Best pen on Reddit

459 reviews from r/pens, r/fountainpens, r/Journaling and 24 more subreddits

459 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Pilot

4.6

(85)

"Pilot Kakuno ($10), Pilot Metropolitan ($20), Pilot Prera ($30) My other $100-$200 fountain pens don't write as well as these."

"Get her a Pilot. Within your budget you can easily get one with gold nib."

"Honestly pilot Prera. I’m crazy about this pen."

"Seconding the Kakuno! Of the “starter pens” it is the most comfortable."

"I would probably recommend that you purchase a Pilot pen for your first fountain pen."

"Pilot G2 1.0mm. Smooth like butter!"

"It’s the smoothest ballpoint I’ve found."

"Pilot juice up. the 0.4s are in a sweet spot for me."

"I agree with the other poster. Pilot Juice Up."

"I just bought a pack of 0.4 Pilot Juice-Ups and they're pretty awesome!"

Lamy

4.4

(49)

"A lot of people seem very positive about the Lamy Safari and it seems a sturdy and reliable pen."

"The Lamy Safari (or Vista) is an excellent choice especially since the nib is very easy to swop out."

"I hate to be That Guy again, but the Lamy Safari would be my pick."

"I'm new to the hobby, bought a Lamy Safari in a medium nib and it is my daily driver now."

"You've probably heard good things about the Lamy 2000."

"I'm really enjoying my LAMY Al-star with POM nib."

"Lamy is THE choice for easy nib replacements."

"My one shimmer ink is only supported by a Lamy Studio with an F nib."

"The best pen for the BOOX is any of the LAMY EMR."

"My 8-year-old loves her Lamy Safari."

Uni

4.5

(27)

"These are my top 3 non-fountain pen picks: Uni Jetstream, Zebra Sarasa Mark On, and Pentel Energel Clena."

"Uni Jetstream!"

"Uni ball one, uni style fits if you like slim pens."

"Uni Jetstream. Check Amazon or Jetpens.com. Amazing and best I’ve tried ever."

"Uni Power Tanks write on almost any surface with a very light touch."

"I find Jetstream pens write very well and consistently."

"Uni Jetstream Alpha Gel."

"A uniball jetstream is a smooth ballpoint, that has great ink and flow."

"Jetstream or energel pro or singo 307, all are permanent."

"Jetstream. All day every day."

Parker

4.4

(27)

"My everyday go-to pen is a black Parker Jotter XL."

"Parker Jotter, if you like the pilot g2 feel check out the Schneider Gelion plus refill."

"Parker jotter, timeless, beautiful, classic."

"Parker jotter full stainless steel."

"Stainless steel Parker Jotter with Fisher Space Pen refill."

"Parker jotter, I recommend the full metal."

"Parker stainless steel Jotter."

"For ballpoint, I love using the Parker Jotter that my brother gave me."

"Nothing is more classic than a Parker Jotter, and I can't imagine anyone not liking it."

"Jotter. Iconic pen."

Zebra

4.6

(22)

"OP, go for Zebra Sarasa. You won't regret it."

"Great ink and pen body."

"I just got a Zebra F-701 and really like it."

"Zebra F-701 has been a favorite of military and law enforcement."

"Zebra 701 with a space pen refill."

"I think I’m going to try the F701 with the uni power tank."

"Zebra F701 with the refill of Uni Power Tank."

"Zebra Sarasa... it's a great pen that dries quickly."

"It’s smooth like a G2, but the ink dries quickly."

"Zebra Sarasa Dry (JLV refill, not JF refill like in Sarasa clip)."

Pentel

4.7

(18)

"Pentel Energels, Bic Cristals, and Sakura SumoGrip pencils are all excellent daily drivers for students!"

"Pentel energel is great imo."

"My top choices are Pentel EnerGel and Uni Jetstream."

"I purpose. energel refills in uni one bodies."

"Pentel energel 0.5"

"The ink dries instantly so it doesn’t smear."

"This pen feels really good and the Pentel Energel refills write very black, smooth, and dries quickly."

"I think you would enjoy the pentel energel! it comes in .4, .5, and .7 i believe, they flow super nicely, write smoothly, and are juicy!"

"The Pentel Energel has some nice aluminum builds."

"Have been my favorite budget pens"

Platinum

4.7

(17)

"Platinum Preppy! They’re about ~$5-$10 a pop."

"The platnium Preppy is super cheap and really good fountain pen in general."

"Please start with a pilot kakuno and a platinum preppy 😀 i use them for taking notes in the office during long meetings/workshops/trainings"

"You could always look at a platinum preppy if you wanted to try a fountain pen for 5$."

"The Platinum Preppy is an excellent pen."

"Platinum preppy if you think she will lose it."

"The basics are unbeatable."

