Top 5 Starter Fountain Pens
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- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
- Which fountain pens are the best options to start with? Drew gives you his top 5 picks for getting started on your fountain pen adventure!
Getting Started With Your New Fountain Pen:
• 5 Steps For Getting St...
Top 5 Fountain Pens For Newbies (2021):
• Top 5 Fountain Pens fo...
Top 5 Fountain Pens For Newbies (2014):
• Top 5 Fountain Pens fo...
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LINKS TO PRODUCTS FEATURED:
Pilot Varsity: www.gouletpens.com/collection...
LAMY vista: www.gouletpens.com/collection...
Pilot Explorer: www.gouletpens.com/collection...
TWSBI Swipe: www.gouletpens.com/collection...
Sailor TUZU Adjust: www.gouletpens.com/collection...
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
0:24 Pilot Varsity
1:18 Pilot Explorer
2:27 LAMY vista
4:01 Sailor TUZU
5:18 TWSBI Swipe
6:43 Recap
ABOUT GOULET PENS:
Brian & Rachel Goulet started The Goulet Pen Company in 2009 and you can see the evolution of our mom and pop into a full-blown company through this channel. We run a dedicated online store with fountain pens, ink, paper, and other fine writing accessories. Our goal with this channel is to provide fountain pen fans at all levels of experience with comprehensive product reviews, round ups, and how-to videos to answer all the fountain pen questions you may have. Shop at www.gouletpens.com.
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The two-thumb "unconventional grip" 🤣
"Start with Pilot Rule". Valid.
Many of my pens are pilot. I would add in platinum in that esp if thin lines are your preference. Plasair with the preppy 0.2 is great as the nibs are swap and you can explore sizes a bit. Pilot metro has a stub option and steel nibs swap easy there also. Metro, penmanship, perera and kakuno can swap nibs each has a limited set of sizes. Expensive pens are often not any bigger. Many CZcams ppl must have small hands. They are maybe 10% bigger unless they’re meant to be huge like a King of pen or emperor. Sailor 21k pro gears are short for me and must be capped to use. The uncapped pen is almost identical to my twsbi vacmini. Also stick with cartridge converters if you like to change inks. Pistons and vacuums may give volume but cleaning is much harder and pens like a pilot custom 823 you’re not supposed to remove the nib or you void warranty. How would you clean out shimmer? Keep it simple plus you could carry cartridges whereas vac and piston cannot use those. Also ink samples over full bottles when exploring inks certainly use a glass or dip pen when you get to that stage next.
Wow a starter pen video that isn't just the famous trio. About time we adopted new knowledge and products. Splendid work Drew!
Thanks! I tried to give some good variety here! - Drew
Lamy Safari, Pilot Metropolitan, and?
I’m always on the look out for cheap fountain pens that I’ve never used before, and a few months ago I needed to spend an extra couple of pounds to qualify for free shipping at Cult Pens, so threw in a Schneider Xpect Vivaz which only cost around £3.50. I’d never heard of it, but after receiving it I found it to be a very solid writer, and I now recommend it to newbies.
NIcely done! The recap with the comparative advantage of each was superb! As always - the central focus toward the user is greatly appreciated
Great selection. I am a big fan of the TWSBI Swipe. One of the most underrated pens in my opinion.
Agreed! - Drew
The Swipe is fantastic, even for a seasoned pen user. The recap was top notch! I now think I might want a Sailor Tuzu, just for fun.
My first fountain pen was a Pilot Varsity, and one of my favorite pens is the Pilot Kakuno - the Explorer is the same weight as the Kakuno, so I was hopeful that I might get an equally comfortable pen in a somewhat more grown-up look, but it’s a bit slimmer and longer and thus I discovered that weight isn’t the only issue with me and some pens. Also adore the Sailor steel-nibbed “Four Seasons” pens (I got them over a couple of years at around $50 each, one in the $40 range on sale, so not quite my idea of a starter, but not high-end either) and may try out that Tuzu.
