I love all the standard sizes but EF/F is my go to for notes & using on any paper (though Noodlers black is the only ink I have that will work on any paper without bleeding). M is good for headlines or a statement & B I almost solely use in my journal. Haven't experimented with any other nibs yet
Hi Brian, when I first started using and purchasing fountain pens, your store was the 1st and foremost online fountain store I would use. I may not frequent your store as much now, but your company has been the gold standard by which I judge (intentionally or not) every other online fountain pen store. Your videos have remained helpful, informative, fun, and have a professional quality not always seen on RUclips. Thank you sincerely, for all that you, your family and your team at Goulet Pens have given to us, fountain pens users over the many years. May this year bring you success, happiness, and joy. God Bless you all. 👍😎😇🙏.
For me, my every day carry pen is the Montblanc 149 Calligraphy Flex pen. The nib is so dreamy, smooth, responsive, wet, and flexy. I got it in February 2020, just as the global pandemic hit, and I got layed off work too. Through 2020 when all the craziness happened around the world, this pen gave me a little joy through the darkness. I found a new job, and things kept getting better, and this pen was there through all those times. So it's also very sentimental too in that regards. It was a great companion and comforter though those dark times, and it is an incredible writer too, to boot. I will never part with this pen.
Love this video!! It is fun to see what pens are everyones' every day carry. I would love to see everyones' else every day carry as well like Rachel, Drew, every other Goulet team member. It would be fun!
**chef's kiss** on the 'Traveler's Company Brass Fountain Pen' - I usually have other pens rotating in and out of my EDC pen case, but the Traveler's is always there.
I've been rocking a medium pilot vanishing point in black for the last 4-5 months. So much so that it's basically replaced all my other pens. Love it so much.
I have many pens at various price points including well-known gold nibed models, but I use the only one that doesn’t hard start or skip: the Platinum Preppy. It makes me sad that the others can’t live up to the $7 pen, but it’s the truth.
It's wild, isn't it? My platinum pens always work flawlessly. Although I did discover that the feeds on the Plaisirs are surprisingly fragile, when I broke one while cleaning it. Fortunately you can just swap in the feed and nib from a Preppy.
I have plenty that are as good, but I will say it's silly to me how many more expensive pens are not as reliable as some of the cheapies. A pen should write. This shouldn't be controversial, and yet.
@@karidru5272 Yeah, right? I love my rather extensive collection, but I just look at them while I write with my Preppy. It’s the secret no one will say 🥲
The 3 pens I carry the most: 1. Twsbi eco m- I didn't expect to love it as much as I do. It's such a reliable pen. 2. Kaweco sport f- another one with a huge amount of ink, I can take one anywhere without worrying about it. 3. Lamy studio ef black- I love the black nib. This pen is great for on the fly jotting. I also paired it perfectly with a matching ink.
Due to my current profession, I've been travelling a lot by air. Therefore, the pens I always carry more often than not are smaller pens that can seal the reservoir. I've been carrying 3 Opus 88 minis loaded with black (takesumi), blue (kon-peki), and a fun color right now with Robert Oster Tea time. THe ones I use in my office at work is the Lamy 2000, Pilot VP, and a sailor pro gear.
Oooh. How I've missed these! I fell off of watching these, well, because when I watch these presentations, I buy a pen. (So, well played, gentlemen. Well played.) Great reviews, as per usual and I've been eyeing that pocket pen for ages. All metal pens are very attractive to me and I don't own anything that is all polished brass. I have a dip pen in brass but that's it. I miss the Goulet family but living in my means is the watch word for the near future.
My daily carry is a Pilot Vanishing Point. Great writer, not too expensive but it looked nice. Plus when I get a bit fidgety, I can click it a bunch of times.
I carry 6 pens. But the three that always make the list are:- 1. Pilot Vanishing Point - F nib - Bought from Goulet pens actually 2. Lamy Safari Lilac - F nib 3. Diplomat Magnum - Medium nib I keep switching the other 3. Sometimes if I feel brave, The pilot E95s comes out in my bag (Feel very protective of that one actually. Don't know why).
Still using my first, Waterman Expert, after over 15 years, but recently changed nib from M to F. I also like to carry my Lamy Logo, great functional design and no worries about cosmetic damage.
I’m with you on the first two. I think if I had to pick a third, I’d go with the Stipula Passaporto Superleggera which fits great in the “secret pocket” in my Levi’s, holds a ton of ink, is reasonably priced and nice to write with.
Here are my 3 every day carry pens: 1. TWSBI Eco Clear (F) inked with Colorverse SM1 for note-taking and stays with my notebook at all time 2. TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR Prussian Blue (M) inked with De Atramentis Document Ink Black for drawing 3. Kaweco AL Sport Iguana Blue (EF) inked with Vinta Aegean [Armada 1944] for bullet journal and diary
I kinda understand the channel is a mean to promote the business, so thank you for your big heart to actually still mentioning the pen you don’t carry. I myself is a firm believer that apart of earning an income from working, there are also part of blessings that are up to God’s discretion. So who knows, this might open up a door to something new? I first learned about fountain pens through your videos. But since I live in Indonesia, it’s a bit too costly to buy from Goulet. So I got my first and second fountain pen from a small online shop in Indonesia. A preppy and TWSBI eco. Played your videos at least 3 times just to ink my TWSBI. I have my 3rd and fourth fountain pen from Itoya, Japan. 2 Kakunos. Until the time I can buy my dream pens and inks (waiting for my friend to hand carry them to Indonesia) from you, please know that at the very least you have blessed another small fountain pen shop in my country by sending me to their path. Your videos are also a blessing for me. Thanks to you and your team, I had a great time with affordable yet amazing 4 pens. I carry them everywhere every day. Loved the Diamine chocolate brown you guys recommended too. Love the pencast, I listen to them while working. Sincerely praying for God to bless you and team a hundred fold, and may the stealth purple will still be in stock when I finally get a chance to buy it.
Hey Brian ! There are my 3 every day carry pens 🖊️ : 1 : Pilot vanishing point (capless in France 🇫🇷) mate black medium nib 2 : Kaweco Dia 2 black and chrome broad nib 3 : Waterman Expert 3 black and gold medium nib Love these pens, very reliable. A bientôt 😊
My "desert island" pen is the Pilot Custom 823 in fine point. I like the generous ink capacity, the second small ink reservoir near the nib, and the balance. Also, since it's Japanese fine point, I generally don't have to worry about feathering or bleeding through paper. My second choice is the Visconti Homo Sapiens Skylight with an extra fine point. Again, the generous ink capacity and the second ink reservoir are wonderful and I like the balance and heft of the pen. The only thing that, for me, takes away from it, is that the ink flow is a little heavy and that causes bleed-through when I'm writing in a Moleskine notebook. I don't have that problem when writing in a Rhodia.
By far for me it is the E95S. I love how elegant and practical it is as well as how fun it is to write with. Followed by the Monte grappa Monte grappa and blacked out Lamy safari.
Hubby and I are catching up with your fab channel. We have had the pleasure to work with the other Brian to buy a bd pen. Now, it's one year later....time for another top favorites? Love the stories behind all of these - especially the sentimental one. Great channel!
The top three that I love to every day carry are 1) the Pilot Custom 74 with an EF nib, 2) the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR with a F nib that’s been tuned, and 3) a Lamy AL-Star with a F nib. Thanks, Brian… the Lamy 2000 is on my to-buy list.
My EDC pens are 1. Pilot Vanishing Point EF - quick notes 2. Kaweco Brass Sport 2.3mm - highlighter 3. Faber-Castell Ondoro - inked with Platinum Carbon Black, for planning 4. Lamy Imporium EF - inked with R&K Dokumentus Black, for signing 5. Ondoro Mechanical Pencil 6. Ondoro Ballpoint Pen 🙂 I'm considering a Lamy 2k set to alternate with Ondoro, but I'm not sure if the EF nib will suit my taste given that I find Imporium's to be on the thick side.
