s so cute and the color selection is full of options. That said, I’m a die hard Eco junkie and suspect the three I have will continue to gain new friends as Twsbi releases new colors.
Great selection and a wonderfully made Video :) - I own a few Preppy and Plaisir pens and tbh, I do not like the Plaisir. To me it does even seem more flimsy than the preppy - and the ridiculously cheap looking ring on the cap makes it beautiful from afar but hard to look at from close up. I also feel it doesn’t seal as well as the preppy but … which pen does? :D (it should have the same cap interface though) 🤷♀️
I'm new to the fountain pen scene and I'm loving my Twsbi Swipe. Such great value. I don't live in the US so I don't get the extra converter but it's still a steal for the price. I spy an Eco in my future.
I LOVE my TWSBI Eco and Eco-T pens! You really ought to try them. They're great!
My go-to pens are the Lamy Al-Star, Lamy Nexx and the Twsbi Swipe. All lightweight, smooth writers at an affordable price. Not a fan of the Pilot Metropolitan but the Pilot Explorer is great.
Love your picks Drew!
Well done Drew.. I pretty much agree.. but I've not yet had an Explorer.. so trusting you there!
Frank in Colorado
Kakuno w/ Con-70 is my vote! Really affordable, light, large capacity converter, surprisingly good nibs, super cute, especially the family series.
My favorite pen ever is a $150 Cdn Pilot Custom Heritage 92. So smooth and so fun to write with. Since I’ve found my “perfect pen” I don’t need anything more expensive than this. The Pilot Prera is my “go-to” cheaper pen alternative.
Excellent & very applicable information, thanks. I do have a question that y'all may help me choose the best pen for art/drawing... I am looking for a pen that has the flexibility of size/width of line(s) and has a good continual flow of ink. Thanks for any suggestions. Oh and where's the best place to purchase these pens.😎
The preppy is one of my favourites. eye dropped to use some old cartridges which had started to dry. "just add water"
I would put the Faber-Castell Loom on this list. One of the best nibs in the price range, especially the broad.
Great explanations as always.Drew. I am only familiar with the metropolitan and I love it. I have the 1.1 italic. wish there was such a thing as an italic or stub a bit finer though. wanting to get another pen but the ones I am in love with cost more than I have...so maybe down the road. Meanwhile, it looks like I am going for the TWISBi 550Al, diamond, white and rose gold. not sure of nib though, another stub I am tempted. Thought I was going the safari route at first but....listening to you guys over and over and over it appears I am being pointed in the TWISBI direction....just have to save a bit more first...Write On!!
Thanks, Linda! - Drew
I purchased the Kaweco CLASSIC Sport clutch pencil (3.2mm) and it split at the tip in less than a year. That's MUCH too expensive an investment for me to bother giving for the same plastic body pen. I did purchase an AL sport with a massive discount and it's def one of my faves. I'd love a brass one, but I'm not trying to spend that level of bank on one. It did prompt me to get a Lambitou 3062 and I LOVE IT 😍
I bought a Kaweco sport FP and clutch pencil when they released the 'Fox' orange colour. The tip of the pencil split in a matter of _days!_ To be fair, I did drop it; though I didn't think the fall was that bad and I was disappointed that it wasn't more sturdy. I watched the crack grow and just recently threw the pencil out. I kept the lead, though. Lovely soft lead. And it felt good in the hand. I have enough pencils anyway but if I crave the experience again I'd probably get a Worther Shorty at about half the price.
Honestly, I think the plastic Kaweco uses for the budget sport range just isn't up to the stresses put on it by that pencil clutch mechanism. It needs some metal collar at the very least, like almost every other clutch pencil I've seen. The FPs don't have that problem though. I still have my sport FP, still in excellent condition, and the biggest complaint I have is that the cap is maybe a tiny bit wobbly when it posts.
Drew, the TWSBI DOES NOT DISASSEMBLE AND REASSEMBLE EASILY (sorry for the all caps) I have a broken down TWISB that no matter how hard I try I cannot reassemble. Luckily the price points aren't prohibitive so replacement was possible. With all the rest of the choices I agree 100% By the way TWSBI doesn't allow evaporation; I inked a TWSBI Mini AL Blue with a dark blue Italian ink when I retired two years ago and its sat in my desk used only occasionally. Always ready to write and ink flows well.