The Kakuno is a magnificent starter pen! - Drew
My first fountain pen was a gift. It was like a $20 aluminum body pen from Amazon. I loved it. I still love it, but now I’m using a Diplomat Magnum with a resin body and absolutely gorgeous color.
Very good and informative! Thanks Drew!
So I randomly bought a set of pilot DP-70 and I am actually amazed, this is what all beginners should get, for just 9 dollars I got two pens and two converters, and they are really good pens too, like the build material isn't the best but the nibs are surprisingly bouncy and flexy, and too think, I only got these because I was picking up cartridges for my first gold nib, that e95s has got big shoes to fill as my third pilot pen
I am so glad things have progressed since I first used a fountain pen in primary school in the 1970’s.
School had me use a pen the same shape as a LAMY Joy/Platinum Carbon ink pen etc.
I swear it was almost os long as my forearm.
I got my first fountain pen in primary school in the 1970's, too. My first school pen was a Geha (a brand that doesn't exist anymore), and I was quite fond of it. It was made for children, and I don't remember it being particularly big. I think the main other option was the Pelikano, another child-friendly pen. (Fountain pens were obligatory, but not provided by the school, so it was up to the parents which one you got.)
I am lucky enough to have used a fountain pen in elementary school (I am fron the Netherlands).
I remember getting one handed out, and it felt like a rite of passage, I loved it!
The colours were randomly given out (I desperately wanted the teal/blue one, but got a green one) and I am convinced it's where my fondness for green fountain pens stems from.
Unfortunately I don't remember what pen it was (or what happened to it), for a while I thought it was a Pilot G78, but I am 100% sure the pens we used in school used standard ink cartridges, so that rules out the Pilot..
I do love the Pilot G78 and have three (all green) and if it had a better converter I would have definitely recommend it as a starter pen.
In highschool I desperately wanted a Lamy Safari but could not afford one.
I now have several, but they are not my favorite pens/nibs.
Even though I don't like the inconsistency of the Kaweco Sport nibs, I would recommend them as a starter pen, because they are a classic and they take a standard ink cartridge (which are easier to find in stores in the Netherlands) which I think makes finding/buying ink a little easier.
Especially in the beginning when you are figuring out all the different options.
I definitely felt very intimidated and confused by cartridges, converters (alllll the different brands, types, sizes!!) and piston fillers, vac fillers, eyedroppers, so I was too scared to use bottled ink for years!
(I am happy to report that I have since overcome that fear and am now drowning in bottles of ink.)
However, if someone would like to start with a piston filler, I would definitely advise them to get a TWSI Eco, or Eco-T.
I think they are good, very consistent writers, and reliable pens. And being able to see what happens inside is cool, and you even get a wrench to take it apart if you need to.
And what is also a big plus for me is; there are lots of great CZcams videos about them, which is SO helpful when filling up your pen for the first time, cleaning it for the first time, or just random trouble shooting.
I always have, at least one, TWSI Eco inked up at all times, they have never failed me.
However, I wonder if there is a more "classic" looking (but reliable and affordable) starter pen, because when I was just getting started in the fountain pen world, I was looking for that "classic" fountain pen (think: Pelikan, Montblanc) but could not find anything that looked "classic".
I guess I had a romantic image in my head of what a fountain pen "should" look like, or at least, what I wanted it to look like.
Nowadays I don't care as much what a pen looks like, as long as it's comfortable to hold, has a good nib on it, has a decent ink capacity (I love me a piston filler), I can learn to love any pen, no matter it's looks.
The correct answer is "get a Platinum Preppy for like single digit dollars, and you'll know before the first ink cartridge is done whether you're a fountain pen person, then get a good one"
I don't disagree! - Drew
Does this apply to left handed folk
Or Pilot Penmanship
“Then get a good one.”?
I think the Preppy is a good one.
I have an extra fine for carbon ink.
It’s as smooth as silk and makes my handwriting look great.
@@juicylouisey I mean, that's totally a valid opinion. I agree that preppys are good writers. But they most certainly aren't "fancy", and also they use proprietary cartridges. In a hobby where most pens are like $30 to $100, and the nice ones are $300 and up, I think it's fair to call preppys one of the less good ones.
