Laban-Expression-Fountain-Pen-Oyster-Yellow

Pen Review: Laban Expression Pocket Fountain Pen

March 14, 2018

Here’s something different for you! Our sponsor Goldspot was kind enough to send over a pen from Laban, a brand that I’ve never tried before. The model featured here is the Expression, which has to be one of the smallest pens I’ve ever used. We’re talking Kaweco Lilliput small.

Size comparison, from left: Laban Expression, Lamy 2000, and the TWSBI Mini AL (Gold).

Unless you have TINY hands, the Expression is going to fall squarely in the “pocket pen” category. Design-wise, there’s a passing resemblance to the vintage “purse pens” made by Esterbrook during the first half of the 20th century, though this one may be even smaller. Most people won’t be using this pen to write a novel, only quick jots in your pocket notebook or planner.

That said, for its size the pen sits well in the hand, and the metal section and blind cap do a nice job of balancing it out. I can only use this pen posted, otherwise it’s simply too short.

The stainless steel nib looks like a JoWo or a Bock - I can’t tell which - but it has a nice custom engraving on it and it writes very well, with moderately wet ink flow. Given the size of this pen, it’s definitely cartridge-only, unless you can find a mini converter somewhere that fits.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Laban is a brand that has been around for some time, and maintains a strong pen-show presence, but doesn’t necessarily receive a lot of attention. That puzzles me, since this little pen is very well-built, and provides an enjoyable writing experience. I’m definitely going to check out a pen from their larger “Mento” line in the future, since I really like some of the materials that they use.

You can purchase the Laban Expression from Goldspot Pens, currently priced at $55. The pen is available in a wide array of colors, from the “Yellow Oyster” (pictured here) to the “Black Pearl”, in both fountain pen and ballpoint versions.

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me free of charge, for review purposes, by our Sponsor Goldspot Pens. Thanks to Tom and the team at Goldspot for making this review possible. This post contains affiliate links.

The Lamy 2000 along with another great daily workhorse, the Seiko SNZF17J1 "Sea Urchin".

My Workhorse Pens: Lamy 2000

March 10, 2018

Few pens jump more quickly to mind when I think of a "daily workhorse" than the Lamy 2000. Its no-nonsense construction and straightforward, distraction-free design allows you to forget the pen and just get stuff done. Though I prefer the fountain pen, Lamy manufactures a full range of writing instruments in the "2000 line," which at the moment includes a rollerball, a ballpoint, a mechanical pencil, and a "4 Color" multipen. I won't rehash the storied history of this pen, since I've previously reviewed it. This post is more of a personal reflection on why I find this particular pen so pleasant to work with on a daily basis, and why it's remained a key part of my pen case for nearly ten years. (I've also linked to my previous reviews of the various Lamy 2000 models at the bottom of the page.)

No excessive detail here: brushed stainless steel and makrolon (fiberglass) construction, with the branding as minimal as you can get.

So why is the Lamy 2000 such a great workhorse?

In short, because it ticks all of the boxes: understated design, light weight and good balance, the ability to post, a good nib that's not too wet, and a large ink capacity. As you'll see, I consider this pen to have a lot of "pros", with very few "cons". (Though as with all pen reviewing, that's a matter of personal opinion.)

Pros:

The pen disappears in the hand. Especially the Makrolon version, which is extremely light, and the threadless section and barrel make it more or less foolproof to write with this pen for extended sessions, whether it be journaling, drafting documents, or notetaking. The look of the pen won't distract you from the task at hand.
- The pen disappears in meetings. The Lamy 2000 and the Pilot Vanishing Point are two go-to fountain pens for those meetings where I don't want to be the focus of attention. Most people will assume that a hooded nib fountain pen is a rollerball or a ballpoint.
The pen posts well and is practical to use on the go. I've been pretty vocal about how I prefer pens that post, mainly because I often have to work in non-desk situations where I don't have a place to set the cap. The Lamy 2000's cap posts securely and deeply, and the pen also has good ink capacity, especially if you use the extra-fine or fine nib option. Practically speaking, I've found very little difference between Lamy fine and extra fine nibs. On the 2000, the medium nib runs fairly broad, and the broad nib tends to be a stubbish firehose, so if you're purchasing this pen to use on cheaper paper, go finer.
The pen is widely available (and easily replaced). Yes, I've lost a Lamy 2000, or, rather, I've had one stolen out of a hotel room. It stung my wallet a bit, but not as bad as, say, losing a Pelikan M800, MB 146, or even a Sailor Pro Gear. Because of how frequently I use the Lamy 2000 (near daily, or at least weekly), and given the context in which I use the pen (meetings, conferences, seminars, hotels, etc.) I've just accepted that it's likely I'll lose at least one or two of them over the years. For that reason, I typically keep more than one in my stockpile, and will pick them up if I see them on sale.

