Best inks on Reddit

345 reviews from r/fountainpens, r/hobonichi, r/PelikanNest and 2 more subreddits

345 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Diamine

4.8

(90)

"Diamine Red Dragon and J. Herbin Lierre Sauvage are my favorite red and green inks."

"Diamine Wild Strawberry for a bright red."

"Diamine Sherwood Green for a true green."

"As others have said for red, Diamine Red Dragon."

"Red Dragon is the perfect red."

"Diamine Red Dragon, Private Reserve Spearmint."

"Here's the list of lovely inks I've picked for each month: 1. January - Diamine Ancient Copper"

"I have had good luck with diamine."

"Diamine and herbin inks."

"Noodler's Walnut, Platinum Pigment Ink Brun Sepia, Pelikan Brilliant Brown, Diamine Tobacco Sunburst."

Platinum

4.7

(39)

"I've used/tested all the following black inks in my 2025 Weeks and had no issues."

"Platinum Carbon Black and Pigment Blue, Sailor Seiboku, and Octopus Write & Draw Black Elephant were all pigment inks that worked well for me."

"I haven't seen any bleedthrough in either my A5 Hon, Cousin Avec, or Weeks."

"I use Platinum Carbon Black cartridges (fantastic waterproof black ink)."

"Platinum Chou Kuro"

"Black - Platinum Carbon Black"

"Platinum carbon black"

"Black - platinum carbon black."

Waterman

4.8

(24)

"Waterman is the gold standard for safe, well-behaved inks."

"Waterman inks are excellent and inexpensive."

"Waterman, Parker Quink, Pelikan 4001, Herbin (not the shimmer/sheen inks)."

"Waterman Serenity Blue and Sheaffer Blue are the go-tos."

"Waterman, Sheaffer, Parker quink (modern), Pilot (regular ones), Pelikan M4001 & Lamy inks."

"I use Waterman Intense black and Mysterious blue, Parker Quink and Diamine."

"Waterman's regular inks are a frequent recommendation."

"There are, like, ultrasafe inks among which are Waterman and Parker."

"I agree, Waterman is very limited, though having some solid colour choices."

"Blue: waterman serenity blue"

Iroshizuku

4.9

(21)

"For the color, flow and how sentimental I’m about it."

"The 3 new Iroshizuku inks."

"Black: Iroshizuku Take-Sumi"

"Blue - Iroshizuku Asa-Gao."

"Black: take sumi."

"Blue: blue is a color I have a lot of … can’t get enough but would have to pick Asa GAO simply because I use it the most and it doesn’t let me down."

"Blue: Iroshizuku Kon Peki."

"Blue: Iroshizuku Kon Peki"

"Blue - Iroshizuku Kon Peki."

"Blue- iroshizuku kon-peki."

Sailor

4.8

(19)

"Sailor kiwa guro is highly water resistant, gentle on pens and works on really bad paper flawlessly."

"Another vote for sailor sei boku."

"You could try Sailor Seiboku or D'atramentis Document Blue."

"Sailor Kiwa Guro has a silver sheen when dry, and is an exceptionally well behaved ink as well."

"Black: Sailor Black"

"Blue: Sailor sei-boku"

"Black - Sailor Black."

"If I was to select blue as my permanent, Sailor Sei-boku."

"Sailor Kiwa Guro"

"I use Sailor Kiwaguro and Montblanc Permanent Black for work."

J. Herbin

5.0

(17)

"Might I suggest two classics? J Herbin Perle Noire and ESSRI."

"Black: Herbin perle noire"

"J herbin perle noir for black"

"Black: Herbin Perle Noir"

"Black: J Herbin Perle Noire."

"Blue: Herbin Eclat de Saphir."

"Black: Herbin Perle Noir"

"Black: J Herbin Perle Noire."

"Black: Herbin Perle Noire."

"Fun: well, I prefer brown over fun, so Herbin Lie de Thé."

Noodler's

4.7

(12)

"Black: Noodlers black"

"Fun - Noodlers Apache sunset."

"Baystate Blue."

"All Noodler's."

"Blue - Noodler's Baystate Blue."

"Black: Noodlers X feather (I know, drama with the producer, but I havnt found anything else with the same properties)."

"Fun: Noodler's Apache Sunset"

"Black: Noodler's polar black, very smooth and wet, pretty black and archival."

"You want noodlers black."

"I like noodlers black."

Pelikan

4.2

(13)

"I'm using Pelikan 4001 Blue black right now, because it's irongall."

"Pelikan 4001 inks are my go-to for vintage, along with Diamine Blue-Black."

"Black: Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black."

"That's cheap for ink, no matter how you cut it; and it works well in my experience."

"With Celluloid pens I only use Pelikan black."

"Then Pelikan 4001 Blue black."

"I second the recommendations of Platinum Carbon Black and Herbin Perle Noire, if you want a rather dry running ink Pelikan 4001 Brillant Black."

"I think best cheap choice is pelikan 4001 black."

"Pelikan 4001 black."

"Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black."

Rohrer & Klingner

5.0

(10)

"Green: R&K Alt-goldgrün."

"Green: alt-goldgrün (rohrer & klingner)."

"Green: Rohrer & Kligner Alt-Goldgrün"

"Blue: R&K Salix."

"Blue: Rohrer & Klingner Salix."

"Green: R&K Altgoldgrün."

