For me it's all about the nib. This pen write as good as my 2-3 hundred dollar pen. It's inky and the med writes like a 21k fine nib from sailor. The feedback is great too.
I’m glad you also suggested better alternatives. Anybody can put something popular down, but you cited the issues and suggested better options at similar prices. Thank you.
I think part of the Metro's popularity is due to the fact that for the first few years of its release it only cost $12 USD or so ... until the substantial price hike a few years ago. It built its reputation for bang for the buck, and gained a base. The rest, as they say, is pen history.
Agree with you on every point. Not controversial at all as far as I’m concerned! I bought a bunch of Metropolitans when I first started out and then after a couple of years I realised: I hate this pen. The step-down is brutal, which is the big killer, but the skinny grip and bad posting is a triple whammy of design flaws for me. Also, love these contrarian videos. Good to shake up the consensus and have some fresh thinking in the FP world.
I started exploring fountain pens by buying Metros too. Ugh! I wish I had heard of the Explorer first. I have always carried my pen in my shirt pocket and a lightweight (plastic) pen replaces cheap ballpoints there so much better. The Metro is both too heavy and too skinny - very uncomfortable either using or carrying (though they store well at the back of a cupboard). At Christmas I still use a gold Metro with Diamine Golden Sands and a green Metro with Diamine Golden Ivy. Meh
@@jasonmillar2953 Awww That is too bad. The Explorer is an ideal EDC for me. I carry a grey one with Diamine Earl Grey in it. It writes well and I have never had it dry out if I don't use it for a while (seals well). I have recently picked up a Con-70 and will put that in it when I need to refill it next. More ink capacity! Woo hoo!
I have a Prefounte, a Prera and some Preppies (and some Safaris). All are reliable nice pens. But if the japanese want to make something look cheap they strive for perfection even then. The Preppy really looks like a disposable pen you grab at a shop counter but it still is a good pen. The Metropolian however never sang to me. BTW: I've checked my Prera and I can see some ejection marks, so it's most likely injection moulded. Still a good small pen. Regarding the Safari: It's a reliable, inexpensive and almost indestructible pen available in a lot of colours and it's a decent writer. I'm not a huge fan of the Bauhaus style but they are a good choice for a school pen (if you can't get a vintage Sheaffer "No Nonsense") or if you are hiking outdoors. Fountain pens are mandatory in schools here in Germany, and the Safari is the favourite pen of the kids.
I bought my wife a Pilot Metropolitan and she loves it. It always writes immediately even if not used for months. It doesn't have a flex nib but so what, it only cost $30 :-) It does the Job!
I personally love my metropolitan white tiger, fortunately I don't experience any of the problems you mentioned. I think it's because I'm a girl so my hand is much smaller, the metropolitan's slim body fits perfectly and I don't post the cap, so maybe that's why I have no problem.
I began using the Pilot Metro a few years ago because of the 1.0 stub nib. I’ve tried many other pens but I really like them the best. I don’t post them and I don’t mind a small ink capacity because I change the ink in them often. For everyday though, I have a Pilot E95s.
My first fountain pen was a Lamy Safari and that didn't write at all. Every time I tried writing, i had to prime the converter and push harder on the nib to get it to write. I figured there was a good reason that nobody was using fountain pens and gave up on it for a couple of years. The Pilot Metro got me back into fountain pens because it wrote every time I uncapped it. Say what you will about pilots, but they usually write when you need them to. I agree that the design could use improvement for most size hands.
Excellent post! My story too. I had a Lamy Safari many years ago and it always hard started and skipped. I haven’t used a fountain pen for years, then got a couple of Metro’s this past year and it brought me back to FP’s. I don’t have any complaints about it except that the fine is too fine and scratchy for me, so I guess I’m a medium writer. With all the hype on Lamy, it was the pen that kept me away from FP’s, yet the Metro brought me back. This is similar to the negative hype on Invicta watches, yet it brought me down the rabbit hole of watches. Waiting on my E95S to arrive any day now.
I ordered a metro a few days ago as a Christmas gift from my wife…then I see your honest review of the pen. Don’t know what to make of this. I’ll be back with an update once I start using it. I just hope I’m that guy that actually likes the pen. First fountain pen ever.
The pilot metropolitan has many flaws and many people seem to over rate it despite there being better entry-level pens on the market. However it holds a special place in my heart because it introduced me to the world of fountain pens. In addition, this pen looks really nice when polished because it's made of brass!
I have two metropolitans and love them both. The things you pointed out as issues just don’t bother me at all. But I’m glad you raised them because the more feedback to pilot the more improvements they may make. My biggest beef with the Metropolitan is that it is not all metal. The patterned part plastic.
I agree with Tod Martens. I have and like the Metropolitan and the issues you raised are not hills to die on. It may be my sausage fingers but the step above the grip never bothered me. The weight of the pen is also about perfect to my hand. The two objections that I do have for the Metropolitan (one you peripherally raised and one that is probably more personal to only me) are the CON-40 converter, instead of the larger CON-70 (I know that the CON-20 also fits but don't like the flimsy bladder,) and that the only color scheme that is available for the Metro that I like is the black/black version. I'm so minimalist that the other colors and "crocodile" pattern rings don't impress me. I also have an Explorer but (probably because of the diameter and weight) don't like as well as the Metropolitan. It's a good, well made pen and writes well but, in my opinion, is about as enjoyable as lukewarm soup. I'll have to look into the Prera at some point. It looks interesting. I applaud the honest review, even if I don't fully agree.
I am sending all the applause. This was my first fountain pen and it almost turned me away completely. Next I tried a lamy safari and that was even worse. I'm so glad I didn't let them deter me and I found the kakuno, I now own 3 of them, hands down a great beginner pen for sure. I absolutely have no enjoyment from the 2 metropolitians I own that haven't been inked since 2017 and I have no intentions to ink them. Thank you for your honest review.
@@unknowncrash1 for me it was the line width, and it just made my writing look sloppy. I write very small and this pen just makes it looks smushed like the bubble letters we use to make in grade school.
Availability is the key. For instance, where I live, we don't have much of a choice, especially when it comes to *all-metal body* pens that have F/EF nibs but are not Jinhao 35 and the likes of it: Lamy Al-Star, Pilot Metropolitan MR Animal series (in both European and Japanese versions), SS versions of Parker Jotter FP (which are even more expensive here than the previous two) and Parker Vector (which is known to have some issues). That's it (at least within the budget that I can spend on something as mundane as a pen). Four pens from trusted manufacturers + a bunch of Chinese QC lottery. So, which one *out of the above* do you recommend for EDCing in the pant pockets attached to a pocket (A6) notebook and not being afraid of pressing on it or smashing it against anything? Between the Al-Star F and the Metro MR Animal EF (Euro version), I decided to order the latter. And the thin grip is something I'm used to since childhood.
Thank you! I tried to start with fountain pens twice over several years and both times I was highly recommended this pen by multiple people. I got it once and hated it. Went back to gel pens. Tried again a few years later and lost my mind thinking I was too harsh on it. Nope! I have since moved on and have found enjoyment with other pens but this pen drove me away from fountain pens for about 7 years. Nice to know I’m not alone in my struggle with Pilot Metropolitan.
Thank you, Doug. I love the look of some of the Metros with the funky 60's-style patterned band, but that vicious step up from the grip has ensured I've never even searched for it in a UK pen website. I have both a Prera and a Pluminix, & they're gorgeous.
I actually really like the grip and the cap on the metro, between that and how smoothly and consistently it writes I even bought a second one for a different ink. Personally I don't really understand where the complaints come from. That's not to say the video is wrong, just don't take it or what any one person says as the final word on a product. Try it yourself if you can.
The purple metropolitan was my first fountain pen, my second was the pilot cocoon Red (only difference is they worked the nib a little bit more making it even smoother amazing on a Fine nib to be that smooth, and made the cap easier to open and close, not sure about posting as I never post my fountain pens as hands too small). I still go back to them occasionally as they started an amazing change. After my car wreck and breaking all the bones in my hand there was a period of time I literally couldn't write as the pressure needed with a ballpoint pen was so painful I just couldn't handle it. Then a fluke chance at the bank and I forgot to sign the check for deposit, and some stranger handed me thier fountain pen to sign the check and it was a metropolitan. I ordered one that night. I now have a little collection and am on a Benu run this week. I do like hearing others opinions about different fountain pens as I can try to understand where others are coming from, always good to see things from a different perspective. Thanks
My Metropolitan posts deeply and stays on well...and the pen is very well-balanced when posted. I think they should have sanded the section seams down but that's my only complaint. The Pilot Explorer feels cheap and looks cheap (did you notice that the inside of the cap and barrel isn't painted? WTF, indeed 😮)
I use my Metro for ouline art and it does it pretty well with F or EF nib, I don't use it much for writing. I think it is a good pen to start since it allows you to know and develop your preferences, Pilot steel nibs have good quality even with design problems, if the user decides to buy his own FPs he will do it with others brands that he decides to try, that are more comfortable and are of his own design choices. Normally I recommend or gift Lamy Safari, but I have given Metropolitan too and usually get good feedback after a while. I think that all brands have their mistakes in terms of design and we can´t explain their popularity, but I think it is a matter of personal tastes and the ability to observe fine details or maybe sensitivity in deepest details in each pen design.
I'm another one with the metro as the first fountain pen. I did consider other options, even the explorer, but the all silver metro had a more interesting look to me. Looked retro futuristic with the rounded shape. I think this is why most people go with it, because it doesn't look like the standard straight edge disposable pen they are used to.