Pilot Custom Urushi, vermillion with a Broad nib. I fill it with Sheaffer Inferno Red, and It goes to school every day with me to grade papers. No, it doesn't make grading papers a joy, but I do enjoy the tactile quality of the urushi, and the large size feels comfortable in my hand. In June I clean it and give it the summer off, and in August I know it will be ready to go again. (Me, too, LOL)
1. You are the only person in the world to call a KOP EDC! Until I get one, that is. Given the ridiculous price, it won't be till the SF Pen Show, as I won't waste that much money without first taking it for a test write. 2. Thanks for talking about a pen you don't actually sell. I know that is hard for you. 3. The only pen I actually write with is my Pilot Elite , and that only for book annotations. (I draw with the others) I wish I could find a red ink for it that was sufficiently dry so that it never feathered on cheap paperback paper. Pelikan 4000 Brilliant Red is the best I've used, but I wish I could go even drier.
Lamy 2000 was my first fountain pen. It’s perfect in every sense as an every day carry pen. I have it loaded up with J Herbin Poussire de Lune and I use it to write in my journal.
My top 3 1. Pilot Prera, Fine, with Sailor Seiboku ink. (highly water resistant, bleed resistant) 2. Pilot Kakuna, Fine, with Platinum Carbon Black Ink (I work as a wastewater plant operator. water resistant, bleed resistant) 3. And my 3 current favorite thirds, in a separate leather case, Pilot VP Medium with kon peki, Platinum Procyon Fine with kon peki, and Taccia Spectrum medium with Colorverse Gravity Wave. I hated the grooved metal section so much on my 580 ALR Prussian Blue that I gave the pen away at a pen show when I couldn't sell it to anyone.
I have four that I end up taking pretty much everywhere. Two Pilot Vanishing Points, one Fine, one Extra Fine, and two Pilot Preras, one Fine, one Extra Fine. The two Preras are attached to my planner, the F with a red ink of some sort, the EF with a brown or black usually. The VPs are floaters but pretty much always in my pocket and I try to keep relatively professional looking inks in them (currently Lie de The and Poussiere de Lune). The F is my favorite writer of all the pens I own, super smooth with just a bit of feedback. The EF is actually the primary pen I use with my planner (the EF Prera is the alt-color/backup).
Surprise, surprise! Lamy 2000 still on the list. Can’t argue with you there. It was the first pen with a fine nib that I really liked, and I like it to this day. Thanks for the video, Brian!
So I bought my first fountain pen recently. Pilot Metropolitan. So far, I am loving the writing experience. I've been practicing my handwriting and my cursive, and I absolutely love the way it glides across the paper so smoothly. My hand hurts less after using it, compared to my other go-to pen, the Sharpie 3-Gel ballpoint. I have to put a lot of pressure onto the paper in order to get the Sharpie 3-Gel to work properly, but with the Metropolitan, I only have to worry about the direction the nib is facing. It's also been very therapeutic, in a strange way, to use the fountain pen today. I've only been able to use it today, but wow has the difference been awesome. So far, with the very minimal amount of experience I have, and with the only pen I have that experience with, my go-to is the Metropolitan. I love writing with fountain pens, now. Such a good purchase.
wow 10 years.... i am following your videos so much 13 years..great.... that's so great.. and had the pleasure buying some of fp online and enjoyed so interesting and useful videos all that years
I bought my first gold nib because of you, FROM you. Beloved Custom 74 SF. I got another one, and then some more, mostly Pilots, a couple Pineiders. It all started soooo many years ago with a black Pilot Metro M in college in the early 90s.
I'm amazed how much I love the Traveler's pen. I have much fancier pens but it always starts, it writes well, it's a great size, and I love the patina.
For me it's the Pilot VP, Diplomat Magnum (Goulet exclusive prismatic purple!), and the Monteverde Ritma. My job requires that I wear a lanyard and the magnetic cap on the Ritma is perfect for that! Goulet is where I have always gone for pens and I've never been let down. Keep up the good work!
I’ve always got my raw brass Gravitas Pocket Pen (flexible fine) in my pocket. Really like the way it feels in the hand, and it’s great for jotting in my Traveler’s Company notebook. Another one I use every day is my Pelikan M800 fine nib, which is one of my grails and absolutely writes like nothing else for me. And last but not least I have a Lamy Safari EF that is terrific for taking notes.
My everyday carry pens include a Lamy Safari and/or Al-Star (any color I have inked up), TWSBI mini, or a TWSBI ECO or ECO T (whatever color I have inked). All have either a broad or medium nib...well maybe a stub. I don't worry about losing them, not that I have. These are all very reliable starters and come in fun colors. My expensive pens stay at home.
Fun vid. I got a Diamond 580ALR in Prussian Blue just a few months ago and it became an instant daily favorite. I love it so much that I got extra nib units for it. It's currently sporting a medium nib and it's loaded with Liberty's Elysium ink. It's a handsome, terrific performing, work-horse pen. I've had a Lamy 2000 for over 6 years now. It's probably my favorite EDC fountain pen. I wish I'd gotten it in a fine nib but I don't regret this purchase! It's currently loaded with Robert Oster "Great Southern Ocean" ink, passing for business-friendly black yet with a ton of character. I too would have a tough time choosing a third because I usually carry pens for specific purposes according to the day's planned activities. My two main haven't seemed to change in recent years; my Pilot Custom 823 Amber is my usual travelling companion and my mid-1940's Parker 51 Flighter is a daily favorite. I just rotated my 823 out. After nearly three years of constant service, it's resting now. My Flighter has also been in constant service for nearly three years. Always inked with Parker "Quink Blue-Black" because it just makes sense! Thanks for all of the great content and awesome customer service over the years. Write On!
Currently, I happen to have three pocket pens inked: the Ensso Piuma pocket pen in Ultem (M), Namisu N2 (M), and Schon Designs Pocket Pen in black adonized aluminum (M). All three are excellent pens and I highly recommend them. I will be traveling this week and they are coming with me.
Im new to fountain pens but so far my everyday carry is a TWSBI Eco (the purple one that glows) Fine Nib. The capacity is great, It writes nicely, I love seeing the ink inside and its very comfortable in my hand which makes it nice for writing or drawing. Because I also use it for pen and wash drawing I have to ink it up with something waterproof so Ive got it full of Platinum Carbon Black which is the go to ink recommended in the art groups Im in.
You’re the only fountain pen store I’ve bought from and I’ve never even thought of looking up other stores. Just never occurred to me I guess. 😂 but I have a single pen that I use daily and I actually use 2 of them and have considered getting a third, I love this pen so much. But my favorite pen is the Lamy cp1. I have small hands and I prefer thinner bodied pens, and black is my favorite color so this pen just checks all the boxes for me. Both of my pens are fine nibed, but that’s really the only size I use. Thanks for the video!
My current EDC is a Lamy Dialog CC in fine which is a superb writer. Also, a Lamy 2000 in fine. A Lamy Studio (racing green) w14k nib and a Pelikan M200 in fine trade back and forth in the third slot in my pen case.
I'm going to kinda pull a Brian here. First pen I carry every day - Pilot Elite 95S in Extra Fine that i bought from Japan. Love everything about it, it's light enough to not be noticeable when carrying, but not so light that it feels cheap. It writes beautifully, and that inlaid gold nib is just perfection. Second - my Pilot matte black Vanishing Point with a Fine nib. Used to hate the pen due to the clip, tried one out in a pen store one day that was out for people to write with and I immediately fell in love with how it wrote. Third goes between two different ones. A Faber-Castell silver Hexo with a fine nib, and a Sailor Pro-Color in Medium Fine that I also bought from Japan. For cheaper pens, they write so incredibly well, they definitely punch above their price point. The Hexo even has a nice bit of bounce and the tiniest bit of flex in the nib, very much like the Elite 95S does.