The Pilot Explorer is a very light pen, which is great for long writing sessions. My only con, and it may just be my pen, the lid doesn't stay on. It won't even close all the way, there's a gap where it should click, but won't. Unfortunately, I don't take it anywhere because I don't want to risk a big ink stain. I've been hesitant to try another one in case it has the same issue as well.
Again, the pros, it's smooth and always ready to go. The pen hasn't given me any rough starts. Which is impressive because I put it in my pen case nib side up, and it always writes when I reach for it.
I own Metropolitans, Safaris, AL-Stars and Kakunos. The Metros are solid regardless of nib size. My first Kakuno in EF was a dud, the M was much better. I prefer the AL-Star over the Safari in terms of feel (weight), but I like the color choices for the Safari. Lots of fun pens in this price range.
I like my al-star dark lilac better than my safaris but the one I bring with me everywhere is the umbra plastic Lamy Safari because the Al-star was starting to be scratched by the rest of the things in my bag. So, for me maybe the plastic ones are a better choice because they are less likely to get scratched.
I love the Explorer too. But I’ll take the Safari over the Al-star. One of the great features of the Preppy is that it comes with a large capacity cartridge of matching ink.
Love the eco got a vac for my birthday but just love love everything about the eco !
Normally, I am not a metal pen person but, to my surprise, I also prefer the Al-Star to the Safari. I cankt really tell you why. I rejected the Safari a few times before I held an Al-Star. It just felt better somehow. So now I have two.
Yep! When I was getting back into the hobby, I purchased a Safari and hated it so much that I actually returned it. It felt unsubstantial and the fine nib was scratchy. After much internal debate, I ordered an Al-Star with a fine nib, and didn't think much of it either until I replaced the nib with a medium. That did the trick! I now own 4 Al-Stars, and I finally get why Lamy pens have such an enthusiastic fan base.
So I've been thinking about this for a couple of weeks now, and I just can't support choosing the Pilot Explorer over the Metropolitan. Pilot is my favorite pen manufacturer; I own over two dozen Kakunos, 10 Metropolitans, 2 Custom 74s, a Falcon, a Metal Falcon, and a Vanishing Point ... but no Explorers. I had one, but it was too lightweight and so unsubstantial that I ended up giving it away. I get so many compliments on my Metropolitans (most recently a woman saw my Retro-Pop Purple, and exclaimed, "What a beautiful pen! I bet it was expensive!"), and I love writing with them unposted, especially the Fine and Calligraphy nibs. I love picking one up and feeling the cool metal and seeing the gleaming finish. Drew, my friend, you said you could be convinced. What must I do to turn you away from the Dark Side? (grin)
I **LOVE** my TWSBI ECO! It would be my go-to daily pen if ONLY it had a push cap instead of a twist-on!!
When it comes to scribbling down all the things that come up during my work day, the twist-on cap becomes a deal breaker…
I love that I finally have a legit excuse to accumulate coffee mugs since I am not a coffee drinker (not that I am beyond drinking soda in them if I so choose). Am I the only one that doesn’t care for Platinum Preppy? Some on the list I have and a couple I plan on getting soon. I will likely stay at the lower end price wise. Though I have a couple $100+ pens I want!
Al-stars are the perfect pen for me! Ive tried others but now know these are perfect so i just wait for the special editions!
Safari over the al star but I'm surprised you didn't mention the GP Vista Black 😏
My first pen was a Monteverdi Ritma. I love it
Personally, re Platinum, I go with the Prefounte. I eyedropper it :)
Looking at this and tge reasons you chose the pens you chose, I am suprised you didnt include the sailor 1911s compass. I suppose it may be over 45 but it goes on sale for 30 so much its not a big leap. It includes a converter and a sailor ink cartridge, and in my opinion feels much more quality than a metropolitan
The Safari was one of my first pens and it's still great, but in my experience the caps tend to crack after a while. I'm looking to switch to Al Stars because they're metal.
Something about the Lamy design and the clear TWSBIs never appealed to me.