Hi Drew! I think your choices are really solid. Your picking the Lamy Vista made SO MUCH sense! Especially for gifting! Another pen I like is the Diplomat Magnum. Pretty simple, better looking than a Safari, and comes with a standard converter, as well. Writes pretty darn nice, too!
I’d personally recommend the Platinum Plaisir - just got one for my mom as a first pen! Platinum keeps pens wet forever so no frustration of needing to wash it out when you haven’t used it for a bit since it’s not a habit yet. I’ve had a Preppy crack on me but the Plaisir looks and feels nicer and I don’t think it’ll break. At that price, I wonder why people don’t talk about the Plaisir more. I personally like having lots of ink options all inked up at once so that price and slip n’ seal makes that possible in addition to their noob-friendliness
Does the Plaisir rattle like the Preppy does? There’s some kind of ball bearing in the Preppy cartridge, and it rattles constantly.
@@chadglendenin5531 I think that’s down to which converter you have. I definitely have some cartridges I’ve refilled that don’t rattle. I can get more detailed if you want
Great video Drew!
I couldn’t agree more with the Pilot lineup of pens. No matter what price-point a person chooses, they’re all great!
After having higher end Pilots and various brands, my daughter bought me a kaküo last year for mother’s day or my birthday, I forget which. I love it just as much as my higher end pens. It’s really fun to write with.
For the kaküno, I also bought a plumix to sub out the nib, to have a bit of variety. Since my cap & barrel are translucent, I didn’t want to use the con-b and I _really_ despise the con-40.
I also bought a set of parallel cartridges to use with my kaküno. Since the previous standard Pilot cartridge with the black rubber insert was leaking and needed to be replaced after several clean out and refills, I decided to buy a parallel cartridge instead since I like the colour selection better and the iroshizuku cartridges aren’t available locally. I was shocked and pleasantly surprised that the parallel cartridges have a ball bearing in them, to help with the ink flow. I have a feeling that I’ll be able to reuse these ones for a lot longer due to that improvement, as nearly every drop of ink is used prior to flushing it.
Awesome list! 🙌
I started with a Waterman as a kid, but I consider my official first FP a LAMY Safari. This was as an adult, and that LAMY nib made me go: wow, this feels amazing ❣️
I love how the Pilot Explorer writes, awesome nibs, also the Petite. I had a bit of bad luck with a Kakuno, but I’m sure that was a rare exception.
Other awesome starter pens, the Kaweco Perkeo (Clear is a great option) and my absolute fav (even over more expensive pens) the Platinum Preppy! 💝
I think you should also come up with a list of top starter inks also. Getting a finicky ink could ruin the experience of a new FP user.
only gotten into fountain pens recently, so far my favorite has been the TWSBI Eco. Haven't tried any of Sailor's fountain pens so I want to check out the Tuzu when it releases!
I just got a Platinum preppy, and I love it! I’m getting an Explorer next. I ordered the Explorer and 30 ink samples, last night! I can’t wait until I receive my fountain pen, and all my samples!!! I’m new to Fountain pens and am already addicted!
Have fun! My first pen was a preppy about a year ago, now I have 8 pens ranging from $10 - $200 with variety of nib sizes
Great explanation vid - nice one Drew!
I will respectfully push back and say no pen was made with a rotating grip. The Parker 75 has a dial on the section and came with a tool so that you could rotate the nib to suit your writing angle. The Tuzu does look super cool and will probably end up in my accumulation pile.
I put “currenly manufactured” in italics between “ no “ and “pen” but youtube hates italics, apparently.¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Yes, and there are also other currently manufactured pens that can easily rotate their nib & feed, essentially giving you the same thing. I was unaware of that Parker, though! Thank you! - Drew
Yesterday received my first ever fountain pen 🖋 Pilot Prera.