The best thing about your comments is point of view. You bring to the table a different one, and that is great. I bought a Metropolitan (your very same model) when I started writing with fountain pens. It wrote very well and, aside from finding "too sleek," I had no objections to it. Fast-forward to 2022 and your "crude remarks," and your got me thinking about it. And even though I don't agree with you in every single detail, I realize why, after the first ink load (Diamine Syrah), I've never used that pen again.
I'm fond of the Metropolitan, but I also agree with what you've said. The grip is narrow and posting the cap feels awkward. The Preppy has a much nicer grip and it also posts well. That said, the Metro has a nice heft when I hold it, which you won't find with lighter pens. It's not the best pen ever, but it is a decent pen. And yes, the Kakuno is awesome.
This video popped up right after I encountered some Pilot MR pens at the local Office Depot (they sell the MR brand instead of Metropolitan brand for some reason). I’ve never used a Metro and have always wondered if that sharp part between the section and the barrel is really comfortable. Thanks for saving me money. 😅
I own a Metropolitan and you're absolutely correct. It isn't often a pen causes me pain when I hold it. Sadly that section/barrel step down makes the Metro one of the most uncomfortable pens in my collection. The only way it would work for me is if I completely changed my grip. But that would involve learning a different way to hold a pen. As you say, many people think it's wonderful but it certainly isn't. A bit like John Cleese, I suppose. YMMV.
Bravo, Doug! I have never understood the hype around the Metropolitan. When I went looking for Pilot fountain pens I liked, only a few made the cut: Custom 74, Custom 912, Custom 845, and Custom 823. They are bit pricey new but I found gently used ones that write well. For my 2 cents, the Pelikan M75 is similar in size, and in price when I bought mine, and is a piston filler.Not every pen suits everyone but you know your kind when you see it.
I had a metro and really liked it honestly but my sister was visiting and since I had moved onto some higher end ones I let her take it to have a fountain pen to try out and she loved it. Personally, I never post my pens as I have really small hands and once a pen (dip or fountain) is too heavy it causes a lot of pain. Without posting most pens are fine for me and well, since I have small hands the smaller grip area works out great for me. I know thats completely an exception to the rule (and you are right about it there are better pens), its nice that even though it isn't great it at least works well for some heh. Do the others you mentioned have the choice of the 1.0 nib? I want to get a metro with that nib, unless there slightly better ones have that option too I'd try that out. Right now my every day is a Hongdian Forest Rainbow with medium nib I believe and it works so lovely for me, I use a few others (mostly BENU and TWSBI as the hubby isn't keen on me procuring a ton of pens so very rare that I get any new ones now), but I really want to get that E95s some day. I need to find out what size nibs that comes with, I prefer medium or broad myself. Just not a fan of fine ... I use shimmer inks a lot and I wanna see those suckers on the paper :) Also, I had plenty of giggles with this video I loved it :)
👏👏very true! For the value the Jinhao X450/750s are much better. Although we get overcharged in Australia to get product down here (especially Japanese and European brands).
I have both a Metropolitan and a Lamy Al Star (yes, I am irredeemable), but I agree with your assessment. I cannot get a comfortable tripod grip on my Metropolitan, and it’s pretty awful to post. Then I bought a Kakuno, and I was blown away by how much nicer it is to use. I even bought a Con-70, and now it’s all smooth sailing.
I recently purchased my first ever Metro for one reason; and that was to get a Pilot 1.0 stub nib for my Kakuno. I figured that for a couple $ more than the asking price for an individual LAMY replacement nib, I could try a Pilot stub. It turned out to be a good decision as the Pilot stub is a smooth and comfortable writer. (LAMY nibs are too inconsistent.) Now, if only Pilot would offer their 1.0 stub with their Kakuno line, others could save a few dollars... I agree with you about the Metro's harsh step on the grip! It's also a deal breaker for me.
I still love the metro. It looks pretty good, isn't too light, its easy to swap nibs, and the slopey grip is the right size and not too slippy for my hands (I live in the UK so its not a hot climate!). I have fairly small hands and don't seem to have issues with the step down (I also have the good blue 615 and dont get bothered by their bigger step down) It also writes brilliantly with a plumix stub or one of the caligraphy nibs - nice line variation and smoothness. In the UK it also sells with a useful metal case and with a converter - whats not to like!! The kakuno is OK but a bit fat and angular and the other options you mention dont look as good and can be more expensive.. So horses for courses, I think it may, to some degree, come down to finger/hand size and whether you appreciate a classic smooth cigar shaped metal pen or a more modern looking pen with the step on the outside. Enjoyable video though.
A lot of people like super skinny grips, because they're used to writing with biros. So using a proper fountain pen may make them feel like writing with a marker pen or crayon!
Love that you’re so funny😂 keep it up. I’m obsessed with my new Metropolitan since I bought a fountain pen after a long time. Reallly love the nib but the grip, not so much, it’s slippery.
I think the problem with the explorer is the cap. It’s so good but if it fells the cap’s interior mechanism will break. Mine broke, it doesn’t cap fully and it’s always loose, so I had to buy another pen just to replace the broken cap. And when I’m out doing business or sketching, want my pens closed and secure. The explorer has great potential but they need to redesign the mechanism in the cap to work as intended properly.
I had the same issues you did. The pen was just uncomfortable to use because of that ridiculously acute angled lip. I'm glad yours wrote smooth though. Mine was terribly scratchy and continued to catch on the paper. Total waste of money and very frustrating. I have a cheap fountain pen from china that looks nicer, writes better, is comfortable, and cost me less than fifteen dollars. I also have others that cost just a little more. There are so many other options out there. I'm going to get the Prera next. I have tried the Kakuno, and that was a very nice pen for the price.
Learned to play guitar on a Yamaha. One of 3 in my high school class who had their own guitars. Can ya guess who was serious and actually decent in the class and kept playing after high school?
I have been saying the exact same thing on my Redit - and been told countless times that I am doing things wrong. The Pilot writes nice, that's it! The posting sucks, The ink filling process sucks, Overall - I genuinely forced myself to like this pen. Meanwhile - thanks for suggesting alternatives - I prefer: - Japanese fine nibs - slim grip section - click-on caps (screw on shatter my soul) - significant weight (metal) Thanks again!
I have been using this pen for 6 years non-stop and it still works good. The only thing that the colour has a bit worn off and the cap doesn't fix properly, but it fixes easily. Now I realized that japanese fine is a bit scratchy for me and sometimes tears paper during fast writing and the grip stair makes long writing unbearable. Of course it's not the only pen for starters. Her popularity lies in the fact that for not big sum of money it's a famous-brand pen, which made in Japan, available in 16 colours and writes wounderful.
I couldn't agree more. The Kakuno is a much better option than the Pilot Metropolitan. I have a few Kakunos and they all use the Pilot CON-70 converter, which makes them excellent for long form writing sessions. I wish Pilot would make a version of the Kakuno that could be eye dropped and perhaps a little upscale from the original, like with a nice metal clip. Love your satirical approach to your channel and from one old fart to another thank you for sharing.
I did some modification for eyedropper Kakuno. It's not that hard, you know? Just seal the two holes at the bottom with some permanent solution. I'm using silicone sealant for it but not recommend anyone to use the same material due to silicone sealant doesn't stick well to certain type of plastics. Once you sealed the two holes at the bottom, just wipe some silicone grease on the thread, fill it up and put everything back together.
I just passed over a metro for an explorer just because the metro didn't fit the con-70 converter. Dodged a bullet out of pure luck as i just prdered my first two fountains on a whim.
This is my go to business note taking pen. I use a medium nib for general note taking and a fine nib for annotating on copy paper. Maybe not best starter, but still a great pen.
Doug, you are spot on in every way about the Metro (and the virtues of the Prefounte over the Preppy as a gateway pen, though the Safari really is brilliant). Loved the starter guitar analogy. Is the Prera really only $10 more than a Metro in Canada? In the States it's >$50, which baffles me given the pricing on other Pilots (and sent me running for the stretched clone Wing Sung 3003 instead). And thanks for passing along the tip on the Kaweco clip for the Kaküno! I'm gonna buy a few of those ASAP.
I have a Prera demonstrator, and very much like it. Though I have two Metropolitans, and find them not bad, they aren't my favourite or most used pens. The section design, though it never bothered me too much, always struck me as strange. On the basis of your thoughts on the Kakuno, I bought an orange and black one when I was in Wonder Pens today. I tried it before buying it, and think I will quite like it. I also bought my first gold nibbed pen, a beautiful forest green Pilot Custom 74 with a fine nib. For me, an exciting day!
Haha. Totally agree with you! My first FP was the Metro. I used it for a day or two then decided if that was how fountain pens felt I could do without them. It took another year and a Kakuno to change my mind.
Well, I have been dithering about which entry level fountain pen to get for a year now, Twisbi eco seems too long, Metropolitan seems too heavy, Kaweco looks too thick, Safari doesn't look good... And I can't choose. I am 5 ft, female, have small hands and I don't want to buy something that I won't use every day, even if it's considered cheap. No point wasting money. But Pilot Explorer looks promising, thanks for the review.
Shhhh don't tell people. I only use my Metropolitan for signatures, and I don't need to post the cap to do that. It makes me look sophisticated to people who are not into pens. Also I like the slim torpedo shape. Thanks for the Prera and Explorer suggestion. I will be checking them out!
You are absolutely correct, sir. Moulin Rouge was a despicable movie. Kevin Costner is a wooden cigar-store Native American, and Hee Haw wasn't entertainment at all: it was punishment, And the Pilot Metropolitan is a crummy pen. You are an astute observer of popular culture and you know a thing or two about fountain pens, too. Thanks for the excellent video!
Thank you sailcat9. That is much appreciated! My wife and I still watch Lawrence Welk on Saturday nights on PBS because it is like a train-wreck; you can't look away it is so jaw-droppingly awful bordering on racist. But the musicians were some of the best in the US. I often imagine them smoking a doobie backstage between polkas.
