Top 10 Fountain Pens Under $50
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- Опубліковано 24 лип 2024
- A look at my top 10 fountain pens under $50:
Honorable mentions:
0:00 Intro
2:44 Pen BBS 308
3:00 Asvine v169
3:21 Jinhao Shark
3:39 Platinum Preppy
4:02 Diplomat Magnum
4:19 Amazon Basics
Top 10
4:56 Pilot Kakuno
5:52 Kaweco Liliput
6:28 Pilot Metropolitan
6:59 Muji Aluminum
7:43 Nahvalur Original Demonstrator
8:23 TWSBI GO
9:29 Lamy Safari/Vista
11:20 Kawaco Skyline Sport
12:55 TWSBI ECO
13:49 Lamy Al Star
#top10 #figboot #fountainpens
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I love when I end up on Obscure UA-cam. I have no idea why this channel showed up in my recommendations, but thank you sir!! When I was younger and read Harry Potter, I was obsessed with inkwell pens and fountain pens, but the pen I got (cheap, I was 12) was not very good! It took the wind right out of my sails. You have reinvigorated my love for such a classic writing utensil! Now I know what I will be gifting myself for Christmas.
I ended up on this channel just because I felt a sudden urge to look up "figboot".
I’m so glad you decided to update this series. It’s so helpful. It’s also lovely to hear your gentle voice over morning coffee.
I adore my Kakunos, which have those holes for the safety of children who might choke on the cap or the bottom. I superglued mine shut and now the ink doesn’t dry out. Also bought the converter, works great. I have pretty much given up using all my other fountain pens - this is so light, doesn’t roll, don’t have to worry if I lose it, and writes as well as the most expensive ones I’ve owned.
for those of us with small handwriting, the Lamy nibs write a bit too broad: much prefer the Pilot78g+ which comes with EF, F and M nibs - particularly like the Italian collection blue/grey model with silver trim:)
Thanks, David, great list with many of my favourites in this category. One pen that is almost always overlooked in these kinds of lists is the wonderful Lamy Logo. Just thought I would mention it. A very nice looking fountain pen that performs very well. Hey, it's a Lamy nib 😉
A Safari was my very first fountain pen but I have to say I've developed a soft spot for the Al-Star! They all write so well.
My Narwhal hippocampus feels nice in the hand but doesn't have the same easy flow in the nib that I'm used to from Lamy.
Edit: my TWSBI Ecos are amazing too. I'd happily buy more of those and recommend them for sure.
I have a Safari in my pocket almost always. Perfect place to start on a fountain pen for how easy nibs are to get and change.
@@jeremyschuh If I wasn't paranoid I'd lose one, I'd happily keep one with me! My handbag is a black hole though, so I'm kind of scared where a travelling Safari would end up!
@@QueenB-ee I was carrying a Safari yesterday with a Pilot Custom 823. I guess I think it is a good starting place because it is a pen that you aren't going to out grow. I've found that the 1.5mm stub is fun to have on my Safari and that I get just as much enjoyment from that pen as more expensive pens. I didn't feel that way with the TWSBI Eco.
@@jeremyschuh nice! I've never tried a stub nib, I guess because I tend to write fast and I'm not sure the stub would accommodate
As a noobie to the fountain pen niche I truly appreciate this video. I love the variety of affordable pens and my 1st pen was a Twsbi Eco in yellow. I will definitely be grabbing a few from the list knowing that I won't be wasting my money. Thank you, Dave!
Another amazing episode!
I am looking forward to this updated series.
I really appreciate the honorable mention for the Jinhao shark, while it is very cute it certainly isn't a super stylish pen, but I love them for being my first fountain pen. A few years ago a favorite professor of mine in college got into fountain pens herself and held an after class party of sorts to share them with interested students. We all got a Jinhao shark and our choice of some ink to fill it with, and little plastic sample vials to take some more of her many inks. I fell in love with using fountain pens through that lime green Jinhao shark I got, and as a broke college student I was thrilled with how incredibly affordable they are (under $5 US on Goulet is how I've gotten them). I have four of them now, as well as a TWSBI Eco which I adore, and I get great use out of them! They really would be the perfect option for kids, especially since the ones I've seen now have hooded nibs that aren't easy to damage or lose. I'm moving up in the pen world now as a not-quite-as-broke-no-longer-college-student, but those sharks will always be my beginner recommendation!
