Reddit reviews PILOT Varsity Disposable Fountain Pens, Medium Point Stainless Steel Nib, Black/Blue/Red/Pink/Green/Purple/Turquoise, 7-Pack Pouch (90029)

I have a nice selection of fountain pens, and they're lovely. I enjoy using them immensely, and they make great gifts! Perhaps you should show her the price range of higher end fountain pens?! Watch her head explode. Good thing you like fountain pens, and not high-end automatic (mechanical) watches!!

If you haven't used a fountain pen before, you want something inexpensive and disposable to try out, the Pilot Varsity fountain pens are actually quite good (and cheap):

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Varsity-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA/ref=sr_1_4

For something a little nicer looking (but still really inexpensive), check out the JinHao fountain pens (China). Here's an older review: http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/131552-jinhao-x750-review/

Just keep in mind that you do need to clean out the ink periodically, and you definitely want to clean them out if you're not going to use them for a while.

The JinHao fountain pens are sold on eBay. Here are two examples:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/jinhao-x750-fountain-pen-blue-and-black-Medium-nib-new-free-shipping/312719179069

https://www.ebay.com/itm/JINHAO-X750-FOUNTAIN-PEN-Black-shimmering-sands-Medium-NIB-new-free-shipping/140641723784

Good luck!

That's really cool that you're trying to share the hobby with your co-worker. Unfortunately, I'm not sure about sites for used fountain pens, (maybe check out r/Pen_Swap), but I have a few suggestions for cheaper pens:

• The Pilot Metropolitan is a very nice entry level pen and it's only $11 on Amazon right now. It comes with a black cartridge and a converter if you want to get him a bottle of ink. You could also get him a pack of extra cartridges to go along with it and stay under $20.
  
• The Platinum Preppy, which is about $3-$5 and comes in many different colors. (This is the blue-black version). It comes with one ink cartridge and works with standard converters. (The converter is not included)
  
• Pilot also makes the Varsity, which is a line of disposable fountain pens that come pre-filled with ink. You can get a set of 7 different colors for around $12.
  
  I hope this helps!

WORK

PowerTank Retractable Pen All-Angle All-Weather Wet Surface… Standard quick draw go-to pen for the last 5 years

Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pen Recently got into fountain pens so I use this when I can to sign stuff or have time to take decent notes

Silver Sharpie for writing on dark surfaces

Pocket Level for leveling anything from pictures to 80” monitors and in between

Retractable Sharpie for permanent marking/writing everywhere else not covered by the previous items

Telescoping Magnetic Retriever

My First Pencil for temporary marking… large size for durability and novelty

House Keys, Personal Truck Keys (98 F150), Work Truck/Van Key (what is this thing), Building Keys

Fitbit Charge HR

Large Rubber Band because you just never know when you might need one… and I pop myself if I get a craving for something I don’t need lol

A little Cash, Our Energy Management Policy (our VP will randomly ask to see it and if you have it on you, you may get to be off the rest of the day, get a meal or gas gift cert, movie tix, etc.)

Vicks Inhaler, Every Man Jack chapstick

1/8” Allen Wrench

ThorFire throwaway LED Flashlight for quick peeks, or if the larger one’s battery dies

BP Rewards Card (Filling the work truck a couple times a week gets me a few cents off my own gas… shhhhh), Work Visa, License, Insurance, Carmike Rewards Card because you never know when you may wanna catch a flick.

Nitecore MH1C Rechargeable LED Flashlight… found this baby up in the ceiling and fell in love (once I read the manual and figured out how to work it.)

Zippo Spectrum Lighter… Don’t smoke but I love fire and Zippo’s even more. I have 16 right now but this is my throw around EDC.

Gerber Superknife

TAC Force Throw away assisted opening knife

RFID Access Badge

Medical ID Bracelet… recently diagnosed with Diabeetus and put on Xarelto after a huge blood clot (PE)

3x5 Index Card Daily Work Order Checklist, needed supplies, random notes/measurements/numbers

/r/KaizenBrotherhood 30 Day Challenge Checklist

Leatherman Rebar MultiTool… work buys these (bless them) and I usually break them enough to need one every 1-2 years. Had one model or another since my 18th birthday (36 now) and just found out they will actually repair them for free so I will have to round up some older ones and send them off. Once they are retired they wind up in a glove box, random tool bag/box, in the recliner, on my desk etc, anywhere I might need one and I am not in my work clothes.

NOT PICTURED

Folding Wood Rule

Motorola XPR-6300 Radio

iPhone 6 in Lifeproof Fre Case with Nite Ize Steelie Magnet on the back and $20 inside... used to take picture

*added phone

Couple of quick thoughts on this, the Preppy suggestion is a good one, and pens that are nice, plastic is fragile, especially the caps, but if taken care of, these are great pens.

Now, for a cheaper start, to see if you like the methodology of note taking in different colors, since not all like it. The Pilot Varsity https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA multi-color pack is great for this, but I would recommend the Thornton's https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E68AKTC multi pack. I believe they are the same basic pen, nib, etc. However, I think the Thornton's is a nicer disposable pen that looks a little better.

With this choice, you can get a selection of colors to try and refine what you want in a note taking system. Do you want 2-4 colors or do you like having 6+ colors. Once you get a good idea of your use, you can refine what pens you want to carry with you and the colors you prefer. I personally like 6-8 colors for note taking.