I use my TWSBI Eco a lot. It's always in my carry-around pencase. Then I also have at least one Lamy Safari and/or AL-star in there, but I do change up which ones sometimes. I'm partial to the dark lilac and purple ones though, I'll most often have those in there. Then I'll have 2 or so more pens, of which usually one will be a cheaper Chinese pen, such as a Jinhao or Lanbitou and the other sometimes a Kaweco Sport, Pilot Metropolitan or another Lamy Safari/AL-star. Another TWSBI is definitively on my wish list.
The three pens that I use on a daily basis are: 1. The Edison Premiere in Cappuccino. (Medium) -I've been eyeing this pen ever since I first saw Brian's first "Seven Pens To Last A Lifetime" video. So you can say this is my own grail pen. Inked with Noodler's Polar Brown. 2. Twsbi Diamond 580 White Rose Gold II (Medium)-Who isn't a fan of Twsbi?! The white compliments every ink color imaginable! I have mine inked with Noodler's Golden Brown, but at the timing of replying to this video I need to refill my pen. But this is the only pen I don't put in a pen case. I keep it separately in the case it comes in. 3. Lamy Al-Star Petrol (Extra-Fine)- I like how this is an entry-level pen but for everyone, no matter if they're a novice or an expert to the pen game. I keep each pen-save for the White RG 580-in my pen case. I have it inked with Private Reserve Blue Suede. Normally, I like medium/broad nibs, but I'm branching out. But for Japanese nibs, I'm going with Broad or Medium. I don't like writing with a nail. Sorry.
I always have inked: 1 contemporary pen, 1 "fancy nib" pen like an oblique or something with flex, 1 vintage pen. For EDC, I always have: 1 Platinum Preppy in my bag because that thing ALWAYS starts and it doesn't matter if I misplace it or something. These days, I try to rotate through my whole pen collection every year. For EDC I most often have: Pilot Custom 74 or 823; Diplomat Aero; Opus 88 Halo Lennon Toolbar; Moonman 2 with an Edison nib; TWSBI Prussian Blue 580 because that is my favourite TWSBI too
The three that I use the most are: 1.) Birmingham Pen Company Ironsides "Fire Ant" in Broad (A stainless steel tube, nearly unbreakable and writes wet and smooth) 2.) A Jinhao/Muji/Hongdian pen of the month that rotates based on preference. 3.) A Pilot Varsity refilled with Noodler's Heart of Darkness, it writes the first time every time.
My go-to pens have been the (discontinued) Waterman Phileas, which I have loved since the 90s. Back in the day, I not only wrote with them while riding the subway, but I could refill them in transit using a Visconti traveling ink pot and not spill a drop.
I usually have 3 fountain pens on the go at once but the one that is always there is my Cross ATX with a medium nib. I bought it in 2001 and it writes beautifully. It a rusty brown colour and looks great as well.
Nice video. I don’t have any expensive fountain pens, but have about 20 sub $100 fountain pens. My work pens are all cheap waterman and cross pens because they’re cheap, and write well on cheap paper at work. My every day carry pens for other use are… a platinum curidas, as it’s a great writer, reliable, and fun because it’s retractable, a sailor compass 1911 mf nib because I love the way it writes on any paper, and a lamy vista. So much fun.
Mine would be Lamy Safari, Kaweco Sport or AL Sport or Liliput, then the Lamy 2000... The Lamy Safari gets carried in my work bag the most because it is a solid writer and nearly bullet proof even on airplanes. The Kawecos are small, easy to carry wherever you go, especially in the summer. The Lamy 2000 needs protection, because it's more expensive and needs more care, but wow, is it a wonderful pen!
Brian, like you, one of my historical go-to pens is the V-HS-BA Bronze Age. It has a special place in my rotation and I love the feel of it. And I have several of the one-offs (same but with ink window, the Evolution, etc) but the original HS-BA tops that list. Unfortunately, many of my other must-have-on-me pens are Montblancs, usually the WRITERS EDITION. Love the Mark Twain, G. B. Shaw, Shakespeare, the Silver Solitaire, the Blue Hour and Glacier.
Great video! I've had my eye on that Traveler's Company one for a while. I have tiny hands, and I'm a lefty lol, so unfortunately I'm kind of limited in pens that I can use. For me I've been carrying the Waterman Hemisphere L'Essence du Blue, a burgundy Pilot E95a, and a Monteverde Ritma orange 2023 edition (which I bought from Goulet lol). I'm still very new to fountain pens but I'm loving it so far!
Nice one, I like that you did not limit yourself to only 3. I will have to note your choices, as I do not have any of your 5 and since you carry them, then there must be good reasons. As for me, my most used fountain pen is the TWSBI Diamond 580 "navy" color with extra fine nib, it is so reliable, no hard starts, and the nib is so smooth and bouncy. I know this must be a home run because I have another identical pen in different color and that same size nib is scratchy.
My top 3 EDC pens: 1. Schon DSGN Pocket 6 - raw brass - fine nib (always inked with Diamine Blue-Black) 2. Gravitas Pocket - raw stainless - medium nib (always inked with Diamine Oxblood) 3. Ensso Pocket - raw titanium - medium nib (always inked with Noodler's Zhivago) What can I say... I'm a sucker for chunky metal pocket pens. The Gravitas and Ensso are eye-droppered, so I can go weeks on a single fill with either of those. One of these is ALWAYS in the pocket of my cargo shorts (nod to Brian as part of the cargo shorts community)!
I love my Lamy Studio Stainless Steel that I put a 14k nib on. It’s very durable and resistant to scratches, plus it looks modern and unassuming like to 2000. Just an all around great pen. Oh and I also like that it is the only Studio with a rubberized grip section instead of metal!
My main go-to pen is the Pineider Full Metal Jacket (M) with the steel nib. I love it and always pair it with KWZ Turquoise. Number two would be the Pilot E95S with a medium nib. I love this pen - my favorite Pilot pens although I have several different ones. Last in third place although I don’t take it with me anywhere would be my Parker Vacumatic pen. I love how smoothly it writes, but I don’t use it as much for fear of messing it up since I can’t replace it. My main carry with me pen would be a Kaweco Sport with a broad nib because 1) I like how the hey write; 2) they’re easily carried, and 3) they’re easily replaced if lost or broken. Brian must like toothier writing pens, or so I’ve heard that’s how Sailor pens write?
I don’t know how much longer I can resist that Lamy 2000. I travel with my Twisbi. The ink capacity and the tight fitting cap are big wins to carry about. My Lamy Safari has been on my desk the last couple of months, but my vanishing point Pilot always works into the rotation.
Traveler brass is my go to. As an engineer, I have used it in the field and the office. If I only had one pen that would be it. Careful with some inks, some inks it can be really dry writer - almost scratchy on some papers (Rhodia). On trash copy paper and on Tomoe it is awesome. Diamine makes some great color cartridges - so I keep some in my bag, but I usually have time to refill with my own colors. The other one that is super smooth writer and is cheap enough I don’t worry about is my Hongdian N7 - what an awesome pen. Pretty and writes great on everything. I use De Artemis Jane Austen with it- has a very old school almost but not quite olive green.
Currently, my three most carried pens are: Lamy 2000 fine; TWSBI Eco fine; Kaweco Classic Sport broad. 10y ago I would have said: Pilot VP broad, Pilot Metropolitan medium, Lamy Safari fine. All three of those older pens are on my desk and still used though. You didn't mention ink, but all your examples were blue. I've found that over the years I have migrated from blue for text and red for emphasis, to black and orange.