So explorer is possibly the way to go for the same price range and better confort? I dont like the looks of the kakuno. Also it doesnt look too comfortable to hold
I had studied about fountain, nib, and glass pens a few years ago but didn’t buy one. Last month from an art professor TH-camr recommendation I got my first fountain pen, a Pilot Met. I love it!! It looks beautiful and writes smoothly. I know there are cheaper better fountain pens. Perhaps this Pilot Met won’t be my last.
I got a metro. It is the ONLY pilot fountain pen I have gotten that had a truly crappy nib. I got stub. It has skipped, run dry, and just generally felt rotten on paper. It is so bad that it kinda turned me off of stub nibs for a long time. Now I want to dig it out and try to fix it once again...
Mr Indi, I purchased this pen 2 yr back and I was literally shocked😲 to see these cons.. I even thought maybe they're selling this version only in India 🤔 and American version might be better In quality and craftsmanship. Now I understand it's a crap model everywhere 😁😁😁
The most annoying habit of my metropolitan is the way the nib dries so quickly, even when capped. Within 2 hours, it will not write at all and it takes a lot of effort to get it started again. Shaking and dry-writing and nib spreading strokes do little or nothing. It’s enough of a frustrating chore to make me avoid using the pen. And this was with a well-behaved ink, Pilot/Namiki blue-black. The nib is smooth but boring, no personality, bounce or interest. The grip, as you say, is slippery uncomfortable, another enjoyment killer even if there wasn’t that drying out issue. The lack of posting ability is an unfortunate mystery. “Perfect for using for Bay State Blue” is a the kind of insult I enjoy.
I have a Metro, but the section is too skinny for me, making it uncomfortable. The step up doesn't bother me nor does the fact that the pen doesn't post. But I thought the EF nib was stiff as a nail. I pulled a CI nib out of a Pluminix to replace the EF. I'm still looking sell the Metro, if I can find someone who likes the pen. As for Lamy: I don't get on with the grip section, and the LH nib turned out to lay down way too thick of a line. I just wish the Prefounte came with an EF nib, but I discovered that the cap on one of my Preppies cracked, so I see a Prefounte and a nib swap in my near future.
Great rant Doug! And some damn good points. Like most newbies I bought one years ago. I think I still have it, somewhere. It's usually out of my mind and I think it shall remain there, wherever it is! Have a good week!
In all seriousness, your analysis of the grip (esp as someone who's owned (and loved) Pilot Metropolitans myself) made me think of something that may lead to why Pilot designed the metro in this way: East Asian pen grip education When I was in elementary school, everyone was taught to use a very narrow version of the tripod pen grip from grade 1 onwards, and we are taught to grip very close to the pen tip (hence why the nudge is where it is). It's very much taken seriously: "pencil grip correctors" are ubiquitous in stationery shops (to the point where I *still* have them from my elementary years despite being very well into my 20s now) and improper pen grip is very much sufficient for a disciplinary infraction at school, so most of us are basically stuck with this (in all fairness, healthy) habit for the rest of our lives, with our pen grips not deviating far from the narrow prescribed standard. Although I myself spent my childhood in Mainland China, I've heard similar anecdotes from my friends from Korea and Japan regarding how we're taught to grip pens at a young age, which may have influenced why the pen grip area is so narrow on the Metropolitan, seeing that Pilot is a Japanese brand. That being said, there is a valid counter-argument to this in that the Kakuno (which I've also used; my hands are way too big for it even with the pen cap posting) doesn't have as sharp of an edge between the grip and the rest of the body.
I almost bought a Metro when I first got back into fountain pens about 7 months ago. That being said I'm glad I didn't get one. I'm glad I never bought the hype on the LAMY's either lol I still don't have any Pilots besides the Varsity which was where I started. I have been looking heavily at the Prera's, 78G's, and Lucina's. I think some of the Metro love is the look of them as well. They do look the part of a good fountain pen, but I think like you said for most people when you hold it is where it ends.
Amen 🙏 brother! That section and posting is the reason why I sent mine back where it came from. Why the mass hypnosis still works for this I cannot tell. Maybe it's all the tacky styles this can be had in.
I got a Metro first and hated it. The nib was skippy and it didnt' flow easily over the paper. The Lamy Safari writes so much more smoothly over the same paper and doesn't drip ink everywhere.
i didn't know you sold guitars, it would be really cool if you could tell us more stories about that when you are reviewing pens, i don't know anything about guitars but listening to you make guitar/fountain pen comparisons is next level storytelling, thank you
Thank you so much. I'm always being told the guitar stuff is distracting and when I add guitar intros, my viewership on my videos drops by 50%. I've been asked to do guitar specific videos, but they are a TON of work and I get 100 views instead of the 2000 views I get for my pen reviews. But thanks for saying that as it is much appreciated!
@@InkquiringMinds just do the videos you want, you are the only one qualified to know what is best for your channel, i just hope in the future we get more analogies or personal stories that tie in with the pen you are reviewing, i know you have a lot of knowledge and wisdom to give so you're sort of obligated to share it with the younger generation
I 100% agree Doug! I have two Metros, a fine & a medium & they both suck for all the reasons you listed. I never use them. I’ve had better luck with the Varsity pens. My Lamy Safari & Al Star pens now have Lamy gold nibs & it transforms them into very good & reliable everyday use pens.
Thanks for the honesty. Wish I had seen this a few years ago when I was led to buy this by my retailer. Hated it from the get go especially the posting issues you mentioned.
Good review on the Metropolitan. Indeed, I like all your reviews and the humour. The video clips are fun, but sometimes there are too many, and it takes away from your words, as IMO it did today.
Worst part: dropped it one time, grip cracked. Only used it for a month and a half! Second worst part is how much this damn thing leaks. Already bought a Safari, hoping I like it better. Love the heavy grip and smooth writing, hate the rest.
Hi Doug, if I may politely put in a request for you to review a Diplomat Aero. Your analysis and presentation are top class and the Aero is one of my favourite pens, particularly as you can switch any no.6 sized nib. I feel like you'd enjoy the precision machining of the pen and the rich history of the Zepellin and design cues of flutes etc. (just like your Visconti Mirage video). It's a very inspiring pen. Sorry, I myself can't send you one to review, so I hope an opportunity for you to try one comes up. The non-gold nib version of the Aero is still good value for money IMO.
@@InkquiringMinds Aagh, yes, I did think the metal grip section might be a problem for you. It really isn't slippery though! Thanks for getting back to me :)
Spot on. My first two fountain pens (after I abandoned them in my youth like everyone else) were a Lamy Safari and a Pilot Metropolitan. I still use the Lamy, with its gorgeous stub nib. I haven't used the Metropolitan in 10 years.
I got the usual suspects when I started out a few years back- a Lamy Safari, a Pilot Metro, and a TWSBI Eco While the Safari's cap ended up giving way after a few months of use, I really couldn't find it in me to keep using the Metro either; while the materials were probably the best of the bunch, the scarcer converters (I'd been stuck with the CON-20 squeeze converter) and huge step-down really served as a turn-off. Shame about the price hike, too; now there isn't much reason to get it 🤷♂️
1. I love love love it when you make videos like this. The humor you inject into your critiques is always pitch perfect and the insight is always on the mark. 2. The second you said the polygon™ clip fit on the kakuno, I ran like a bat out of hell into the other room. Finally, a decent use for a Kaweco product!
The problem with Jinhaos is the lack of nib choice. They generally come in medium or fine depending on which model you buy. Some of the fines actually are fine, but others for the larger pens are almost indistinguishable from their medium nibs. They are nice pens, although a little less predictable than pilot pens. The metropolitan is very easy to swap nibs on so you get their own limited variety as well as all of the calligraphy and plumix nibs. Some of the stubs are wonderful writers with lovely line variation.
I have a question. Can I use pilot hi-techpoint ink which is meant for rollerball, in pilot metropolitan fountain pen? Someone said, that it can clog or corrode or damage the pen in the long run as the ink is meant to be used in rollerball only and that fountain pen inks are completely different. But before hearing this, I used the hitechpoint ink in the metropolitan pen and the result was FANTASTIC. The experience is out of the world. Please let me know your expert opinion regarding whether I can use the hi-techpoint ink in the metropolitan pen safely or not.
I'm no expert on hi-techpoint ink but, it seems to me that using an ink not designed for a fountain pen is fraught with problems. Fountain pens are designed to be used with water-based inks. Rollerball ink is made of carbon black, polymer and a non-water based solvent. Can't be good in the long run.
Wait a minute, what about the safari? Don't leave me hanging! I don't own a metro, but from all the video and pictures I saw, that big step down from barrel to section does scares me.
I love the Kakuno demonstrators- and don't use the Metropolitan. The Kakuno is light, and way more comfortable in my hand. I love its simple styling and lack of a clip. I use the con-70 and can see the ink.
The Pilot Kakuno is indeed an excellent choice, as are Platinum Prefonte for a bit more businesslike style, or the fantastic Pilot Prera at a higher price. And the Pilot Plumix is an awesome means toward an italic nib. I have one Metropolitan, and it is probably my only regrettable purchase in the fountain pen realm. The cap simply will not stay posted, and there is no significant factors in its favor to compensate for that cap shortcoming.
1. Thanks for the warning. Actually I've never been tempted to try a Metropolitan, but since you also hate the Safari, I value your opinion on lower-end pens. 2. I bought a used 743 that feels brand new to me, but the CON-70 is already wearing out, so I question their durability. Or are you supposed to need 100 clicks to fill it? Not important to me, as I prefer refilling cartridges, but maybe a warning. Anybody else notice a problem with an older CON-70?
