Pen Review: Diplomat Aero

October 29, 2016

The biggest surprise from my 2016 D.C. Pen Show Haul was one of the lesser-known pens that I picked up: the Diplomat Aero. Diplomat is not as well-known in the States as other major German brands like Pelikan, Montblanc, Lamy, and Faber-Castell but they are building a small and loyal following, moreso than other smaller German manufacturers such as Otto Hutt and Cleo-Skribent. Let's just say there's a reason that they've been around since 1922. I've had the opportunity to write with multiple pens in Diplomat's lineup, and have been uniformly impressed, especially with the quality of the nibs. Along with the Otto Hutt Design 06, the Diplomat Aero has recently been one of my daily workhorses.

Unique Design and Quality Build

The "ribbed" design of the Diplomat Aero is its most distinctive visual feature.

The Aero sports one of the most unique fountain pen designs out there right now. (Well, there might be designs that are more "unique," but I'm referring to designs that are both unique and don't destroy the functionality of the pen.) It's inspired by the "Zeppelin" airships of the 1920s-1930s. The Company's "propeller" logo is painted on the top of the cap - more on that below. Overall, I enjoy the design. At first glance, some might consider this pen a little weird looking and even ostentatious, but in real life the design ends up being fairly understated, especially in the matte-black/gunmetal color scheme.

I enjoy using this pen posted more than unposted. The Aero is manufactured from relatively lightweight aluminum, so the fact that the pen is metal doesn't really affect the overall balance or make it awkward to use.

The Aero's aluminum construction gives it some heft, but this is a well-designed and well-balanced pen. Personally, I think this pen has better balance posted rather than unposted, but that's my preference with most pens as long as they aren't too long. The slip cap fits tightly, with no wiggle or play. It also posts firmly on the tapered end. The anodized section is grippy, slightly tapered, and makes the Aero a comfortable pen to use for long periods of time.

Those who don't like to post their pens will still be able to use the Aero just fine.

The clip has what I consider to be the optimal level of tension. It's not so loose that it feels flimsy, but it's not so tight that it won't easily clip to a shirt pocket. The matte black anodization on the clip makes it slide even easier.

I was able to easily scrape the Diplomat "propeller" logo off the top of the cap using a fingernail. Fortunately I like the look of the unadorned cap better.

The one issue I have with this pen has to do with the finish. Not necessarily the anodized coating that's applied to the metal body, clip, and section - which has held up very well - but with the painted Diplomat logo on the top of the cap. Mine started to flake off almost immediately, and I finally got so fed up with it that I took my fingernail to it and was able to completely remove it in less than 10 seconds. Honestly, this isn't a big deal for me because I like the plain black cap better than adorned version, but at this price point Diplomat needs to either fix this issue by actually etching the logo into the anodized coating or remove it from the top of the cap entirely. Flaking paint makes an otherwise excellent pen look cheap.

An Extremely Smooth JoWo Nib

As fun as the design is, the nib is what makes this pen a joy to use. My Aero sports a very smooth and very wet JoWo medium. This nib might be slightly wider than optimal for my style of writing, but for a stainless steel nib, it's been tuned perfectly. I met the Diplomat distributor at the D.C. Pen show, who told me that Diplomat has employees in the JoWo factory who personally test and tune all Diplomat nibs before they leave. I tend to believe this, because of the two Diplomat pens I own - the Aero and the lower-priced Diplomat Esteem - both write much better than stock JoWo nibs that I've purchased from other sources. These nibs clearly have been tuned.

Diplomat uses a standard cartridge/converter filling system. Nothing too exciting here.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I like this pen and don't regret adding it to my rotation. While the flaking paint issue is annoying, the nib is outstanding and I love the design and the matte black color scheme. (If it's all-black or red, I'll typically buy it.)