"Green: R & K Alt-goldgrun"

"Green: Rohrer & Klingner Alt-Goldgrun"

"I too find that Rohrer & Klingner Alt-goldgrün is excellent."

"Best inks for cheap paper (non-bleeding, non-feathering) are iron gall inks."

#10

Pilot

4.5

(11)

"I've used/tested all the following black inks in my 2025 Weeks and had no issues."

"Pilot Blue Black."

"Iroshizuku Tsukushi is fab if you can find a bottle too."

"I was also leaning towards something safe for this precious pen -- Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Guri."

"Yama-guri for the win - I use it every day."

"Brown - Pilot Iroshizuku Tsukushi."

"Pilot Blue Black X 5."

"Pilot’s own Iroshizuku line of inks are reliable."

"If it's for work, just get the standard Pilot black that comes in the size of a ketchup bottle."

"I’m surprised by how well Pilot Iroshizuku inks held up in the water test."

#11

KWZ

4.8

(9)

"Like KWZ Honey, Herbin Lie de The, Iroshizuku Tsukushi…all lovely inks."

"It’s really sweet like honey."

"KWZ Warsaw Dreaming is technically a very dark blue. It's also the blackest black you can get without pigment, and has a lovely black sheen."

"Black: KWZ Warsaw Dreaming"

"Fun: KWZ honey."

"If you like brown shading inks I can personally recommend Robert Oster Melon Tea and KWZ Honey for their shading."

"You should try KWZ Warsaw Dreaming, a black with light silver sheen."

"I'm using kwz honey on a leuchtturm 1917 right now."

#12

Pilot Iroshizuku

4.6

(8)

"Black: Pilot Iroshizuku Take-sumi"

"Blue, Pilot Kon-Peki"

"Blue: Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-Peki."

"Black: Pilot Iroshizuki Take-Sumi"

"Pilot Iroshizuku Take-sumi."

"Pilot Iroshizuku (i personally dont use mine very often)."

"Goes well with Pilot Iroshizuku inks."

"Kon-peki is a lot of enthusiasts default ink"

#13

J Herbin

4.6

(7)

"My personal favorite is Lie de The by Herbin my all time fall favorite 😍 💕"

"Herbin Lie de The"

"J Herbin lie de the and Diamine Saddle Brown are both well-behaving inks."

"Herbin Perle Noire."

"I would recommend J Herbin Perle Noire."

"J Herbn Perle Noire."

"J Herbin Perle Noire."

#14

Lamy

4.4

(7)

"I've used/tested all the following black inks in my 2025 Weeks and had no issues."

"Lamy Black, Pilot Kon-Peki, Diamine Oxblood"

"Instead of green, I would go purple : Lamy dark Lilac."

"From 2024."

"Lamy crystal obsidian is Deep green black with black Sheen."

"Lamy Crystal Obsidian is not a permanent ink but it looks way more saturated than Platinum Carbon Black."

"Lamy black."

#15

Noodler’s

3.9

(8)

"Its the better version of Noodlers Black."

"I like it since I am left-handed and is waterproof and pretty much a permanent black ink."

"Noodlers Black, x-feather are favorites."

"For black inks, I’d consider Noodler’s Dark matter."

"Noodlers Black/ Platinum Carbon Black would be my recommendations."

"I recently picked up a bottle of Noodler’s Dark Matter."

"Sooo, Noodlers Black is great on most bad paper."

"It seems to be good about feathering, dries fast but will bleed/show through on the toilet paper we use at work."

#16

Parker

4.3

(6)

"Parker Quink - I really like the blue-black."

"Parker Quink and Waterman are the two best brands for vintage pens."

"I only use Parker Quink in my antique pens."

"I haven't used Parker Quink Black, but one of my architecture profs uses it religiously."

"I bought Parker Quink Black to have for my vintage fountain pens."

"I’m using parker Quink black and blue black as my workhorse inks."

#17

De Atramentis

4.8

(5)

"I recommend DeAtramentis Document inks."

"All I use are deatrimentis, octopus and the plat carbon black."

"De Atramentis document ink for me."

"I use De Atramentis Document Inks, they're waterproof."

"If you care for waterproof? Then my vote is for the De Atramentis as usual."

#18

Aurora

5.0

(4)

"I've used/tested all the following black inks in my 2025 Weeks and had no issues."

"**Black**: Aurora Black"

"* Black: Aurora Black"

"Aurora Black is wonderful!"

#19

de Atramentis

4.8

(4)

"Black: de Atrimentis document black."

"Black: de atramentis document black"

"De Atramentis Document Black."

"I would mix the Zorn palette with De Atramentis Document Black."

#20

Noodlers

4.3

(4)

"I have had no problem with Noodlers. Use it all the time on copier grade paper."

"If you have noodlers inks, I find ef nibs work best."

"*Hunter Green;* a solid true green - both are bullet-proof."

"I've been using two greens, Noodlers *Polar Green;* a modest green that kissed blue."

#21

Private Reserve

5.0

(3)

"I really like the private reserve spearmint."

"I will second Spearmint. It’s pretty great."

"Diamine Red Dragon, Private Reserve Spearmint."

#22

Monteverde

4.3

4.0

(2)

"Tsukineko inks- Memento. Ranger- Archivals."

"I love the momento dew drops. They are inexpensive."

#33

R and K

4.0

(1)

"R and K iron gall inks will work with all your vintage pens."

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