I think they may have solved the issues with the newer Con70. I've never used an old one. And technique is important in filling it. I use a quick stroke down and slow retract and can fill it with about three strokes.
My first Con-70 died on me, but I couldn't say exactly what the issue was since it sat inside a custom 74 unused for quite awhile. It usually takes e about 5 or 6 clicks to fill, but the key is not to click and wait like you would with a Parker 51 Vac. You have to click several times rapidly to build up pressure in the converter, and then let go to get a full fill.
Bought one on a recommendation, used it for a day and have never used it again. I disagree though that it’s worst Pilot pen. Have you reviewed the vanishing point?
LOL. The VP wouldn't even come close to the bottom of the Pilot list. I've reviewed a Decimo. It isn't for me but it is an extremely well build, and smooth fountain pen and my wife adores it. I have a Moonman A1 with a Pilot 18k stub nib unit in it and it is wonderful.
Thank you for speaking up about the darn Metropolitan. I have had a love/hate relationship with it ever since I got it. The love is 30%. My reason for hating it is the reason you seem to like yours: the nib. The nib that came on my Metro was craptacular. It languished in a pen wrap, unused for a long while and last year, after reading of swapping the nib, I put the cursive italic Plumix on the Metro and it was like having a new pen. There is still a lot I don't really like about it though. It just isn't comfortable to use.
For me, the biggest flaw of the metropolitan is the nib dries out with the cap on for a couple of days only... and the ink tends to spill while uncapping.. I own two European version (using standard ink cartridges and converter, model is MR) of the pen, and all have this problem. Not sure if the international version has the same issue.
In the best sense. I have a Metropolitan, works fine, but I find it bland in comparison to PenBBS 's array and the more exotic Ranga(s). I've gotten into Sheaffer lately: bought a vintage Empire and a new 300 - I'm loving them both.
I can see your point on the critique of the Metro but there is a silver lining there. As someone else posted, I too had the popular Lamy Safari many years ago and it always hard started and skipped. Because of this I haven’t used a fountain pen for many years, then got a couple of Metro’s this past year and it brought me back to FP’s. Getting back into FP’s for under $20 was an acceptable risk for me. I don’t have any complaints about it except that the fine is too fine and scratchy for me, but the medium is very smooth, so I guess I’m a medium writer. With all the hype on Lamy, it was the pen that kept me away from FP’s, yet the Metro brought me back. This is similar to the negative hype on Invicta watches, yet it brought me down the rabbit hole of watches for a relatively cheap price with good quality. I guess your criticisms of the Metro are based on your extensive experience with high quality pens, like looking at an Invicta after you’ve had your Rolex, but for a newbie I still think it’s a good start. Waiting on my E95S to arrive any day now.
I loved the Metropolitan so much, I gave it away to a complete stranger to get rid of it. The Prera is so much better. I bought a Prera to introduce 14y/o daughter to fountain pens. She actually enjoys writing her essays for school and carries it in her pen case to school. Her next pen is a Kakuno on it’s from the rabbit hole in the cloud (Amazon)
The only Pilot pen I dislike more than the Metropolitan is the Prera. It's the section size and shape. I hate it. And I was a pilot fangirl long before I started collecting FP. My first pen love was a Pilot V5, so perhaps back when that was my go-to pen, I'd have liked the Metropolitan better.
Thanks! I always appreciate reviews that are not always glowing paeans! I like Pilot/ Namiki FPs and have most of their range from the original Falcon, original (and a few upgraded) VPs, the superb, diminutive E95s up thru my beloved 823 and even an 845. I felt compelled over time to add a Metro for completeness sake but never did -- and now I'm glad that I didn't!
I'm in full agreement regarding the Metropolitan, Doug. Why this, over other similarly priced or even cheaper pens, is so popular, is mystifying. I mean on Amazon, there is a Waterman Graduate Allure which seems more suitable. And they clearly are targeting a certain audience for that pen. If anything, its just not a suitable gateway pen into the fountain pen universe. Gateway pens should be well designed, well made within a budget cost, so that people would enjoy writing. Simple. Confession: I dislike the Pilot Explorer for similar handling reasons as the Metropolitan. I tried it, and it just wasn't for me. And I use Platinum Preppies - two , one at work and one at home - as beater pens, all purpose without care for handling them. And I'm sure for many the Metropolitan hits a certain sweet spot for them, just as TWISBI does for their passionate users. We're spoiled with such a wide variety of models and configurations. Back in the day it was a sharp stick or a quill. Can you imagine the kvetching back then?
Overall... Pilot Metro is a cute metallic fountain pen in his price range. And very good fitting in pockets. I like it... only the grip section is a bit short for me. Other option will be the Faber-Castell Loom. Other affordable, metallic and comfort heavy pen (like a personal plus), but with a different a most rounded and balanced design.
The Kevin Costner of fountain pens, lol! Yes, I have one and I like everything about it until I write with it. I was determined to like it and kept trying, but too much fidgeting for a tolerable grip. Too bad, because the nib is just fine. I use my Kakuno demonstrator with con-70 all the time. Cheers!
Hi, as i acknowledge the step up seems to be a problem in your hand, it doesn’t in my hand. However, my beef with the met (and i own 3 🤷♀)is the sac filler! When a converter is so easy to see how full it is or if a shimmer ink is used ,have you rolled the pen enough, that is why ,now that i have a prera, prefounte, and a few diplomats, the mets don’t get used! But they are cute, and don’t look like a child’s pen! But that’s just my Canadian opinion😉 Keep on making great videos!
I don't think they mean that squeeze converter to be used with ink. It is a tool to clean the pen. Cartridges and syringe filling cartridges is the best option.
Everyone seems to wind up with one. I got it because I wanted the nib, cheaply, having been told (correctly) that it handles extremely shimmery inks like a champ. I gotta get through this inkvent calendar somehow. I wound up with the metro over the Kakuno because to add a converter to the Kakuno made it the same price as an on sale metro so I got the metro. And for me it's fine, but I'm a back-gripper. That brutal step down doesn't bother me because I'm not holding it anyway. But I probably wouldn't get one for somebody else unless I knew they had similar habits.
@@InkquiringMinds I admit that even though it would have wound up costing the same or more after converter, the Kakuno almost won out for the smiley face. My inner child is alive and well.
I've never used a Metropolitan and really haven't wanted one. The style is similar to my Sheaffer VFM Rollerball and the posting is very similar, unreliable. Sometimes posts well sometimes the cap won't stay posted. Although the stepdown on the Sheaffer isn't as bad.
![ILLSLICK - THE KING'S LANDING [Freestyle]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/feIJJnNkTfk/mqdefault.jpg)
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One of the things that bugs me about my Metro is how it always wants to throw itself onto the floor. The damn thing is determined to destroy itself.
I laughed so hard to this 😂
So relatable !
damn.. i thought only my metro which got depressed
Kamikaze pen
For me it's all about the nib. This pen write as good as my 2-3 hundred dollar pen. It's inky and the med writes like a 21k fine nib from sailor. The feedback is great too.
Now that's a damn good endorsement! I just ordered a Metro with a fine nib to complement my Sailor Realo medium. Can't wait.
I had to smooth it a little bit. And still nothing much better than Wing Sung or some of Jinhaos.
I’m glad you also suggested better alternatives. Anybody can put something popular down, but you cited the issues and suggested better options at similar prices. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Animula!
I think part of the Metro's popularity is due to the fact that for the first few years of its release it only cost $12 USD or so ... until the substantial price hike a few years ago. It built its reputation for bang for the buck, and gained a base. The rest, as they say, is pen history.
Yeah, at $12 is is passable. Certainly better than the Amazon Basics.
Agree with you on every point. Not controversial at all as far as I’m concerned! I bought a bunch of Metropolitans when I first started out and then after a couple of years I realised: I hate this pen. The step-down is brutal, which is the big killer, but the skinny grip and bad posting is a triple whammy of design flaws for me.
Also, love these contrarian videos. Good to shake up the consensus and have some fresh thinking in the FP world.
Thank you so much, Jason!
I started exploring fountain pens by buying Metros too. Ugh! I wish I had heard of the Explorer first. I have always carried my pen in my shirt pocket and a lightweight (plastic) pen replaces cheap ballpoints there so much better. The Metro is both too heavy and too skinny - very uncomfortable either using or carrying (though they store well at the back of a cupboard). At Christmas I still use a gold Metro with Diamine Golden Sands and a green Metro with Diamine Golden Ivy. Meh
@@DBCuzitis The Explorer seems much better but doesn’t seem to be distributed in UK/Europe sadly.
@@jasonmillar2953 Awww That is too bad. The Explorer is an ideal EDC for me. I carry a grey one with Diamine Earl Grey in it. It writes well and I have never had it dry out if I don't use it for a while (seals well). I have recently picked up a Con-70 and will put that in it when I need to refill it next. More ink capacity! Woo hoo!
I have a Prefounte, a Prera and some Preppies (and some Safaris). All are reliable nice pens. But if the japanese want to make something look cheap they strive for perfection even then. The Preppy really looks like a disposable pen you grab at a shop counter but it still is a good pen. The Metropolian however never sang to me.
BTW: I've checked my Prera and I can see some ejection marks, so it's most likely injection moulded. Still a good small pen.
Regarding the Safari: It's a reliable, inexpensive and almost indestructible pen available in a lot of colours and it's a decent writer. I'm not a huge fan of the Bauhaus style but they are a good choice for a school pen (if you can't get a vintage Sheaffer "No Nonsense") or if you are hiking outdoors. Fountain pens are mandatory in schools here in Germany, and the Safari is the favourite pen of the kids.
Thanks Stephen!