"Well one of the cheapest and well made fountain pens is the Platinum Preppy."

"If you have never used a fountain pen, get a cheap one to start with - Preppy or Kakuno pens."

"Platinum Preppy/Plaisir (depending on whether you want the metal body or not)."

Kaweco

4.6

(14)

"Kaweco Liliput!"

"Second the Kaweco Lilliput."

"I use the Kaweco Lilliput fountain pen."

"I am using Kaweco Liliput both ballpoint and fountain pen."

"I use Kaweco sport with a B nib, with FWP Stroke of Midnight and Wearingeul Dracula."

"You could get her a kaweco sport for a first pen."

"Y’all need to start using fountain pens! Game changer!"

"She picked a Kaweco Sport and a bottle of green ink."

"The Kaweco Sport in Steel or Brass has decent weight."

"Surprised no Kaweco recs."

TWSBI

4.7

(13)

"Twsbi Eco with a broad nib."

"Dedicated yellow TWSBI Eco <EF>, which I keep with several other fps in my brief case."

"TWSBI ECO all the way. They are inexpensive, great quality, and so easy to use."

"Just here to echo others’ suggest for a Lamy Safari or TWSBI Eco - they’re both solid pens."

"I love my three TWSBI Ecos, and the TWSBI 580 ALR."

"I definitely would prefer the TWSBI ECO in transparent/violet."

"The TWSBI ecos hold a lot of ink and are around the same price point as the safari."

"If you liked your TWSBI, you could look at the TWSBI precision."

"TWSBI Precision"

"A twisbi eco fountain pen might be fun if he would be into that."

#10

Rotring

4.5

(11)

"Rotring 800 or 600."

"Rotring 600 with Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 refill."

"I’ll go ahead and chime in with the obligatory rOtring 600 post."

"Rotring 600 with Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 refill."

"Nice pen would be the Rotring 600 + Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 refill."

"[Rotring 600](https://www.amazon.com/ROTRING-600-Ballpoint-Pen-Silver/dp/B077GQZTM2)"

"Rotring 600 or rapid pro with uni-ball jetstream sxr-600-38."

"For a more like technical pen, the rotring 600 in green."

"The rotring 800 is a solid choice for the price."

"I would recommend the Rotring 600."

#11

Uni Jetstream

4.7

(10)

"Jetstream."

"Jetstream, schmidt easyflow 9000, jetstream lite."

"I have been using them 15 years and never had one skip."

"There are loads of pens that'll work well."

"The jet stream by uniball or the signal 207 are some of the best fine writers."

"[Suggest you give this pen a try.]"

"Jetstream, Acroball, Uni One, and EF fountain pens with De Atramentis Archive Ink!"

"Seriously into Jetstream ballpoint inks in a more ergonomic body style like the Alpha Gel Grip."

"I go back and forth between the Uni Jetstream and Uni 207 Plus+ Micro."

"BP: Jetstream or parker jotter Gel: Sarasa Grand and Pentel energel Roller: precise V5 FP: pilot elite"

#12

Sharpie

4.9

(8)

"Sharpie S•GEL."

"Sharpie S-Gel !"

"Has been a great pen."

"They're one of the better gel pens I've ever used."

"My everyday is a metal barrel Sharpie S gel with a energel 0.5mm refill."

"I'd say Sharpie S-Gel metal barrel pens."

"Check out the Sharpie S-gels with metal barrels."

"Or sharpie S-gel"

#13

Pelikan

4.0

(9)

"Pelikan 200 can be had for about $100-150."

"A Pelikan M200 Golden Beryl or Golden Lapis might be difficult to resist."

"* Pelikan Twist."

"Maybe a Pelikan twist or Lamy ABC?"

"My vote goes to Pelikan Twist and Faber Castell Grip."

"If you can find one at around $100."

"In Sweet Lilac with Colorverse JFK’s Dog Pushinka."

"It's quite an inexpensive pen, with a snap cap and is made to be comfortable and to teach how to handle a pen."

"Pelikan Twist is a very comfortable and rugged pen."

#14

Pentel EnerGel

4.9

(7)

"Pentel Energel - in the Alloy/Sterling metal body."

"Gave this dude a Pentel EnerGel."

"I love the Pentel Energel pens."

"Pantel energel are the best inks."

"Another vote for Pentel EnerGel."

"It’s my go-to."

"Energel"

#15

Uni-ball

4.6

(7)

"Or try uniball powertank, i reckon they can write in any situations."

"I would recommend the Uniball ONE, Signo 207/307, or InkJoy."

"Uniball Jetstream or power tank."

"My favorite pen with the Traveler's passport is the Uni-ball One P."

"Uniball jet stream 0.5mm."

"Uniball One P as a good ergonomic option."

"A Uniball power tank. It works no matter what."