I operate on a lesser budget than some, so my picks are on the more economical side. My top pen, and one I would choose if I had to pick only one to carry, is my Kaweco AL Sport in Rose Gold, usually with Noodler’s Australian Roses in Black Swan. It doesn’t have a large capacity, but I just love the feel of it in hand and how it works with my writing. My 2nd pick would be a TWSBI Eco-T in a M nib, often with Diamond Aurora Borealis inked up in it. (I prefer the triangular grip over the regular Eco - again because I have nicer writing output with it.) Last would be either the newer to my collection TWSBI Diamond Mini White Rose Gold V2, with some form of purple ink in it (e.g. J. Herbin Poussière de Lune) OR the humble, but still great Platium Prefount M nib in Night Sea - it writes really nicely, I like putting shimmer inks in it (like Diamond Enchanted Ocean), or lending it to someone briefly to write with (and, as an EA/paraprofessional, it’s been fun to share with some of my students who have never seen or used a FP before 🙂).
I order the Lamy 2000 from you guys a few months ago. It’s a excellent pen. My pilot custom 74 with spencerian nib, and my montblanc 149 flex nib are my next favorite.
My three are: Lamy Studio Medium nib TWISBI Eco Medium nib Moonman S5 fine my favourite one would be my Harley Davidson- waterman pen with a medium nib.
My Three: 1. Gravitas Pocket Pen (EF Nib). Not sure this one needs an explanation really, its small, its metal, it writes well and fits into that tiny pocket in jeans. perfect. 2. TWISBI Vac 700R Iris (EF Nib). Love this pen and it looks awesome, the go to pen that is always out on my desk. 3. Waterman Carene in Amber Marine (M Nib). Beautiful pen, beautiful writer.
My top three EDC pens are a Diplomat Aero, Parker 75, Waterman Gentleman in sterling, Karas brass Decograph (hand engraved), and a Waldmann Tango Imagination. (It appears, Mr. Goulet, that we have similarly casual approaches to counting.) All have fine nibs except the Diplomat, which has a medium cursive italic grind. All are metal; I choose pens for EDC on the basis of durability. All my pens have excellent nibs and are comfortable in the hand, but any that I think likely to be the worse for wear after close contact with keys and knives and change or after being dropped stay on my desk or, if I take them out, clipped into the inside pocket of a blazer.
My current load out is: Charcoal Safari that is in my pocket every day In my pen case that I carry with me contains: TWSBI 580 ALR Prussian with a custom grind Lamy Vista black F Lamy Safari Petrol EF 2 TWSBI Eco in fine (orange and purple) Moonman T1 (it claims fine but is really more of a medium and I love it) I tend to switch colors between topics when I am in a meeting so it is easy to tell at a glance where one list ends and another begins. I tend to do the same thing in my agenda to easily differentiate between task or vendors. Hoping to snag a Lamy 2000 soon.
Great vid .. thanks Brian. My # 1 & 2, EDC fountain pen is the Twisbi 580 demonstrator pen. Great pen. I run it in blue and black ink. My #3 is my Mont Blanc 149 which is my home edc. Desk version only. So I guess you could say that I could still use a true # 3 fountain pen. thanks again.
interesting video, for me the best pens to carry around are the Lamy All Star as an everyday pen, for compactness I choose a Kaweko Sport, and for elegance the Sailor 1911 light.
Great to watch and hear all of it, Brian. That unique Sailor KoP Asian Way will now stay on my mind, 24/7. I really want one too. The Brass Traveler’s pen is also great and one I’d like to own and enjoy myself. Do you sell it? The Lamy 2000 must take a bow for being immovable from the list, even after more than a decade later today. The Visconti HS Bronze Age has my ringing endorsement as a top daily carry and use classic. Top video. The story about your experience in Japan is great to hear. If I were to do my list of Top 3 in this particular category I’d do two lists: one for modern pens, the other vintage. So, modern - Aurora 88, Sailor KoP, (ebonite), Visconti HS Bronze Age. vintage : Sheaffer PFM, Aurora 88, Waterman Commando
Have you ever used a Lepine fountain pen? Handmade in France. I love them, especially the little ones that easily fit in a pocket and post to “full” length.
For Me: TWSBI ECO Blue, medium nib & Pilot Metropolitan Black, medium nib. I collect knives and pens and my philosophy for both is the same. Only purchase those things that you are willing to use. If you purchase expensive items they will probably be left lying around gathering dust, 'cause you're afraid to use them, due to the price.
I don't have an everyday carry, but I keep 2 pens almost continually inked on my desk for everyday writing. Both are OMAS 360, one in fine and one in medium. I generally don't take them out anymore. In my pen case is a fine, medium and broad and or stub.
Great video! I‘m carrying my Montblanc 146 RGT broad nib (gift from my wife for our marriage), Leonardo Officina Italiana Furore Smeraldo medium nib (my worrystone pen, the look make me feel I‘m at the ocean) and Lamy LX Maroon fine nib. I would appreciate more of these daily carry pen videos.
Geez, I guess the 3 pens I use the most are 1) "Nothern Lights Purple" Pro Gear slim MF. I just _LOVE_ how great this pen looks. It also writes well, but I wish I bought a Pro Gear and not slim model, because I find I'll need to post it to write comfortably. 2) A Dark Violet Lamy Scala with a 14K Gold F nib. This pen feels great in the hand, although it IS heavy. 3) Lamy 2000 EF. Yep. Lamy 2000 gets love here, too. Strangely, it seems to have a broader line than my Scala with an F nib.
impressed you could keep your EDC list at just 5 pens!: currently got 34 inked up and they are all favourites!, but if I absolutely had to narrow it down I’d pick my blue/grey Pilot78g+ EF which I’ve paired with Sailor yonaga (my favourite blue/black ink) and my Sailor Pro Gear EF which I paired with Graf von Faber Castell cobalt blue (love the feedback you get with Sailor pens) and, a recent addition but definitely one of the first I reach for, my Platinum 3776 EF in rouge Bourgogne with gold trim which is inked with Montblanc St Exupéry: I’ve got small handwriting so definitely prefer EF nibs and tomoe river paper:)
Turns out that my top 3 daily carry pens are all Pelikan Level L65s. There's one in each of my bags. Reliable, tough as old boots, and with a generous ink capacity - it's a real shame (although not really unexpected) that the system died out.
Only one broad nib? I am surprised! However, I am not at all surprised that there were more than three pens on this list. 😂
LOL- I was thinking the same thing. Quite surprising with all the fine nibs.
Also surprised. But these are carry around pens. Fine nib is a wise choice when you don't know what paper you will be served.
I love all the standard sizes but EF/F is my go to for notes & using on any paper (though Noodlers black is the only ink I have that will work on any paper without bleeding).
M is good for headlines or a statement & B I almost solely use in my journal. Haven't experimented with any other nibs yet
I was surprised when the title said 3.
I like that you didn't limit it to pens you sell - I can tell you're a genuine lover of pens!
Hi Brian, when I first started using and purchasing fountain pens, your store was the 1st and foremost online fountain store I would use. I may not frequent your store as much now, but your company has been the gold standard by which I judge (intentionally or not) every other online fountain pen store. Your videos have remained helpful, informative, fun, and have a professional quality not always seen on RUclips. Thank you sincerely, for all that you, your family and your team at Goulet Pens have given to us, fountain pens users over the many years. May this year bring you success, happiness, and joy. God Bless you all. 👍😎😇🙏.
I agree! Everything I learned about pens was from Goulet!
For me, my every day carry pen is the Montblanc 149 Calligraphy Flex pen. The nib is so dreamy, smooth, responsive, wet, and flexy. I got it in February 2020, just as the global pandemic hit, and I got layed off work too. Through 2020 when all the craziness happened around the world, this pen gave me a little joy through the darkness. I found a new job, and things kept getting better, and this pen was there through all those times. So it's also very sentimental too in that regards. It was a great companion and comforter though those dark times, and it is an incredible writer too, to boot. I will never part with this pen.
My Diamond 580 Prussian Blue was just delivered today from your site. My first fountain pen and I’m super excited.
What ink(s) are y’all using with it?
@@laurabondurant5096 I got Diamond Majestic Blue with mine.
@@pinatadonkey5934 oh nice and wet with touch of sheen! Does it take a century to dry on Tomoe River?
