Worth It? TWSBI GO vs. ECO vs. 580
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- Опубліковано 5 сер 2024
- Fountain pens can vary a lot in price, which can leave you wondering why and if they’re worth it. So we wanted to compare three similar pens that we get asked about all the time, the TWSBI GO, ECO, and 580!
TWSBI GO - www.gouletpens.com/collection...
TWSBI ECO - www.gouletpens.com/collection...
TWSBI 580 - www.gouletpens.com/collection...
Ink Featured:
Diamine Neon Lime - www.gouletpens.com/collection...
Jacques Herbin Emerald of Chivor - www.gouletpens.com/products/j...
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#fountainpens #worthit #gouletpens
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I bought the Eco when it first came out, and it eclipsed ALL of my other pens.
When I was in grad school, I cought myself admiring my pen during lulls in the lecture.
It's been a bit of a pen-romance. 😆
im a huge stationery enthusiast
Am I the only one who thinks the logo looks a bit like the biohazard warning sign? Kinda makes me want to buy one just to fill it with green or maybe red ink...
@Lyric Smith I agree! Maybe it will keep sticky fingers away from your pen, LOL.
Well, TWSBI is called 三文堂("Three Wun Hall" if you translate it directly) in Chinese, and the logo is 3 Chinese characters 文 combined together.
Update : I bought a TWSBI Diamond 580 and filled it with Diamine Oxblood a while ago.
Brian, I agree with you on this one. My ECO just wrote so smooth and wet out of the box that I found myself using it ahead of some much more expensive pens. I have both a 700R and a Twisbi 580, but the ECO just was so pleasing to use that I have temporarily forgotten to ink up the 580 or 700R. What a bargain the ECO is!
TWSBI customer service is fantastic. I have the old Vac fillter 700 in blue, which I believe is discontinued in many places. Used it throughout my undergrad and 3 years into my career. After 7 years the cap one day broke, and TWSBI offered to replace it, just requiring $5 for shipping from me. Great value pens and amazing service.
This happened to me too! After several years of everyday use, the cap on my 580 finally got a little crack in it. I emailed TWSBI and they shipped me a new one, just $4, and now my favourite pen is back in business :)
When my TWSBI started leaking ink my Canadian pen shop involved TWSBI in the US, and the company did nothing. The pen shop tried to fix the pen, but the nib fell out of the pen. The pen shop refused to give me a refund. Now, five years later, I hear that TWSBI's quirky quality problems have improved. On the other hand I see user reports online complaining of cracked plastic/resin and other problems. I was sorry TWSBI and my pen shop let me down; I felt badly about the pen because it wrote well, and was aesthetically very pleasing. Tempted as I am to try TWSBI again, I've decided not to. TWSBI failed both me and my pen shop by not standing behind their product at a time when the company's quality issues were common knowledge.
@@dalydegagne1839 That's a bummer! The nib just fell out and it couldn't get back in? Weird. What are you writing with now?
@@Sean-fw1oo Hi Sean - I have three Waterman Phileas pens, lots of Lamy Safaris (I'm a sucker for colours; also for the cost Lamy is great), a Jinhao X750 (writes very well), a couple of Pilot Metropolitans, and three of the smaller Pelikans (got a great deal from a store going out of business). I have a beautiful Waterman mid-range stainless steel pen my daughter gave me. I like all of these pens lot. What are you writing with?
@@dalydegagne1839 Nice! That's a good collection. I haven't been writing much these days, but I really like my Sailor 1911L I bought off of someone on Reddit. The resin seems really simple but for some reason it just feels really nice, and I love how the nib looks. I'm also pleased with the Wing Sung 3008. I left a pen inked an unused for months and it still wrote right away. Very nice sealing of the cap. I have others but these are the ones I've used most recently.
Honestly? As someone who typically needs help with refilling non-cartridge pens because of a disability that makes my hands shake when they're not like... resting on something like a desk, I'm probably gonna go for the GO because it makes refilling quick and easy.
After i have GO, it makes me lazy filling those converter pen.. cleaning it seems much more a hassle than GO.
It's the doom of me!! 😩
I'd be interested in how you got on with this. My own disabilities actually make the Go less accessible to me rather than more so.
@@bikkies haven't had money to get one :/ but when I get one I'll check back in (hopefully)
@@bikkies Arthritis in my hands make the GO my favorite. Plus it cleans up super easily, and has taken daily hauling around in my purse very well.
