These pens were gifted for review however my opinions, as always, are my own.
Why Fountain Pens Anyway ?
Well, the short answer is that fountain pens make the act of writing by hand feel special. In this digital age, writing by hand IS special and when I use fountain pens in my planner or journal they elevate the day to day things I put on the page. There are so many options out there – big pens, little pens, inexpensive pens and pens that cost the bank. Then there’s the ink. OOOOOOOH the inks! Between the pen and the inks your writing experience is endlessly interesting. Somedays, curiosity and excitement are just the thing to motivate me to put something on paper. Even if it’s just a grocery list, and you know what? Sometimes I need my grocery list to be exciting or it will never get made and we’ll just order in. Again.
Kaweco Collection (Sport) Dark Olive
I have several Sport model pens from Kaweco and what I love about them is that they are truly a ‘pocket’ pen, meaning, I’d stuff one in my pocket or in my purse and not worry about it. If it gets a little scuffed up? That’s ok, it adds character! At this price point ($27 USD currently on Goldspot pens) I almost look forward to being able to shop for a replacement in another colour should it finally get too dinged up – or lost even. So far, that hasn’t happened and they are all holding up rather well after their travels.
What I love most about Kaweco pens is that they just write without issue. I know what I’m getting and they perform. I currently own nib sizes in extra fine, fine and medium. Kaweco nibs are made from steel and are robust though small.
If like me, you have larger sized hands, you may find this pen on the small side – it’s made to be small. I prefer to hold my pen above the threads so my hand is a more comfortable distance from the paper, but if you can’t fathom holding your pen there this model may not be for you. If you have small hands then you will likely love the size!
The pen shown here is not wearing a clip but you can certainly outfit your pen with one if you like and there are two styles to choose from.
Overall you can have a lot of fun with these little guys. They’re affordable, easy to come by, available in a lot of colours, can be customized with clips, ink cartridge converters and ink colours! They even come with a cartridge so you can pop it in and get writing right away. If you are new to fountain pens or just thinking of dipping your toe in, Kaweco is a great starting point.
Something to note: Kaweco pens are made in Germany and as such, the nibs are more broad than Japanese pens like the Pilot shown below. If you want a fine line…go for an extra fine nib.
PROS:
- C U T E
- Lightweight
- Accessible Price Point
- Smooth nibs
- Versatility
- Size
- Selection of colours
CONS:
- Size
- Small Nib
Pilot E95s Burgundy
If you’ve never tried a fountain pen before, maybe don’t start with the E95s (I mean, you could but…) grab a Kaweco like the one shown above first and see if you even like using one. If you already own a pen or two or three and want to get something a little more…serious. This is your pen! The Pilot E95s (the E is for Elite) is an absolute dream and the 14k gold nib does not disappoint. You might notice I have “price” listed in both the pro AND the cons list and that’s not a mistake. This is one of the best and least expensive gold nibs available on the market at $144 USD via Goldspot but I do realize that it’s a pen that still costs more than $100 bucks. I know that is an investment for many (me included) but everyone has their reasons for the things they choose to buy. Right? For me, the value is there. This is a pen I’ll use for years and years and years because it’s an absolute joy to write with.
The nib is not a flex nib by any means (and don’t try, you could damage it) but it does respond nicely to the pressure you naturally use while writing which makes the result look rather nice – and it helps to make the pen more comfortable to use for a longer journaling session.
On the cons list I listed small ink capacity, and that is really only true if you use the con-40 converter which is the one that fits into the E95s. I’m not a huge fan of that converter and personally, I’ll refill old cartridges (and it does come with one) with fresh ink so I can have a variety of colours to choose from.
The finish on this pen is less robust than its friend above and I’d hate to scratch it up, so I treat this one a bit more delicately so it stays elegant and pretty.
What do I mean by ‘quick draw’ ? The cap on this pen isn’t threaded. You just slide it off and just like that you’re ready to write. It’s fast and easy to use for quick notes and posting the cap on the end brings the size to a comfortable length in the most satisfying way. Also because there are no threads you can really grip this pen anywhere you find comfortable which means your hand will fatigue slower than if you were forced to grip it in an unnatural spot.
Something to note: Pilot pens are made in Japan and as such, the nibs are finer than German pens like the Kaweco shown above. If you do not want a super fine line, opt for a medium or broad nib.
PROS:
- Smart Looks
- Size
- Gold nib
- Smooth, responsive nibs
- Quick draw
- Price
- Comfort
CONS:
- Small ink capacity
- Delicate finish
- Price
As mentioned, I do have other Kaweco pens which I’ve had for years, as well, I have a few Pilot pens in my collection too. I am confident in recommending these fountain pens to anyone looking to give the experience a try. They are quality writers you’re sure to enjoy and my personal favourites of the moment! If you’d like to see my entire collection of Pilot pens – there’s more pen and journaling content on the way!
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