Finally, another cheap option are some of the chinese pens that come in colors, the Hero 007 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-ship-Hero-Pen-007-Dark-tip-Vintage-Ultrafine-Schoolchild-pen-Handwriting-calligraphy-free-nib/32567244662.html, the Jinhao 599 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/JINHAO-599-Student-14-Color-fine-nib-Fountain-Pen-New-Free-shipping/32648562107.html or https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Jinhao-599-Student-fashion-Color-Medium-and-fine-nib-fountain-Pen-New-Give-Family-leadership-student/32668993830.html are good options, especially if you like the Safaris.

Hope this helps some.

Yes, get a pretty fountain pen or felt tip that makes writing fun! I like le pen, varsity disposable fountain and sharpie's calligraphy pens.

I'm going to school

pens!

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484425673&sr=8-1&keywords=varsity+fountain+pen

I'm a writer. I take detailed and thorough notes in class as I've found that gets the information in my head best. (Also, that's the way I was trained as a mathematician in undergrad.)

My set up is several cheap fountain pens with a variety of ink colors and a good quality paper notebook. I hate spiral notebooks because the spiral eventually gets damaged. My A5 Clairefountaine notebooks are working out well.

The fountain pens are partly just because I'm older and the ballpoint pens tend to hurt my hands when I write for a long time and partly because they do force me to be a little tidier in my work.

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA

https://www.jetpens.com/Disposable-Fountain-Pens/ct/2663

https://www.amazon.com/bic-fountain-pens/s?page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Abic%20fountain%20pens

Good idea about lending a fountain pen without the cap.

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Varsity-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA

I use these at work. They last forever and write more smoothly than my Metropolitan.

Item to help me accomplish one of these things

Of course, I'd have to post the poems in my blog for 40 days. This would be an accomplishment, as I am a seasoned poet, with 4 self-published chapbooks out, a longtime poetry blog, and have been featured at numerous poetry/writing events. However, I've had a bit of a hard time writing lately...okay, for the last few years since being in school. My mind just isn't in it. And it needs to be, or my gift is wasted.

I will need lots of these

These guys always inspire me!

I have a list of things I wanted to do for 30 days...maybe 40 days won't be so bad?

Some of the things on my 30 days list:

Go 30 days without:

Eating meat

Wearing makeup

Swearing

Wearing shoes

Go 30 Days:

Write a poem every day

Send a letter to a friend via snail mail

Drink more than the recommended amount of water

/u/n_reineke , /u/G0ATLY , /u/Yokuo ...what do you guys think?

Think I could go 40 days with any of those?

Bask in the glory of the greatest pens ever, The disposable fountain pen that works better and lasts as long as actual fountain pens

I just bought some basic Spencerian copy books off of Amazon, along with some pilot varsity fountain pens. I think it was less than $25. So far I am really enjoying it!

I've been thinking learning it with someone else would be awesome, to try to stay accountable on practicing. Interested?

Edit: The books and the pens if anyone is interested.

I'll just leave all these here

Since there are some fellow fountain pen fans on here... Anyone remember the Pilot Varsity? This was my first fountain pen and though they are disposal, I'd say it's still a great way to try out fountain pen if you're not sure you want to commit to the expensive ones.

You could start with disposable colors. http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA

Then move on to the others mentioned earlier. If ink color is interesting, join ink drop from Goulet pens. 5 new ink color samples every month. But you will need a pen with a converter at that point. I don't always clean my ink completely as it is nice sometimes to see the transition of colors. Careful though, some inks don't play well together. Hope she enjoys it. PM me if you have any questions.

I'm replying to you so people who may be interested have a place to start:

My favorite fountain pens for beginners that are super cheap are Pilot Varsity. They're disposable and you can get a pack of them for pretty cheap on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA

They can also be brought on planes (I know--I just flew with one and it didn't leak). It's seriously a huge difference to write with a fountain pen vs ballpoint or felt or gel or whatever.

What kind of pen are you using? I found my handwriting went from chicken scratch to legible once I got a fountain pen. They require exactly zero pressure to write with as the ink is drawn via capillary action to the paper. After writing with one for awhile, the few times I still use a ballpoint remains readable

I recommend trying a Pilot Varsity. Individual pens run about $3 from the office supply store. Just keep in mind fountain pen ink is water soluble; if the paper gets wet, the ink gets washed off.

My wife teaches 4th grade and she likes to use [[Noodler's Dragon's Napalm]] for marking papers. She also keeps a full range of Pilot Varsitys around her classroom for marking papers and whatever else she needs a pen for.

These:

http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Disposable-Fountain-Assorted-90029/dp/B00092PRCA

Are a great way to get into fountain pens. They're disposable, cheap enough to throw away, but good enough (as long as you don't let them dry out) to write comfortably until they're empty. They do have a larger/looser stroke than she may prefer, though.

http://www.amazon.com/uni-ball-KuruToga-Mechanical-Starter-1751934/dp/B0026ICM1E

Hands down one of the best mechanical pencils you can get. You won't see too much a difference writing in cursive, but it's a whole 'nother world for block/print script.

Rhodia and Leuchtturm make some of the best notebooks. If you've got cash and aren't averse to leather, Levenger makes a great disc-binding system that costs maybe $150 to get into. Staples has the Arc system which is compatible, and is maybe $20-$40 to get into.

Good luck!