That's such a sweet story! Thank you for sharing!
This is a great list. I love many of the pens you chose and will probably look into those I have not used so far. Looking forward to the next video!
Ah, thank you! I always enjoy your Top 10 lists -- and greatly appreciate your plans to move to 5 categories. There are pens in the 250-500 range that I find attractive while pens over $500 -- even if they make me salivate -- are above what my value sanity allows!
Thanks for always doing real nice and helpful reviews, keep up the good work.
I was gifted a safari by my auntie from China and as much as I loved that pen. I've grown in what pens I like and I haven't touched a Lamy in a long time because I prefer the more classic cigar shaped instead of minimalist
Thank you so much for the list of pens, I have quite a few now to suggest as gift options
Great list. And great video as always. I’ll say TWSBI Swipe is a great value pen under $50 and deserve a spot in the honorary mention. Looking forward to the next price bracket!
Great content as usual! The Al Star was the 1st fountain pen I ever purchased for myself too.😊
I love it when you feature pens that I can buy without figuring out how to adjust my budget for a couple of months (to wit: the Firefox tab that I still have open for the ensso Piuma from the other day, which I'm using to watch the "___in stock" ticker hoping that it sells out before I have a chance to have a few glasses of something-or-other and buy it). I have several of these...I have a couple of Safaris because I figured that maybe I'd like the second more than the first, but...meh, still just fine to me. Of the bunch, I'd say my favorites are the Eco, Skyline Sport, and I LOVE the Muji. Such a good everyday writer, and I like the clean, Exacto knife look of it. I showed my most recent Aluminum to a long-suffering friend who isn't into pens, and she wrote a couple of lines and said, "Okay, THIS one I get.:"
Thank you for working on updated Top 10 videos.
Yay Muji! That is my first pen and I love it! Was excited to see it in your list, thanks for sharing your top “affordable” pens 😊
That one always makes me think of Peter draws
Great video as I am still finding my way round more affordable pens. One thing I missed on the description was choice of nib which to me is important. However, nothing to stop me finding out for myself after seeing your excellent review. Many thanks and keep them coming!
Really useful! I've recently spent a lot of money on high end pens and I feel the need to go back to basics (:
I recently got a TWSBI Eco. It's a nice pen, but it's the pen that taught me all nibs are not created equal (I expected medium like a Pilot Metropolitan). There is a difference. Since then I've discovered Goulet Pens Nib Nook. You have definitely piqued my interest in the Nahvalur Demonstrator Plus. Thank you for such a great list!
Thank you for putting together my Christmas list!
Another great video from the Godfather of Pens - the kids really like these top 10 lists.
This was perfect! I'm starting university tomorrow and need a nice pen for taking notes. :)
Can't find anything wrong with any of these suggestions. One thing I would add is that the Lamy models and the Kaweco Sport offer the beginner the option of changing nibs easily ane inexpensively. That's a real plus, IMHO, since it enables the beginner to discover which nib size works best for him/her without having to spring for new pens.
Very Nice video David - these list vids are always of great interest. Be interesting to see a list of pens under $50 in say the 1940s when the Parker 51 was about $15.00. Mind you $15.00 then is over $300 now.
Thank you, David, very helpful video. I currently have the Pilot Metropolitan in three colors, as well as a Lamy Safari and a Kakuno. My next order will be for the TWSBI Eco and a Lamy AL-star. I'm still trying to find my way on nib sizes, though, between F and M.
I will say I really like my Diplomat Magnum. I tried out the Aero, and while I love the look of it, I didn't like how it felt in my hand. So I picked up a Magnum in the cool John Doe/prismatic purple colour. The nib is just lovely and soft, and it is a pleasure to use.
There are some incredible PenBBS models in this price range. I think you’d really enjoy the 456 Vacuum Filler or the 355 Bulk Filler
Nice selection, thanks!