I bought my wife a Pilot Metropolitan and she loves it. It always writes immediately even if not used for months. It doesn't have a flex nib but so what, it only cost $30 :-) It does the Job!
I personally love my metropolitan white tiger, fortunately I don't experience any of the problems you mentioned. I think it's because I'm a girl so my hand is much smaller, the metropolitan's slim body fits perfectly and I don't post the cap, so maybe that's why I have no problem.
I began using the Pilot Metro a few years ago because of the 1.0 stub nib. I’ve tried many other pens but I really like them the best. I don’t post them and I don’t mind a small ink capacity because I change the ink in them often. For everyday though, I have a Pilot E95s.
I agree with your EDC! Thanks, Sandy.
But, with all due respect, the E95s is a gold nib and 6 times the price! Yes, it's a MUCH better pen, but you're PAYING for a MUCH better pen!
@@TheNightowl001 Yes, of course. But I was talking about how it posts, not the gold nib. The e95s is metal and plastic just like the Metro.
@@InkquiringMinds I was just talking about preferring the E95s for EDC as opposed to the Metro.
My first fountain pen was a Lamy Safari and that didn't write at all. Every time I tried writing, i had to prime the converter and push harder on the nib to get it to write. I figured there was a good reason that nobody was using fountain pens and gave up on it for a couple of years. The Pilot Metro got me back into fountain pens because it wrote every time I uncapped it. Say what you will about pilots, but they usually write when you need them to. I agree that the design could use improvement for most size hands.
Thanks for sharing, Will8635!
Excellent post! My story too. I had a Lamy Safari many years ago and it always hard started and skipped. I haven’t used a fountain pen for years, then got a couple of Metro’s this past year and it brought me back to FP’s. I don’t have any complaints about it except that the fine is too fine and scratchy for me, so I guess I’m a medium writer. With all the hype on Lamy, it was the pen that kept me away from FP’s, yet the Metro brought me back. This is similar to the negative hype on Invicta watches, yet it brought me down the rabbit hole of watches. Waiting on my E95S to arrive any day now.
I ordered a metro a few days ago as a Christmas gift from my wife…then I see your honest review of the pen. Don’t know what to make of this. I’ll be back with an update once I start using it. I just hope I’m that guy that actually likes the pen. First fountain pen ever.
The pilot metropolitan has many flaws and many people seem to over rate it despite there being better entry-level pens on the market. However it holds a special place in my heart because it introduced me to the world of fountain pens. In addition, this pen looks really nice when polished because it's made of brass!
What would you recommend over the Pilot for a first-time fountain pen user? I am looking to buy one.
I use my Metropolitan quite a lot, and really enjoy it. Great pen for the money!
I have two metropolitans and love them both. The things you pointed out as issues just don’t bother me at all. But I’m glad you raised them because the more feedback to pilot the more improvements they may make.
My biggest beef with the Metropolitan is that it is not all metal. The patterned part plastic.
I agree with Tod Martens. I have and like the Metropolitan and the issues you raised are not hills to die on. It may be my sausage fingers but the step above the grip never bothered me. The weight of the pen is also about perfect to my hand. The two objections that I do have for the Metropolitan (one you peripherally raised and one that is probably more personal to only me) are the CON-40 converter, instead of the larger CON-70 (I know that the CON-20 also fits but don't like the flimsy bladder,) and that the only color scheme that is available for the Metro that I like is the black/black version. I'm so minimalist that the other colors and "crocodile" pattern rings don't impress me.
I also have an Explorer but (probably because of the diameter and weight) don't like as well as the Metropolitan. It's a good, well made pen and writes well but, in my opinion, is about as enjoyable as lukewarm soup.
I'll have to look into the Prera at some point. It looks interesting.
I applaud the honest review, even if I don't fully agree.
@@scottherzeg2741 Nowadays, one can also get Euro versions of MR that accept international standard cartridges or converters.
I am sending all the applause. This was my first fountain pen and it almost turned me away completely. Next I tried a lamy safari and that was even worse. I'm so glad I didn't let them deter me and I found the kakuno, I now own 3 of them, hands down a great beginner pen for sure. I absolutely have no enjoyment from the 2 metropolitians I own that haven't been inked since 2017 and I have no intentions to ink them. Thank you for your honest review.
I returned my metro right after it came with a nib/feed that kept on skipping. Absolutely unpleasant
Thank you so much, Monita!
@@unknowncrash1 for me it was the line width, and it just made my writing look sloppy. I write very small and this pen just makes it looks smushed like the bubble letters we use to make in grade school.
@@InkquiringMinds You're very welcome.
So many Pilot Metros wasted, lying in drawers to be never used again?!
Availability is the key. For instance, where I live, we don't have much of a choice, especially when it comes to *all-metal body* pens that have F/EF nibs but are not Jinhao 35 and the likes of it: Lamy Al-Star, Pilot Metropolitan MR Animal series (in both European and Japanese versions), SS versions of Parker Jotter FP (which are even more expensive here than the previous two) and Parker Vector (which is known to have some issues). That's it (at least within the budget that I can spend on something as mundane as a pen). Four pens from trusted manufacturers + a bunch of Chinese QC lottery.
So, which one *out of the above* do you recommend for EDCing in the pant pockets attached to a pocket (A6) notebook and not being afraid of pressing on it or smashing it against anything? Between the Al-Star F and the Metro MR Animal EF (Euro version), I decided to order the latter. And the thin grip is something I'm used to since childhood.
I agree! I've had it many times in my hands but I've never bought it just the same as the Lamy Safari...
I like Jinhao 992 better.
Thank you! I tried to start with fountain pens twice over several years and both times I was highly recommended this pen by multiple people. I got it once and hated it. Went back to gel pens. Tried again a few years later and lost my mind thinking I was too harsh on it. Nope! I have since moved on and have found enjoyment with other pens but this pen drove me away from fountain pens for about 7 years. Nice to know I’m not alone in my struggle with Pilot Metropolitan.
Thank you, Doug. I love the look of some of the Metros with the funky 60's-style patterned band, but that vicious step up from the grip has ensured I've never even searched for it in a UK pen website. I have both a Prera and a Pluminix, & they're gorgeous.
Rock on! I'll have to snag a Prera.
I actually really like the grip and the cap on the metro, between that and how smoothly and consistently it writes I even bought a second one for a different ink. Personally I don't really understand where the complaints come from. That's not to say the video is wrong, just don't take it or what any one person says as the final word on a product. Try it yourself if you can.
The purple metropolitan was my first fountain pen, my second was the pilot cocoon Red (only difference is they worked the nib a little bit more making it even smoother amazing on a Fine nib to be that smooth, and made the cap easier to open and close, not sure about posting as I never post my fountain pens as hands too small). I still go back to them occasionally as they started an amazing change. After my car wreck and breaking all the bones in my hand there was a period of time I literally couldn't write as the pressure needed with a ballpoint pen was so painful I just couldn't handle it. Then a fluke chance at the bank and I forgot to sign the check for deposit, and some stranger handed me thier fountain pen to sign the check and it was a metropolitan. I ordered one that night. I now have a little collection and am on a Benu run this week. I do like hearing others opinions about different fountain pens as I can try to understand where others are coming from, always good to see things from a different perspective. Thanks
Thanks for sharing, Mae!
That's a steller review. That you sustained a horrible injury, and fountain pens allowed you to write again.
My metro came about 40 years after my first one. Loved it, got 2 more. It's part of my rotation.
My Metropolitan posts deeply and stays on well...and the pen is very well-balanced when posted. I think they should have sanded the section seams down but that's my only complaint. The Pilot Explorer feels cheap and looks cheap (did you notice that the inside of the cap and barrel isn't painted? WTF, indeed 😮)
I use my Metro for ouline art and it does it pretty well with F or EF nib, I don't use it much for writing. I think it is a good pen to start since it allows you to know and develop your preferences, Pilot steel nibs have good quality even with design problems, if the user decides to buy his own FPs he will do it with others brands that he decides to try, that are more comfortable and are of his own design choices. Normally I recommend or gift Lamy Safari, but I have given Metropolitan too and usually get good feedback after a while. I think that all brands have their mistakes in terms of design and we can´t explain their popularity, but I think it is a matter of personal tastes and the ability to observe fine details or maybe sensitivity in deepest details in each pen design.
All excellent points, Victor! Thanks.
My pleasure and thanks for your excellent work.
I'm another one with the metro as the first fountain pen. I did consider other options, even the explorer, but the all silver metro had a more interesting look to me. Looked retro futuristic with the rounded shape. I think this is why most people go with it, because it doesn't look like the standard straight edge disposable pen they are used to.
The best thing about your comments is point of view. You bring to the table a different one, and that is great. I bought a Metropolitan (your very same model) when I started writing with fountain pens. It wrote very well and, aside from finding "too sleek," I had no objections to it. Fast-forward to 2022 and your "crude remarks," and your got me thinking about it. And even though I don't agree with you in every single detail, I realize why, after the first ink load (Diamine Syrah), I've never used that pen again.
It will absolutely work for some styles of grips and the nibs are routinely very good so I can see why many like them. Still, poorly designed.
I'm fond of the Metropolitan, but I also agree with what you've said. The grip is narrow and posting the cap feels awkward. The Preppy has a much nicer grip and it also posts well. That said, the Metro has a nice heft when I hold it, which you won't find with lighter pens. It's not the best pen ever, but it is a decent pen.
And yes, the Kakuno is awesome.
This video popped up right after I encountered some Pilot MR pens at the local Office Depot (they sell the MR brand instead of Metropolitan brand for some reason). I’ve never used a Metro and have always wondered if that sharp part between the section and the barrel is really comfortable. Thanks for saving me money. 😅
I own a Metropolitan and you're absolutely correct. It isn't often a pen causes me pain when I hold it. Sadly that section/barrel step down makes the Metro one of the most uncomfortable pens in my collection. The only way it would work for me is if I completely changed my grip. But that would involve learning a different way to hold a pen. As you say, many people think it's wonderful but it certainly isn't. A bit like John Cleese, I suppose. YMMV.