@@ikreer9777 The Go cleans up easily for me too, but in my case I find the section a little difficult to hold during filling. I have a rheumatic impairment which, among other things, makes fine motor control difficult. I can tend to either grip objects too tightly or not firmly enough. In both cases the risk of me causing a clumsy mess is higher with the Go. I do use it (one is inked up right now) but it's not my first choice.
I’m brand new to this fountain pen journey (at 67!) - 7 pens in. 3 of those are TWSBIs. I find them fascinating and so very easy to use. I finally bought one with a fine nib and I’m in love.
I purchased my first TWSBI a few months ago-it was the 580-Diamond in metallic green. It quickly became one of my favorite pens due to its smooth, dependable writing and its attractive style and feel. One of the best pens for the money.
I love TWSBIs. I have all the three models you have talked about and love them all. But purely on form factor and a certain luxurious feel, the 580 takes my vote.
I have a small collection of entry-level to mid-level fountain pens and I have to say, TWSBI are the only pens I can come back to after months in hibernation that will write without any issues. That alone makes them my favorites -- especially for the money.
As a long time TWSBI owner and fan, I thought your review was clear and fair. My only disappointment was the absence of my favorite, the Mini. I have both a Mini and a MiniAL, the last being my go-to daily carry for years. The size is perfect: compact when closed and large when posted. Great company and great review.
So in love with the Diamond 580, have 4 with different ink, so much pen for the money!
I have and love them all. What I like about the Go is that it posts without screwing like my Mini. The Go fine has become my new drawing pen. I will say I like the T’s slightly larger grip.
At this point I consider the Eco the best "first fountain pen." I even put it over the Safari/Al-Star and Metropolitan. Personally I like the feel and build quality of the 580 more, but if I'm asked which a person should get I push the Eco.
I have several Metropolitans, which have all written well right out of the box, but I agree the Eco gives them a run for the money and is available in a stub nib. I have a couple of Safaris that don't write well at all, but maybe they were just lemons. ??
I also have a Diamond 580 and I love its looks and feel; a beautiful demonstrator. I've used Diamine Shimmertastic inks in my TWSBIs, leaving the ink in for months, with no clogging or other problems. Great pens!
i would say preppy just because comiting 30$ to a style of pen you dont know if you'll like its above most people comfort zones, especially people who have just used cheap BIC pens
I have an Eco stub in my rotation and it's been there a long time. It's comfortable to write with, looks good, and I love how easy it is to disassemble for cleaning. It's recommended.
I got my ECO from you all and love it. Haven’t tried the other 2 TWSBI offerings but I like my ECO so much I really don’t need to.
I bought an Eco to replace a wearing-out Hongdian that got me into fountain pens. Chose the translucent blue. It's become my favorite pen.
The online pictures don't do justice to how good this thing looks in person. I like just looking at the thing periodically.
And it's just as pleasant to actually use, even the EF nib writes pretty much effortlessly and glides over paper.
Plus as others have noted, the twist seal cap is incredible, especially coming from the Hongdian's tired snap cap that doesn't hold securely anymore.
I love my Twsbi Ecos-they never need anything to write wonderfully for me first time-every time💕-oh yes-i love the look of both of my clear demonstrators
I've been writing for around a year now with the 580 and I love it. I had the ECO at one point but I bent the nib and had trouble replacing it. The ECO was my first piston-filling pen and I don't think I'll ever go back.
I've never been a fan of demonstrator pens, but I'm about to make an exception because these filling mechanisms are so cool-looking. I'm leaning toward the Eco, but it's definitely going to be one of these three.
TWSBI ECO and ECO-T have become my favorite writers. I've tried the EF and 1.1 nibs and love them both. I also have the Turquoise Classic which is my favorite pen of all the various brands and models I've bought, TWSBI and otherwise.
The biggest feature that keeps bringing me back to TWSBI is their reliable sealing pen caps which prevent evaporation and darkening of the ink over time. I have not found this quality from any other pen/brand at these price points, and it is this quality, in addition to all the other great qualities of TWSBI pens, that make these my mainstays. I use my fountain pens in my art and keep a stable of them inked up at all times with my favorite ink colors. I want and need my pens to keep the ink fresh for a month or more, if necessary, before cleaning and refilling - and TWSBI is the only pen manufacturer within my budget that gives me this.
