Those Five Below ones look like a good starter! I've never written with a fountain pen before, but I know there are some folk on here that really dig it!
I saw your video and happened to be by a Five Below store with my daughter. Saw the pen pack and bought it. You were right. They are good. Thanks for saving me $395.75. Cheers...
Oooooohhh, I loooove the fountain pen video’s!!! I have a couple of fountain pens, in price ranging from the cheap 2 or 3 dollar ones, up to a 70 dollar one. Oddly enough the cheap ones write really really well. My go to fountain pens are my Lamy Safari’s. I fill about 2 heavy duty ringbinders a year, and the Lamy’s write so smooth and hold up really well with daily use. I never use ballpoint pens, they’re like nails on a chalkboard for me, fountain pens are the 💣 😂
I just started using fountain pens last year. I have those pens and have had them for the year. The ink is trash. But it is one of my favorite pens. I do have more that cost up to $40. But the screw has loosened over time, so I have to tighten it every time I pick it up. I will replace it next time I am near a Five Below.
I have thought for a long time with fountain pens that save you should save money on the pens and once you find one that feels nice in your hand if you're going to splurge, make it on an ink that works best with your pen of choice. Inks can make such a difference to how pens flow and write and cost so much less, even if you do splurge.
I think that it’s totally worth the money if you are going to use it and it makes you happy. But for the average person, how many pens might they get to hold without buying - but if you are waiting for the one - then maybe you will just know. I love this mindset
I love stationary, just like you, and I've been watching your fountain pens and ink's videos. I have to say that I am very tempted to buy at least one, just for fun. Thanks for your videos!!
Buy me 1 too. Seriously if you have the money, it definitely seems worth trying. Worsted case scenario you can use it for everyday use and hand it to people when they inevitably ask for a pen. I am sure you will get lots of great reactions.
I do not usually share, but this is not very personal, so I will answer you because I loved your video! Our 5th grade teacher insisted that we bought a fountain pen for our first pen ever. We were still writing in pencil up until then. She also insisted that we learned the correct way to write and use a fountain pen. Personal (no surprise seeing as though as an adult I still love stationary about as much as you do 😊), I was thrilled. My Mother was not impressed because of the cost. We did not have much money, but in fairness I got a lot of use with that pen and I still love it today (it did get lost, but I remember looking after it and using it). It probably paid for itself. I still love pens and fountain pens, but the convenience and feel of my trusty second (and to my Mother's dismay again very valid) expensive pen, my Patker ball point. This definitely was/is my pen of choice, but I love the nostalgia of a fountain. I still have 1 fountain pen nib, but it is part of a calography pen set. I have had this set for years and also was expensive and paid for itself in use. I still own it. These days, the cheaper, the better because there is not much separating pens. However I still prefer my Parker and obviously would love to indulge in more expensive pens.
The $2/5 fountain pens are just as smooth and reliable if not better than the $30-400 range pens, the only one that it doesn't compete with is my $1600 namiki. Basically, price for quality isn't as important until you get into the higher end pens. Something having about 60 fountain pens taught me. If you want the best of affordable pens, get a Twsbi. Kaweco and Lamy dries out and are unreliable even if they are more accessible. But most importantly, you better start using fountain pen friendly paper, otherwise there's no benefit to using a fountain pen.
Looks like I'm going to Five Below today LOL! About 9 years ago I was becoming obsessed with the idea of fountain pens. I did research, I joined communities, and I bought a white Lamy Safari. That pen and I did not get along at all! It never did actually write for me. It scratched the paper and barely had any ink come out while doing so. I would pick it back up every now and then to fidget with it and eventually just got rid of it. I never did try stepping into the fountain pen world again. This feels like a good small step to try again! Love your videos always! :-)
I had the same experience with a Lamy. Nothing about that pen worked for me. Ever try a disposable Zebra fountain pen? They are amazing for the price. 💗
I have some great Jinhao pens, which are not very expensive, qnd other pens that are more expensive (no,400+) yet. They write very well, but it is harder to find variation of nib sizes in a cheaper pen. I have gotten cheap but decent fountain pens from Amazon and Temu, in a variety and choice of colors.