Excellent! Well said, David!
Bravo, Doug! I have never understood the hype around the Metropolitan. When I went looking for Pilot fountain pens I liked, only a few made the cut: Custom 74, Custom 912, Custom 845, and Custom 823. They are bit pricey new but I found gently used ones that write well. For my 2 cents, the Pelikan M75 is similar in size, and in price when I bought mine, and is a piston filler.Not every pen suits everyone but you know your kind when you see it.
Right on!
I had a metro and really liked it honestly but my sister was visiting and since I had moved onto some higher end ones I let her take it to have a fountain pen to try out and she loved it. Personally, I never post my pens as I have really small hands and once a pen (dip or fountain) is too heavy it causes a lot of pain. Without posting most pens are fine for me and well, since I have small hands the smaller grip area works out great for me. I know thats completely an exception to the rule (and you are right about it there are better pens), its nice that even though it isn't great it at least works well for some heh. Do the others you mentioned have the choice of the 1.0 nib? I want to get a metro with that nib, unless there slightly better ones have that option too I'd try that out. Right now my every day is a Hongdian Forest Rainbow with medium nib I believe and it works so lovely for me, I use a few others (mostly BENU and TWSBI as the hubby isn't keen on me procuring a ton of pens so very rare that I get any new ones now), but I really want to get that E95s some day. I need to find out what size nibs that comes with, I prefer medium or broad myself. Just not a fan of fine ... I use shimmer inks a lot and I wanna see those suckers on the paper :)
Also, I had plenty of giggles with this video I loved it :)
The only Pilot I've seen the stub (italic) nib on was the Plumix.
👏👏very true! For the value the Jinhao X450/750s are much better. Although we get overcharged in Australia to get product down here (especially Japanese and European brands).
I have both a Metropolitan and a Lamy Al Star (yes, I am irredeemable), but I agree with your assessment. I cannot get a comfortable tripod grip on my Metropolitan, and it’s pretty awful to post. Then I bought a Kakuno, and I was blown away by how much nicer it is to use. I even bought a Con-70, and now it’s all smooth sailing.
I recently purchased my first ever Metro for one reason; and that was to get a Pilot 1.0 stub nib for my Kakuno. I figured that for a couple $ more than the asking price for an individual LAMY replacement nib, I could try a Pilot stub. It turned out to be a good decision as the Pilot stub is a smooth and comfortable writer. (LAMY nibs are too inconsistent.) Now, if only Pilot would offer their 1.0 stub with their Kakuno line, others could save a few dollars...
I agree with you about the Metro's harsh step on the grip! It's also a deal breaker for me.
I greatly disliked my metropolitan. No, I HATED the way it felt in my hand. HATE
And ... I think they are extremely unattractive. Shudder.
Terrible
I still love the metro. It looks pretty good, isn't too light, its easy to swap nibs, and the slopey grip is the right size and not too slippy for my hands (I live in the UK so its not a hot climate!). I have fairly small hands and don't seem to have issues with the step down (I also have the good blue 615 and dont get bothered by their bigger step down) It also writes brilliantly with a plumix stub or one of the caligraphy nibs - nice line variation and smoothness. In the UK it also sells with a useful metal case and with a converter - whats not to like!! The kakuno is OK but a bit fat and angular and the other options you mention dont look as good and can be more expensive.. So horses for courses, I think it may, to some degree, come down to finger/hand size and whether you appreciate a classic smooth cigar shaped metal pen or a more modern looking pen with the step on the outside.
Enjoyable video though.
Thank you for sharing!
A lot of people like super skinny grips, because they're used to writing with biros. So using a proper fountain pen may make them feel like writing with a marker pen or crayon!
Love that you’re so funny😂 keep it up. I’m obsessed with my new Metropolitan since I bought a fountain pen after a long time. Reallly love the nib but the grip, not so much, it’s slippery.
Thanks so much!! Get an Explorer!
@@InkquiringMinds got a Kakuno, truly a workhorse.
I think the problem with the explorer is the cap. It’s so good but if it fells the cap’s interior mechanism will break. Mine broke, it doesn’t cap fully and it’s always loose, so I had to buy another pen just to replace the broken cap. And when I’m out doing business or sketching, want my pens closed and secure. The explorer has great potential but they need to redesign the mechanism in the cap to work as intended properly.
I had the same issues you did. The pen was just uncomfortable to use because of that ridiculously acute angled lip. I'm glad yours wrote smooth though. Mine was terribly scratchy and continued to catch on the paper. Total waste of money and very frustrating. I have a cheap fountain pen from china that looks nicer, writes better, is comfortable, and cost me less than fifteen dollars. I also have others that cost just a little more. There are so many other options out there. I'm going to get the Prera next. I have tried the Kakuno, and that was a very nice pen for the price.
Learned to play guitar on a Yamaha.
One of 3 in my high school class who had their own guitars. Can ya guess who was serious and actually decent in the class and kept playing after high school?
I have been saying the exact same thing on my Redit - and been told countless times that I am doing things wrong.
The Pilot writes nice, that's it!
The posting sucks,
The ink filling process sucks,
Overall - I genuinely forced myself to like this pen.
Meanwhile - thanks for suggesting alternatives - I prefer:
- Japanese fine nibs
- slim grip section
- click-on caps (screw on shatter my soul)
- significant weight (metal)
Thanks again!
I have been using this pen for 6 years non-stop and it still works good. The only thing that the colour has a bit worn off and the cap doesn't fix properly, but it fixes easily. Now I realized that japanese fine is a bit scratchy for me and sometimes tears paper during fast writing and the grip stair makes long writing unbearable. Of course it's not the only pen for starters. Her popularity lies in the fact that for not big sum of money it's a famous-brand pen, which made in Japan, available in 16 colours and writes wounderful.
I couldn't agree more. The Kakuno is a much better option than the Pilot Metropolitan. I have a few Kakunos and they all use the Pilot CON-70 converter, which makes them excellent for long form writing sessions. I wish Pilot would make a version of the Kakuno that could be eye dropped and perhaps a little upscale from the original, like with a nice metal clip. Love your satirical approach to your channel and from one old fart to another thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, Jeff!
I did some modification for eyedropper Kakuno. It's not that hard, you know? Just seal the two holes at the bottom with some permanent solution. I'm using silicone sealant for it but not recommend anyone to use the same material due to silicone sealant doesn't stick well to certain type of plastics. Once you sealed the two holes at the bottom, just wipe some silicone grease on the thread, fill it up and put everything back together.
I just passed over a metro for an explorer just because the metro didn't fit the con-70 converter. Dodged a bullet out of pure luck as i just prdered my first two fountains on a whim.
This is my go to business note taking pen. I use a medium nib for general note taking and a
fine nib for annotating on copy paper. Maybe not best starter, but still a great pen.
Doug, you are spot on in every way about the Metro (and the virtues of the Prefounte over the Preppy as a gateway pen, though the Safari really is brilliant). Loved the starter guitar analogy. Is the Prera really only $10 more than a Metro in Canada? In the States it's >$50, which baffles me given the pricing on other Pilots (and sent me running for the stretched clone Wing Sung 3003 instead). And thanks for passing along the tip on the Kaweco clip for the Kaküno! I'm gonna buy a few of those ASAP.
Pricing is all over the map, Karl. It is hard to pin down. I just use Goldspot, Goulet and JetPens as basemarks. Now and then I'll throw in CultPens.
@@InkquiringMinds In Canada, a really excellent pen shop is Wonder Pens in Toronto, which has both a brick and mortar location and mail order.
I have a Prera demonstrator, and very much like it. Though I have two Metropolitans, and find them not bad, they aren't my favourite or most used pens. The section design, though it never bothered me too much, always struck me as strange.
On the basis of your thoughts on the Kakuno, I bought an orange and black one when I was in Wonder Pens today. I tried it before buying it, and think I will quite like it. I also bought my first gold nibbed pen, a beautiful forest green Pilot Custom 74 with a fine nib. For me, an exciting day!
@@dalydegagne1839 Congrats!
Haha. Totally agree with you! My first FP was the Metro. I used it for a day or two then decided if that was how fountain pens felt I could do without them. It took another year and a Kakuno to change my mind.
Well, I have been dithering about which entry level fountain pen to get for a year now, Twisbi eco seems too long, Metropolitan seems too heavy, Kaweco looks too thick, Safari doesn't look good... And I can't choose. I am 5 ft, female, have small hands and I don't want to buy something that I won't use every day, even if it's considered cheap. No point wasting money. But Pilot Explorer looks promising, thanks for the review.
I think the Explorer is highly underrated!
What movie was that first John Cleese clip from? I'm a sucker for the Monty Python crew
It is from "The Fish Called Wanda"
Shhhh don't tell people. I only use my Metropolitan for signatures, and I don't need to post the cap to do that. It makes me look sophisticated to people who are not into pens. Also I like the slim torpedo shape.
Thanks for the Prera and Explorer suggestion. I will be checking them out!
Fair enough!
You are absolutely correct, sir. Moulin Rouge was a despicable movie. Kevin Costner is a wooden cigar-store Native American, and Hee Haw wasn't entertainment at all: it was punishment, And the Pilot Metropolitan is a crummy pen. You are an astute observer of popular culture and you know a thing or two about fountain pens, too. Thanks for the excellent video!
Thank you sailcat9. That is much appreciated! My wife and I still watch Lawrence Welk on Saturday nights on PBS because it is like a train-wreck; you can't look away it is so jaw-droppingly awful bordering on racist. But the musicians were some of the best in the US. I often imagine them smoking a doobie backstage between polkas.