That's a wonderful pen! I hope you love it! - Drew
Pilot Varsity always a great choice. So affordable and can still tinker with it without breaking the bank. Refilling it is not challenging once the nib unit is removed(removing the nib unit and feed can be challenging) but once out, it’s like filling an eye dropper pen and has a great ink capacity(≈2ml).
I love the SWIPE, but holy moly that cap can feel glued on sometimes and the clip is just aesthetic haha. Great pen though if you don't want a demonstrator or a twist cap. Definitely a better starter than the GO or ECO
Yeah that "clip" is the Swipe's biggest weakness, for certain. - Drew
The Lamy Vista was my very first fountain pen, and I adore it! Thank you!
Lisa
I tried a bunch of starter range fountain pens. All were just fine out of the box. But for those who have other hobbies. And are likely to put the fountain pen away after a while, only to return later. The two best were the Platinum Preppy and Hongdian Forest series. Both of these didn’t skip a beat and were writing again in seconds. The others, not so much.
You guys are the best. Been following for years ❤!!
Thank you! - Drew
my top pick for a starter pen would be the hongdian c1
I received my Sailor Tuzu today! Mint green, broad nib (because I didn’t have a broad yet) 😉. It writes beautifully! Easy to fill and I filled with Sailor Manyo Inki (Pebble) . Thank you!
The Platinum Preppy was my gateway pen! And I wouldn't have it any other way
Very informative video. Thank you.
Thanks for watching! - Drew
I hate the triangular grip sections on the Safari. People will eventually figure out how to hold and write with a fountain pen even if they are new to it.
And I agree with everyone who says the TWSBI Eco should have made the list. Probably the best starter pen one can get for the price. Great nibs, great size, no cartridges or converters to fiddle with, very good ink capacity and a demonstrator. What's not to like?!
The Eco was included in one of Brian's "Pens for Newbies" videos so I chose to give the under appreciated Swipe some love. - Drew
To be honest that changing angle of the nib on Tuzu could be done on most fountain pen by take out the feed and the nib and put it back at your preferred angle. I've done this on my Kakuno for long time. I actually love the Tuzu but just remind that simple trick 🎉
You're correct! - Drew
I came into this video thinking I could pick something apart and disagree somewhere.. Nope. These are definitively great options that I can't argue with. SOLID!
A lot of folks recommended the Pilot Kakuno…so I got one…and it wasn’t for me. The grip section just didn’t agree with my fingers. Tried a safari and one with just a simple cylindrical grip. Those worked way better for me than the odd geometric/faceted Kakuno.
Well, we understand that you have to be biased towards what Gouket sells and I mostly agree with your choices, but out in the wild there are lots of wonders from Faber Castell, Muji, Hongdian, PenBBS and more 😉
Very true! Lots of great brands out there that I'm not experienced with! - Drew
Ooh i like the clear one.
Pilot nibs are best. Perfect quality.
If Pilot did the slip n seal cap I would throw a party. If it’s a patent I hope it’s not too long left! Agree on the nibs but I like having lots of pens inked up at once so I tend to go platinum
The varsity fountain pen is perfect for drawing as well
Twsbi eco all the way
100%
Have haf mine for years now and its still my go to carry with me pen.
Ugh I hate twsbis. Go you but I don't get the love
For sure!! Love mine.
This was my first pen a few months ago, and I've been completely satisfied with the experience.
My favorite and first fountain pen is the Lamy Sufari!!
I live in the desert southwest and the humidity is down in the single digits. What are some good pen and ink combinations that dont dry out quickly?
I am not a big fp user. One feature you failed to talk about is the quick start when using. I have tried several lower end pens but get soooo frustrated and turned off when the tips dry out and I have to constantly tip it to my mouth or dip in water. That is a major turn off. The Varsity pen writes right away, better than my preppy and kakuno, or any of the others. For that reason the Varsity is with my journal for frequent use, my preppy is with my Bible for sermon notes (I need to get another Varsity to replace that to avoid ink stains on my lips at church 😂). The other pens sit in my desk. I have inks I would love to use but it is too frustrating. Better seals would lead to more fp users.
