New Arrivals: Pilot Kakuno "Madoromi" Series Fountain Pens

The Pilot Kakuno fountain pen is loved by fountain pen enthusiasts as a relatively inexpensive, reliable option perfect for both new and experienced users. I’ve always found the Kakuno comfortable to use, and it’s signature nib writes just as you would expect from a Pilot pen! I regularly have new users ask if they need to “upgrade” from their Kakuno to a more expensive pen, and are surprised to learn that I love the Kakuno myself as a great daily driver option - not just as a starter pen for beginners.

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This year, Pilot has released the Kakuno “Madoromi” series, which features five “drowsy” pastel colors inspired by a theme of naps and dreams. These pens are slightly translucent, and come in shades of milky white, blue, grey, and pink, paired with a gold-toned nib. Currently available with either a fine or medium nib. Get yours now, and we have recently restocked on other Pilot offerings including the Pilot Explorer Fountain Pen and the Pilot Prera. Standard Kakuno colors are also available.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Pilot Pens. You can support us by shopping online or visiting us in person at our Nashville location, open Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm and Saturday from 10am-6pm. For extra content and exclusive offers, check out our Patreon program.

My Favorite Fountain Pens for Longer Writing Sessions

I frequently get this question, and it’s one that I feel is important because it touches on one of the key reasons that so many of us get into fountain pens in the first place: They offer a much more comfortable writing experience over longer sessions, whether that means an extended journaling session, drafting a novel, or pulling together a longer professional document like a report or a legal brief. Personally, I think better when I’m working by hand offline, and over the years I’ve explored pretty much all the analog writing techniques out there. A fountain pen and a good writing pad remains my favorite.

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Both of these grips are extremely comfortable for me to use.

What Factors Are Important for Comfortable Long-Form Writing?

If I’m preparing for a longer working session, I’ll consider three main factors when choosing a fountain pen: comfort, ink capacity, and the nib. In terms of comfort, I’m mainly talking about grip and balance. I have to be able to hold the pen easily for a long period of time, which means a comfortably grippy section and a pen barrel that doesn’t feel too weighted towards the front or the back of my hand. In terms of ink capacity, the pen doesn’t necessarily need to hold a ton of ink, but if I’m going away on a writing retreat or work trip I often will choose a piston filler just so I don’t have to worry about refilling (though a Pilot cartridge will last me a VERY long time). Finally, I’ll typically opt for a smooth medium nib, which gives me the least fussy writing experience and lets me “get lost” in whatever project I’m working on.

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The Lamy 2000 (top) next to the Pilot Custom 74.

My Top Three Fountain Pens for Long Writing Sessions in My Personal Collection

• Lamy 2000. Long-time readers of the blog won’t be surprised by my top choice. I tell anyone who will listen that if I had to get rid of all my fountain pens and keep just one, I would probably keep a Lamy 2000 (though depending on the rules I might try to keep multiple Lamy 2000s in different nib sizes). For whatever reason, this pen fits my hand perfectly. I love the lightweight Makrolon (brushed fiberglass composite) construction, which when posted has near perfect balance. And Lamy’s 14k medium nibs are among the best out there, in my opinion.

• Pilot Custom 74. A close second to the Lamy 2000, Pilot’s Custom 74 is my cartridge-converter fountain pen of choice. I actually use refilled Pilot cartridges more often than Pilot converters, given how much ink they hold. The Custom 74 is another one of those pens that seems to mold itself to my grip, to where I can write with this pen for hours with very little hand fatigue.

• Leonardo Momento Zero. The Momento Zero has a similar shape to the Lamy 2000, perhaps slightly larger, and if you prefer an even larger pen you can always opt for the Momento Zero Grande. Personally, the standard size fits my hand better than the Grande. Leonardo mainly uses JoWo nibs, which are reliable, if unspectacular, writers. As I mentioned above, sometimes when you want to get lost in a project, choosing a somewhat boring nib over a temperamental needlepoint or an exotic grind lets you focus more on the project itself than the tool you’re using.

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What About Budget-Friendly Choices?