I also want my pen color to match my ink, and since I have such a large number of inks that I want to keep inked up, I love colored TWSBI's to help me easily identify which ink I'm grabbing. I hope they come out with some more colors of the Classic and the ECO and ECO-T in non-primary colors. I haven't purchased a GO yet because the two initial color offerings don't appeal to me. I'm waiting to see if they add to the line.
I highly recommend this brand. TWSBI makes a reliable, quality product. My current five TWSBI pens will soon be increasing to nine. And I'll be purchasing more as my budget allows and new colors are released.
I felt in love with TWSBIs one month ago and since tnen i've bought in the order: ECO, 580, Classic black, VAC700R (unfortunately not from Goulet pens but I live in Italy... 😊) The one i love less is the classic, not so "TWSBI" like, I use normally the 580 and the ECO BUT i definetly love the VAC700... congratulations for the channel, is my first source of info about the fountain pens world, really appreciated guys... 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻
After two years how's going with your twsbi's ? Are all of them alive and living well?...(did they get some cracks?.... I want to buy one but I'm finding all over the place people that have this sort of issue)
You're totally right Brian. They are all great pens.
Thanks, as always, Brian. I bought both of the TWSBI Go pens from you recently and I think they are just fantastic. I use the GO's at work and the biggest surprise is how durable the plastic body is. I'm less careful when using these pens and easy to use, clean and fill. But..... am liking the look and sound of the ECO. Might add it to my wishlist as my next pen purchase. I've bought 13 fountain pens from your company. Looking forward to many more... :) - I love reading comments from folks on how or why they chose a particular pen. It's such a personal journey and I always learn something. Hope to see some fellow FP enthusiasts at the upcoming Fountain Pen Hospital Holiday Expo in NY this coming weekend. Cheers
As a young adult still studying Medicine, I can totally appreciate the quality the eco offers for the low price. I guess that's why it's called eco, for those who can't spit out the dough but still want a quality writing experience.
I have quite a few pens in my collection some are very expensive pens, however, the TWSBIs get the most paper time :-) they are just brilliant pens and a pleasure to write with. I even find the sound they make capping and uncapping so nice....
@AKA DOC: Are you ill-motivated? Are you seething with bitchy resentments?
How’s school and fountain pens during the pandemic? I hope y’all well.
I agree that they're all a very good value! I prefer the 580al as my main pen, but I also carry the eco with a different color ink daily, too.
Thank you for this video. I am working on picking out my first fountain pen....(since this is not easy) videos like this are very helpful. My search is going on day 8 now.....
I have the Go, the eco and a vac 700r and I love all of them! They work so well!
I’ve got the 580 mini. Love it to bits. Keep meaning to pick up an eco.
I love the Diamond 580. I also have a couple of Ecos, and they are both great pens. All of them work flawlessly
I have the 580AL in turquoise colour and totally love it. First time I hold it feels like the body is made from glass because of the weight. Also worth to mention the EF nib writes smoother than any of my lamy EF nib.
My choice was Eco-T, because of the triangular grip section. I ordered my first with F nib, it was a smooth writer, but sheening inks didn't come out as spectacular in thin line as I had hoped. So, I got another Eco-T with M nib and I managed to get a special edition color, too. One for "usual writing", one for "better inks"... TWSBIs are great pens for the price.
I bought my 580AL from Goulet and it was my second ever fountain pen (after the Pilot Metropolitan). The 580 definitely has a special place in my heart, but since then I have also picked up an Eco, which is amazing! Although I prefer the 580, I would say the Eco is the best pen for the dollar on the market!
Hey Brian. I have each of those pens, plus the TWSBI Mini Rose Gold. I was unexpectedly pleased with the quality of the Go and the Eco. I like the quick-fill nature of the Go and the clip of the Eco but I still prefer the Diamond 580. It simply seems a little nicer in appearance, feel and size from my point of view. Of course, to counter that, it also costs a bit more. Nevertheless, they are all surprisingly exceptionally great pens -- I wouldn't dare scoff at any of them!
I’m re-reviewing you, Brian, and giving you an extra star for ease of description ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ( Tip : PS it’s the Oscars next )
I adore my eco. My Conklin feels more luxurious, but that piston filler makes my eco and everyday carry.
Honestly the only downside I’ve found with my eco is that sometimes I’ll have a friend that fiddles around with it and accidentally screws the piston instead of the cap.