@@laurabondurant5096 I’m still at work so haven’t even unboxed the pen yet 😭 haha. But I plan to get a Galen Leather notebook with it soon.
@@pinatadonkey5934 Galen. I haven’t heard of that brand but I will check it out. Thanks for your responses. I really appreciate it.
Love this video!! It is fun to see what pens are everyones' every day carry. I would love to see everyones' else every day carry as well like Rachel, Drew, every other Goulet team member. It would be fun!
**chef's kiss** on the 'Traveler's Company Brass Fountain Pen' -
I usually have other pens rotating in and out of my EDC pen case, but the Traveler's is always there.
I love mine it goes everywhere, including through the washer once. It’s was as bad as you think.
I've been rocking a medium pilot vanishing point in black for the last 4-5 months. So much so that it's basically replaced all my other pens. Love it so much.
Does the ink ever evaporate or dry up?
It does not. Pilot has a very good seal in the capless/vanishing point@@LoveYouBeTrue
I have many pens at various price points including well-known gold nibed models, but I use the only one that doesn’t hard start or skip: the Platinum Preppy. It makes me sad that the others can’t live up to the $7 pen, but it’s the truth.
I always thought it was hilarious how a
I do think the Pilot Kakuno and the Custom series can be competitive against the preppy.
It's wild, isn't it? My platinum pens always work flawlessly. Although I did discover that the feeds on the Plaisirs are surprisingly fragile, when I broke one while cleaning it. Fortunately you can just swap in the feed and nib from a Preppy.
I have plenty that are as good, but I will say it's silly to me how many more expensive pens are not as reliable as some of the cheapies. A pen should write. This shouldn't be controversial, and yet.
@@karidru5272 Yeah, right? I love my rather extensive collection, but I just look at them while I write with my Preppy. It’s the secret no one will say 🥲
The 3 pens I carry the most:
1. Twsbi eco m- I didn't expect to love it as much as I do. It's such a reliable pen.
2. Kaweco sport f- another one with a huge amount of ink, I can take one anywhere without worrying about it.
3. Lamy studio ef black- I love the black nib. This pen is great for on the fly jotting. I also paired it perfectly with a matching ink.
Brian not able to choose 3 is such a Brian thing to do. Lotsa love from 🇲🇾
Due to my current profession, I've been travelling a lot by air. Therefore, the pens I always carry more often than not are smaller pens that can seal the reservoir. I've been carrying 3 Opus 88 minis loaded with black (takesumi), blue (kon-peki), and a fun color right now with Robert Oster Tea time. THe ones I use in my office at work is the Lamy 2000, Pilot VP, and a sailor pro gear.
Oooh. How I've missed these! I fell off of watching these, well, because when I watch these presentations, I buy a pen. (So, well played, gentlemen. Well played.) Great reviews, as per usual and I've been eyeing that pocket pen for ages. All metal pens are very attractive to me and I don't own anything that is all polished brass. I have a dip pen in brass but that's it. I miss the Goulet family but living in my means is the watch word for the near future.
My daily carry is a Pilot Vanishing Point. Great writer, not too expensive but it looked nice. Plus when I get a bit fidgety, I can click it a bunch of times.
When I first used the vanishing point I felt in love. It was so nice to use that I rushed in and bought the vanishing point ls.
Well done on your updated choices, Brian, and it says it all that the Lamy 2000 is still with you ( me too ). Good future changes in the years ahead
I carry 6 pens. But the three that always make the list are:-
1. Pilot Vanishing Point - F nib - Bought from Goulet pens actually
2. Lamy Safari Lilac - F nib
3. Diplomat Magnum - Medium nib
I keep switching the other 3. Sometimes if I feel brave, The pilot E95s comes out in my bag (Feel very protective of that one actually. Don't know why).
Still using my first, Waterman Expert, after over 15 years, but recently changed nib from M to F. I also like to carry my Lamy Logo, great functional design and no worries about cosmetic damage.
I’m with you on the first two. I think if I had to pick a third, I’d go with the Stipula Passaporto Superleggera which fits great in the “secret pocket” in my Levi’s, holds a ton of ink, is reasonably priced and nice to write with.
Here are my 3 every day carry pens:
1. TWSBI Eco Clear (F) inked with Colorverse SM1 for note-taking and stays with my notebook at all time
2. TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR Prussian Blue (M) inked with De Atramentis Document Ink Black for drawing
3. Kaweco AL Sport Iguana Blue (EF) inked with Vinta Aegean [Armada 1944] for bullet journal and diary
yess, SM1!! ✨
I kinda understand the channel is a mean to promote the business, so thank you for your big heart to actually still mentioning the pen you don’t carry.
I myself is a firm believer that apart of earning an income from working, there are also part of blessings that are up to God’s discretion. So who knows, this might open up a door to something new?
I first learned about fountain pens through your videos. But since I live in Indonesia, it’s a bit too costly to buy from Goulet. So I got my first and second fountain pen from a small online shop in Indonesia. A preppy and TWSBI eco. Played your videos at least 3 times just to ink my TWSBI. I have my 3rd and fourth fountain pen from Itoya, Japan. 2 Kakunos.
Until the time I can buy my dream pens and inks (waiting for my friend to hand carry them to Indonesia) from you, please know that at the very least you have blessed another small fountain pen shop in my country by sending me to their path.
Your videos are also a blessing for me. Thanks to you and your team, I had a great time with affordable yet amazing 4 pens. I carry them everywhere every day. Loved the Diamine chocolate brown you guys recommended too. Love the pencast, I listen to them while working.
Sincerely praying for God to bless you and team a hundred fold, and may the stealth purple will still be in stock when I finally get a chance to buy it.
Hey Brian ! There are my 3 every day carry pens 🖊️ :
1 : Pilot vanishing point (capless in France 🇫🇷) mate black medium nib
2 : Kaweco Dia 2 black and chrome broad nib
3 : Waterman Expert 3 black and gold medium nib
Love these pens, very reliable. A bientôt 😊
My "desert island" pen is the Pilot Custom 823 in fine point. I like the generous ink capacity, the second small ink reservoir near the nib, and the balance. Also, since it's Japanese fine point, I generally don't have to worry about feathering or bleeding through paper. My second choice is the Visconti Homo Sapiens Skylight with an extra fine point. Again, the generous ink capacity and the second ink reservoir are wonderful and I like the balance and heft of the pen. The only thing that, for me, takes away from it, is that the ink flow is a little heavy and that causes bleed-through when I'm writing in a Moleskine notebook. I don't have that problem when writing in a Rhodia.
My EDC pens happened to be my first twsbi, the Lamy 2000 and a rotation between my Leonardo pens.
By far for me it is the E95S. I love how elegant and practical it is as well as how fun it is to write with.
Followed by the Monte grappa Monte grappa and blacked out Lamy safari.
I bought a medium nibbed e95S and love it so much that I just ordered a black one in a different nib size.
Hubby and I are catching up with your fab channel. We have had the pleasure to work with the other Brian to buy a bd pen. Now, it's one year later....time for another top favorites? Love the stories behind all of these - especially the sentimental one. Great channel!
The top three that I love to every day carry are 1) the Pilot Custom 74 with an EF nib, 2) the TWSBI Diamond 580 ALR with a F nib that’s been tuned, and 3) a Lamy AL-Star with a F nib. Thanks, Brian… the Lamy 2000 is on my to-buy list.
My EDC pens are
1. Pilot Vanishing Point EF - quick notes
2. Kaweco Brass Sport 2.3mm - highlighter
3. Faber-Castell Ondoro - inked with Platinum Carbon Black, for planning
4. Lamy Imporium EF - inked with R&K Dokumentus Black, for signing
5. Ondoro Mechanical Pencil
6. Ondoro Ballpoint Pen 🙂
I'm considering a Lamy 2k set to alternate with Ondoro, but I'm not sure if the EF nib will suit my taste given that I find Imporium's to be on the thick side.