Not the Twsbi precision, Drew 😂 Asking after listening to the latest podcast! Seriously though, another great video.
LOL well played. - Drew
The Vista was my second Lamy, and I have to use it every day. I got a leather multi pen case just for my Lamys. My other pens sit idle, and green with jealousy. I love, love, love my Lamy pens. I use coordinating inks with each color except of course for the Vista, and I use anything in it. Did I mention I love it?
I💕 love 💗 it 💕
I've been into fountain pens for a little over a year now. So I may not still qualify as a beginner, though my price point might. I have a bit of an unconventional grip (thumb and index finger only), which is why I've never considered any of the Lamy pens in my price comfort zone. I am, however, intrigued by the new Sailor Tuzu with it's rotating grip and will seriously consider it for my next purchase. Thanks for another entertaining and informative video.
I would at least mention the Pilot Petite and, of course, the Preppy.
4:55 can also do this with the kakuno, just rotate and nib and feed. i don't know how i could recommend a $40 pen as someones first pen. it is a fair price for what you're getting. but at $40, most people are looking for their forever pen and want something to look the part, not have "kid pen" aesthetics. i don't know, it doesn't offer anything over the kakuno at $9 so i'm not sure what sailor was thinking. maybe relying on the existing sailor fans to collect the various colorways. which seems pretty fickle but that's kinda been their thing for years now. just a confusing pen to me.
How soon will the Tuzu be available? I'm hoping for a lefty friendly grip adjustment. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
It's available now! - Drew
For me, my rule is start with Platinum. Yes, Pilot nibs are smoother, but Platinum pens are more reliable due to its cap and making it an eyedropper is easier and cheaper. You need to do hacks to make Pilot Kakuno an eyedropper.
Hi there, thanks for the recommendations. As a pens noob, im also curious if there is such a thing as starter inks? I know often these pens come with black or blue cartridges but what if you want to try out some interesting inks as well. Any recommendations there?
I would just stick with ones that don't have anything crazy going on. You can always sort my most popular and read reviews, too! - Drew
Pelikan pelikano Jr. Available in both right and lefthand nibs. And uses an easy ti fing cartridge and converter.
Drew, what gives? Did you forget you guys sell the Platinum Preppy! I bought one from you and I love it, one of the best and smoothest nibs I own. Far out performs pens in it's class and many of those in classes above it in price.
My first fountain pen was an light blue Kaweko sport.
I wasn't planning on a new collection, but I just bought my first pen last week (Lamy AL Star) and I understand the temptation!
You didn't start a new collection you started two :)
If you're thinking about branching out from cartridges I'd recommend getting ink samples. Seeing that bottle in the back you're never going to use is kind of annoying.
@@duckrutt Oh, don't I know it. I ordered a converter and sample of kon-peki to go with my Lamy haha.
@@rq2757 Brian got to you too huh? My blue of choice is Navajo Turquoise. Don't know why the color kinda spoke to me. If I had to do it again I'd pick a blue that was easier to spell...
My issue with the LAMY is the huge clip; it snags easily and jerks out of my shirt pocket (if I'm taking out something else -- such as a phone)
Lamy Safari, pilot metro, TWSBI eco or any Jinhao or WingSung Chinese Pen
Tbh calim elegante is a banger,i used it for more than 5year and works fine,and its ink is 0.2£ or 20₹ hence this pen is best for extreme budget (meanwhile i cuz pilot v5 rt,uniball jetstream rt,luxor graphic and kuru toga more) i have modded elegenate’s plastic grip with a blade to add a flat side for my thumb and after that this works wonders for me as a lefty with tripod grip
Hey Drew,is there a way to knlw if a fountain pen I am neing is authentic or just a knock-off. I have found a pilot pen,looks very close the a legit pilot pen, bit it's price is very low. Nesides the price being a red flag, how else can I figute out whether it is a real one or not
One of the best ways to tell is by familiarizing yourself with the store you're buying from. Most of the time, it's easy to tell or easy to ask if they're an authorized retailer. If you're buying secondhand, that's an arena I'm far less experiences in. - Drew
I have a Safari that’s pushing 30 years old! - Sheaffer Pop!