I just bought a ECO last week. Been using fountain pens for several years but this one may be my favorite. From ink capacity to the nib and feed working flawlessly, to the demonstrator, to the weight and size, etc... It behaves like it should every time.
As a treat I purchased the TWISBI Diamond 580 AL along with the TWISBI Inkwell. Having dexterity issues I love the independence this gives me. The #5 is a little daunting, at first, but it's become my EDC.
I find the TWISBI Classics are also nice and are comfortable when posted. I recently purchased their aluminum body precision from you. I love it for my daily writer. I also want to say that they do stand behind their pens. I had the cap crack where the clip attaches on a rose gold edition of the 580 when it was fairly new. You put me in contact with TWISBI and they sent me a new cap right away.
I like them all too, but the 580 ALA is my favorite. Nice job on this.
H
Thanks for another great video!
I am getting a Go, and I am excited for it. The Go is perfect for me because I need high ink capacity and quick ink filling
I became an unintentional collector and have 5 different TWSBIs so far. Can't wait for the 2 new colors to come out so I can have all nib sizes and a wide scheme of colors to choose from in my collection!
I adore the Eco and I have several. I use them ahead of the more expensive, "better" pens in my collection.
How timely! I was just thinking about buying TWSBI but wasn't sure which one to get. Thank you :)
The 580 is right up there with my Pelikan. I love it so much that I bought two - one in Medium and one in Fine. Might have to get a 580 in Broad, too...
I agree with Brian. TWSBIs are great pens. I have two myself: an Eco and a Mini AL. They write very similarly. I would say pick the TWSBI you like the most aesthetically since they will perform about the same.
Another great video guys!
So far I only have the TWSBI 580 and absolutely LOVE it!! It's my go to pen :-) That being said I currently have a TWSBI eco on the way to me so we'll see if I have to come back and correct my statement in the future ^^
I swear by TWSBI. Even after I dropped my eco F so hard the clip broke off and the finial shattered the pen still wrote and held ink. Though, I no longer carry it, just in case. I have two eco's and am picking up a diamond 580 soon. My biggest regret was not ordering one the past special editions through Goulet. But, this might give me a reason to go to my first pen show.
You could call their support and they supply replacement parts. They charge a little for shipping but recently had my eco cap, diamond 580 cap and eco body because i saw some hairline cracks.
@@Calisael this! They're replaced a couple items I've clumsily broke. $5 shipping.
I know this is an older video but I just got the diamond 580 mini in Rose gold and I am so thrilled with it. Now I need to get a full size 580. I love all the TWSBI pens but the 580 is my favorite!
My Goldilocks TWSBI is the Eco. I've had a few 580s and none of them have stuck around. I just don't find them very comfortable to write with for very long. I haven't had a GO yet; but it seems like a fun pen for people in school, or as a limited-use pen for silly inks you might not use except once per year for those holiday cards or something like that.
Yes, I own WAY too many pens and always have too many inked, but I always had all of my TWSBIs filled and use them the most. I have a more enjoyable writing experience with them than pens 3x-5x the price. All are phenomenal values.
TWSBI Diamond 580 Mini is great for people like me who like smaller and lighter pen :)
I love the GO. I use it way more than my Eco.
I have both Ecos and Gos. If someone can afford it, the Eco really worth the extra money. It’s so robust, it’s practically bulletproof. The section is comfortable, the clear acrylic shows off the ink beautifully, and it’s a very good writer. The Eco is so good, I don’t feel the least tempted to get a 580.
What is the cap seal like on the TWSBI Go. I've heard a lot about how the ECO simply doesn't dry out and you can just pick it up and it starts right away. Is the GO similar?
@@f-ms7vs It looks like the same inner cap to my eye. They seal very well. I’m very careful to not over-tighten TWSBI caps, so never had an issue with cracking, and the ink is always ready to write.
Honestly, the Eco would make a great Stocking Stuffer; and a very good first pen for a young person.
Absolutely. As other brands keep raising the prices each year, the ECO for under $30 keeps getting better and better. - Colin
Exactly! I’m even getting my little brother an eco to match the one that my mother bought me. He isn’t a real writing or pen person, however I feel like I needed to get him a fountain pen so that I can try to fix his handwriting and make it more legible to prepare him for high school.
I'd really have to disagree. I'd say the metropolitan is a much better starter as a first. There's simply so many components that go into an eco and if you're not careful, you could lose a peice when messing around with it. Additionally, there's the fact that many people will just be unfamiliar with a screw off cap or with how to get ink out of the cap.