I started off liking the Plaisir but then the metallic colours and big silvery band started to seem off.
The Kaweco Sport, on the other hand, grew on me. The design and the colours (dark olive 😍) put it as my favourite budget FP right now. The next time I feel flush enough to buy a pen _over_ $45, it'll probably be a Kaweco AL Sport or brass.
Check out the LAMY Studio. You should be able to get one under $45 if you are prepared to watch and wait. I think they are epic, unlike their rather ugly cheaper siblings. Write quality is the same, I think - i.e. excellent.
I think my twsbis are the only one of my pens that never, ever dries out when capped. I literally wait months and when I pick up a twsbi. It’s ready for action like I only used it 5 minutes ago. (Except the swipe. That one isn’t nearly as good as it’s siblings for sealed cap).
When Drew decided not to add the Safari to the list I said "WHAT??" out loud 😂 but to be fair I've never tried the Al-Star, looks like I'll have to check that one out!!
I also got the Iridescent Kaweco Sport recently and I wasn't too sure at first but now I take it with me everywhere!! super reliable!!
Yay! - Drew
I have both a Safari and an Al-Star, and I also prefer the Al-Star. I just like the transparent grip section better. It looks cooler to me, but I like the Safari too. 🙂
Yes! Same here! - Drew
I always enjoy your videos. This was a keeper. Now I need to buy more pens...lol
Thanks for watching! - Drew
Maybe it’s just me. But I find the Pilot Kakuno a very ‘hand friendly’. It’s size and weight, for me is just about perfect.
Yes same. I switched my F nib from my metropolitan onto the kakuno body because it was more comfortable to hold and now I mainly use it to write. Now am buying a TWSBI Eco though.
I actually carried a Kaweco sport in my pocket in the Marine Corps it’s a tough pen.
I like the Plaisir because its tougher than the Preppy. Both have the nib seal.
I've got my eye on that glossy white Explorer now. I want to get a con-70 convert to go with it - all I have to decide is which con-70 -- silver or black?🙂
I want a black Con-70 in my Stormtrooper-White Explorer.
Yes, Eco all the way! It’s a damn good pen and so stinking reliable. And a light ink in the barrel? I have Sailor Kin-mokusei in my white Eco atm and it just looks gorgeous.
With you on that one. Yesterday I picked up my Eco after not writing with it for 4 days and it still wrote as if I just inked it.
I love the ECO-T model in Mint Blue. Have Yama-Budo in it for a pleasing color combo.
4 days? You could probably go 4 months with an ECO. I’ve gone at least a month of non-use without problems. You can actually feel the pen sealing as you turn the lid. The only other pen I have which behaves anything like that is a Platinum 3776, which is guaranteed still usable after a year! Then again, it is a LOT more expensive than the TWSBI…
What nib is the best for shimmer inks?
He’s very engaging and entertaining!
Agree with Drew all the way. My Lamy Al-star just feels better than the safari. Also I don’t like the Pilot Metropolitan, the grip is just wrong for me. I can’t wait to try the Pilot explorer.
Great video, Drew! You are on fire! (In a good way. 😂)
Explorer over the Metropolitan - yes! I thought I would dislike it because it is so lightweight, but it’s amazingly comfortable. I have the Stormtrooper and the matte black, and I think they look great! Plaisir over the Preppy, because the Plaisir is more durable and is still very affordable. I buy Preppies in EF and swap their nibs and sections onto Plaisirs. Al-Star over the Safari - no, actually. I love the Al-Star look, but prefer the matte Safaris for scratch resistance, secure posting and comfort. I don’t like the look of the glossy Safaris, though, and their sections are too sharp like the Al-Star’s. LOVE the Swipe! Convenient snap cap, large capacity converters, and the same great nib as the ECO. It’s a pity the clip is so stiff but I just use it as a roll stop anyway.
The Stormtrooper one is the best! I bought one for my brother last year - it matched his black & white guitar :). - Drew
Drew, why am I looking for hidden objects on your shirt? Good to know the Pilot Explorer takes a Con-70 converter. The item description doesn't mention that fact. I'll order the clear Explorer and the black Con-70 converter (when it gets back in stock).