You need to pay your bills and have something to eat. You don't need expensive pens. It's great when you can have both and most youtubers seem to be in that situation. But sadly most of the viewers are not. So we watch the shiny new pens that cost more than a monthly salary and go bonkers but it's definitely not worth it. There are so many good pens that write well and are affordable. Don't kill yourself over the shiny, colourful trinkets. Well, inks on the other hand... Maybe I would answer the question about inks differently LOL.
I totally agree that if you are just getting into fountain pens that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a decent pen, or to see if you even like fountain pens. All pen makers have their different quirks and ways they are made that people either like or dislike. Before choosing to spend a lot of money in a pen, see which brand you like by using their least expensive model a pen maker offers. That should give you a good idea for how their pens and nibs are made.
A thousand dollar fountain pen isn't going to write ten times better than a 100 dollar fountain pen, but the process of making it, the materials and expertise that went into it, etc. (urushi lacquer? inlaid gold filigree? lava rocks???), are what account for the price difference. There are tons of amazing pens under 100 dollars, btw! I have more TWSBI Ecos than probably any other pen model.
Those Five Below ones look like a good starter! I've never written with a fountain pen before, but I know there are some folk on here that really dig it!
It’s fun and each pen has its own personality.
I saw your video and happened to be by a Five Below store with my daughter. Saw the pen pack and bought it. You were right. They are good. Thanks for saving me $395.75. Cheers...
That’s so awesome! Haha.
Oooooohhh, I loooove the fountain pen video’s!!!
I have a couple of fountain pens, in price ranging from the cheap 2 or 3 dollar ones, up to a 70 dollar one. Oddly enough the cheap ones write really really well.
My go to fountain pens are my Lamy Safari’s. I fill about 2 heavy duty ringbinders a year, and the Lamy’s write so smooth and hold up really well with daily use. I never use ballpoint pens, they’re like nails on a chalkboard for me, fountain pens are the 💣 😂
Thanks for watching. The Lamy Al star was my first pen. I still love bringing it out every now and again
I just started using fountain pens last year. I have those pens and have had them for the year. The ink is trash. But it is one of my favorite pens. I do have more that cost up to $40. But the screw has loosened over time, so I have to tighten it every time I pick it up. I will replace it next time I am near a Five Below.
One thing to think about doing is refilling the cartridge with Better ink. That way you get best of both worlds.
I have thought for a long time with fountain pens that save you should save money on the pens and once you find one that feels nice in your hand if you're going to splurge, make it on an ink that works best with your pen of choice. Inks can make such a difference to how pens flow and write and cost so much less, even if you do splurge.
I think that it’s totally worth the money if you are going to use it and it makes you happy. But for the average person, how many pens might they get to hold without buying - but if you are waiting for the one - then maybe you will just know. I love this mindset
I love stationary, just like you, and I've been watching your fountain pens and ink's videos. I have to say that I am very tempted to buy at least one, just for fun. Thanks for your videos!!
Buy me 1 too. Seriously if you have the money, it definitely seems worth trying. Worsted case scenario you can use it for everyday use and hand it to people when they inevitably ask for a pen. I am sure you will get lots of great reactions.
@@gilashroot8697 thanks, I Will definitely try it.
That is awesome! And thanks for watching :-) if you have a chance to try one, I say go for it. A lot of options out there to try.