@@TheRedmondEthan
A quick lesson in the Eco's use should take care of that. I like the Metropolitan, and have one in my collection. But for a very young individual, its all metal construction might make the pen less of a joy to write with for an extended amount of time. Plus, the converter it comes with is just sub-standard. I'm sorry, it is. Both factors could turn someone very young, off of developing an interest in fountain pens.
@@NGMonocrom I don't see how the pilots metal body would contribute it to being any worse then a acrylic body when it comes to long write times, the difference in the weight is only a couple of grams. In fact, I fee as though the metal body would contribute to the user of the pen apprecitating the pen as what other type of pen comes with a freaking metal body ya know? Additionally, I don't see how a non standard converter would be that big of a deal. It'd just contribute more to the cost (which if you add up the metropolitan and the converter, it's still less then the eco). Additionally, the ergonomics of the metropolitan is simply slimmer then the eco and I really feel like that simply diamater of the eco won't feel comfortable for beginners to really appreciate. Also, with regards to lessons of use and stuff. Sure a new fountain pen user could learn all these things, but it's simply very intimidating and I don't think, essentially if you're giving it as a gift, that the typical person would want to brave up and learn about how everything works.
The points that I see the metropolitan being better are these:
*Having less parts
*Having a slimmer design
*Being a carcherage converter
*snap off cap
*Having the body being metal
Looking forward to the special green Eco coming out next week!
I’ve got the 580 (EF) and the GO (1.1). I love the 580, though my go-to is the VACmini. I bought the GO with 1.1 because I really wanted to try that nib and it was cheaper than buying just the nib set for one of my other TWSBIs. Both the 580 and GO are great pens but of the two, I enjoy the feel of the 580 more. It’s hard beat being able to throw the GO in my pocket though.
I use my TWSBI Mini Fountain Pen as an almost daily driver and adore it the most. However, two of them have gone missing on worksites while leaving them on the site office desk. Cannot blame anyone for taking them because they are super lovely pens. I will most likely pick up a "GO" to give it a try and use them instead of my mini in the future for site-related works and keep the mini at my home office desk for writing at home.
Noodler's pens are great too but I had problems with seals while having them laying in the sun or on the dash of my car. This problem never occurred with the Twisbi Mini hope the same will be the case for the GO.
Very helpful! Thank you 😊
I like the Eco as well. Great value all around!
The Go is on my shopping list - love the design. And this is despite the lack of a clip, which I (normally) use to hold it in my sketch book.
Bought one and love it.
@@ichirofakename im considering go currently! its been 3 years, any opinions about it? especially when you use it to draw?
i actually got a bunch of demo pens from goulet pens. real happy with my purchases. if the the GO was in clear i would have gotten it along with the eco and the others. for the price the eco is surprisingly really nice. though style wise i still prefer the lamy vista and for the small size for my small hands the pilot prera which were my first 2 fountain pens. for one reason or another im really liking the pilot kakunos triangular grip and size and platinum preppy crystal as a whole. im having some trouble with the noodlers ahab eyedropper converted with it hard starting and ive dipped in hot water twice after a boil to set it which helped but then if the pen was left on its side for a period of time it starts leaking leaving a drop or two of ink in the cap and being a clear demo pen is messing with my ocd. leaving the pen cap up stops it from leaking but has a hard start. ive only just got it so once i have the time ill start adjusting whatever needs to be done. ahab draws pretty smooth and the flex is pretty fun.
Twsbi go. I have 4 and love them. They are my favorite because I prefer a snap cap.
I love my Twsbi pens! I am an eco fan with 5 I rotate daily . I do have a 580 and have 2 classics that are also in my daily use case. What can I say, I’m a Twsbi girl. (Love the 1.1 on all of my Eco!)
Love my TESBI’s so far. They don’t tend to dry out like Pilot or Edison pens do of you don’t write with them every day. Haven’t had to take them apart yet so I don’t know if that will present any significant problems. A great experience so far.
my 580 AL is my daily driver and my overall favorite pen!
I have the ECO and like it very much, up there with my Cross and Pilot pens 😊
I have an eco and really like it! Where I live they cost about the same as a Lamy Safari but the ink variety is soooo much better (obviously because it doesn’t require cartridges)
Personally, I preferred the 580Al the most.
