Best pens on Reddit

349 reviews from r/pens, r/fountainpens, r/hobonichi and 13 more subreddits

349 reviews from
and
By Brand
/
By Product
#1

Pilot

4.7
(49)
"Fountain pens: platinum preppy, pilot kakuno, kaweco sport"
·
"(3) Pilot Acro 1000"
·
"(4) Pilot Frixion Ball Knock Zone"
·
"Sometimes a Pilot Acro1000 ballpoint pen."
·
"I would actually recommend fountain pens for longer writing periods as they practically require no pressure at all."
·
"Depending on your budget, a Pilot Acro Drive might be wonderful."
·
"I use to write for an hour straight and I’d use a pilot metro, Lamy safari, or moonman vanishing point clone without any problems."
·
"Pilot V5 rt? Sold as a 5 pack in the art deco collection."
·
"This is my goto these days"
·
"I’m particularly fond of the multi-pens, where you can put 3-5 ink colors in, also .3 - .5mm."
·
#2

Zebra

4.9
(21)
"Zebra Sarasa Dry Gel Pen - 0.4 mm - Blue ink is vivid and dries quickly."
·
"(10) Zebra bLen"
·
"(12) Zebra Sarasa Nano Vintage"
·
"(11) Zebra Sarasa Grand"
·
"Zebra Sarasa Dry Gel Pen - 0.4 mm - Blue."
·
"Sarasa Clip 0.4, uniball One 0.38, and several Platinum fountain pens."
·
"I use a Zebra G-750 with a .5mm JK refill."
·
"Zebra Sarasa MarkOn 0.4mm (main pen)."
·
"My own additional favourites in the gel/hybrid category are Sarasa Clip."
·
"Try the Zebra Sarasa Deco Shine set...really good on dark paper."
·
#3

Pentel

4.8
(19)
"As another lefty…I would also recommend the Pentel Energels"
·
"If G2s are too smudgy, look at Pentel Energels. They come in lots of colors."
·
"Gel pens: pentel energel, uniball signo"
·
"(2) Pentel Energel"
·
"My personal favorites (those I own and use) via the link you've provided that are relatively affordable are: (1) Pentel Calme"
·
"I’ve recently (2 days ago) converted to a Pentel Energel Clena 0.5 and I am IN LOVE. And no smudging!!!"
·
"I’d recommend a pentel energel or a Uniball air!"
·
"Pentel Energel is a great pen."
·
"My favorite non-fountain pens for my hobo are the Pentel EnerGel Infree pen."
·
"The Pentel Energel pen suits all of your needs."
·
#4

Lamy

4.6
(19)
"I use to write for an hour straight and I’d use a pilot metro, Lamy safari, or moonman vanishing point clone without any problems."
·
"It is so much nicer to write, now that I use a fountain pen."
·
"My go-tos when I need to do extensive writing."
·
"A great choice for a sentimental boss who values a wet signature."
·
"Smooth and won’t break the bank."
·
"If you want to buy directly from German Lamy."
·
"They have lower prices on Lamy pens."
·
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
·
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
·
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
·
#5

Uni

4.8
(13)
"Uni Jetstream Alpha Gel is my pick."
·
"(7) Uni Jetstream Alpha Gel Grip"
·
"Uni Jet-stream, uniball signo DX, Uni Style fit in various colours, Zebra Sarasa."
·
"Uni Jetstream alpha gel."
·
"Uni PowerTank is pressurized and they can be had for less than a Fisher Space Pen."
·
"I like the Jetstream and also the Pigma Microns in the 01 size."
·
"My go-to non-FP pen is the Uni Jetstream in 0.38mm."
·
"The Uni Jetstream Edge offers a smooth writing experience with its fine refill."
·
"Suggest oil based hybrid ink pens - Jetstream or Acroball."
·
"The Uni Fine Liner is always the best in my hand."
·
#6

Uni-Ball

5.0
(10)
"Gel pens: pentel energel, uniball signo"
·
"I love the uniball one in .38 or .5."
·
"I also use the Uniball Signo!"
·
"I use the Uniball One P .38."
·
"I like Uni One (specifically the Uni One P which is a short little one)."
·
"I love UniBall Signo pens, in .5 and. 38."
·
"Uniball One (both available in both 0.5 and 0.38 and really good colours)."
·
"I use a uniball one p swapped with a .38 energel refill!"
·
"I love those Uni-Ball Jetstreams."
·
"Soft, squishy grip areas help with writing fatigue."
#7