I do not usually share, but this is not very personal, so I will answer you because I loved your video! Our 5th grade teacher insisted that we bought a fountain pen for our first pen ever. We were still writing in pencil up until then. She also insisted that we learned the correct way to write and use a fountain pen. Personal (no surprise seeing as though as an adult I still love stationary about as much as you do 😊), I was thrilled. My Mother was not impressed because of the cost. We did not have much money, but in fairness I got a lot of use with that pen and I still love it today (it did get lost, but I remember looking after it and using it). It probably paid for itself. I still love pens and fountain pens, but the convenience and feel of my trusty second (and to my Mother's dismay again very valid) expensive pen, my Patker ball point. This definitely was/is my pen of choice, but I love the nostalgia of a fountain. I still have 1 fountain pen nib, but it is part of a calography pen set. I have had this set for years and also was expensive and paid for itself in use. I still own it.
These days, the cheaper, the better because there is not much separating pens. However I still prefer my Parker and obviously would love to indulge in more expensive pens.
What a great story. Thanks for sharing it. Spending a lot on 1 good pen makes sense, because like you said, it pays for itself over time.
The $2/5 fountain pens are just as smooth and reliable if not better than the $30-400 range pens, the only one that it doesn't compete with is my $1600 namiki. Basically, price for quality isn't as important until you get into the higher end pens. Something having about 60 fountain pens taught me. If you want the best of affordable pens, get a Twsbi. Kaweco and Lamy dries out and are unreliable even if they are more accessible.
But most importantly, you better start using fountain pen friendly paper, otherwise there's no benefit to using a fountain pen.
I just started purchasing Twsbi pens. I have a mini vac and I just got an Eco. And you are right - paper makes all the difference with these pens.
Looks like I'm going to Five Below today LOL! About 9 years ago I was becoming obsessed with the idea of fountain pens. I did research, I joined communities, and I bought a white Lamy Safari. That pen and I did not get along at all! It never did actually write for me. It scratched the paper and barely had any ink come out while doing so. I would pick it back up every now and then to fidget with it and eventually just got rid of it. I never did try stepping into the fountain pen world again. This feels like a good small step to try again! Love your videos always! :-)
Pens can be so finicky. Sorry you had that experience - but glad you never gave up.
I had the same experience with a Lamy. Nothing about that pen worked for me. Ever try a disposable Zebra fountain pen? They are amazing for the price. 💗
I have some great Jinhao pens, which are not very expensive, qnd other pens that are more expensive (no,400+) yet. They write very well, but it is harder to find variation of nib sizes in a cheaper pen. I have gotten cheap but decent fountain pens from Amazon and Temu, in a variety and choice of colors.
Jinhao pens are really awesome!!! I have a few of them myself and they never fail me, and they’re super cheap
You are so right about options with less expensive pens. It’s like, you get what you get. That’s it.
You need to pay your bills and have something to eat. You don't need expensive pens. It's great when you can have both and most youtubers seem to be in that situation. But sadly most of the viewers are not. So we watch the shiny new pens that cost more than a monthly salary and go bonkers but it's definitely not worth it. There are so many good pens that write well and are affordable. Don't kill yourself over the shiny, colourful trinkets. Well, inks on the other hand... Maybe I would answer the question about inks differently LOL.
Hahaha. I agree. It’s something I’ve learned while I’ve worked with more pens over time. And I agree, I’m more of a sucker for inks. :-)
I totally agree that if you are just getting into fountain pens that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a decent pen, or to see if you even like fountain pens. All pen makers have their different quirks and ways they are made that people either like or dislike. Before choosing to spend a lot of money in a pen, see which brand you like by using their least expensive model a pen maker offers. That should give you a good idea for how their pens and nibs are made.
Great tips
A thousand dollar fountain pen isn't going to write ten times better than a 100 dollar fountain pen, but the process of making it, the materials and expertise that went into it, etc. (urushi lacquer? inlaid gold filigree? lava rocks???), are what account for the price difference. There are tons of amazing pens under 100 dollars, btw! I have more TWSBI Ecos than probably any other pen model.
I just got my first Eco and can’t wait to use it.
Gosh they kinda look like a pelikan twist.
Oh very much so. The design is very much ripped off from them.