It is slightly wetter than the ECO and especially wetter than the GO. However, this a niche problem because I primarily used the extra-fine nib, writes lightly at a slower than average pace, and hold my pen at a slightly lower than average angle. Your experience will very depending on the nib and writing style.
My preference between the 580Al over the 580 is aesthetic. There's not really a difference in weight, size, or writing experience between the two.
Although, if TWSBI redesigned the VAC700-R so the step between body and grip is less noticeable, the VAC700-R would be my favorite.
I like the springy-ness of the #6 size nib over the #5 size nib. It's a very minuscule of a difference.
The step height between the grip and body is my biggest complaint about the pen. It makes for a awkward feeling when trying to write with the way I hold the pen.
This is my issue with the Vac700R as well. I loved it when I tried it in store but it's more of a note jotter now than a longer writing pen because that step gets uncomfortable.
Having now amassed a load of Ecos and GOs as well as two 580s, I too think the Eco wins for me. The GO is a bit slippery to hold firmly when filling, which takes some effort and risks me tipping the bottle over or sending the nib crashing down (I don't have great fine motor control and a progressive musculoskeletal disorder which don't help with this). My second 580 was the RBT which had a very loose clip - apparently a known thing - which I broke when trying to tighten down. To their credit, Twsbi arranged a swap at cost and the replacement was OK, but it all put me off somewhat from getting more 580s. The Eco gives me everything I need in a high capacity piston filler.
I love my TWSBI 580 and I want to get the green ECO that's coming out in December. Great brand.🎄
Should be here next Monday! The new ECOs look great. - Colin
Brian, I've been watching your videos for a number of years and cheers to you on your incredible growth. I actually purchased the 580AL based on one of your reviews a couple of years ago. I know you sell and also make many fine products. However, this is not one of them. This is a cheaply made product that doesn't deserve shelf space, especially at a $65 price point. I left one with a bit of ink in it for a few months and it degraded the internals so much that the barrel just simply separated into two halves. Also, the "special coating" they used on the plastic appears to have caused the underlying plastic to become brittle, crack and discolor. I contacted TWSBI customer support and by their response, the internal degradation from ink is clearly a known issue. Although you are not the manufacturer, I do believe you have a responsibility to your customers as a retailer to look at these products and make a determination as to the quality and value. I am certainly not a fan of knock-offs, but when a $4 Wing Sung 3008 that you can buy on Amazon is in every material respect as good as and in some ways better than the "original" that costs 15x more and the original has parts that disintegrate because some ink is left in it, something is wrong. I don't know if I could say this about too many of your other products. There is certainly room in the world for $4 Wing Sungs, but near identical items should not be cloaked in a TWSBI brand with a $65 price point and marketed as a finer pen. I apologize for the ramble, but I, presumably along with many of your customers and followers, look to you and other experts for your opinions and I wanted to share my disappointment on this one. Cheers.
I have heard of issues, specifically with iron-gall inks, eating at pen materials but haven't seen that issue in person (either with TWSBI or other pens). Which ink was left in it? I can't imagine any manufacturer would recommend leaving ink in a pen for months at a time, but it definitely happens. In general, the TWSBI brand has had some of the best quality control since I've been here and I think the comments on this video support that. Definitely a brand & model we believe in. - Colin
The Goulet Pen Company Colin, thanks for the reply. Iroshizuku was left in it. It’s my most used ink and I haven’t had a similar problem in any other brand. As for your comment on quality control, I don’t feel that your comment is truthful or accurate. It’s clear that the TWSBI brand is a very big seller for your company and you are part of the reason for that with the many excellent videos and marketing support. It appears multiple times on your best sellers page and Goulet Pens is the second and third search result when searching for TWSBI. But since this issue has come up for me, I’ve researched it more and there are less biased resources that clearly point to quality control issues. TWSBIs own blog states they had problems, their customer service acknowledged problems with directly stating that their internal materials will degrade with ink left in them, their product descriptions on Amazon now tout new better materials and even Brian’s earlier video spoke a bit to their spotty quality control (which was before they were a major product line for you). I’m not here to harm your company, I think you guys are great and I loooove pens. However, this particular product line is not good quality for the price and there are other better choices. If this design is something that attracts people (like it attracted me), the $4 Wing Sung on Amazon is essentially the same look and feel. And if that one breaks with some ink, well, it was just $4.