#16

Parker Jotter

4.4

(7)

"I would say that my most used EDC are my Parker Jotters."

"Parker Jotter."

"Parker jotter."

"Jotter, vanishing point fp, or Kaweco sport FP"

"I’d recommend something like a Parker Jotter."

"Indian jotter? Its 300 but in ₹ so i would buy it if i were you"

"Something practical like a Parker Jotter."

#17

Pilot G2

4.0

(7)

"Pilot G2."

"Pilot G2"

"Pilot G2 0.7 gel"

"Pilot G2"

"I like the Pilot G2 gel pens."

"Second place is Pilot G2 refill only because some paper bleeds through with it."

"I love the Pilot G2 pens but they're not great for note taking."

#18

Lamy Safari

4.7

(6)

"Lamy Safari in a fine nib"

"I find the triangular grip that the Lamy Safari has is very comfortable to hold."

"Pens with a triangle grip encourage a better pen grip."

"If that’s too expensive the Lanky Safari is great too."

"Lamy Safari, budget friendly and very good for start."

"I like the Lamy safari"

#19

Sailor

4.5

(6)

"Maybe an old sailor, pelican or parker Vacumatic."

"Sailor would be my first recommendation."

"I was recommended a Sailor fountain pen for its feedback."

"Sailor Tuzu. Platinum Plaisir. Faber-Castell Grip. These are my favourite budget pens."

"Sailor Tuzu! It's a good pen for the price."

"I also think a sailor might be the way to go."

#20

Pilot Custom 823

5.0

(5)

"Pilot Custom 823."

"Definitely a Pilot Custom 823 in either F or M."

"A Pilot Custom 823 has a similar look to the MB."

"You can't go wrong with a Pilot Custom 823! It's a very reliable workhorse pen."

"I have a Pilot Custom 823."

#21

Fountain Pen

4.8

(5)

"A quality fountain pen."

"I use a fountain pen! I’ll never go back!"

"Fountain pen, hands down."

"Personally, for myself, I prefer to use a fountain pen. It requires far less pressure to write with."

"A fountain pen and ink can be had for like 15 USD."

#22

Zebra Sarasa

4.6

(5)

"Sarasa Zebra pens or the Sharpie gel pens."

"Any Zebra Sarasas or pentel energels."

"As others are saying, the Zebra Sarasa! I have it in 0.3 and it’s perfect."

"Zebra Sarasa 100%. I experience no smudging or smearing at all."

"Zebra Sarasa pens also dry quickly but I've also heard the refills run out pretty quickly."

#23

Fisher

5.0

(4)

"Fisher space pen, they offer a wide range of designs."

"Fisher space pen. Lasts forever."

"Fisher Space pen. Writes anywhere."

"My go to ballpoint is the blue fine point Fisher space pen refill."

#24

Kaweco Sport

5.0

(4)

"The Kaweco Sport stands out in that it's a tiny pocket pen."

"Kaweco Sport - compact format with a threaded cap."

"I'm a big fan of the Kaweco Sport. Highly recommend."

"Kaweco Sport - A big YES on that one. The best pocket pen you can get."

#25

Cross

4.0

(5)

"Same pen used by President."

"Try the Cross pens site. Always have discounts, free shipping sometimes, free engraving sometimes, etc."

"Cross or Parker."

"I think if its your first purchase you can sign up for discounts."

"Cross Century in black."

#26

Uniball

4.8

(4)

"The Uniball Jetstream has been great for me as my daily driver."

"Uni-ball One Gel 0.38. Thank me later."

"The Uniball Jetstream pens are awesome. I love those pens and anybody that tries them enjoys them."

"Uniball One 0.38 is a great choice for gel."

#27

Jinhao

4.3

(4)

"I have yet to try it in my jinhao pens, which I read work well."

"You can get a set of cheap Chinese fountain pens on Ebay or Aliexpress."

"Take a hard look at the Jinhao line. I have a bunch of them and have only had a few duds."

"Jinhao on Aliexpress.com."

#28

Faber-Castell

4.3

(4)

"So far the Faber Castell Essentio Aluminium is my favourite when it comes to writing."

"Some good pens under $50: - Faber-Castell Essentio"

"You can usually find a used copy of lamy 2000."

"I bet you'll like how smooth and personality it has."

#29

Opus 88

4.0

4.0

(2)

"Retro 51 Tornado."

#53

JunLai

4.0

(2)

"I'd go with the JunLai 630 for a MB149 dimension pen."

"I picked up one of my gold nib versions for under €100."

#54

PenAgain

4.0

(2)

"I use a PenAgain."

"Have your tried a PenAgain?"

#55

Paper Mate

4.0

(2)

"Paper mate non click ones idk what their called."

"I like ball point Papermate pens that are .07."

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