The Lamy 2000,  posted, is the perfect length for me. — The Lamy 2000, posted, is the perfect length for me.

Cons:

I'm probably biased in terms of how much I love this pen, but I don't see many cons to the Lamy 2000 if what you're looking for is a true "workhorse" that you're going to use for daily writing over a long period of time. Some people find the grip on the Lamy 2000 slippery, and others dislike the nib. Though Lamy's quality control on the nibs has been spotty over the years, I've never had a serious issue, and reports of major problems have been less frequent recently. That said, one of the reasons why I recommend people price-shop the Lamy 2000 is to leave yourself room in the budget to get the nib tuned if necessary. Honestly, if you plan to use any pen as a daily writing tool, It's worth the relatively small investment to get the nib tuned to your particular writing style, preferably at a pen show where the nib technician can watch you write and adjust the nib in person.

I find the 14k nib on the Lamy 2000 to be a pleasant writer, with a touch of bounce.

Where To Buy

One odd thing I've noticed about the Lamy 2000 is that they tend to hold their value relatively well for how common they are. You don't see them priced at that much of a discount at pen shows or in the aftermarket.

[UPDATE] As of April 2023, The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Lamy Pens, so we are pleased to be able to offer this pen to you directly as part of our effort to become self-sustaining. We no longer rely on paid advertising or third-party affiliate programs, and enjoy having full responsibility over our readers’ experience with the pens we recommend, instead of relying on third parties to deliver quality service.

Paperhaters Need Not Apply: The Papermate Inkjoy Gel

March 7, 2018

Papermate's had it rough the past couple of decades. Among stationery enthusiasts and office supply aficionados, it's seen rival Bic achieve near mythic status while Papermate's offerings mostly remained the stuff of the bargain shelf. While the classic Flair felt-tip pens and the Write Bros. stick ballpoints have their fans, it wasn't until the release of the Inkjoy gel pen a couple of years ago that Papermate started to work its way back into the conversation.

Unfortunately the .5mm "fine" tip inkjoy comes in fewer colors than the .7mm version. (Not all available colors are pictured here.)

The Inkjoy's claimed selling points are bright colors and quick dry time. Both deliver, for the most part. These gel pens are among the most vibrant I've used, and you can purchase multi-packs with over a dozen different colors. Since I primarily use my gel pens on cheaper, more absorbent copy paper at work, dry time has never been a big issue for me, but I can verify that the Inkjoy dries quickly, within seconds. I've not found it "instantaneous," as some marketing seems to claim, but it's very good.

The pink, purple, and green Inkjoy gel pens really pop.

The gel Inkjoy is available in two tip sizes: .7mm and .5mm. The .5mm works just fine, but I'd love to see Papermate introduce a .38mm version. They recently introduced the Flair felt tip pen in an "ultra fine" tip size, so I'm hopeful.

I'd prefer a metal clip. The plastic clip reminds me of those disposable Bic mechanical pencils that I used to use in school where it was a given that the clip would break off within a week.

To me, the most surprising aspects of this pen were the comfort and generally strong build quality. The knock has some nice action to it, extending and retracting with a firm click, and the soft barrel is extremely comfortable. Though I've not really put this theory to the test, it seems like the inkjoy should be more durable than some of the clear plastic gel pens that seem to crack/break long before you actually finish the refill. The plastic clip, however, is a bit of a disappointment.