Parker

4.7
(9)
"If you are looking for something a bit more tapered, the Parker Jotter will serve you well."
·
"Well good pens I have gifted were the Parker Jotter."
·
"Pens that disappear in my hand."
·
"The Parker Sonnet is more elegant than the Parker IM."
·
"The Parker IM in all black or other monochrome colorways is a great choice, especially with gel refills."
·
"Parker Duofold can be had under $400 if you watch promotions."
·
"If you want something cheaper, I would just get a bunch of parker quink gel refills."
·
"There's countless pens that take Parker refills so you shouldn't have trouble finding a body you like."
·
"There are lots of GREAT options for refill/ink cartridge."
#8

Platinum

4.8
(8)
"Fountain pens: platinum preppy, pilot kakuno, kaweco sport"
·
"Highly recommended for its quality."
·
"It's easy to come by, completely waterproof and smudge proof once dry."
·
"Platinum carbon black is amazing for crisp and clean lines."
·
"Go for platinum preppy it’s extremely good and not expensive ₹425."
·
"These will last you your lifetime."
·
"Ideal for occasional note-taking during meetings."
·
"The Platinum Preppy is great for extra fine notes and is also inexpensive."
#9

Sharpie

4.2
(9)
"Carrying both black and gold sharpies is essential for signing items of different colors."
·
"I use Sharpie gel pens and the thinner markers."
·
"I write with a sharpie S pen with the largest width and have a giant foamy thing over it because silly hands."
·
"These pens are relatively easy to hold and write very well."
·
"I like the latter, as the grip is rubber and its shape is great."
·
"A simple blue or black sharpie works great on a number of items."
·
"The thin Sharpies are great for signing in tight spaces."
·
"This is my second favorite."
·
"Silver, gold, and red not so much."
#10

Kaweco

4.8
(6)
"Fountain pens: platinum preppy, pilot kakuno, kaweco sport"
·
"The Kaweco Sport is a portable and versatile pen available in fountain, rollerball, and gel options, with a few special metal versions."
·
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
·
"Kaweco is also a great choice for durability."
·
"Super durable and a great EDC option."
·
"Kaweco fine nib is on the dry side but offers a unique writing experience."
#11

Sailor

4.8
(6)
"Great price of $127 on Amazon compared to $312 at Endless."
·
"Which one depends on whether you prefer a larger pen or not."
·
"I'd 100% recommend either of those Sailors."
·
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
·
"A classic among urban sketchers, I prefer the 40 angle nib to 55."
·
"Fountainfeder is usually more expensive, but they had Sailors at a discount."
#12

Pelikan

4.5
(6)
"My go-tos when I need to do extensive writing."
·
"Thicker bodied fountain pens are my favorite to write with!"
·
"Pelikan M800 can be had under $400 if you watch promotions."
·
"If the budget were higher I would say Pelikan R800."
·
"For $100 more you may get lucky and find a M1000."
·
"Pelikan M200 demonstrator"
#13

Cross

4.4
(5)
"Get a Cross fountain pen for a wet pen experience similar to what presidents use."
·
"A pen used by Presidents, ideal for bold signature lines."
·
"Get Cross Century II or Townsend Selectip."
·
"Lawyers should consider using a Cross pen for its quality and professionalism."
·
"The Century 2 is a great pen for under $200, commonly used by professionals."
#14

Tombow

4.2
(5)
"I always use Tombow fine point markers (usually .5 size)."
·
"For a more sleek option, the tombow airpress."
·
"I rarely have issues, good habits sidestep most of them."
·
"I also have Tombow's mechanical pencil which has a wider body that is easier to hold."
·
"I own some colored pencils too, for sketches, also by Tombow."
#15

Sakura

5.0
(4)
"Sakura Gelly Roll, Sakura Micron, and Uni Signo gel pens."
·
"My everyday pen for years and years has been the Sakura Pigma Micron."
·
"Love the Sakura Pigma Microns; they don’t fade over time."
·
"I like Sakura Pigma Microns. Permanent and write on a wide variety of papers without bleeding."
#16

Muji

5.0
(4)
"Muji gel pen and Zebra Sarasa Clip"
·
"Muji's gel pens are so smooth on TRP."
·
"I like the Muji .38 knock back ball point. They are my favorite."
·
"Muji gel pens are amazing - they flow so easily and really reduce the amount of pressure I need."
#17

Stabilo

4.8
(4)
"Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner."
·
"Stabilo’s ergonomic pen and pencil line are great as well and really help with reducing pain for me."
·
"These pens are relatively easy to hold and write very well."
·
"Stabilo have worked really well."
#18

Uni-ball

5.0
(3)
"(9) Uni-ball Signo RT1"
·
"(8) Uni-ball One F"
·
"I recommend the Uni-ball I’ve had the best experience with them!"
#19