1. Lists like this are fun and useful. Thanks.
2. In my opinion the Kaweco BB nib is really outstanding, and available in a range of pens. I love mine in a Sport and another in a Special.
honestly the platinum preppy is the only pen in my collection that still writes nicely after i left it for 1 year. the others are dried up and needed some good cleaning
Great list! Faber-castell Grip is another decent starter pen that doesn't get much love, although it can be a bit tricky to get a converter that fits it. It will take international cartridges but seems to want a Faber-castell converter. They do write well.
I was going to say Faber-Castell Loom... one of the smoothest steel nibs out there.
@@adamsteineke4661 That's in David's new video on $50 - $100 pens!
What a great video, I have picked up a few from this list, I don't think anything beats a Lamy Al Star in this price range. I know it's not loved, but the Parker IM is worth looking at.
Thanks for great video as always. I wonder if I am spoiled by my smooth Kawecos or just had bad luck. I have tried some Lamy Studio and Twisbi 580 while they are very comfortable in my hand, they didn't feel smooth. (Not scratchy though that was my Ahab that would have paper particles in the tip of the nib)
Awesome.. i love these series.
I've gotten to the point where I get more use and joy out of my metropolitans than any pen I put out good money for. Maybe I should branch out and try some of these other low cost high quality pens.
Fascinating. You'll have noted by now that Asvine has its P20 piston filler for about $30, and that the Hong Dian N7 piston fillers come in at about the same price. I have both, and find them to write beautifully, to feel good, and look good.
I’m glad to see the increase in options of this price range.
Puppies chewing up my pens is a nightmare of mine. I had a puppy still teething around mine a year ago, and I lived in fear of everything I owned being covered in ink if he ever got his muzzle on a lose pen. But on that shark pen, the bite marks make an appropriate addition. They should sell them that way.
Great info. Thanks.
Great list!
شكراً لجهودك
I love the list overall, but you missed the best one! I love the Pilot Prera, and you can usually get one for under $50 (unless a lot has changed in the past 6 months). I think you've done the Prera a disservice by snubbing it for its pedestrian cousin, the Metropolitan... although I could see it either way.
I checked the $50-$100 video, the Pilot Prera is there!
I think the Metropolitan should be at the top of the list. Especially for new users as Lamy's triangular grip may discourage them. Also, I've never seen a Metropolitan sold without both a converter and a cartridge. The Safari is often sold with just a cartridge. Other pens such as ones from Pen BBS could be a good choice as they also have a round grip and come with a converter.
The Metro was often sold converterless back when you could get one for under $13 - back in 2017 or so.
Helpful video, thanks. I have 3 Lamy safari pens and have trouble with them with ink flow. I use them for drawing but when there is more than a week between using they seem to have problems getting going again. Any ideas what I am doing wrong please?
Goulet does still have the Vista black! I just got one not too long ago, so it's nice to see it on this list 😊
On the Jinhao Shark (and its close friend the Swan), one nice thing to note as well is that they also come in fude nibs. I don't think there is a cheaper way to try out a nib in that East Asian calligraphy style, which is so different from flex or stub/italic styles
They are lovely writers, but the plastic body is way too fragile. Most of my Sharks have broken at the threads, where the body and grip meet, because the grip is just stronger than the body, and the threads are just meh. If Jinhao upgrade the body material, charging a little more in price if need be, so they were more durable, I be happy to recommend them as an entry level pen for anyone. Both the Sharks and Swans come in a wide range of colours, and are collectable, and are comfortable to use, and have decent nibs. If you're reading this Jinhao, just do it.
Personally I group the Safari, AL-Star, and Vista together even with the sightly higher price point of the aluminum pens, as they all have the same Lamy design, craftsmanship and quality of writing, with interchangeable nibs.
I have an injury in my hands where it's really painful to write, but I can use fountain pens, sadly the Lamy pens allow the pain to flare up again, though it's with a long delay in comparison to non fountain pens such as ballpoint or gel pens. But because of that I can't use it much. If anyone has similar issues to what I deal with, the TWSBI pens are a godsend for my hand. The preppy platinum works great as well, if you're on a budget, just my experience as far as pain is concerned.