Diplomat is popping up in multiple online retailers as the brand gains popularity. MSRP on the Diplomat Aero is $195, with some dealers selling for around $160, which is what I paid purchasing from the distributor directly at the D.C. Pen Show. While I really enjoy the pen, $160 is high, and $195 prohibitively expensive, especially compared to a similarly priced pen like the Otto Hutt 06 that didn't have the annoying flaking paint issue.

Fortunately, you can usually find the Aero on Amazon at a more reasonable price (though the actual price changes regularly). Massdrop deals on this pen also pop up from time to time. In addition to the matte black model featured in this review, the Aero comes in a silver version and a very attractive brown. (Honestly, I eventually may pick up a brown version for myself. The color looks that good.)

Pen Review: Trilogy Zero (On Kickstarter Now!)

October 22, 2016

Last week, I posted a brief announcement for the Trilogy Zero Minimalist Fountain Pen, which is now live on Kickstarter. Before I get into the details of this pen review, I should say that the pen Trilogy sent me for review is a prototype, NOT a final product. Trilogy was very insistent that the prototype had certain flaws that they plainly identified to me before sending me the pen, and which will be corrected before the final Kickstarter products ship to buyers.

That said, I like the Trilogy Zero overall, and I came away from the review impressed. This pen is not for everyone, but most machined metal pens aren't. Let's take a look in a bit more detail.

The Trilogy Zero features a smooth section and a black PVC-coated Bock Nib.

What I Liked about the Trilogy Zero

Size and Comfort. As other reviewers have observed, the Zero is larger in real life than it appears in the pictures, or at least it ended up being much larger than I expected. The added length balances the pen well for writing, especially since the cap doesn't post. The section is rather large, without a pronounced step down from the rest of the barrel, so you should be able to get a comfortable grip no matter how you hold your pen.
Presentation. The packaging is sleek and well-made. I like the concept of the wood box/pen rest that ships with the Zero, but wish that they had spent a bit more time on the finish. More on that from Mike Dudek. With a bit of polishing, the wood box might make an excellent piece for your desk.
Flat Ends. The Trilogy is completely flat on both ends, creating a tapered cylinder that will stand up vertically on your desk. I've done this at work and at home, and haven't had it fall over yet. The Zero's design reminds me of a more slender, tapered Newton Shinobi.
Nib. Trilogy uses Bock nibs, and the medium I received is a good one. I've had hit-or-miss experiences with Bock Nibs in the past, but I can't complain here. The black nib is coated, including the underside of the nib and tipping material, so there may be a brief period after you first receive the pen where there is slightly more feedback. I experienced this as the nib "squeaking" for the first page or so that I wrote, but it disappeared as the nib broke in. Again, I've noticed this on other PVC-coated nibs, and is nothing unique to this pen.

What I Didn't Like

Portability. Size is a double-edged sword. The Zero is very comfortable to write with, but it's not very portable. The length of the pen when capped makes it difficult to fit the Zero into certain pen cases and pen wraps, and it's impractical to carry in my pants pocket. This may be a personal preference, but when I think "minimalist pen," I think of something that I can slip in my jeans pocket and take anywhere on a moment's notice.
Wear on the Finish. The black coating on the aluminum looks great, but has a tendency to wear along sharp edges, especially the threads. I haven't used this pen that hard yet, and I expect to see similar chipping and flaking on the flat-end of the Zero.
Squeaky Threads. This issue is something that Trilogy is aware of, and has indicated that they have resolved in the final production specs. I'm not really sensitive to it, but some people have noticed a "nails-on-chalkboard" noise when you screw/unscrew the cap.
Marketing. I found the emphasis on "minimalism" in the Kickstarter marketing materials to be a bit over the top. ("A Minimal Fountain Pen Designed to Distill Writing to its Finest, Most Essential Form. A Seamless Link Between Mind and Reality.") That's a personal preference, though, and may speak to some people more than others.

Promotional photo for the Trilogy Zero fountain pen in silver (Courtesy of Trilogy Pens)

Should You Back this Kickstarter?