The three pens I’ve chosen above are big purchases, and those looking to experiment with fountain pens for the first time probably don’t want to splurge on a $200+ gold-nib fountain pen that they don’t necessarily know if they’ll like. Two pens that I’ve used in the past for travel writing (in places I didn’t necessarily want to take an expensive pen) are the ubiquitous TWSBI ECO and the even more inexpensive Pilot Kakuno (complete with smiley-face nib). Despite garnering reputations as “beginner” fountain pens, these are excellent low-cost writing instruments. I consider both well-balanced with reliable nibs.

Conclusions and Further Reading

There’s no real one-size-fits all analysis here. I can offer my recommendations, as I frequently do at shows and in the shop, but choosing a fountain pen that you can write with for long periods of time takes a lot of research and personal experimentation to determine what meets your needs and preferences. One resource you may find helpful is the “Workhorse Pens” series of articles that I’ve written over the years. Do you have a favorite pen for longer writing sessions? Tell us about it in the comments below!

I try to periodically answer questions from readers and customers that frequently appear in my inbox, social media DMs, and customer questions. You’re always welcome to stop by our store and talk to me in person, and I maintain a FAQ (Ask TGS) section on the site. If you enjoy our content, we are supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Pen Review: The 2025 Pilot Prera Revamp

Believe it or not, there is a very popular pen that I’ve never reviewed, and that pen is the Pilot Prera. The Prera has been around for years, and often recommended as a solid “next step” option for those upgrading from a pen like the Pilot Kakuno, Metropolitan, Explorer or other basic “entry level” pen. The $50-75 price range can be pretty sparse, and the Prera has long been one of the stalwarts in this bracket.

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Why have I never reviewed the Prera? Well, for years the Prera was only available to the U.S. market in a clear body style that never appealed to me enough to buy. Since I run a highly curated retail store, I never previously explored carrying the Prera since I tend to focus mostly on pens that strongly appeal to me personally and that I like to recommend. Was this 100% fair to the Prera? Probably not, but in any event, the recent release of four new solid colors (Porcelain White, Honey Yellow, Empress Teal, and Cinnamon Brown) caught my attention and prompted me to reconsider. I’ve been using a yellow Prera nearly exclusively for the past two weeks and I like it.

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The Pilot Prera compared to a Kaweco Sport, Pilot Custom 74, and Tom’s Studio Wren. The Kaweco Sport and the Tom’s Studio Wren are what I would consider true pocket pens, while the Custom 74 is more full-size so you can see how they compare.

So what are my thoughts? For starters, I can see why this pen is popular. Compact fountain pens such as the Kaweco Sport, Sailor Pro Gear Slim, and Pilot E95s are favorites for a reason, in that they “carry small and write big”. While I wouldn’t put the Prera in the “pocket pen” category (it has a friction-fit cap), it’s small enough to be portable, and it would fit nicely with a planner or small organizer. Posted, the Prera is large enough for me to use comfortably for longer writing sessions, and I’ve used it to journal nightly without issue.

Though labeled a medium, the steel Prera nib could best be characterized as a “Fine Medium” nib, IMHO. It’s a perfect width for my own everyday writing.

Pilot’s main draw, in my experience, is the brand’s rock-solid reliability. The stainless steel medium nib on my Prera is a smooth writer and on the fine side for a medium steel nib, which I prefer. While not inexpensive at $64, the Prera does ship with both a cartridge and converter, so you’re able to use both Pilot cartridges and bottled ink out of the box.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Though more expensive than the Metropolitan or Explorer, the Prera offers a more traditional flat-top format somewhat reminiscent of the Sailor Pro Gear or Pro Gear Slim. A reliable writer that will perform as expected, these pens are great for those seeking a fountain pen with a “professional” look, or simply a more compact writing instrument for use on the go. Personally, I think the new colors are outstanding, with Honey Yellow and Empress Teal being my favorites since they remind me of classic vintage pens. Cinnamon Brown is also more of a burgundy than a true brown, and not a color that you typically see from Pilot.

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The Prera is priced at $64 and ships with a squeeze converter included. Currently available with either a fine or medium stainless steel nib, I understand that additional nib options are on the way, including a steel stub/italic that I look forward to trying out once it’s available. For now you can find the new Preras in our own shop, and we may consider adding the clear Prera’s going forward if there is enough interest.

Come see these pens in person! Visit our shop, currently open Thursday and Friday 1-6pm, and Saturdays 10-6pm. Check this page to keep up to date on our current hours, which may change depending on travel schedules during pen show season.