Pilot Custom Urushi, vermillion with a Broad nib. I fill it with Sheaffer Inferno Red, and It goes to school every day with me to grade papers. No, it doesn't make grading papers a joy, but I do enjoy the tactile quality of the urushi, and the large size feels comfortable in my hand. In June I clean it and give it the summer off, and in August I know it will be ready to go again. (Me, too, LOL)
1. You are the only person in the world to call a KOP EDC! Until I get one, that is. Given the ridiculous price, it won't be till the SF Pen Show, as I won't waste that much money without first taking it for a test write.
2. Thanks for talking about a pen you don't actually sell. I know that is hard for you.
3. The only pen I actually write with is my Pilot Elite , and that only for book annotations. (I draw with the others) I wish I could find a red ink for it that was sufficiently dry so that it never feathered on cheap paperback paper. Pelikan 4000 Brilliant Red is the best I've used, but I wish I could go even drier.
Lamy 2000 was my first fountain pen. It’s perfect in every sense as an every day carry pen. I have it loaded up with J Herbin Poussire de Lune and I use it to write in my journal.
My top 3
1. Pilot Prera, Fine, with Sailor Seiboku ink. (highly water resistant, bleed resistant)
2. Pilot Kakuna, Fine, with Platinum Carbon Black Ink (I work as a wastewater plant operator. water resistant, bleed resistant)
3. And my 3 current favorite thirds, in a separate leather case, Pilot VP Medium with kon peki, Platinum Procyon Fine with kon peki, and Taccia Spectrum medium with Colorverse Gravity Wave.
I hated the grooved metal section so much on my 580 ALR Prussian Blue that I gave the pen away at a pen show when I couldn't sell it to anyone.
I have four that I end up taking pretty much everywhere. Two Pilot Vanishing Points, one Fine, one Extra Fine, and two Pilot Preras, one Fine, one Extra Fine. The two Preras are attached to my planner, the F with a red ink of some sort, the EF with a brown or black usually. The VPs are floaters but pretty much always in my pocket and I try to keep relatively professional looking inks in them (currently Lie de The and Poussiere de Lune). The F is my favorite writer of all the pens I own, super smooth with just a bit of feedback. The EF is actually the primary pen I use with my planner (the EF Prera is the alt-color/backup).
Lamy 2000 was my first fountain pen and still is my most used pen as I write with it every day
Lamy 2000 and TWSBI 580AL are def my go to pens.
Surprise, surprise! Lamy 2000 still on the list. Can’t argue with you there. It was the first pen with a fine nib that I really liked, and I like it to this day. Thanks for the video, Brian!
So I bought my first fountain pen recently. Pilot Metropolitan. So far, I am loving the writing experience. I've been practicing my handwriting and my cursive, and I absolutely love the way it glides across the paper so smoothly. My hand hurts less after using it, compared to my other go-to pen, the Sharpie 3-Gel ballpoint. I have to put a lot of pressure onto the paper in order to get the Sharpie 3-Gel to work properly, but with the Metropolitan, I only have to worry about the direction the nib is facing.
It's also been very therapeutic, in a strange way, to use the fountain pen today. I've only been able to use it today, but wow has the difference been awesome. So far, with the very minimal amount of experience I have, and with the only pen I have that experience with, my go-to is the Metropolitan. I love writing with fountain pens, now. Such a good purchase.
I am in love with the basic TWSBI 580!
wow 10 years.... i am following your videos so much 13 years..great.... that's so great.. and had the pleasure buying some of fp online and enjoyed so interesting and useful videos all that years
I bought my first gold nib because of you, FROM you. Beloved Custom 74 SF. I got another one, and then some more, mostly Pilots, a couple Pineiders.
It all started soooo many years ago with a black Pilot Metro M in college in the early 90s.
I'm amazed how much I love the Traveler's pen. I have much fancier pens but it always starts, it writes well, it's a great size, and I love the patina.
For me it's the Pilot VP, Diplomat Magnum (Goulet exclusive prismatic purple!), and the Monteverde Ritma. My job requires that I wear a lanyard and the magnetic cap on the Ritma is perfect for that!
Goulet is where I have always gone for pens and I've never been let down. Keep up the good work!
I’ve always got my raw brass Gravitas Pocket Pen (flexible fine) in my pocket. Really like the way it feels in the hand, and it’s great for jotting in my Traveler’s Company notebook. Another one I use every day is my Pelikan M800 fine nib, which is one of my grails and absolutely writes like nothing else for me. And last but not least I have a Lamy Safari EF that is terrific for taking notes.
Gravitas Pens! I have not yet bought one, but keep looking at them.
I really love mine. Definitely worth it!
i have very few. pens but pilot custom 74 medium nib has been consistently in use for me over the last few years.
My everyday carry pens include a Lamy Safari and/or Al-Star (any color I have inked up), TWSBI mini, or a TWSBI ECO or ECO T (whatever color I have inked). All have either a broad or medium nib...well maybe a stub. I don't worry about losing them, not that I have. These are all very reliable starters and come in fun colors. My expensive pens stay at home.
Yep, an Eco and a Lamy Vista are mine rn in mediums
Fun vid.
I got a Diamond 580ALR in Prussian Blue just a few months ago and it became an instant daily favorite. I love it so much that I got extra nib units for it. It's currently sporting a medium nib and it's loaded with Liberty's Elysium ink. It's a handsome, terrific performing, work-horse pen.
I've had a Lamy 2000 for over 6 years now. It's probably my favorite EDC fountain pen. I wish I'd gotten it in a fine nib but I don't regret this purchase! It's currently loaded with Robert Oster "Great Southern Ocean" ink, passing for business-friendly black yet with a ton of character.
I too would have a tough time choosing a third because I usually carry pens for specific purposes according to the day's planned activities. My two main haven't seemed to change in recent years; my Pilot Custom 823 Amber is my usual travelling companion and my mid-1940's Parker 51 Flighter is a daily favorite.
I just rotated my 823 out. After nearly three years of constant service, it's resting now. My Flighter has also been in constant service for nearly three years. Always inked with Parker "Quink Blue-Black" because it just makes sense!
Thanks for all of the great content and awesome customer service over the years.
Write On!
Currently, I happen to have three pocket pens inked: the Ensso Piuma pocket pen in Ultem (M), Namisu N2 (M), and Schon Designs Pocket Pen in black adonized aluminum (M). All three are excellent pens and I highly recommend them. I will be traveling this week and they are coming with me.
Im new to fountain pens but so far my everyday carry is a TWSBI Eco (the purple one that glows) Fine Nib. The capacity is great, It writes nicely, I love seeing the ink inside and its very comfortable in my hand which makes it nice for writing or drawing. Because I also use it for pen and wash drawing I have to ink it up with something waterproof so Ive got it full of Platinum Carbon Black which is the go to ink recommended in the art groups Im in.
You’re the only fountain pen store I’ve bought from and I’ve never even thought of looking up other stores. Just never occurred to me I guess. 😂 but I have a single pen that I use daily and I actually use 2 of them and have considered getting a third, I love this pen so much. But my favorite pen is the Lamy cp1. I have small hands and I prefer thinner bodied pens, and black is my favorite color so this pen just checks all the boxes for me. Both of my pens are fine nibed, but that’s really the only size I use. Thanks for the video!
My current EDC is a Lamy Dialog CC in fine which is a superb writer. Also, a Lamy 2000 in fine. A Lamy Studio (racing green) w14k nib and a Pelikan M200 in fine trade back and forth in the third slot in my pen case.
"My third number three pen". So much Top 4 podcast energy
I have been loving the Kaweco Liliput as an EDC, it fits in my wallet.
I'm going to kinda pull a Brian here.
First pen I carry every day - Pilot Elite 95S in Extra Fine that i bought from Japan. Love everything about it, it's light enough to not be noticeable when carrying, but not so light that it feels cheap. It writes beautifully, and that inlaid gold nib is just perfection.