The Amazon basic fountain pen is also an excellent starter fountain pen
The grip section and nib on the Tuzu are way too similar to the Lamy Safari.
When will the Tuzu be available for purchase?
Tomorrow, June 12! - Drew
The clip on the TWSBI Swipe is useless. I clipped it onto the cover of my B5 composition notebook. The cap cracked in less than 14 hours. This happened on the three Swipes I bought.
No preppy? Outrage, I say, outrage!
Brian covered the Preppy in one of his previous "Pens for Newbies" videos, so I omitted it because of that and the fact that I'm personally not passionate about them. - Drew
My first fountain pen was an unbranded $3 pen from Wish. I really loved that pen. Unfortunately, it was stolen during a burglary.
I lucked out suuuuuper hard and got a vintage Sheaffer Targa 1005/imperial as my first fountain pen from my grandmother, 23k gold and it seems to be a non production model based on opinions and the collector website, definitely spoilt.
First thing I bought myself was a lamy safari but I just ordered my first gold nib (That I'm buying for myself) attached to a Sailor Shikiori PBS Manyou, upsold myself into it after returning two Noodlers triple tails, one damaged and one non-functional, will definitely make it nice and easy to forget the frustration of it all.
+100 on the Schaeffer
I wish id watched videos about starter fountain pens when i first started. I did not and used a knock off amazon pen. Im glad i stuck with it but i did not go down a good road to start all this.
Pilot Kakuno, or a Jinhao 100 (i know you guys don't carry them) Right hand, left hand, weird grip... no problem. Lamy's are terrible if you don't have a 'standard' grip. TWSBI's and sailors are heinously uncomfortable and much more expensive.
Honestly I haven't tried the explorer, so I can't give an absolute opinion, but I don't think it's gonna be that much better than the kakuno (an absolutely wonderful pen) so I would have suggested that instead since it's cheaper and has the same nib.
As for the Varsity, I tried it, and I don't actually recommend it. It was to scratchy for what I was expecting from it, It has a medium nib and I expected it to be smoother (it's my first medium nib and I use copy/composition book paper). My sister recently got a Kakuno in Medium and that blew the Varsity out of the water. (Given though the kakuno is about 3.5x the price of the varsity). I haven't tried the platinum preppy yet, but I assume it's better than the varsity as well and it's non disposable. I really don't count being disposable as a Plus.
as for the Tuzu I can't give a real opinion since I haven't looked into it.
Unfortunately I haven't been able to try lamy or Twsbi, but They have such a reputation I can't argue with suggesting them.
I love the Kakuno, and for the price it's a better option if you're just going for the writing experience. I chose the Explorer because it comes with a converter and many more colors than the Kakuno. - Drew
Thank you Drew! You are my pen God! I have everything that recommended except for Pilot Explorer. It is quite difficult to find in here in Europe. I believe they call in something else here but I have yet to find out. I just completed my first order from Goulet Pens and I forgot to add in Pilot Explorer. I will surely add in for my next order. I do hope that I get the personal note from you. I shall pray hard. 🙏😁 Love your videos and podcast. Very educational, even my kids are into fountain pens and inks now (they are 15 and 11). Keep up the good work guys!
I got a lamy safari, i have been using brush pens for japanese calligraphy practice for a while so fountain pens are kind of a side hobby for me.
I think in 2024 we should be vetoing disposable or near disposable pens, so I can't agree with the Varsity. However, thank you for not putting the Platinum Preppy on this list.
I agree with the Explorer, although my money goes to the Metropolitan. Another good one would be the Sailor Profit Professor.
So disappointed that the Frankenstein pen didn't make the cut as a starter pen. Go big or go home! 🤣
😂
That's one way to do it! - Drew
I think the TWSBI Eco needed to be in this list, as it would be my first option for a few reasons.
1: the nib is great, no matter what nib size you get.