So explorer is possibly the way to go for the same price range and better confort? I dont like the looks of the kakuno. Also it doesnt look too comfortable to hold
The Kakuno is okay in the hand. It is light and chunky - good for a beginner. The Explorer is an excellent design and a superior pen IMO.
I had studied about fountain, nib, and glass pens a few years ago but didn’t buy one. Last month from an art professor TH-camr recommendation I got my first fountain pen, a Pilot Met. I love it!! It looks beautiful and writes smoothly. I know there are cheaper better fountain pens. Perhaps this Pilot Met won’t be my last.
I got a metro. It is the ONLY pilot fountain pen I have gotten that had a truly crappy nib. I got stub. It has skipped, run dry, and just generally felt rotten on paper. It is so bad that it kinda turned me off of stub nibs for a long time. Now I want to dig it out and try to fix it once again...
Mr Indi, I purchased this pen 2 yr back and I was literally shocked😲 to see these cons.. I even thought maybe they're selling this version only in India 🤔 and American version might be better In quality and craftsmanship. Now I understand it's a crap model everywhere 😁😁😁
Indeed!
Thanks a lot Doug! Your videos helps me to improve my English skills and I really like your humor sense
Glad to hear that!
The most annoying habit of my metropolitan is the way the nib dries so quickly, even when capped. Within 2 hours, it will not write at all and it takes a lot of effort to get it started again. Shaking and dry-writing and nib spreading strokes do little or nothing. It’s enough of a frustrating chore to make me avoid using the pen. And this was with a well-behaved ink, Pilot/Namiki blue-black.
The nib is smooth but boring, no personality, bounce or interest. The grip, as you say, is slippery uncomfortable, another enjoyment killer even if there wasn’t that drying out issue. The lack of posting ability is an unfortunate mystery.
“Perfect for using for Bay State Blue” is a the kind of insult I enjoy.
I agree with everything but the knock on the Metro for not posting. My Metro posts beautifully. It is one of the very few things it does well.
I have a Metro, but the section is too skinny for me, making it uncomfortable. The step up doesn't bother me nor does the fact that the pen doesn't post. But I thought the EF nib was stiff as a nail. I pulled a CI nib out of a Pluminix to replace the EF. I'm still looking sell the Metro, if I can find someone who likes the pen.
As for Lamy: I don't get on with the grip section, and the LH nib turned out to lay down way too thick of a line.
I just wish the Prefounte came with an EF nib, but I discovered that the cap on one of my Preppies cracked, so I see a Prefounte and a nib swap in my near future.
Great rant Doug! And some damn good points. Like most newbies I bought one years ago. I think I still have it, somewhere. It's usually out of my mind and I think it shall remain there, wherever it is! Have a good week!
In all seriousness, your analysis of the grip (esp as someone who's owned (and loved) Pilot Metropolitans myself) made me think of something that may lead to why Pilot designed the metro in this way: East Asian pen grip education
When I was in elementary school, everyone was taught to use a very narrow version of the tripod pen grip from grade 1 onwards, and we are taught to grip very close to the pen tip (hence why the nudge is where it is). It's very much taken seriously: "pencil grip correctors" are ubiquitous in stationery shops (to the point where I *still* have them from my elementary years despite being very well into my 20s now) and improper pen grip is very much sufficient for a disciplinary infraction at school, so most of us are basically stuck with this (in all fairness, healthy) habit for the rest of our lives, with our pen grips not deviating far from the narrow prescribed standard.
Although I myself spent my childhood in Mainland China, I've heard similar anecdotes from my friends from Korea and Japan regarding how we're taught to grip pens at a young age, which may have influenced why the pen grip area is so narrow on the Metropolitan, seeing that Pilot is a Japanese brand. That being said, there is a valid counter-argument to this in that the Kakuno (which I've also used; my hands are way too big for it even with the pen cap posting) doesn't have as sharp of an edge between the grip and the rest of the body.
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing!
I almost bought a Metro when I first got back into fountain pens about 7 months ago. That being said I'm glad I didn't get one. I'm glad I never bought the hype on the LAMY's either lol I still don't have any Pilots besides the Varsity which was where I started. I have been looking heavily at the Prera's, 78G's, and Lucina's. I think some of the Metro love is the look of them as well. They do look the part of a good fountain pen, but I think like you said for most people when you hold it is where it ends.
Amen 🙏 brother! That section and posting is the reason why I sent mine back where it came from.
Why the mass hypnosis still works for this I cannot tell. Maybe it's all the tacky styles this can be had in.
Tacky sells!
I got a Metro first and hated it. The nib was skippy and it didnt' flow easily over the paper. The Lamy Safari writes so much more smoothly over the same paper and doesn't drip ink everywhere.
i didn't know you sold guitars, it would be really cool if you could tell us more stories about that when you are reviewing pens, i don't know anything about guitars but listening to you make guitar/fountain pen comparisons is next level storytelling, thank you
Thank you so much. I'm always being told the guitar stuff is distracting and when I add guitar intros, my viewership on my videos drops by 50%. I've been asked to do guitar specific videos, but they are a TON of work and I get 100 views instead of the 2000 views I get for my pen reviews. But thanks for saying that as it is much appreciated!
@@InkquiringMinds just do the videos you want, you are the only one qualified to know what is best for your channel, i just hope in the future we get more analogies or personal stories that tie in with the pen you are reviewing, i know you have a lot of knowledge and wisdom to give so you're sort of obligated to share it with the younger generation
I 100% agree Doug! I have two Metros, a fine & a medium & they both suck for all the reasons you listed. I never use them. I’ve had better luck with the Varsity pens. My Lamy Safari & Al Star pens now have Lamy gold nibs & it transforms them into very good & reliable everyday use pens.
I have to say the Lamy gold nibs are light-years ahead of the steel.
Thanks for the honesty. Wish I had seen this a few years ago when I was led to buy this by my retailer. Hated it from the get go especially the posting issues you mentioned.
Good review on the Metropolitan. Indeed, I like all your reviews and the humour. The video clips are fun, but sometimes there are too many, and it takes away from your words, as IMO it did today.
I can’t watch grandpa grumble over! Some old shire guy saying thing suck. Well Rodrick… fix it! 😂
earned a sub! the best reviewer I've ever seen on the internet
Thank you!!!
@@InkquiringMinds you earned it bro 💪
Worst part: dropped it one time, grip cracked. Only used it for a month and a half!
Second worst part is how much this damn thing leaks. Already bought a Safari, hoping I like it better. Love the heavy grip and smooth writing, hate the rest.
What ink are you using in the introduction? Looks fantastic!
Leonardo Momento Zero Blue Hawaii with a custom ground architect nib.
Hi Doug, if I may politely put in a request for you to review a Diplomat Aero. Your analysis and presentation are top class and the Aero is one of my favourite pens, particularly as you can switch any no.6 sized nib. I feel like you'd enjoy the precision machining of the pen and the rich history of the Zepellin and design cues of flutes etc. (just like your Visconti Mirage video). It's a very inspiring pen. Sorry, I myself can't send you one to review, so I hope an opportunity for you to try one comes up. The non-gold nib version of the Aero is still good value for money IMO.
Thanks James. I’ve considered getting one. But it is a lot of money for a metal pen with a metal grip.
@@InkquiringMinds Aagh, yes, I did think the metal grip section might be a problem for you. It really isn't slippery though! Thanks for getting back to me :)
Spot on. My first two fountain pens (after I abandoned them in my youth like everyone else) were a Lamy Safari and a Pilot Metropolitan. I still use the Lamy, with its gorgeous stub nib. I haven't used the Metropolitan in 10 years.
Thanks for sharing!
I got the usual suspects when I started out a few years back- a Lamy Safari, a Pilot Metro, and a TWSBI Eco
While the Safari's cap ended up giving way after a few months of use, I really couldn't find it in me to keep using the Metro either; while the materials were probably the best of the bunch, the scarcer converters (I'd been stuck with the CON-20 squeeze converter) and huge step-down really served as a turn-off.
Shame about the price hike, too; now there isn't much reason to get it 🤷♂️
While it would've made sense to get it some ≈10 years back, the Chinese market's since kicked it out of its niche, I feel
1. I love love love it when you make videos like this. The humor you inject into your critiques is always pitch perfect and the insight is always on the mark.
2. The second you said the polygon™ clip fit on the kakuno, I ran like a bat out of hell into the other room. Finally, a decent use for a Kaweco product!
I know right!? Great tip.
Was about to order a metro. Thanks.
Kindly suggest is it better to buy jinhao x159 than metro? My main focus is smoother writing.
Yes, definitely!
@@InkquiringMinds Thanks alott.
The problem with Jinhaos is the lack of nib choice. They generally come in medium or fine depending on which model you buy. Some of the fines actually are fine, but others for the larger pens are almost indistinguishable from their medium nibs. They are nice pens, although a little less predictable than pilot pens. The metropolitan is very easy to swap nibs on so you get their own limited variety as well as all of the calligraphy and plumix nibs. Some of the stubs are wonderful writers with lovely line variation.
I have a question. Can I use pilot hi-techpoint ink which is meant for rollerball, in pilot metropolitan fountain pen? Someone said, that it can clog or corrode or damage the pen in the long run as the ink is meant to be used in rollerball only and that fountain pen inks are completely different.
But before hearing this, I used the hitechpoint ink in the metropolitan pen and the result was FANTASTIC. The experience is out of the world. Please let me know your expert opinion regarding whether I can use the hi-techpoint ink in the metropolitan pen safely or not.