If you enjoy pens like the Namisu Nova, the Karas Kustoms Ink, or the Tactile Turn Gist, the Trilogy Zero caters to a similar niche. You should expect some of the issues I highlighted in this review to get ironed out as Trilogy finalizes their production specs. I consider the Zero a relatively low-risk Kickstarter project to back because the price of the pen is so reasonable. While Early Bird and Super Early Bird pricing is sold out, you can still pledge $60 and receive one Zero, or $105 and receive two. Pens are available in silver or black, with the option of a steel, gold plated, or coated black nib.

This price point also bodes well for Trilogy in the market as a whole. There's a relative dearth of quality fountain pens out there in the $50-75 price range, and if Trilogy continues to target the $55-$60 price point post-Kickstarter, they could really have something here.

Pen Review: Otto Hutt Design 06

October 5, 2016

Germany has several high-end pen companies whose products rarely make it to this side of the Atlantic, and if they do, they are imported in such small quantities that they are difficult to find and rarely reviewed online. Retailers who stock some of these brands don't promote them heavily. I'm talking about brands like Otto Hutt, Cleo Skribent, Diplomat, and - until recent years - Kaweco, Faber-Castell and Graf von Faber-Castell. I was contacted a couple months ago by representatives of Pen Heaven, a UK-based online retailer, asking whether I would be interested in collaborating with them on a review. The design of the Otto Hutt pens intrigued me, and they agreed to send me one of the pens for review.

Background and Brief History

Otto Hutt packaging is very functional, and somewhat similar to Lamy (though not as minimalist). There are no flashy wood or metal boxes, just cardboard/foam packaging that is sturdy enough to protect the pen while looking nice.

As I mentioned, Otto Hutt is a German pen manufacturer based in Pforzheim, a town known for its jewelry. According to the Company's website, Otto Hutt has been in business since the 1920s, and originally specialized in writing implements made from silver. The current Otto Hutt lineup features seven fountain pens ("Design 01" through "Design 07"), along with ballpoint and rollerball offerings. The pen I'm reviewing here is "Design 06", which is one step below the "flagship" of the Otto Hutt line, the "Design 07."

Nib

I found the detailing on this nib really attractive. I like the understated Otto Hutt logo.

The nib is the star of the show here. Otto Hutt uses nibs said to be manufactured by Peter Bock AG, which are stamped with the Otto Hutt logo. The nib on my pen is exceptionally smooth, and even has a bit of softness to it. Normally, there's no mistaking a steel nib for a gold nib, but this one could easily pass for a two-toned rhodium-plated gold nib. Even better, the alignment on the nib was perfect, and there were no variations in ink flow during multiple all-day writing sessions. The nib writes what I'd consider to be a "true medium" line.

Build

The pen's compact design and good balance helps offset the weight of the metal construction.

The Design 06 sports a compact, Bauhaus-inspired design (per the Otto Hutt website), and I've enjoyed the classic matte black / chrome color scheme. The pen also comes in red and pink, with the pink pen featuring rose gold trim. The latter color combination is especially pretty.

The finish and tolerances on this pen are top notch. The cap and body line up perfectly flush with each other, the pen has no rough edges, and the lacquer finish is flawless. All of these place my Otto Hutt a notch above pens I've used from Diplomat (or even Lamy). Perhaps my favorite thing about this pen is that the threads are cut so that it takes only a single turn to screw or unscrew the cap, which closes securely. The pen also has a spring-loaded clip, which easily attaches to a shirt pocket.

Otto Hutt has its roots in metalworking, so this is a metal pen. The section is polished stainless steel, and has an hourglass-shape to prevent slippage. The body of the pen is also metal (probably brass or steel), and is coated in a thick matte lacquer. Unlike other metal pen bodies I've reviewed in the past - the Lamy Studio is the one that comes to mind - the matte black coating is thickly and evenly applied, so there appears to be little risk of it chipping or flaking off. I can't find a single flaw in the finish on the Design 06. I consider it a step up from pens like the Studio and the Diplomat Aero. While I like those models, I'm often able to find flaws (chips, flaking, scratches, etc.) in the finish of otherwise brand-new pens.