I have at least one of every pen you mentioned on this list. Oh, except a Kaweco AL Sport. I have a Steel Sport and multiple Skyline sports, but just haven't gotten around to getting an AL Sport yet. I don't have a Brass Sport yet, either. They all have their pluses or minuses, all relating to personal tastes, but overall a pretty good list for the >$50 category. (I'm also a relative fan of several Chinese brands that you don't mention, such as other Jinhao models, or Wing Sung pens, but since you didn't mention any of those, I won't say anything more about them.)
Good morning ❤ great list. I own some of these.
I have 9 of the pens you mentioned! Lamy gets a lot of hate, which I don't understand. They are great, reliable pens. Now I have to look up how to eyedropper my preppies...
My favorite on this list is the Kakuno - Japanese fine nib with a smiley - but I prefer the clear models over the solid color barrels.
For broader writing nibs, I'd go with the LAMY Safari or Vista.
I started with a Metropolitan, but I've switched to the TWSBI ECO and been much happier for it. The larger size is just more comfortable. Plus, I'm a bit lazy, so having an oversized ink chamber means I don't have to refill it seemingly every time I use it.
I’d be most keen to watch your $250-$500 list. A big majority of pens in my existing collection belong in that category. And several in the $500+ range.
In this
I would have swapped one of the top 10 with an Asvine P20. The piston fill mechanism and nib are glorious.
Indeed. I've tried most of the pens on this list, and the P20 is better than all of them.
Thanks - an interesting video, but there are lots of there cheaper, decent pens from European that you could also consider. How about the "entry level" pens from Faber Castell (Grip and Fresh), Stabilo (Easy series), Online, Schneider (Ceod, Base Uni), Pelikan (Ilo, Twist, Griffin or Pelikano), Bic (X pen) or even a Lamy ABC or Nexx. Most of these are designed as starter or school pens, and all sell for less than Euros 20. Have a look online or at retailers in Europe. One thing about these kinds of European school pens is that they work, all of the time, every time.
Is the Jinhao shark not being manufactured anymore? It looks like the stock of that pen on the sites I find it on are dwindling and many colors are no longer available in some places....
Wonderful channel, I’ve discovered you by chance and coincidentally I’ve decided I want to start using a fountain pen again. 50 years on since I last used them all the help I c@n get is needed.
I had been browsing AliExpress for some crafting bits and bobs and they have a huge selection of fountain pens. I know that it’s not the kind of thing you do but it may be interesting if you could review a few of them. They actually look lovely but how they perform is a mystery.
I recently brought one from them just for fun, it is good, I'm not an expert but I enjoy writing we with it
I have a muji stainless pen. I love it.
It would be cool to review the jinhao x159 it is a much appreciated pen under 15 bucks
Nice presentation. Thank you.
I was a little surprised that I don't own even one of these pens. I was amazed that the list didn't include Jinhao 80 or X159 nor did it include any offerings from Hong Dian or Moonman. Are you making a statement with this video?
Are you? The Jinhao 80 and X159 aren't entry level pens. The Jinhao 80 is very new, and with a matte body that doesn't stay matte for long, and the X159 is so huge in size, it would be problematic for a beginner, but even though it's lighter than the original 159. Moonman/Majohn pens are mostly overpriced for what they are, even on Aliexpress, and Hongdian are far better than Majohn, with okay looks, reasonable quality and price, but no wow factor. And I'm surprised you didn't mention Wing Sung, Yong Sheng, or Hero. Wing Sung, for example makes some good looking vacuum filler pens, and are offering gold nibs now, with gold nib prices. However, they do a range of interesting, reasonably priced entry level pens, and some quirky collectables from their back catalogue with wraparound nibs. I'm also surprised you didn't mention that India makes some great pens, especially Ranga. And even the Dollar brand provides cheap entry-level fountain pens that are serviceable, cheap, and won't hurt your wallet for an EDC beater pen. In Chinese pen makers, Pen BBS is the most loved brand because they are well made, have a variety of finishes, materials, and designs that appeal to collectors, and have scarcity value. You can't get them on Ali Express, and they produce only short runs. Jinhao and Wing Sung after Pen BBS. Jinhao usually makes reliable pens, and they have a few designs that are popular. The Jinhao 80's plastic means it will not become a collectors pen. The finish isn't durable. Fix that, and they can call that a winner, because the finish is the only thing holding back the pen. Reviewers consider it a good writer and comfortable to use, except the plastic body loses its matte finish quite quickly if used daily. The X159 is a niche pen because of its size. So, not for beginners.