Workhorse Pens: Vanishing Point or Decimo for a Capless Fountain Pen?

A handful of iconic fountain pens appear on everyone’s “you-need-to-try-it-at-least-once” list. The Pilot Vanishing Point is one of those pens. Not only has it been around since the 1960s, making the original design approximately the same vintage as the Lamy 2000, but after all these years it remains the default option for a retractable nib fountain pen.

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I did a review of the Pilot Decimo several years ago, so I won’t go into the nuts-and-bolts details again. I will, however, spend today’s post talking about 5 specific things to understand about the Vanishing Point and Decimo, including what I consider to be key differences between the classic VP and the slimmer Decimo, and how those differences have impacted the pens’ functionality for me over the years. The purpose here isn’t to say that one is better than the other - it’s purely a matter of preference and what will work for you based on how you hold and intend to use the pen. Both pens are the same price, after all, so it’s not a question of saving money by going for one as opposed to the other.

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No, this “Harvest Green/Yellow” color isn’t available anymore. And no, my pen is not for sale. :)

Vanishing Point vs. Decimo: 5 Considerations

• Both Pens Use the Same Nib, Cartridge, and Converter. Since the Pilot Vanishing Point and the Pilot Decimo use the same nib units, ink cartridge, and converter system, you can experiment with both pens without worrying that your parts and accessories will only fit one or the other. This also means that you can easily move nib units between pens, and purchase additional nib units for more versatility without accumulating additional pens that you won’t use. As an aside, you can check out this short video showing how to install a cartridge in both pens. (They work the same way.)

• The Decimo is Slimmer. The Decimo is lighter weight and slimmer than the Vanishing Point, which means that it will fit many people’s hands better. This is purely a matter of personal preference, since the pens otherwise function in the same manner and use identical components, as noted above.

• Both Pens Feature the Same Clip (But Consider…). One “controversial” aspect of both the Pilot Vanishing Point and Decimo is the clip placement. The clip necessarily has to sit on the nib end, since the pen must be carried nib-up, but some find that it interferes with their grip due to finger placement. This is yet another matter of personal preference, but I tend to find the Decimo more comfortable because the slimmer barrel alters how the clip fits in my grip. (And, yes, you can remove the clip entirely, but understand that it will void your warranty.)

• The Decimo Fits More “Pen Loops,” Including on Plotters. One reason I absolutely love the Decimo is that it fits my Plotter pen loop and in most other planners. The extra-fine nib writes well on most papers, regardless of quality. This makes it a perfect “planner pen” for me.

• The Vanishing Point Comes in a Wider Range of Colors. If you’re looking for matte black trim or the iridescent “carbonesque” finishes, you’ll be limited to the Vanishing Point model. That said, Pilot periodically releases Japan-only Decimos in gradients and other unique finishes, though you may have to pay a premium.

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A comparison between Vanishing Point/Decimo nibs (top) and the E95s nib (bottom).

TLDR Version: Pilot’s retractable nib Vanishing Point and Decimo Capless fountain pens are the best version of the “Retractable Nib Fountain Pens” product segment. Over the years, I’ve gravitated towards the Decimo, since a slimmer pen better fits how I use retractable fountain pens, but I do own and use both. As you can see from the photos, I’m also experimenting with the E95s, which is not retractable but highly portable, and which also features an excellent inlaid nib that’s the spiritual successor to the Pilot Myu.

We currently carry select models of the Pilot Vanishing Point (Matte-Black Trim and Carbonesque) and Decimo, with most nib sizes available in pens and as separate nib units. If you enjoy our content, we are entirely self-supported through our online shop and physical store, as well as the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Yes, Micarta for me! I finally got my hands on Some Micarta Pens, Plus My Own Special Edition

So right off the bat, for those who may not have been with me back in 2015, the title of today’s post is a throwback reference to my one guest appearance on Episode #161 of the Pen Addict: No Micarta for You, in which I lamented my inability to get my hands on one of the rare TWSBI Micarta pens. Though I haven’t listened to this episode in a while, it offers some insight into the origins of T.G.S., how it began, and how my interests have evolved over time. And, no, I never did get my hands on one of the TWSBI Micarta pens, from either of the two releases, but I may have something better to discuss today: More micarta!

