Reddit reviews Pilot Kakuno Fine-Nib Fountain Pen, White Body Soft Blue Cap Body (FKA-1SR-SLF)

Pilot Metropolitan Collection Fountain Pen, Black Barrel, Classic Design, Fine Nib, Black Ink (91111) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KRPFD96/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ClLyCbE11EHDE (comes with converter, and personal favorite)

Pilot Kakuno Fine-Nib Fountain Pen, White Body Soft Blue Cap Body (FKA-1SR-SLF) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOOOBU4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_emLyCbX5CXBY8 (takes con-50 converter)

(25 u.s. dollars) Pilot Explorer Fountain Pen Gift Box, Fine Nib, Gray Barrel, 1-Pack, Black Ink (12271) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KBSLWCZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9mLyCbABH6FRS (get con-40 for this one, or syringe and refill cartridge)

Platinum Fountain Pen, Preppy, Fine Nib, Black (PPQ-200-#1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001H0CEM4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_lrLyCbFE357BE (just get an o-ring and eyedropper convert this one)


For all the pilots get the refill cartridges at Staples cheaper than online.

Good (cheap) ink brands are noodlers, waterman's, diamine, and Parker.

Also r/fountainpens is a good resource.

Regular pens

Tombow Airpress 0.7mm Ball Point Pen, Full Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047Z24IU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-xLyCbH5FAXT9 (pressurized can even write upside down)

Zebra F-701 Stainless Steel Ballpoint Retractable Pen, Black Ink, Fine Point, 2 Pack (29411) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0141DN1CA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SyLyCb6MJMDZ4

Pilot FriXion Ball 0.7mm Erasable Gel Pens, Fine Point, Black Ink, Pack Of 6 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019OZVV6I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_XzLyCb98B993R (erasable)

Pentel EnerGel Deluxe RTX Gel Ink Pens, 0.7 Millimeter Metal Tip, Assorted Colors, 6 Pack (BL77BP6M) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012G9VNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NALyCbV2QVSTV (disposable cheaper at Staples to)

Parker Jotter Stainless Steel Ballpoint Pen, Medium Point, Black Ink https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017D5WXY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UBLyCbX0J93DW (Again Staples)

Anyone else can and should add on to this if you want to.

Depending where you get it a pilot kakuno is around 10 bucks.
Pilot Kakuno Fine-Nib Fountain Pen, White Body Soft Blue Cap Body (FKA-1SR-SLF) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOOOBU4/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_4BlvDbF12QS6W
It's fine and smooth like the metro but lighter so it's easier to write for a longer period of time.

Flashlight: Nitecore TIP

Knife: Byrd Cara Cara

Pen: Pilot Kakuno

Wallet: Saddleback Leather Sleeve Wallet

Caribiner: Metolius Mini

Total: 98.33

More realistically, I would DIY the wallet with a $10 piece of tooling leather, and get a better knife like a Spyderco Efficient. This would put me a couple dollars over, so swap the pen for a Zebra F701. Total:$100.42

Hard mode:

Flashlight: Nitecore Tube

Knife: Opinel #6

Pen: Pilot Kakuno (same as linked above)

Wallet: DIY Sleeve (as discussed above)

Caribiner: Metolius (same as linked above)

Total: $49.14

I'll go with everyone else here and say the Pilot Metropolitan, which is just a classic. I love Pilot fountain pens. They have nice, even, fine and extra fine lines and are economical everyday pens. I prefer the way they work with the way I write to my more expensive LAMYs and Faber-Castell Pens.


I will also recommend the Pilot Kakuno, which is a plastic, hexagonal barrel beginner pen (I think it's actually intended for schoolchildren).

I also like [this one] (https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Fountain-Extra-Clear-PFP50RNCEF/dp/B006CQUI9O/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_3?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1510627790&sr=1-3-fkmr2&keywords=cheap+pilot+fountain+pen) just cause I think it's a kind of cool little demonstrator. You can get right into using these with a CON-50 converter or you can use the Pilot IC-100 Namiki cartridges (which I actually prefer at work because they're a little easier to pop in and out).

I have multiple pens but am still sort of a new collector, and they're all fairly inexpensive. I have a two part question...

My first is, my Pilot's seem to get their tip bent after a while or an unfortunate drop. Is this something I can bend it back or is it toast? I guess I don't know enough about nibs to know if I can just replace them on these Pilots?
My really cheap [Kakuno] (https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Kakuno-Fine-Nib-Fountain-FKA-1SR-SLF/dp/B00IOOOBU4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468509915&sr=8-2&keywords=fountain+pen+japanese) seems to be holding up so just as a tip, I'd recommend that baby any day!

Second question is:
What would be a good NEXT pen after the Pilots I own. I've tried a lot of brands under $30 and am ready to go a little higher...like $40-70. Good brands of pens for that price range, and also any inks for that as well. I typically have been using Waterman, J. Herbin, and Parker ink and haven't had a problem but if I buy a more expensive pen I don't necessarily want to junk it up with cheap ink... are those brands OK? OR - are there nibs that I can upgrade to on these Pilot's or are they proprietary and not interchangeable? Are there any good pen websites or what do I look for when buying on eBay?

Pens and bent nibs

You can get a Metro on Amazon for under $12 or a Pilot Kakuno for $9.85. Then you can swap the nibs... not a huge investment.