Second - my Pilot matte black Vanishing Point with a Fine nib. Used to hate the pen due to the clip, tried one out in a pen store one day that was out for people to write with and I immediately fell in love with how it wrote.
Third goes between two different ones. A Faber-Castell silver Hexo with a fine nib, and a Sailor Pro-Color in Medium Fine that I also bought from Japan. For cheaper pens, they write so incredibly well, they definitely punch above their price point. The Hexo even has a nice bit of bounce and the tiniest bit of flex in the nib, very much like the Elite 95S does.
I use my TWSBI Eco a lot. It's always in my carry-around pencase. Then I also have at least one Lamy Safari and/or AL-star in there, but I do change up which ones sometimes. I'm partial to the dark lilac and purple ones though, I'll most often have those in there. Then I'll have 2 or so more pens, of which usually one will be a cheaper Chinese pen, such as a Jinhao or Lanbitou and the other sometimes a Kaweco Sport, Pilot Metropolitan or another Lamy Safari/AL-star.
Another TWSBI is definitively on my wish list.
Ecos rule
The three pens that I use on a daily basis are:
1. The Edison Premiere in Cappuccino. (Medium) -I've been eyeing this pen ever since I first saw Brian's first "Seven Pens To Last A Lifetime" video. So you can say this is my own grail pen. Inked with Noodler's Polar Brown.
2. Twsbi Diamond 580 White Rose Gold II (Medium)-Who isn't a fan of Twsbi?! The white compliments every ink color imaginable! I have mine inked with Noodler's Golden Brown, but at the timing of replying to this video I need to refill my pen. But this is the only pen I don't put in a pen case. I keep it separately in the case it comes in.
3. Lamy Al-Star Petrol (Extra-Fine)- I like how this is an entry-level pen but for everyone, no matter if they're a novice or an expert to the pen game. I keep each pen-save for the White RG 580-in my pen case. I have it inked with Private Reserve Blue Suede.
Normally, I like medium/broad nibs, but I'm branching out. But for Japanese nibs, I'm going with Broad or Medium. I don't like writing with a nail. Sorry.
I always have inked: 1 contemporary pen, 1 "fancy nib" pen like an oblique or something with flex, 1 vintage pen. For EDC, I always have: 1 Platinum Preppy in my bag because that thing ALWAYS starts and it doesn't matter if I misplace it or something. These days, I try to rotate through my whole pen collection every year. For EDC I most often have: Pilot Custom 74 or 823; Diplomat Aero; Opus 88 Halo Lennon Toolbar; Moonman 2 with an Edison nib; TWSBI Prussian Blue 580 because that is my favourite TWSBI too
The three that I use the most are:
1.) Birmingham Pen Company Ironsides "Fire Ant" in Broad (A stainless steel tube, nearly unbreakable and writes wet and smooth)
2.) A Jinhao/Muji/Hongdian pen of the month that rotates based on preference.
3.) A Pilot Varsity refilled with Noodler's Heart of Darkness, it writes the first time every time.
My go-to pens have been the (discontinued) Waterman Phileas, which I have loved since the 90s. Back in the day, I not only wrote with them while riding the subway, but I could refill them in transit using a Visconti traveling ink pot and not spill a drop.
I usually have 3 fountain pens on the go at once but the one that is always there is my Cross ATX with a medium nib. I bought it in 2001 and it writes beautifully. It a rusty brown colour and looks great as well.
Nice video. I don’t have any expensive fountain pens, but have about 20 sub $100 fountain pens. My work pens are all cheap waterman and cross pens because they’re cheap, and write well on cheap paper at work. My every day carry pens for other use are… a platinum curidas, as it’s a great writer, reliable, and fun because it’s retractable, a sailor compass 1911 mf nib because I love the way it writes on any paper, and a lamy vista. So much fun.
Mine would be Lamy Safari, Kaweco Sport or AL Sport or Liliput, then the Lamy 2000... The Lamy Safari gets carried in my work bag the most because it is a solid writer and nearly bullet proof even on airplanes. The Kawecos are small, easy to carry wherever you go, especially in the summer. The Lamy 2000 needs protection, because it's more expensive and needs more care, but wow, is it a wonderful pen!
Brian, like you, one of my historical go-to pens is the V-HS-BA Bronze Age. It has a special place in my rotation and I love the feel of it. And I have several of the one-offs (same but with ink window, the Evolution, etc) but the original HS-BA tops that list. Unfortunately, many of my other must-have-on-me pens are Montblancs, usually the WRITERS EDITION. Love the Mark Twain, G. B. Shaw, Shakespeare, the Silver Solitaire, the Blue Hour and Glacier.
Hi Brian, Happy Thanksgiving! Now you've done it! You have to get me the Sailor King of Pens, Asian Way! You folks are the best. Happy Holidays!
My quartet of Lamy Al-Stars with fine and medium nibs go everywhere.
Great video! I've had my eye on that Traveler's Company one for a while. I have tiny hands, and I'm a lefty lol, so unfortunately I'm kind of limited in pens that I can use.
For me I've been carrying the Waterman Hemisphere L'Essence du Blue, a burgundy Pilot E95a, and a Monteverde Ritma orange 2023 edition (which I bought from Goulet lol).
I'm still very new to fountain pens but I'm loving it so far!
Nice one, I like that you did not limit yourself to only 3. I will have to note your choices, as I do not have any of your 5 and since you carry them, then there must be good reasons. As for me, my most used fountain pen is the TWSBI Diamond 580 "navy" color with extra fine nib, it is so reliable, no hard starts, and the nib is so smooth and bouncy. I know this must be a home run because I have another identical pen in different color and that same size nib is scratchy.
My three that I'm down to are my Lamy 2000, my Moonman T1 Copper, and a Sailor Compass for weird inks.
Solid choices! - Drew
My top 3 EDC pens:
1. Schon DSGN Pocket 6 - raw brass - fine nib (always inked with Diamine Blue-Black)
2. Gravitas Pocket - raw stainless - medium nib (always inked with Diamine Oxblood)
3. Ensso Pocket - raw titanium - medium nib (always inked with Noodler's Zhivago)
What can I say... I'm a sucker for chunky metal pocket pens. The Gravitas and Ensso are eye-droppered, so I can go weeks on a single fill with either of those.
One of these is ALWAYS in the pocket of my cargo shorts (nod to Brian as part of the cargo shorts community)!
Love the hand model moves. 😆😆
I love my Lamy Studio Stainless Steel that I put a 14k nib on. It’s very durable and resistant to scratches, plus it looks modern and unassuming like to 2000. Just an all around great pen. Oh and I also like that it is the only Studio with a rubberized grip section instead of metal!
My main go-to pen is the Pineider Full Metal Jacket (M) with the steel nib. I love it and always pair it with KWZ Turquoise. Number two would be the Pilot E95S with a medium nib. I love this pen - my favorite Pilot pens although I have several different ones. Last in third place although I don’t take it with me anywhere would be my Parker Vacumatic pen. I love how smoothly it writes, but I don’t use it as much for fear of messing it up since I can’t replace it. My main carry with me pen would be a Kaweco Sport with a broad nib because 1) I like how the hey write; 2) they’re easily carried, and 3) they’re easily replaced if lost or broken. Brian must like toothier writing pens, or so I’ve heard that’s how Sailor pens write?
I don’t know how much longer I can resist that Lamy 2000. I travel with my Twisbi. The ink capacity and the tight fitting cap are big wins to carry about. My Lamy Safari has been on my desk the last couple of months, but my vanishing point Pilot always works into the rotation.
Really enjoyed the video. Twsbi Precision is my number one pen, just does what it says on the tin every time and love the look
Traveler brass is my go to. As an engineer, I have used it in the field and the office. If I only had one pen that would be it.
Careful with some inks, some inks it can be really dry writer - almost scratchy on some papers (Rhodia). On trash copy paper and on Tomoe it is awesome.