I'm no expert on hi-techpoint ink but, it seems to me that using an ink not designed for a fountain pen is fraught with problems. Fountain pens are designed to be used with water-based inks. Rollerball ink is made of carbon black, polymer and a non-water based solvent. Can't be good in the long run.
@@InkquiringMinds thanks for replying. Ok, I'll try to find a fountain pen ink as satisfying as the experience I had with hitechpoint ink.
@@bapon85 Unless it needs to be waterproof, try Pilot's Iroshizuku Take Sumi. It is my favourite black ink.
Wait a minute, what about the safari? Don't leave me hanging!
I don't own a metro, but from all the video and pictures I saw, that big step down from barrel to section does scares me.
I'll wait for the dust to clear before I go after the Safari.
I love the Kakuno demonstrators- and don't use the Metropolitan. The Kakuno is light, and way more comfortable in my hand. I love its simple styling and lack of a clip. I use the con-70 and can see the ink.
Thanks, TOR 216!
I like what you’re saying. I think I’ll check out the Explorer. I’d like to have a daily set that has more ink capacity.
The Pilot Kakuno is indeed an excellent choice, as are Platinum Prefonte for a bit more businesslike style, or the fantastic Pilot Prera at a higher price. And the Pilot Plumix is an awesome means toward an italic nib. I have one Metropolitan, and it is probably my only regrettable purchase in the fountain pen realm. The cap simply will not stay posted, and there is no significant factors in its favor to compensate for that cap shortcoming.
Couldn't agree more!
1. Thanks for the warning. Actually I've never been tempted to try a Metropolitan, but since you also hate the Safari, I value your opinion on lower-end pens.
2. I bought a used 743 that feels brand new to me, but the CON-70 is already wearing out, so I question their durability. Or are you supposed to need 100 clicks to fill it? Not important to me, as I prefer refilling cartridges, but maybe a warning. Anybody else notice a problem with an older CON-70?
I think they may have solved the issues with the newer Con70. I've never used an old one. And technique is important in filling it. I use a quick stroke down and slow retract and can fill it with about three strokes.
My first Con-70 died on me, but I couldn't say exactly what the issue was since it sat inside a custom 74 unused for quite awhile. It usually takes e about 5 or 6 clicks to fill, but the key is not to click and wait like you would with a Parker 51 Vac. You have to click several times rapidly to build up pressure in the converter, and then let go to get a full fill.
@@raigne86 Good info, thanks.
Bought one on a recommendation, used it for a day and have never used it again. I disagree though that it’s worst Pilot pen. Have you reviewed the vanishing point?
LOL. The VP wouldn't even come close to the bottom of the Pilot list. I've reviewed a Decimo. It isn't for me but it is an extremely well build, and smooth fountain pen and my wife adores it. I have a Moonman A1 with a Pilot 18k stub nib unit in it and it is wonderful.
Thank you for speaking up about the darn Metropolitan. I have had a love/hate relationship with it ever since I got it. The love is 30%. My reason for hating it is the reason you seem to like yours: the nib. The nib that came on my Metro was craptacular. It languished in a pen wrap, unused for a long while and last year, after reading of swapping the nib, I put the cursive italic Plumix on the Metro and it was like having a new pen. There is still a lot I don't really like about it though. It just isn't comfortable to use.
Thank you, Erin!
I recommend the Parker Frontier. Inexpensive, looks decent and writes well too. Don't understand the obsession with the Metropolitan. Cheers!
For me, the biggest flaw of the metropolitan is the nib dries out with the cap on for a couple of days only... and the ink tends to spill while uncapping.. I own two European version (using standard ink cartridges and converter, model is MR) of the pen, and all have this problem. Not sure if the international version has the same issue.
I haven't had it inked long enough to know!
This. Was. Funny. Missed it, under my radar. I like it when Doug gets cheeky.
LOL! Cheeky huh? :)
In the best sense. I have a Metropolitan, works fine, but I find it bland in comparison to PenBBS 's array and the more exotic Ranga(s). I've gotten into Sheaffer lately: bought a vintage Empire and a new 300 - I'm loving them both.
@@chazmenaGood on ya for the vintage Sheaffers!
I have the cheap kaweco sport clone clip on my kakuno. Works great. (I don't have a metro, but love my stormtrooper explorer). Thanks to your reviews.
Very cool! That Stormtrooper is cool!
I can see your point on the critique of the Metro but there is a silver lining there. As someone else posted, I too had the popular Lamy Safari many years ago and it always hard started and skipped. Because of this I haven’t used a fountain pen for many years, then got a couple of Metro’s this past year and it brought me back to FP’s. Getting back into FP’s for under $20 was an acceptable risk for me. I don’t have any complaints about it except that the fine is too fine and scratchy for me, but the medium is very smooth, so I guess I’m a medium writer. With all the hype on Lamy, it was the pen that kept me away from FP’s, yet the Metro brought me back. This is similar to the negative hype on Invicta watches, yet it brought me down the rabbit hole of watches for a relatively cheap price with good quality. I guess your criticisms of the Metro are based on your extensive experience with high quality pens, like looking at an Invicta after you’ve had your Rolex, but for a newbie I still think it’s a good start. Waiting on my E95S to arrive any day now.
Enjoy your e95s!
@@InkquiringMindsThanks! Will do. Btw, I like your videos. Well done, entertaining, and informative. New subscriber.
@@themightysquid Thank you! Welcome aboard!
I loved the Metropolitan so much, I gave it away to a complete stranger to get rid of it. The Prera is so much better. I bought a Prera to introduce 14y/o daughter to fountain pens. She actually enjoys writing her essays for school and carries it in her pen case to school. Her next pen is a Kakuno on it’s from the rabbit hole in the cloud (Amazon)
Thanks for sharing!
The only Pilot pen I dislike more than the Metropolitan is the Prera. It's the section size and shape. I hate it. And I was a pilot fangirl long before I started collecting FP. My first pen love was a Pilot V5, so perhaps back when that was my go-to pen, I'd have liked the Metropolitan better.
Thanks! I always appreciate reviews that are not always glowing paeans! I like Pilot/ Namiki FPs and have most of their range from the original Falcon, original (and a few upgraded) VPs, the superb, diminutive E95s up thru my beloved 823 and even an 845. I felt compelled over time to add a Metro for completeness sake but never did -- and now I'm glad that I didn't!
All of those Pilot gold nibbed pens are excellent. Pilot's quality is second to none. That's why I've always been perplexed by the Metro.
I'm in full agreement regarding the Metropolitan, Doug. Why this, over other similarly priced or even cheaper pens, is so popular, is mystifying. I mean on Amazon, there is a Waterman Graduate Allure which seems more suitable. And they clearly are targeting a certain audience for that pen. If anything, its just not a suitable gateway pen into the fountain pen universe. Gateway pens should be well designed, well made within a budget cost, so that people would enjoy writing. Simple. Confession: I dislike the Pilot Explorer for similar handling reasons as the Metropolitan. I tried it, and it just wasn't for me. And I use Platinum Preppies - two , one at work and one at home - as beater pens, all purpose without care for handling them. And I'm sure for many the Metropolitan hits a certain sweet spot for them, just as TWISBI does for their passionate users. We're spoiled with such a wide variety of models and configurations. Back in the day it was a sharp stick or a quill. Can you imagine the kvetching back then?
My stick is bigger than yours! LOL
Overall... Pilot Metro is a cute metallic fountain pen in his price range. And very good fitting in pockets.
I like it... only the grip section is a bit short for me.
Other option will be the Faber-Castell Loom. Other affordable, metallic and comfort heavy pen (like a personal plus), but with a different a most rounded and balanced design.
Don't get me started on the Loom! LOL
The Kevin Costner of fountain pens, lol! Yes, I have one and I like everything about it until I write with it. I was determined to
like it and kept trying, but too much fidgeting for a tolerable grip. Too bad, because the nib is just fine. I use my Kakuno
demonstrator with con-70 all the time. Cheers!
Cool! Thank you so much, David!
Hi, as i acknowledge the step up seems to be a problem in your hand, it doesn’t in my hand. However, my beef with the met (and i own 3 🤷♀)is the sac filler! When a converter is so easy to see how full it is or if a shimmer ink is used ,have you rolled the pen enough, that is why ,now that i have a prera, prefounte, and a few diplomats, the mets don’t get used! But they are cute, and don’t look like a child’s pen! But that’s just my Canadian opinion😉
Keep on making great videos!
I don't think they mean that squeeze converter to be used with ink. It is a tool to clean the pen. Cartridges and syringe filling cartridges is the best option.
Just syringe fill Pilot cartridges…
Like you, I'm not a Metro fan at all; but I do indeed love the Custom 74.
Everyone seems to wind up with one. I got it because I wanted the nib, cheaply, having been told (correctly) that it handles extremely shimmery inks like a champ. I gotta get through this inkvent calendar somehow. I wound up with the metro over the Kakuno because to add a converter to the Kakuno made it the same price as an on sale metro so I got the metro. And for me it's fine, but I'm a back-gripper. That brutal step down doesn't bother me because I'm not holding it anyway. But I probably wouldn't get one for somebody else unless I knew they had similar habits.
Indeed. If your grip doesn't intersect that awful step then it is an okay pen with a very good steel nib.
@@InkquiringMinds I admit that even though it would have wound up costing the same or more after converter, the Kakuno almost won out for the smiley face. My inner child is alive and well.
What do you think of the Pilot Cavalier? A video would be nice on your thoughts.
I've never met one. But I've just received a Pilot Prera!
I've never used a Metropolitan and really haven't wanted one. The style is similar to my Sheaffer VFM Rollerball and the posting is very similar, unreliable. Sometimes posts well sometimes the cap won't stay posted. Although the stepdown on the Sheaffer isn't as bad.