The Inkjoy has good length and is nicely balanced. It's a comfortable pen to use for longer writing/notetaking sessions, and there's a lot of grip area.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The inkjoy represents another good gel pen option, especially if you like colors other than black, blue, and red. Papermate pens are widely stocked in office supply stores, big box stores, grocery stores, drug stores, you name it. I almost always purchase mass-market gel pens like these via Amazon. The .5mm "fine" tip pens come in an 8-pack, while you can get a 13-pack of the .7mm "medium" tip pens.

Note: Papermate also sells a ballpoint version of the Inkjoy. It's a completely different pen that has not garnered great reviews, but I recently went ahead and bought a pack "for science," so stay tuned. If you're out shopping the local office supply store looking for the gel version, be aware!

Also, check out this cool timeline over on the Papermate website, showing some of their flagship product lines dating back to the 1940s. I'd forgotten that many of these pens and pencils even existed!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Pen Review: Conklin Duragraph

February 21, 2018

I've previously only reviewed one Conklin pen - the Mark Twain Crescent Filler - and came away from that review impressed with both the looks and the build quality. While I felt that the sale pricing on that pen was reasonable, especially given the unique design, I wasn't sure that the feature set on the pen (steel nib, so-so trim) justified the standard MSRP of $175. I did enjoy Conklin's steel stub nib option, however, and spent some time looking for that same writing experience in a less pricey package.

Honestly, I probably could have gone without this engraved cap finial on the Duragraph, especially since the pen already has "Conklin" engraved on the cap band. But at the $50 price point, you can't always expect absolute elegance.

I found it, and, more, in the Duragraph. Out of all the modern Conklin designs, the Duragraph is my favorite. Like the Crescent Filler, it features vintage-inspired style (think 1920's "flat-tops" from Parker and Sheaffer), some unique acrylics that you don't typically see on a pen priced this low, and a good nib. The filling system is cartridge/converter, which isn't really a surprise given the pen's $50 price point.

The stainless steel stub nib on the Duragraph is the same nib that was on the Crescent Filler that I tested. It writes well, with no significant skips or hard starts. Like many lower-cost steel stubs, this one doesn't have much tipping material, so some might find it a bit crisp or sharp. The nib writes wet enough that I can still describe it as a smooth writer, it's just that this pen won't be considered a gusher like some gold stubs. That's perfectly fine for me, since this is a nib that I can normally use at work on cheaper paper, especially if I choose the right ink.

This nib provides good line variation. Without much tipping material, the nib will give you a very narrow cross-stroke.

The Duragraph is a moderately sized pen, and I can easily use it unposted. The hourglass-shaped acrylic section provides a comfortable grip. While the pen does technically post, this makes the pen comically long, like a nightstick. Maybe if you have huge hands this would work, but not for me.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

If you like the vintage-inspired designs, Conklin should be a brand on your radar in the $40-75 price bracket. Conklin still has a bit of a bad rap in some circles of the pen community, due to the fact that the quality was "spotty" at best when the brand was first relaunched several years ago. It's now owned and distributed by Yafa, and I understand that respected Italian pen company Stipula manufactures the pens for Conklin, or at least many of the components. The quality and consistency are both much better today.

A close-up shot of the "Cracked Ice" acrylic, which is gorgeous. The Duragraph comes in at least six other variations, including Amber, Forest Green, Ice Blue, Orange Nights (which appears "inspired" by the Delta Dolcevita, R.I.P.), Purple Nights, a… — A close-up shot of the "Cracked Ice" acrylic, which is gorgeous. The Duragraph comes in at least six other variations, including Amber, Forest Green, Ice Blue, Orange Nights (which appears "inspired" by the Delta Dolcevita, R.I.P.), Purple Nights, and an apparently unnamed red and black model.

While the Conklin Duragraph is widely available from most major pen retailers, I purchased this one from our sponsor Pen Chalet, which currently has the Duragraph available for $52 (and sub-$50 with a coupon code). In my opinion, this represents very good value. As I observed with the Crescent Filler, if you're a fan of vintage pen design, but don't want to mess with expensive restoration and/or the finicky nature of vintage filling systems, modern Conklins represent a good compromise without significant financial investment.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review from Pen Chalet with my own funds. I did receive a discount on the purchase. This post contains affiliate links.