Diamine makes some great color cartridges - so I keep some in my bag, but I usually have time to refill with my own colors.
The other one that is super smooth writer and is cheap enough I don’t worry about is my Hongdian N7 - what an awesome pen. Pretty and writes great on everything. I use De Artemis Jane Austen with it- has a very old school almost but not quite olive green.
Currently, my three most carried pens are: Lamy 2000 fine; TWSBI Eco fine; Kaweco Classic Sport broad. 10y ago I would have said: Pilot VP broad, Pilot Metropolitan medium, Lamy Safari fine. All three of those older pens are on my desk and still used though. You didn't mention ink, but all your examples were blue. I've found that over the years I have migrated from blue for text and red for emphasis, to black and orange.
I operate on a lesser budget than some, so my picks are on the more economical side. My top pen, and one I would choose if I had to pick only one to carry, is my Kaweco AL Sport in Rose Gold, usually with Noodler’s Australian Roses in Black Swan. It doesn’t have a large capacity, but I just love the feel of it in hand and how it works with my writing.
My 2nd pick would be a TWSBI Eco-T in a M nib, often with Diamond Aurora Borealis inked up in it. (I prefer the triangular grip over the regular Eco - again because I have nicer writing output with it.)
Last would be either the newer to my collection TWSBI Diamond Mini White Rose Gold V2, with some form of purple ink in it (e.g. J. Herbin Poussière de Lune) OR the humble, but still great Platium Prefount M nib in Night Sea - it writes really nicely, I like putting shimmer inks in it (like Diamond Enchanted Ocean), or lending it to someone briefly to write with (and, as an EA/paraprofessional, it’s been fun to share with some of my students who have never seen or used a FP before 🙂).
I have the same 2 pens lamy 2000 in fine nib and twsbi diamond 580 alr in fine nib... And those are my current edc pens and i love them both
I order the Lamy 2000 from you guys a few months ago. It’s a excellent pen. My pilot custom 74 with spencerian nib, and my montblanc 149 flex nib are my next favorite.
My three are:
Lamy Studio Medium nib
TWISBI Eco Medium nib
Moonman S5 fine
my favourite one would be my Harley Davidson- waterman pen with a medium nib.
My Three:
1. Gravitas Pocket Pen (EF Nib). Not sure this one needs an explanation really, its small, its metal, it writes well and fits into that tiny pocket in jeans. perfect.
2. TWISBI Vac 700R Iris (EF Nib). Love this pen and it looks awesome, the go to pen that is always out on my desk.
3. Waterman Carene in Amber Marine (M Nib). Beautiful pen, beautiful writer.
My top three EDC pens are a Diplomat Aero, Parker 75, Waterman Gentleman in sterling, Karas brass Decograph (hand engraved), and a Waldmann Tango Imagination. (It appears, Mr. Goulet, that we have similarly casual approaches to counting.) All have fine nibs except the Diplomat, which has a medium cursive italic grind. All are metal; I choose pens for EDC on the basis of durability. All my pens have excellent nibs and are comfortable in the hand, but any that I think likely to be the worse for wear after close contact with keys and knives and change or after being dropped stay on my desk or, if I take them out, clipped into the inside pocket of a blazer.
Vanishing Point is the ONLY answer for THE BEST everyday carry.
I thought I was going to see the e95s on this list but those are some beautiful and cool pens
I think it's great that you included a pen you don't sell.
Hi, Brian.
You're story about your experience in Japan was delightful.
Nicole
My current load out is:
Charcoal Safari that is in my pocket every day
In my pen case that I carry with me contains:
TWSBI 580 ALR Prussian with a custom grind
Lamy Vista black F
Lamy Safari Petrol EF
2 TWSBI Eco in fine (orange and purple)
Moonman T1 (it claims fine but is really more of a medium and I love it)
I tend to switch colors between topics when I am in a meeting so it is easy to tell at a glance where one list ends and another begins. I tend to do the same thing in my agenda to easily differentiate between task or vendors.
Hoping to snag a Lamy 2000 soon.
Great vid .. thanks Brian. My # 1 & 2, EDC fountain pen is the Twisbi 580 demonstrator pen. Great pen. I run it in blue and
black ink. My #3 is my Mont Blanc 149 which is my home edc. Desk version only. So I guess you could say that I could
still use a true # 3 fountain pen. thanks again.
Twsbi Eco is DEFINITELY my go to EDC!
interesting video, for me the best pens to carry around are the Lamy All Star as an everyday pen, for compactness I choose a Kaweko Sport, and for elegance the Sailor 1911 light.
Great to watch and hear all of it, Brian. That unique Sailor KoP Asian Way will now stay on my mind, 24/7. I really want one too. The Brass Traveler’s pen is also great and one I’d like to own and enjoy myself. Do you sell it? The Lamy 2000 must take a bow for being immovable from the list, even after more than a decade later today. The Visconti HS Bronze Age has my ringing endorsement as a top daily carry and use classic. Top video. The story about your experience in Japan is great to hear.
If I were to do my list of Top 3 in this particular category I’d do two lists: one for modern pens, the other vintage.
So, modern - Aurora 88, Sailor KoP, (ebonite), Visconti HS Bronze Age.
vintage : Sheaffer PFM, Aurora 88, Waterman Commando
Have you ever used a Lepine fountain pen? Handmade in France. I love them, especially the little ones that easily fit in a pocket and post to “full” length.
Good job Brian. This was a difficult task.🦊😉
For Me: TWSBI ECO Blue, medium nib & Pilot Metropolitan Black, medium nib. I collect knives and pens and my philosophy for both is the same. Only purchase those things that you are willing to use. If you purchase expensive items they will probably be left lying around gathering dust, 'cause you're afraid to use them, due to the price.
Lamy 2000! Yes. I own 5. Fine too.
I don't have an everyday carry, but I keep 2 pens almost continually inked on my desk for everyday writing. Both are OMAS 360, one in fine and one in medium. I generally don't take them out anymore. In my pen case is a fine, medium and broad and or stub.
Awesome selection! The one pen that I carry all the time: Lamy 2000 with a fine architect grind by Nibsmith. 😊
My 3 EDC pens are: LAMY 2000 (fine), Pilot Custom 74 Blue Stone (medium) and the Edison Collier Azure Skies (medium).
Great video! I‘m carrying my Montblanc 146 RGT broad nib (gift from my wife for our marriage), Leonardo Officina Italiana Furore Smeraldo medium nib (my worrystone pen, the look make me feel I‘m at the ocean) and Lamy LX Maroon fine nib. I would appreciate more of these daily carry pen videos.
Geez, I guess the 3 pens I use the most are
1) "Nothern Lights Purple" Pro Gear slim MF. I just _LOVE_ how great this pen looks. It also writes well, but I wish I bought a Pro Gear and not slim model, because I find I'll need to post it to write comfortably.
2) A Dark Violet Lamy Scala with a 14K Gold F nib. This pen feels great in the hand, although it IS heavy.
3) Lamy 2000 EF. Yep. Lamy 2000 gets love here, too. Strangely, it seems to have a broader line than my Scala with an F nib.
impressed you could keep your EDC list at just 5 pens!: currently got 34 inked up and they are all favourites!, but if I absolutely had to narrow it down I’d pick my blue/grey Pilot78g+ EF which I’ve paired with Sailor yonaga (my favourite blue/black ink) and my Sailor Pro Gear EF which I paired with Graf von Faber Castell cobalt blue (love the feedback you get with Sailor pens) and, a recent addition but definitely one of the first I reach for, my Platinum 3776 EF in rouge Bourgogne with gold trim which is inked with Montblanc St Exupéry: I’ve got small handwriting so definitely prefer EF nibs and tomoe river paper:)
Turns out that my top 3 daily carry pens are all Pelikan Level L65s. There's one in each of my bags. Reliable, tough as old boots, and with a generous ink capacity - it's a real shame (although not really unexpected) that the system died out.