I just recently ordered a TWSBI Eco. It'll be for Christmas, but I've been researching which to buy for 4 months now LOL. Decided the eco is best for me
None of them are "perfect" but, for me, all three are perfectly fine. :) Lately, I have been using the GO most often as I need a pen for my work--which I use to check off things and very terse notations on the usual cheap copy paper--that I can cap and un-cap quickly. It serves very well in that role for me and also does well for longer writing. For daily general use, I mostly prefer F nibs and all three pens each have a good nib. For my handwriting to look its best a stub nib gives me nice line variation but I find a 1.1mm nib a bit too broad for general use. My biggest wish for TWSBI would be that they offered a .6 or .8 stub similar to Nemosyne's. I have a couple of those, too but like the TWSBIs rather better over all.
My twisbi eco in pink is my favorite EDC. Still debating on upgrading to a 580 though.
Thanks Brian for the time and effort you put into the clips. Great work. Asian pens..."disrupt er"... yes. I enjoy my crazy expensive MB149 and Pelikan M800. TWSBI 580 too.
Love my TWSBI pens! I've got a few. A TWBI Mini, with the metal ring. Costs a little more, but TWSBIs are prone to stress cracks--the ring eliminates this. It's very small, I have average male hands, writing with the cap posted is no problem. It's absolutely terrific for traveling.
I have a couple of Ecos. I bought the Mini with a stub nib, then DIY ground it down to an italic, which I really like (when you think you want a flex nib, you probably really want a stub or italic. my 2 cents)
I bought a second Eco with a stub to grind it, but I like the stub so much I haven't done this. The Eco isn't meant to be used with the cap posted, so you have to make sure not to misplace it. ( I think Brian probably likes it because he has larger hands). Haven't tried the 580...yet.
This past spring I traveled around the UK and Ireland for three months, wrote 390 A4 journal pages, plus a couple of smaller pocket notebooks. I used Noodler's Polar Blue, and almost never had clogged pen (I wrote with my Mini and a Nemosine with a DIY italic nib. It's risky to DIY grind, but with a little patience it's not that difficult. Just don't start with a Pelikan) I rinsed out the nibs a couple of times, used dental floss on the feed crack; but I forgot to bring Windex and didn't need it. I think the combination of good pens and great ink saved me a lot of hassles. The bodies of the TWSBIs are a bit brittle, but TWSBI is terrific at sending out new barrels for the cost of postage. Over the years I've noticed my forefinger was turning blue, just couldn't figure out why. It was the faintest hairline crack. To disassemble any pen unless I've done it a lot, I'll look for the best UA-cam video, saves a lot of fussing around.
I just can't say enough about TWSBI pens. Always pay a little extra and get the ones with the extra metal rigs.
If you're in high school or college, get a couple of the Gos. Get a Fine point and get a Stub. Get Noodler's Polar Blue, I think it's the ink that clogs least, and I've got years and years experience. Take a lot of notes, write journals. There's no hand fatigue from using a fountain pen.
I think you will love the stub. (My handwriting it pretty awful, so I kept going F and EF.... but then tried the Nemosine .6mm stub. It really helped my legibility. The italic is even better for line variation, but grinding nibs is tricky. I've sharpened a lot of woodworking tools and kitchen knives, so I've got the grindstones and some experience.
I receive a new TWSBI ECO tomorrow, but I had some trepidation about ordering it after having breakage problems with the TWSBI Mini. I had kind of sworn off TWSBI after these problems, but the ECO was still too tempting for what I needed (an inexpensive broad-nibbed pen). On my Mini, one of my breakage problems (other than the cap breaking) was the interface between the black nib section and the clear body; I am pleased that the ECO has a different design, with the nib section and body now unified. I also like that the nib and feed look to be easily removable for cleaning. I do have a question...I was able to pull the old TWSBI Mini nib (EF size) and feed out of the nib section successfully this morning; will I be able to swap this nib into my new ECO (purchased with a B size nib) when I want variety?
Hi Brian, thanks for all the videos, they're well done and very helpful. I have a question regarding the TWSBI Precision ( in gun metal color). Can the nobs on the Precision be replaced as they can be on 580? TWSBI doesn't offer the Precision nibs as they do for 580 and Mini for example but can the 580 nobs be retrofitted onto the Precision to swap the size or a damaged nib? Do the Precision fountain pens disassemble and do the nibs come apart as they do in other TWSBI? We appreciate your reply!