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A Leonardo Momento Zero fountain pen in brown canvas Micarta, which was an exclusive to Stilo e Stile and is no longer available, unfortunately.

What the heck is “micarta”, and why do people like it?

Micarta is a lightweight, durable material used to make anything from pool cues to guitar nuts to knife handles, in addition to smaller “everyday carry” items such as pens. Micarta’s cloth-like texture is due to the fact that it’s actually made by compressing fiber (cloth, canvas, paper), infusing it with resin and curing it under heat and pressure into blocks or rods that can be machined. The resulting material lends a tactile feel to fountain pens and will patina nicely over time. (Especially if you don’t baby it and worry about ink splatters.) In the decade since the Pen Addict podcast episode was originally recorded, I’ve accumulated a few different “micarta” fountain pens, as well as handful of other micarta products such as pocket knives.

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Two fountain pens made of canvas micarta: A Skogsy pen (top) and the Leonardo. Note that the Leonardo paired metal threads with a plastic-lined inner cap for increased durability, though I’ve not had issues with the Skogsy threads wearing and they remain functional two years in.

A note on terminology: Micarta has been around for a century or more. When capitalized, “Micarta” typically refers to the trade name of the original product. The lower-case “micarta” more generally refers to the broader category of resin-infused fabric materials that share the same general properties but each of which may have its own unique look and feel. I enjoy micarta in the same way I enjoy other tactile materials such as waxed canvas and wood. As the products age, they will take on their own character, and generally will darken due to exposure to things like ink and hand oil. Because micarta is durable, it’s unlikely to break, though you may get some stray threads and minor fraying over time. All of my personal pens shown here have held up well.

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Another shot of my Skogsy Cholla in black canvas Micarta. If you look hard enough, you will see that the section and cap have an awesome greenish hue (due to me filling them with green ink). :)

Despite its popularity, micarta pens still remain relatively uncommon. Because the material can be hard on tooling and difficult to work with, some penmakers can’t or won’t use it, and the pens end up being relatively expensive as a result. Also, as I referenced above, because it’s a fiber-based material, micarta can absorb ink if you dip the section into an ink bottle or have a spill/inksplosion into the cap. This tendency to “stain” drives away some consumers, but I personally think of it as more of a feature. I dip my micarta pens into ink bottles all the time (especially the black ones), and over time the pens develop a unique patina as a result. If you’re someone who loves the look of aged/worn leather or canvas, consider adding a micarta pen to your collection.

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No matter how careful you are, you will get a drop of ink somewhere on the pen. This red splotch was either transfer from my desk or the result of posting the pen.

Where can you get micarta pens today?

While the TWSBI Micarta was a bit of a unicorn at the time, as more penmakers gain familiarity with the material, you have started to see micarta pens released in small batches by smaller specialty makers. Leonardo did the micarta Momento Zero collaboration with Italian retailer Stilo e Stile, and Skogsy Pens and Hinze Pens actually sub-specialize in micarta pens (though you may have to visit a pen show to get the best ones). In addition to traditional “canvas micarta”, suppliers such as CrazyFiber are now making micarta-style materials in a variety of colors and even some wild patterns. I have three micarta fountain pens in my collection: a Skogsy Cholla in black canvas micarta, one of the Leonardos, and two Hinze Taschenstift prototypes from the development of our latest exclusive release.

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A better shot of the green-toned section on my black Skogsy.

to Conclude, a Shamless Plug for the latest TGS x Hinze RElease

Given my history, I felt like I had to do a micarta pen as one of our special editions. For our latest collaboration, we worked with Hinze Pens on a pocket-sized fountain pen in a dark purple and black CrazyFiber material they call “Violet Tendencies.” This particular design features a cap that friction-posts, as opposed to the threaded barrel that Hinze typically uses. In my experience, CrazyFiber isn’t quite as absorbent as the canvas-style micarta, but given that this pen includes a metal section, those of you who might be squeamish about staining your pens won’t have to worry about this one. Especially if you use purple ink. I hope to do more with micarta in the future, including adding some full-sized pens to the shop.

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We went all-in on the purple as something different. Believe me, it’s purple.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also swing by our brick and mortar location and see this pen and more in person!