Diamine

5.0
(3)
"Pricing on diamine inks is better than any other website I've looked at."
·
"Cheaper prices directly from the Diamine website."
·
"They have very cheap diamine ink."
#20

Ohto

4.7
(3)
"(6) Ohto GS02"
·
"(5) Ohto CR01"
·
"Ohto Flash Dry cartridges are great but may not suit a lawyer's office."
#21

Jinhao

4.7
(3)
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
·
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
·
"Ideal for those concerned about theft."
#22

Wing Sung

4.3
(3)
"Wing Sung 601 is a vac filler, huge ink capacity, and built like a tank."
·
"Wing Sung 618. A hooded nib pen like this on has a slim grip."
·
"The Wing Sung 601 is slim, cheapish, has a good ink capacity, is easy to fill, and looks fantastic"
#23

De Atramentis

4.3
(3)
"De Atramentis document inks are amazing for crisp and clean lines."
·
"Platinum Carbon Black is a good ink for this purpose."
·
"Works well even on Arches cold press, providing a consistent line."
#24

PenAgain

4.0
(3)
"Pen Again. It’s a Y shaped pen and your finger goes between the Y and it’s supported that way."
·
"PenAgain and any brand of thixotropic pens."
·
"PenAgain is another great option which I do like which is ballpoint."
#25

Opus 88

4.0
(3)
"The Opus 88 pens are great for traveling."
·
"Opus 88 Mini or the Koloro. They use a #5 nib."
·
"For the Opus 88 I would go with the Mini pocket pens if you want smaller."
#26

Hobonichi

5.0
(2)
"I use the free hobinichi pen and it works great!"
·
"The Hobonichi pen works well for my needs."
#27

Pen Venture

5.0
(2)
"I’ve had excellent experiences with Pen Venture in Romania."
·
"They are located in Romania which would be closer than the US."
#28

Majohn

5.0
(2)
"Great writing experience and holds a reasonable volume of ink."
·
"Looks like a normal pen but offers a great writing experience."
#29

Fountain Pen

4.5
(2)
"Closing for a sentimental boss that wants wet signatures sounds like a job for a fountain pen."
·
"If you get a fountain pen be sure to get an appropriate ink."
#30

Uniball

4.5
(2)
"Great for any kind of sketch work with various tip sizes."
·
"This pen is waterproof."
#31

Faber Castell

4.5
(2)
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
·
"The Faber Castell Hexo is nice too."
#32

Pigma

4.5
(2)
"Pigma Microns are some of the best."
·
"The Pigma Micron pens are great for some styles, offering good line quality."
#33

Faber-Castell

4.5
(2)
"I use a Faber-Castell mechanical pencil in 0.5, and it works great."
·
"The all-black Faber-Castell e-motion is an entry-level luxury pen with a well-made steel nib that handles wet inks well, making it perfect for long writing sessions."
#34

Amazon

4.5
(2)
"Ordered lifted pens on Amazon and really like them."
·
"Convenient for purchasing Chinese pens."
#35

Artline

4.5
(2)
"Artline fine line runs like a charm and the ink lasts 3 times more than the first one."
·
"Artline Yoodle fine line is a little costly but performs excellently."
#36

Tactile Turn

4.5
(2)
"Tactile Turn pens use Pilot G2 size refills, offering a wide variety of cartridges."
·
"Tactile Turn."
#37

Diplomat

4.5
(2)
"Very nice, solid, hefty pen! The zebra stripes and the Oxyd brass colors are beautiful!"
·
"Diplomat Aero fountain pen."
#38

Fisher

4.0
(2)
"I'd recommend the Fisher Space Pen but I'm not sure those are $20 or less."
·
"Fisher Space pen would check off most items on your list except mainly the price."
#39

Waterman

4.0
(2)
"This rollerball pen writes really well and looks impressive."
·
"If you're looking for budget friendly, the Waterman Allure is that and also lovely."
#40

Chinese

4.0
(2)
"Lots of good cheap Chinese pens on Amazon or AliExpress."
·
"Fude nibs are widely available in Chinese pens because they're used for Chinese lettering."
#41

Ivan

4.0
(2)
"Reliable and well-built."
·
"A solid option for mod enthusiasts."
#42

Jetstream

4.0
(2)
"I usually buy a box of the Jetstream and substitute the refill and have a pen for less than $2."
·
"Jetstream edge is as good as you can get. It's scratchy but it writes a 0.14mm line."
#43

Unos

5.0
(1)
"The Unos eg seen here are just incredible - you may like them!"
#44

Daiso

5.0
(1)
"I get a pack of 10 gel pens that work well on black paper and it's only $2 for the pack!"
#45