The fact that "Lamy" is upside down on the clip sort of epitomizes the problems / odd design choices with this pen.

Pen Review: Lamy Aion

February 17, 2018

Lamy's recently released "Aion" fountain pen is the first pen I've reviewed in a long time that I consider a major disappointment for me. Not because it's necessarily a "bad pen" - it's more that it doesn't live up to the premium price tag and the extreme amount of hype surrounding it.

Let's start with the hype. When Lamy first announced this pen and the initial pictures hit the pen blogs, people disliked the design and were very skeptical that this large, chunky metal pen could (1) be light enough to comfortably use as the sort of daily workhorse for which Lamy is known; and (2) be competitive at the $90 price point. Once the pen arrived in stores, however, some changed their tune. The Aion has received glowing reviews, and I read that someone referred to this pen as a "Lamy 2000 killer." My reaction: "Are you kidding me?"

Three Lamy Pens (from left): the Aion, the Lamy 2000, and the Studio.  Links are to prior reviews I did of the other two pens. — Three Lamy Pens (from left): the Aion, the Lamy 2000, and the Studio. Links are to prior reviews I did of the other two pens.

The Aion's design, in my opinion, falls more in the "big and clumsy" bucket alongside the Lamy Dialog 3. Unlike the Dialog 3, however, the Aion isn't heavy. It's more that the pen is just unwieldy, posted or unposted. If it were just a hair shorter and a touch slimmer, it might be perfect, but I can't get this pen to feel comfortable in my hand.

On a pen, size and weight are purely matters of personal preference. People also have their own design preferences. The major annoyance I have with this pen, however, relates to build quality: the cap spins freely and rattles when the pen is closed. To me, this is a design flaw that makes the Aion feel like a much cheaper, lower-quality pen. The Studio shows that Lamy knows how to make a metal pen with tight tolerances, where the cap snaps closed securely, so I'm not quite sure what's going on here. But I do know that if I'm going to be asked to pay $70-plus for a pen, any sort of rattling or loose fit is unacceptable, especially coming from an established company like Lamy with a long history in manufacturing that presumably knows how to do it right. Three different Aions that I've handled have had the cap-rattle issue. If this is a design choice by Lamy, I consider it a bad one that prevents me from enjoying the Aion as a premium pen.

Note the rounded look on the Aion's stainless steel nib, which many have compared to the nibs on Montblanc's "M" series and "Starwalker" pens.

I agree that the slightly tweaked stainless steel nib looks great and writes well. The clip on the Aion also looks very nice (strange upside-down typography notwithstanding). Overall, however, the fit and finish on this pen are underwhelming, and leaves me with the impression that Lamy went looking for a pen that would be extremely inexpensive to manufacture, but could be sold as an intentionally "minimalist" product at a premium price. I'm all for clean lines, form-follows-function, Bauhaus-style design, but the whole package on the Aion is lackluster.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Lamy set the MSRP on the Aion at $90. Most retailers have it listed at $71, which is the same as the same as the steel-nibbed Studio. In my opinion, the Lamy Studio is a much better pen - it's not even a close call. The Studio is better balanced for comfort, the fit and finish are higher-quality, and you have the option to upgrade to a gold nib. The Aion does sport a matte grip section, which some may prefer over the Studio's polished chrome.

To summarize: I'm not a huge fan of the Aion, but its brutally minimal aesthetic appeals to a lot of people out there. Personally, I think the pen looks unfinished and doesn't feel as high quality as other Lamy pens, especially at this price point. The nib on the Aion, however, is an excellent writer, so there shouldn't be any concerns that you won't get a functioning pen out of the purchase. If you like the Aion, it's widely available from Lamy retailers, including our sponsor Pen Chalet, priced at $71 (and less with applicable discount codes).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

So why is the Lamy 2000 such a great workhorse?

Where To Buy

Further Reading

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Further Reading

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