I just got myself an eco with an extra fine nib in blossom red (i love it!!! Much more pink than i thought it would be which is always good) and i got my boyfriend his first Big Boy Pen (a monteverde monza, cuz it basically came with a starter kit) hes a very rambunctious guy who doesnt always take the most amazing care of his things, so i think when he gets into piston fillers ill get him the go!! (Blue is his favorite color so thats amazing!)
The finial design is a preference thing. I prefer the finial on the ECO hands-down over the 580. I love chunky, utilitarian, function-over-form design, and the 580 is too delicate and cigar-shaped for me. My ECO is probably my favorite fountain pen.
I've got an Eco EF and a 580 M. I love them both but I use the Eco more because I like the EF line it puts down in my journals.
The Go works well, but it feels cheap. The Eco is, I think, a good value pen, and what I recommend as a first pen to people wanting to explore fountain pens. My objection to the 580 (and the Vac 700) has to do with them not posting. The Twsbi I've been most drawn to, lately, is the Classic.
I haven't used an ECO or GO yet, but LOVE my 580 AL's. I'll have to pick up an ECO and GO to confirm I like my 580's the best though :)
Waiting for my green this week!!!!!
I love my Eco Blue and can't wait for the red and green to drop. My 580 is an everyday carry but I really want to try the Vac 700R.
rymats Go for it! I’m using the VAC700R right now, it’s a pleasure to fill every single time. Came from Lamy Safari and Pilot Kakuno both with cartridge converters, vacuum filling system just rocks your socks.
Yep, go for it, the 700R is quite something, am sure you will love it.
Is the triangular grip of the eco-t the same as on the Go?
I was unpleasantly surprised at how uncomfortable go was (I like the triangular grip of lamy safari after all).
580 is my favorite of the three but I wish I hadn't gotten the AL version. Too slippery, where as the plastic sits just perfect in the hand.
I just got a TWSBI ECO and a Pilot Plumix because I needed a fountain pen. I've been a dip pen user for years, so the feedback feeling isn't new for me and was used to feedback. I found that I like the Plumix's grip and its feedback if I'm actively looking for feedback. However, I'm noticing that most of the time that I'm grabbing the ECO first, even though I'm getting used to having no feedback from the ECO & its design feel in my hand. I haven't had it over a week yet. I'd debated on getting the TWSBI GO, but I'm happy with the ECO.
My personal favorite is the 580 but for now, i will be purchasing the TWSBI eco clear becase for no particular reason, clear mechanical things are very exiting to me.
im using a parker metropolitan.. but i got weak hands and its hard to get open. probably easer for others.. but this pen looks easy to service when kneaded.. to looks like the wrench helps.. in my 60s just love the smooth ness and flow from the words. from a good dib. going to consider getting one.. when i grow up. lol stay safe.
I've got the TWSBI Mini Diamond AL with a 1.1 stub; I adore it. I've also got a TWSBI Precision (M). I definitely want to get more TWSBIs in the future!
I have both of these, as well, with the same nibs, and they are my favorites! Also have the Eco and 580 AL.
I side with Rachel on this one, My 589 ALs are dreamy, wet, cooperative pens. Best EDC
I love my TWSBI pens. Still kicking myself for selling my turquoise ECO. I bought a new one in pink with a medium nib and a GO with a stub nib, then switched the nibs. I love the GO for quick jotting -- it's my bang-around pen because I'm not really concerned about it getting damaged. It's ugly enough that I don't mind. I'm a little more careful with the ECO and plan to buy other colors.
I'm just sad that I wasn't interested in fountain pens when the purple 580 came out.
I love to use Eco T. It goes so smooth....... I love it
The finial is the only thing I like better about the 580 than the Eco. I have a handful of ECO's and bought a 580 ALR and just found it to be too similar for the price difference and traded it away. It's still the ECO for me. I still haven't grabbed a TWSBI Go yet.
TWSBI Eco ftw! ♥
I have eco, eco-t and 580 Navy (⚓ on the cap). Love all of them but gravitate towards 580 more. And I loved that the 580 nib unit can be replaced (although the nib unit is nearly the price of eco). Go didn't have a clip (just like pilot kakuno) thus I skipped that series. Maybe will collect Go in the future.
Yeah, the removable nib unit is why I recommend the 580! It makes both cleaning & filling from a vial really easy. I think it's worth the extra $30 to upgrade from the ECO, but that's just me! - Colin
I use the ECO with Stub nib everyday at work. I write a lot of numbers and the stub makes them look much better.