2: the grip has a bit of a triangle shape to kinda nudge you into holding it correctly, without being as overbearing as the Safari. If you have a weird grip, the Safari may not work, but the TWSBI likely will. Also, if you want it to have a triangle grip, there’s the Eco-T for that.
3: it doesn’t require a cartridge or converter, which makes the pen feel like a complete package, AND allows the buyer to make less decisions. When people are getting into pens they always look at bottled ink versus cartridges. Skip that step and make it easy. Bottled ink only.
4: it requires bottled ink, so getting ink is required, and it opens you up to the world of inks. Getting a pen that comes with a black or blue ink can be boring. You may not be drawn to writing with it because it’s just black ink, it looks the same as a bic pen or whatever. But if that’s your only pen with pink or green or whatever ink in it, you’ll be more likely to gravitate towards it, because it will be a much different experience than anything else. This basically allows you to get interested in pens and get interested in ink all at once.
It’s a bummer that Goulet has the Eco starter pack with Monteverde ink though. A small bottle of Diamine would be way better for beginners. Also, if they could pick the color of ink it would be nice as well. But coming with paper is awesome, as a lot of fountain pen newcomers don’t know how big of a difference paper can make!
I couldn't agree more. I went down the path of Platinum Preppy -> Lamy Safari -> Twsbi Eco and I regret buying the safari because the Eco is just so much better. Platinum Preppy and other disposable fountain pens are the real starter pen because that's what you should do, don't worry about buying a bottle of ink until you know you like the nib writing. The popularity of the Safari just seems to be hype and over talked vs being something everyone should start with, maybe first converter pen to get into buying ink.
I chose to select the Swipe over the Eco since Brian had already covered it in his Top Starter Pens videos, and partially because I personally prefer the Swipe. - Drew
OK, this is the second Tuzu video and every time I try to go buy this pen. It says coming in June 😢 it’s June…
It's available now! - Drew
The Vista FP makes zero sense: The ink-window cut-outs are not only unnecessary but actively stop eye-dropper filling. And they already make a transparent barrel (for the rollerball) ... it's just maddening!
They're the most transparent ink windows in fountain pen history! - Drew
You win, I’m buying a Swipe.
My work here is done! - Drew
After 5 months of use my Lamy Vista doesn't have a logo anymore
That's really interesting! - Drew
the tuzu is more of a second pen - the whole adjustable grip thing is something that would just be confusing when you don't know how you hold your pen yet
I dunno. It's been a feature of the Stabilo Easy Birdy for a long time.
The rotating grip feature can also be completely ignored. - Drew
@@Gouletpens yes, but ignored it might put your hand/pen in the wrong position and give you a bad first impression of fountain pens (and for that same reason, most lamy pens are even worse first pens)
In 150 words, tell us what is your favorite starter pen, and why is it LAMY Safari.
Gateway pen, come on!
I said it before, I will say it again. Buy a 12 pack of pilot varsities. And, yes, it will teach your average high school kid to put the cap on before he slides the pen into his pocket. I can testify to that.
I’m part of the camp that thinks the Safaris are kinda ugly. 100% agree with you on the charcoal one though, that’s a solid safe choice. I just haven’t had good luck with their nibs at all.
I’m getting the TUZU the moment you guys make it available. I love all of my Sailors, their nibs are my favorite out of every brand. Their signature feedback is just perfection to me. But I get why some people might not like it.
First like 😮😮😮
The TWSBI GO doesn't receive enough love (IMHO)...
Other than choosing the wrong TWSBI 🤣, this is a solid list of starter pens!
I agree! After I succeed in getting the Swipe the respect it deserves, I'll refocus my efforts to the Go! - Drew
Varsity as introduction, eco as your first pen.
Triangular grip sections are abominations. They should be neither first fountain pens, or gifts. Let someone who wants to develop inferior technique seek them out. Spend your money on something good.
I wonder if the LAMY safari would be even MORE popular if it had round grip section? - Drew
Jinhao X159 🥹❤️
I started with a Pilot Metropolitan (F) and still enjoy it; it looks elegant for the price and has continued to write well.