Montblanc

5.0
(1)
"Vintage Montblanc 149"
#46

Acroball

5.0
(1)
"Suggest oil based hybrid ink pens - Jetstream or Acroball."
#47

Chinco

5.0
(1)
"I use the Chinco gel ballpoint in extra fine / .35mm in black."
#48

COPIC

5.0
(1)
"COPIC fineliners are my go to."
#49

BIC

5.0
(1)
"The BIC 4 colors pen is an excellent pen."
#50

Marvy Uchida

5.0
(1)
"I just bought the liquid silver pen to test out for future autographs."
#51

Penbbs

5.0
(1)
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
#52

Pen Store

5.0
(1)
"I quite like them."
#53

The Pen Place

5.0
(1)
"My go to place whenever I am in Dublin. The owner is a delight to chat with and knows how to spin a yarn with great stories."
#54

Fountain Feder

5.0
(1)
"Located in Flensburg, Germany."
#55

ZAF Pens

5.0
(1)
"Located in Greece."
#56

Fritz Schimpf

5.0
(1)
"Located in Tübingen, Germany."
#57

Penwish

5.0
(1)
"The mod helps in refining the loose muscle memory you’ve built."
#58

R&K

5.0
(1)
"R&K SketchInks are amazing for crisp and clean lines."
#59

Retro 51

5.0
(1)
"It writes a very smooth 0.7mm line and is quite inky when freshly written."
#60

Jean Pierre Lepine

5.0
(1)
"These pens are very collectable and usually run in the hundreds of dollars. They are beautiful pens. A great gift."
#61

Pro Gear

5.0
(1)
"A very nice pen with excellent piston filler and smooth operation."
#62

Rhodia

5.0
(1)
"Rhodia paper is a solid quality paper and more widely available than others."
#63

Hammermill

5.0
(1)
"Hammermill premium laser paper is recommended for fountain pens."
#64

Cult

5.0
(1)
"Cult pens for me, too. Pricing is good, and you can be confident you're getting genuine stuff."
#65

Precision

5.0
(1)
"The Precision Pen 2 works perfectly."
#66

Luxor

5.0
(1)
"Fashion designers use these luxor pens, which have a soft-sharp nib and a very rich colour."
#67

Blackwing

5.0
(1)
"The Blackwing Pearl pencil sharpens to a fine point, perfect for my use."
#68

Deco

5.0
(1)
"Deco paint pens are the gold standard and a must for any color and on almost any item."
#69

Aurora

5.0
(1)
"A super good buy around $400."
#70

P.W. Akkerman

5.0
(1)
"I’ve had excellent experiences with P.W. Akkerman in The Hague."
#71

Sunderland Machine Works

5.0
(1)
"A great executive style writing instrument designed for the Montblanc fineliner."
#72

Marvy

5.0
(1)
"Marvy Le Pen marker pens come in a lot of fun colors."
#73

Esterbrook

5.0
(1)
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
#74

N/A

5.0
(1)
"Fountain pens require much less pressure to use compared to ballpoint pens, resulting in less hand pain."
#75

Hong Dian

5.0
(1)
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
#76

Le Pen

5.0
(1)
"These pens are relatively easy to hold and write very well."
#77

Frixion

5.0
(1)
"They flow amazingly and erase well, perfect for color coding."
#78

TWSBI

5.0
(1)
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
#79

Tactile

5.0
(1)
"Tactile makes beautiful pens that range in size, color, metals and usage."
#80

OHTO

5.0
(1)
"I recommend OHTO C-307P Rollerball refill for smooth writing."
#81

Molotow

5.0
(1)
"The Molotow Blackliner is also excellent."
#82

Opus

5.0
(1)
"Any decent fountain pen will do."
#83

Clena

5.0
(1)
"I love my Clena 0.3 mechanical pencil."
#84

Townsend

5.0
(1)
"Opt for rollerball with larger tip size for bold signature lines."
#85

Cross Townsend

5.0
(1)
"I love using the Cross Townsend rollerball for signing contracts."
#86

Stiloestile

5.0
(1)
"Stiloestile offers a large selection of pens at comparable or better prices."
#87

Kon-Peki

5.0
(1)
"Affordable at $16.50 on Amazon, much lower than $24.50 on Endless."
#88

Papier und Stift

5.0
(1)
"Found the best price for my first Sailor at Papier und Stift."
#89

Appelboom

5.0
(1)
"Appelboom is a fantastic brand for fountain pens!"
#90

Mechanical Pencil

5.0
(1)
"Mechanical pencil also works great."
#91

Acrylic Paint Pens

5.0
(1)
"I use acrylic paint pens because otherwise you need watercolor fixative."
#92