We often see life as we are, not how it really is. Just a thought.
Funny enough my very first (and only) pen was also a LAMY all star (black aluminum) gotta say I'm so glad they gifted me it
theoretically you could eyedropper the kakuno with an epoxy plug or something similar
WHAT ABOUT THE FPR JAIPUR V2?
does the shark come with the puppy
Next challenge - Top 10 Fountain pens under $5 :)
Where's Parker Jotter CT F in the list? Even with a separately bought converter, it's well under $50, and in the F nib version, it's awesome to write with.
P.S. Someone found that the Amazon Basics FP was actually made by Aihao, which is a reputable Chinese pen brand btw, just not so known if we're talking about FPs, as they specialize more on gels and rollerballs.
Pelikan Twist should be on this list, too. At least the metallic versions. 8€ one.
....i need that Jinhao Shark
My fountain pen of choice now is from Wordsworth & Black. It only cost me £22 (about $30) and is far superior to my Parker pen that cost over 9 times as much! Could you review the pens from this company please? I would love to read your thoughts about them. BTW, the pens from W&B look far better and more classy than any of the ones in this vid.
I remember in 5th grade i got a metal Lamy pen and by the end of my school time it was so incredibly beaten up 😂😅
What a vibrant sector when you think about it - fountain pens are one of the few products where +money does not automatically open better doors, it just provides for more expensive materials. Having said that I wouldn't be without my 20+ year old Montegrappa Heritage, in solid Silver. As an aside, I've recently begun to look into feeders [don't envy my Rock and Roll lifestyle just yet]. The feeder is the one design area that's seemingly, permanently, stagnant. Would Sir prefer plastic or rubber? And that's the end of that conversation. The idea of a third way came to me whilst having my bathroom refurbished [okay, now start to envy me] It was the floor tiles you see, they have a non-slip surface [well a coating of some sort]. So my point/question is what else is out there, feeder-wise? If you can coat something and permanently change it's viscid quality why isn't there more choice...
Imcoulldnt agree more! Lamy, Safari or alstar are best entry pens money can buy!
Wait, what happens to the blue platinum preppy's nib? I scrolled back to see it again, looks like totally covered in blue ink crust! Like, it's not cleaned for a century.
It looks like the nib itself is blue.
Surprised pilot prera did not made the cut.
Wow! I'm surprised Faber Castell Loom is not on the list.
While you can find it on sale for under $50, it's typical price is slightly higher. You just might find it on the next list. 😉
@@FigbootonPens I assume the price depends on the country where you are buying. The Faber Castell Loom cost me 35 Euros about one year ago. I saw your previous list, bought it and I have to say that it has an amazing nib. Much better than the ones in more expensive pens.
@@sebastiapla The price can vary...and in the grand scheme of things, I wouldn't consider a Loom to be a "starter pen". Like I said, chances are good you will be seeing it on the next list.
How much of your rating is based on writing performance, versus cosmetics? Because we have very different aesthetic appreciations.
I also don't share David's affection for more modern styled pens, but in his individual video reviews he does go into writing performance in quite some detail.
Where do you purchase your pens? Particularly the Narwhal?
I frequent a number of retailers...but the Nahvalur is available at a wide number of online retailers. Fairly easy to find.
I’m not surprised at your lack of Chinese pens. I resisted Chinese pens at first. I’m now warming up to them simply because they do make good pens at a less expensive price. Even some pens that don’t sound Chinese are made there. Tell your audience about them. Narwahl and TWSBI I think have underlying Chinese manufacturing.
Make great quality pens, with interesting designs, at affordable prices and people will buy them. Do anything but that and they won't. Ask Lanbitou, and Majohn about that.
I'm a noob. What does it mean to use a pen as an eyedropper?
That's when you fill up the barrel of a pen with ink rather than using a converter or cartridge. It can significantly increase the ink capacity of a pen, but it's something you need to be cautious when doing. Not all pens accommodate being used as eyedroppers.