Because it's metal, the Design 06 is a relatively heavy pen. But despite its heft, the pen is still very comfortable to use. My review notes and initial draft of this post took me over an hour and spanned three handwritten pages (Clairefontaine French-ruled paper), yet I had no hand fatigue. I found the pen to be exceptionally well-balanced, even when posted.

Pricing and Value

Otto Hutt pens featuring a steel nib are generally priced anywhere from $100-200, while gold-nibbed pens run in the $400-800 range. The pricing is fairly standard for German pens of this quality, and I would say that it's comparable to the pricing on Graf von Faber-Castell pens. Caran d'Ache is another pen company with a similar pricing structure, though CdA is based in Switzerland and not Germany.

Takeaways

This pen is a big winner for me. Normally, I'm not a fan of steel-nibbed pens making their way north of the $130 mark, BUT I will make exceptions where the manufacturer clearly has put a significant amount of effort into making a nib both write exceptionally well and look good. That is certainly the case here, and this pen is as nice a writer as any gold nib pen that I own - out of the box and without any modifications, I might add. Otto Hutt pens are not cheap, but I'd be willing to pay the premium for quality. Given how good of an experience I had with the Design 06, I'm already looking to add another Otto Hutt pen to my collection.

There is a bit of a "step-down" from the barrel to the section, but since I tend to grip my pen towards the front (i.e., at the nib-end of the section), the step didn't bother me.

As a side note, I think I may be the first pen blogger to review an Otto Hutt pen! In case you haven't noticed, I was excited to write this review. As fountain pens experience a bit of a "renaissance," and more and more people pay attention to pens online through blogs, forums, etc., it's increasingly rare to find lesser-known high-quality brands.

Where to Buy

Very few, if any, U.S.-based retailers carry the full Otto Hutt line. As I mentioned above, Pen Heaven, a UK-based retailer, graciously sent me this pen for review purposes. Pen Heaven stocks all of the various Otto Hutt models, along with pens from Faber-Castell, Graf von Faber-Castell, Lamy, Kaweco, Diplomat, and more. The pen arrived beautifully wrapped and packed, along with a personalized note, which is a touch that I always appreciate.

If you're interested in ordering the same pen featured in this review (Otto Hutt Design 06), the link can be found here.

Disclaimer: Pen Heaven provided me with this pen free of charge, for review purposes.

Two Kaweco pens that have pleasantly surprised me: on the left, the Kaweco Brass Sport, and on the right, the Kaweco Supra. Check out the patina forming on that brass!

Top Brass: the Kaweco Brass Sport and the Kaweco Supra

September 21, 2016

Kaweco dominates the “pocket fountain pen” category. While other pen companies dabble in the space, Kaweco is really the only one that's devoted significant resources to mastering it. I’ve tried the full range of Kaweco’s offerings, including some full size models, yet I keep coming back to Kaweco’s pocket pens. Today, I’m going to take a look at two newer models of Kaweco portable fountain pens in brass: the Brass Sport and the Supra.

Kaweco Brass Sport

The modern Kaweco pen company is a relaunch of a classic German pen manufacturer that passed through several bankruptcies and ownership changes before folding in 1981. The company was most recently resurrected by the Gutberlet family in the mid-1990s, and is by all accounts very successful in its most recent incarnation. The Kaweco Sport has driven much of this success, and is itself a reimagining of a classic model of Kaweco pen, though the vintage Sports were piston fillers (which can still be found, but not for cheap). In the past, I’ve reviewed Kaweco’s AL-Sport and AC-Sport pens, which I like, but my favorite Sport model is the one featured here: the Brass Sport.