There are all sorts of dinosaurs on that shirt, but the T-Rex is in fact sort of hidden! He's the only green one. - Drew
So on the money with Explorer vs. Metro and Al-Star vs. Safari! My Metro are fun, and I love, love, love Pilot fine nibs, but the Explorer has better balance, doesn't have that sharpish edge to the section, and takes the BEST converter. I hate Con 40 and, even more, the squishy, opaque converter that comes with the pen. I recently added the Safari to my Al-Star stable and, it's ok, but the aluminum feels and looks better. I like the metallic glow. You have finally convinced me to get a TWSBI with your part about the converters. So Bravo Mr. Brown, you enabled me in spite of the 50 pens I have inked up (sending some Brian love) and the 20 pens that sit in storage because they didn't make the cut (I hate pens that dry start).
Yay! Thanks, Anne! - Drew
I agree with you on the explorer but I think the safari is better because I prefer lightweight pens.
When I found the Al-Star I bid a fond goodbye to the Safari and never looked back. Love that pen, I have it in an embarrassing number of colors (new one each year, soooo hard to resist). The plastic Safari just feels, well, plastic, and unsatisfying. The Al-Star is my go-to carry.
I'm shocked that you didn't put the Goulet Exclusive Lamy Vista Black on this list (I just ordered mine today)!
Thanks for the support! - Drew
From personal experience, I'd add that the nibs on the Metro feel more inconsistent than those on the Explorer. For whatever reason, whenever I use an Explorer they feel much smoother to write with than a nib on the Metro.
The Al Star dents too easily and scratches are very visible. These are commonly used by students here in germany and the Safari wears better, even if you are trying to be careful with it. My old Safari still looks presentable, even if the grip section is asymmetrical now due to years of daily use.
I have 11 Safaris and 6 AL-Stars... I love the shape and flow of both but for looks... the AL-Star wins! I hadn't discovered them earlier or I'm sure I'd have more, but now I'm indulging in the limited editions for both styles. It's an illness, I'm sure!
I have to say that I didn't expect to see the preppy nor the explorer on this list. Even though I prefer the weight and feel of the metropolitan I think these were all solid choices well done!
Thanks, Trevor! - Drew
Why do you prefer using the Kaweco Sport with cartridges rather than a converter? I've been using the converter, so if there's a huge difference, I'd buy some cartridges. I'd appreciate any advice/opinion on this. :)
While neither is my favorite Lamy, I do prefer the AL star to the Safari. I think it has something to do with the weight or balance. But it certainly is just personal preference. I haven’t tried the Explorer yet, but I’ve never been a big fan of the Metro. Maybe it’s just that none of the colors appeal to me, because I have considered trying to get one of the blue Cacoons, which looks to be essentially a Metro but which they don’t sell in the US.
Some excellent choices, but 2 issues: The Explorer is a no go because it doesn't come in a stub 👎. It's all about the writing experience. Second, I prefer the tactile feel of the Safari (the matte finish) over the Al-Star, and I like that they are a single color. I find the smoke grip on the Al-Star unattractive 🤷♀️. I sold all of my Al-Stars/LXs. Still have 4 beautiful SE Safaris - where the clip is the same color as the pen 🥰.
I love these types of videos but as someone that has alredy deeped dived into the pricier side of this amazing hobby I would love to see a high tier suggestion list as I would love to grow my collection but not necessarily stepping down in the quality I've grown accustomed to
I'm Team Explorer. I also love my Safaris but can understand the love for the Al-Star. I've come to the realization that Kaweco Sports and Lamy Safaris of colors I like will find their way to my collection - never mind the idea that I have "enough" of them.
Yeah team AL-Star! - Drew
I'm the same way, but with Ecos and 580's. I have to be really mindful to not buy them in more colors than what I'll practically use. Though, some don't tempt me at all -- like the new yellow one.
@@S.L._ When it comes to Eco colors, I find I much prefer the transparent ones.
@@tiantuatara Oh, really? I like both the solid and transparent, with maybe a slight preference for solid. But there are some colors I just don't like regardless, and yellow is one of them.
@@S.L._ Yeah, the transparent thing is totally just me.
I have a visconti homosapien rollerball with 0.7 point , where can i find a medium or fine point ?