@@FigbootonPens Note also that it's often a good practice when doing an eyedropper conversion to add a ring or gasket where the barrel meets the section or grip, so ink doesn't leak all over the place. A minute amount of good-quality silicone grease on the threads helps, too. Thanks for your good discussion of several low-price pens for beginners, Dave. I'm always interested in your opinions.
Do you have nice hand writing?
shoutouts to people still liking the pilot mp
Anyone else expecting that the Amazon Basic comes with Alexa and automatically uploads all of your writing to Jeff Bezos?
Shark got chewed by a puppy 😂
Greetings, i dont know how i ended up here. it seems youtube wants me to get into more expensive hobbies.
I am already an audio and mechanical keyboard enthusiast. now youtube is recommending me wallet and pen channels!!! help, my money!!!!!
Not all the ‘Sport’ models shown in this video are ‘Skyline Sport’ models and I don’t think some of the models (Eg., Iguana blue Al Sport) are under $50..
Yes. The AL models are more expensive. I was just showing them as an example of some similar Kawaco.
The Lamy Safari/Al-star is way overstated in my opinion. Their nibs are all over the place, but in particular dry and scratchy. I would not recommend them to beginners who could be put off forever.
I also had a bad experience with a Safari. Actually two, both of which I tossed.
@@ichirofakename should have given it to someone for free
I second your opinion. My first fountain pen was a Lamy Safari and it wrote very dry and scratchy. It put me off fountain pens and I didn't buy another until more than a year later.
Prefer Kaweco student to sport.
I'm not a fan of the Al-Star and Lamy pens in general. They are too wet for my taste and Lamy's nib shape just rubs me the wrong way. I gave it a good shot, even got a gold nib for mine, but it's just not for me. I would have put the Liliput in first place.
Nice fashion show. I am a newbie to fountain pens at an old age. I do appreciate a good looking writing instrument but my primary considerations lie elsewhere. A screw on cap is a plus. The balance of the pen is important. I certainly have plastic or acrylic body pens, but metal is my preference. Finish should be as near flawless as possible. If the company doesn’t care about the finish that you can see, I shudder to think of the parts you can’t see or requires a degree in engineering to properly assess.
I do like pens that use cartridge/converter systems. I use the converter 90% of the time but the cartridge gives me the option of trying out a new ink before I lay out the bucks for a full bottle.
Then there is the all important meat that is the real reason for even considering the fancy side dishes. The nib and feed system.
You make no mention of who makes the nibs, nib selection, nib material, how well the nib lays the ink down on the paper, etc. For everyday writing, I want the finest nib I can find, but I also want that nib to write consistently with the lightest touch I can muster. Now my preferences certainly don’t apply to other people. But no one learned which, if any, of these pens would perform for them.
As I said at the beginning. Nice fashion show.
If you wish to learn more about a certain pen, David has reviews on many of them also available on his channel that go into far more detail than this video could reasonably withstand. Should you be curious about one that he has not reviewed, I'm sure you could find information about it from alternative sources. This video is to showcase a selection of pens within a certain price range, to reassure and inform newbie pen collectors that what they're looking into is worth the price. This is not a thorough and exhaustive review, nor does it claim to be. Being needlessly catty will not change that.
@@ellaisplotting I was in no way catty. Being catty is ,like the act of being passive aggressive, feigning politeness while slitting someone's throat. I was neither vague or illusive about the shortcomings of this video.
I was not expecting an exhaustive review. Honest reviews of that type takes a great deal of time, effort, and expense to prepare by someone with experience and expertise. That includes trying each pen with more than one brand of ink on more than one type of paper, cleaning each pen between the different inks and again afterward. Dismantling each pen to asses the different parts would also be a part of it. I was neither looking for nor expecting anything of that sort. I did expect a sample writing from each pen with whatever ink the manufacturer provided and a synopsis of his first impression. Short and to the point.
I am in no way questioning Figboot's knowledge or experience. I have no doubt he is light years ahead of anything I ever hope to be. That is why I turn to videos such as his for advice.
Now the video did showcase a selection of pens within the stated price range but there was no data or information indicating that the pens were or were not worth the advertised price. Though I do agree that most of them were pretty.