By far, the most common question I receive through the website and via social media DMs is "I want to buy my first nice pen. What kind of pen should I buy?" It's also one of the most difficult question to answer, because it depends on so many variables: personal aesthetic preferences, how you plan to use the pen, and of course, your budget. I firmly believe that if you're going to buy a pen that you will use everyday, it's worth it to take some time, carefully consider the purchase, and spend what you need (and can comfortably afford) to get the right tool that actually works for you. Don't set your heart on an expensive fountain pen simply because other people think fountain pens are the only option for "real" pen enthusiasts. For many people, ballpoints, rollerballs, and gel pens are infinitely more practical solutions, and you can find great pens of all types at every price point.
When considering a purchase, I'd encourage you to ask yourself the following questions. If you choose wisely, you'll get years of enjoyment from your new companion.
What Type of Writing Do You Do?
Are you writing mostly at a desk, where ink can take time to dry and things like water resistance are less important? If so, you probably have a lot of flexibility. Or do you spend your days "in the field," jotting down notes in a pocket notebooks or otherwise writing while standing up? Then it might be hard for you to use a fountain pen, especially one that you have to cap/uncap one-handed while simultaneously holding a notebook or a clipboard. When I'm away from my desk, I find myself reaching more and more for a ballpoint pen, gel pen, or a woodcase pencil, which are not only easier to deploy but also withstand things like rain and coffee rings.
Are You Right or Left Handed?
For lefties, choosing the proper pen can be tricky, depending on how you hold the pen and whether you tend to smudge ink that doesn't dry quickly enough. Many fountain pen inks can take as long as a minute to dry, and even more if you use slick paper. I'm right-handed, but the other two members of my household are southpaws. One is an "underwriter" who can use pretty much any pen comfortably, including fountain pens. The other can't, and sticks to ballpoints and quick-drying gel pens. For lefty-related questions, I would refer you to Ana over at the Well-Appointed Desk, who has published a wealth of helpful information on considerations for left-handed writers.
Do You Have a Favorite Type of Paper?
Some people absolutely love Field Notes, Moleskines, composition books, and yellow legal pads, or want the flexibility of being able to use whatever their office stocks in the supply closet or printer. The problem is, most fountain pens and many rollerballs tend to feather and bleed through most thin or inexpensive paper, leaving you with ballpoint, gel pens, or even pencil as your most plausible "cheap paper" options.
Writing with a fountain pen or rollerball will likely force you to more carefully consider your paper choices. Clairefontaine, Rhodia, Leuchtturm, and house favorite Write Notepads all make excellent and more widely available paper that handles water-based ink quite well, but the paper may be more expensive than what you are used to. If you churn through lots of notebooks or legal pads, this is something to keep in mind.
For additional guidance on all things paper, check out my recent five part series, "The Best Paper for Everyday Writing," in which I discuss Hardcover Notebooks (Part I), Softcover Notebooks (Part II), Spiral Notebooks (Part III), Pocket Notebooks (Part IV), and other things like pads, notecards, and looseleaf paper (Part V).
A fountain pen requires more cleaning and maintenance than a rollerball, ballpoint, or gel pen, but would you really miss out on the hundreds of colors offered by brands like Diamine?
Is "Low Maintenance" Important to You? How Do You Feel About Filling a Pen from an Ink Bottle?
It doesn't get much easier than popping a new refill into a ballpoint, rollerball, or gel pen once the old one runs out of ink. If you value convenience and refill availability above all else, these are obvious choices. The downside is that you miss out on the range of colors available to fountain pen users, especially those willing to fill from an ink bottle! Sure, ink can make a mess, and I've stained my share of clothes, carpet, and desktops, but there's something timeless and almost meditative about taking the time to clean and re-ink a fountain pen that I would never give up.
Are You Prone to Losing Things?
If so, consider a nicer "disposable" pen, or, if you want to keep pens out of the landfill, an inexpensive pen that still gives you the option of refilling. Platinum's "Preppy" fountain pen is a serviceable writer that costs less than $5 and uses Platinum ink cartridges. Similarly, the Pokka Pen ballpoint was conceived after the owner tired of losing expensive Fisher Space Pen "bullet" pens. You get the same compact functionality in a disposable pen that can still be refilled if you wish. Personally, I don't worry too much about losing my nicer pens. I've always found that if I spend at least a little more money I'm more conscientious about the purchase and less likely to misplace or damage it. I've been in the pen hobby for nearly 10 years, using a LOT of pens, and I think the value of pens I've lost over that time is well under $100.
The Lamy Safari ballpoint offers an excellent (and versatile) writing experience that you can find for less than $20.
What’s Your Budget?
Of all the considerations on this list, price is the least important. Excellent pens exist at every price point, and just because you might have less than $20 to spend doesn't preclude you from getting a good pen that meets your needs, especially if you're willing to consider a ballpoint. I recently reviewed the Lamy Safari ballpoint, and Fisher Space Pen makes a wide range of products to hold their excellent pressurized refills. What I would encourage, however, is to spend as much as you can comfortably afford to get a pen that actually meets your needs. Chances are, you'll be happier with the purchase and won't be as tempted to "try more pens" to find something better.
I maintain a list of "Best Pen" recommendations that I update annually, with pen recommendations at a variety of price points. Also, TGS has more than four years of archived content, including reviews, lists, and guides focused pens and stationery for all budgets.
I hope you've enjoyed this article. If you have further questions about a pen you're considering, please don't hesitate to drop a question in the comments, using the "Contact Me" link, or directly emailing me at joe(at)gentlemanstationer.com. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: Please be advised that many of the links to purchasing options here and elsewhere on the site are to paid sponsors and affiliates, and in certain cases my own Curated Shop, which is how I support the site and keep things running.