The Brass Sport has the same form factor as the standard Kaweco Sport. It's heavier, but I've found the pen very well-balanced. Much more so than other all-brass or all-stainless steel pens.

When they first see the Brass Sport, most people, myself included, worry about weight. The standard Kaweco Sport is plastic, so it’s very light, and AL-Sport and AC-Sport models aren’t much heavier since they’re primarily made from aluminum. But with this pen, the weight doesn’t bother me. Like the other Sport models, because of the shorter length, the Brass Sport is well balanced because it isn't top-heavy. I can comfortably use the pen posted rather than unposted, as I prefer. That said, if you absolutely hate to post your pens, the heftier metal construction makes the Brass Sport more comfortable to use unposted than your typical Kaweco Sport. The Brass Sport also uses the same #4 Bock nib as most other Kaweco pens, so it offers a familiar writing experience. There’s nothing really new to say here with respect to the nib, other than that Kaweco now sells 14k gold nibs that fit the Sport series (sold separately by select retailers). The rumor is that Kaweco will be introducing rhodium-plated gold nibs sometime this year.

Kaweco Supra

Shortly after launching the Brass Sport, Kaweco introduced another brass pen, which is a different take on their tiny Lilliput fountain pen. The standard Kaweco Lilliput is so small and light that I can’t use the aluminum version for more than jotting a few lines of notes. (Kaweco has since issued brass and stainless steel models of the Lilliput, which I haven’t tried but which have garnered excellent reviews because the added heft makes them easier to use for longer writing sessions.) Kaweco’s “Supra” is a larger, all-brass pen based on the Lilliput’s design. The Supra features the same compact, capsule-like shape as the Lilliput, but I found it much more comfortable to use.

Unposted, the pen is unusably short, but Kaweco intends for you to thread the cap onto the end of the barrel to put the pen in “writing mode.”

Like the Brass Sport, the Supra is very well balanced, and I didn’t notice the weight of the Brass much at all. But the best part about the Supra’s design is that you can adjust the length of the pen. Included in the box with the Supra is a small brass tube that you can thread onto both the section and the barrel, turning the Supra from a very small pocket tool into an almost full-length pen. I had fun playing with the Supra at both lengths, but at the end of the day I prefer it without the extender. The longer version was too top-heavy for me to use posted, and for a pocket writing tool I don’t want to have to worry about dealing with the cap.

The Kaweco Supra in it's "extended mode". Check out the patina that's developed on the "used" portion of the Supra compared against the unused extender insert.

As someone who generally dislikes all-metal pens, both the Sport and the Supra have pleasantly surprised me. I’ve been “on the go” a lot lately, whether traveling for work or family obligations, so much of my writing has been with whatever pen I happen to have with me in my pocket. I’ve come to appreciate these brass Kawecos because you can toss them in a pocket without worrying about whether the pen will get scratched by keys, cracked, etc. - they’re essentially indestructible. The fact that they have some heft also makes them harder to lose, because you’ll notice if the pen falls out of your pocket. While Kaweco nibs can run a bit on the dry side, they are, on the whole, reliable, serviceable writers.

The thing that I really like about the Kaweco Supra is that it uses a larger #6 nib. The bigger Kaweco nib is much smoother and has better flow than the #4 nibs used in the Sport series.

And finally, a few shots of what I consider the best thing about brass pens: they don’t stay shiny as you use them, but rather develop a patina with age. In my case, it didn't take very long at all. Here's a gallery of some shots that I think show off the patina pretty well.

Where to Buy

I purchase almost all of my Kawecos from Pen Chalet, which stocks the full range of Kaweco products at great prices. The Brass Sport retails for $100, and the Supra retails for $140. While certainly not inexpensive, these prices are consistent with the pricing on other all-metal brass fountain pens.

Disclaimer: The pens featured in this review were provided to me free of charge for review purposes. Many thanks to Kaweco for allowing me to try out the Supra, and to Pen Chalet for sending me the Brass Sport.