Rotring

4.0
(1)
"Rotring 600."
#93

Asvine

4.0
(1)
"For high ink capacity you could go for any Asvine vac or piston filler."
#94

Pentonic

4.0
(1)
"Us pentonic coloured pens."
#95

Twsbi

4.0
(1)
"Both the Twsbi mini and the vac mini would be great small options that hold a ton of ink"
#96

Wancai

4.0
(1)
"Wancai mini. Perfect intro to eye droppers as well."
#97

Yooker

4.0
(1)
"Theres a brand called “Yooker” it takes ink cartridges which you can refill with fountain pen ink and a syringe."
#98

Kuretake

4.0
(1)
"I usually use Kuretake paint and gel pens, and they work well for edge painting."
#99

Mr.

4.0
(1)
"The refillable Watercolor Brush works well for thinned gouache."
#100

Menowa

4.0
(1)
"Well-regarded mod with good performance."
#101

Shinhan

4.0
(1)
"Shinhan touch liners are great for detailed work."
#102

Japanese

4.0
(1)
"For sure at that price range, if you are a fan of super smooth (like glass) nibs and Japanese pens."
#103

Micons

4.0
(1)
"Micons dry out pretty fast for the smaller size, but can be kept alive longer with a little water."
#104

Montverde

4.0
(1)
"Montverde refills are very wet and perform well on quality paper."
#105

Professional Brand

4.0
(1)
"Find a professional looking pen that accepts those types of refills."
#106

Ranga

4.0
(1)
"Ranga pens are pretty affordable for ebonite."
#107

VGG

4.0
(1)
"A favorite among many users."
#108

Recollections

4.0
(1)
"The metal tip bottles are great for squeezing out materials."
#109

Monami

4.0
(1)
"Fancy pants paper. Use a separate folded sheet to keep my hands off the writing surface."
#110

Watercolour Paper

4.0
(1)
"Hot-press watercolour paper will be better than cold-press, and 100% cotton paper will be better than cellulose."
#111

Tulip

4.0
(1)
"The Tulip fine point fabric markers fit with no adapter, although my pen holder is a bit broken."
#112

Staedler

4.0
(1)
"But I’ve had better results with fine liner markers, so Staedler fine liners have worked really well."
#113

Uni Pin

4.0
(1)
"The pen brand doesn't matter, just get a 0.38mm or smaller pen tip."
#114

I.suk

4.0
(1)
"Good for those not focused on power."
#115

Everchix

4.0
(1)
"Another good choice for modding."
#116

Kanwrite

4.0
(1)
"Kanwrite Desire is good. Not the best but miles ahead of the brand's I've mentioned."
#117

Safari

4.0
(1)
"I have a Safari charcoal that I find well suited for school."
#118

Paru

4.0
(1)
"A great choice for beginners, lightweight and affordable."
#119

Ohuhu

4.0
(1)
"Ohuhu alcohol markers are fantastic for blending."
#120

Arrtx

4.0
(1)
"Arrtx acrylic markers are vibrant and easy to use."
#121

Staedtler

4.0
(1)
"Highly recommended by many artists because of their price/performance ratio."
#122

Parker IM

4.0
(1)
"The Parker IM rollerball is also great for signing documents."
#123

Penboard

4.0
(1)
"Great for classic German or Italian pens."
#124

Tenpen

4.0
(1)
"A good option for classic pens."
#125

Tompen

4.0
(1)
"Esterbrooks are sometimes available here."
#126

Pure Pens

4.0
(1)
"Great prices and reliable service."
#127

Pen Heaven

4.0
(1)
"Good selection of pens."
#128

Awesome Pens

4.0
(1)
"Awesome prices but limited range."
#129

JetPens

4.0
(1)
"JetPens in the US is quite friendly and quick - shipping will likely be a factor."
#130

EndlessPens

4.0
(1)
"I have found really good deals with sales on EndlessPens."
#131

Atlas Stationers

4.0
(1)
"Shopping Last Chance on Atlas Stationers site offers great deals."
#132

Kakuno

4.0
(1)
"Kakuno is very fine even for the medium."
#133

Beeswax

4.0
(1)
"Sealing the edge painting with beeswax deepens the colors and seals them."
#134

Energel

4.0
(1)
"Highly recommended for writing."
#135

Penswap

3.0
(1)
"A community for pre-owned pens, mostly US focused."
#136

Camlin

2.0
(1)
"The pen dries out quickly after a short use, even when pointed down."

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