The .38mm Pilot G2 is widely available and comes in colors other than black and blue.

The Pilot G2 Gel Pen Review: Personal Favorite

September 10, 2016

I've experimented with different brands of gel pens over the years, but I keep coming back to the Pilot G2. The G2 is one of those pens that people either love or hate - I think a lot of the hate comes from the fact that Pilot advertises it as the "world's most popular pen" or something like that, and people (especially on the Internet) love a good takedown of whatever's popular. But there are many reasons this pen deserves that title: it's widely available (including in drug and grocery stores), it's comes in various tip sizes and ink colors, and it's a dependable writer that doesn't dry up or skip.

One thing I appreciate about the G2 .38mm is that it's still a fairly wet writer despite how fine the line is.

My personal favorite G2 tip size is the .38mm "Ultra Micro." Sure, the Pilot Juice .38mm (Japan only) comes in a broader range of colors, but I've not had the greatest experience with the Juice refill, finding anything smaller than .5mm skippy and scratchy. The G2 .38mm may not be the smoothest writer on the market, but it's rare that I've had a G2 skip or dry out on me. It's generally a very reliable pen. Even the "fine" .7mm G2 works better for me than the Uniball, Pentel Energel, or (gag) the Zebra Sarasa equivalents.

I've moved to the .38mm Pilot G2 as my gel pen workhorse.

As part of my recent effort to thin out my accumulation/hoard of stationery and "just go with the tools that work for me," a couple areas where I've cut back on my purchasing are pencils and gel pens. While I'll of course always keep a variety of pencils on hand, I tend to use either a Palomino Blackwing 602 or a Palomino HB on a daily basis. With gel pens, it's a G2 or a Hi-Tec-C, and when a ballpoint is necessary, it's Pilot's Acroball hybrid.

As I mentioned earlier, you can find the Pilot G2 in pretty much any brick and mortar store with a stationery aisle (including big box stores), but you can get some sick deals online, especially if you buy in bulk. A dozen G2 .38mm pens will run you a little more than a buck apiece. (The .5mm or .7mm are even less expensive.) Colors in the .38mm tip size are limited to blue, black, red, and green, though you can find some crazy colors in .7mm, like this fistful of G2s that I picked up this week at Bob Slate Stationer in Boston (Cambridge).

Yesterday's haul from Bob Slate Stationer in Cambridge, Massachusetts. That reporters notebook is almost identical to the Field Notes Byline in terms of dimensions, and it cost less than $2! (The paper is surprisingly good for an inexpensive noteboo… — Yesterday's haul from Bob Slate Stationer in Cambridge, Massachusetts. That reporters notebook is almost identical to the Field Notes Byline in terms of dimensions, and it cost less than $2! (The paper is surprisingly good for an inexpensive notebook.)

Pilot also offers G2 refills that you can use in a refillable pen body. I previously reviewed the Pilot G2 Limited, which is Pilot's "high-end" G2 pen body. I'll double down on that recommendation. I ended up gifting my previous G2 Limited to a friend and picked up another one for myself last week, and it's just as good as I remember it. The G2 refill also works in the Tactile Turn Mover, and if you enjoy pocket pens, the Machine Era pen.

For all these reasons, the Pilot G2 sits at the top of my list of recommended gel pens. If you haven't already checked out this recently refreshed page, please do so! I spent some time with it last weekend and had a lot of fun revisiting the various "best pen" lists I've published and getting them into an easier-to-use format.

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links.

Unique Design and Quality Build

An Extremely Smooth JoWo Nib

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Further Reading

What I Liked about the Trilogy Zero

What I Didn't Like

Should You Back this Kickstarter?

Further Reading.

Background and Brief History

Nib

Build

Pricing and Value

Takeaways

Where to Buy

Kaweco Brass Sport

Kaweco Supra

Where to Buy

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