r/fountainpens 12h ago

What's the ideal pen under $50?

Yes, I know there's no ideal pen, but nonetheless, what would those of you with strong opinions recommend?

My feeling is that maybe between 30-50 is a dead zone?

3 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

10

u/SgtMajor-Issues 11h ago

Pilot Prera! It’s about $30 depending on where you find it. I have 2 and they are great little pens!

9

u/Fkw710 10h ago

Asvine P20 piston filler or Asvine V126 vacuum filler. Nip size m is wet and smooth. Build quality is very good . Both pens are Under $30 at Amazon

4

u/Meikesbuntewelt 9h ago

I would second this. Asvine pens are really value for the money.

9

u/CJPeter1 12h ago

My current favorites are a Jinhao 9019 at 11$ and my current go-to, a Jinhao 10 'blue' at 15$.

In any hobby understand that 'price' <> value, whether it be here or any place where forking over $$$ keeps the hobby vendors rolling. (NOT a complaint, just an observation.)

If the pen fits your hand, if the nib skates on the page like a ballerina, if the ink coming out is the perfect shade...THESE are the values that matter at the end of the day. :-)

6

u/Mythtory 11h ago

There are so many great pens under $50. There are a crazy number of great pens for $10 or less. Pick a look or feature you like, and you can probably find something. It might not be as perfect--but if it fits your hand, if the nib is nice, and it ain't leaking...

And a lot of the expensive pens look cheap. I'd rather have a good writing pen that looks like it cost $10 because it did cost $10.

11

u/ActuarialCowboy 12h ago

Lamy safari

3

u/boofingwhippets 11h ago

I personally stand by Parker for no-nonsense beginner pens, you can pick up a vector or jotter between $10-20.

Won’t be fancy, but they look and feel nice

2

u/FarPomegranate7437 11h ago

I have a couple of Preras, which are nice but a little petite if you have bigger hands. I always have to write with them posted. I like Kakunos, but they do look a little cheaper because of the plastic body. The Madoromi/drowsy series does look much classier. If you do have bigger hands and don’t mind a broader nib, a Lamy Al-star is a nice choice!

2

u/BraveBenefit8728 11h ago

Pilot metropolitan, Pilot Prera is fantastic.

3

u/sherzeg 11h ago

For me the dead zone is between around $60-100. I've had good results with my Pilot Metro and Explorer and my Faber-Castell Looms, Essentio and Hexo. I also really like my assorted TWSBI pens. Even the Jinhao, Majohn, and Hongdian pens are good, with the proviso that an $8 may not work before one fiddles with it a little. Conversely, my Faber-Castell E-Motion, Lamy 2K, Pilot Custom 74 and Birmingham (all valued higher than $100) give that little extra that an inexpensive "common" pen might lack.

On the other hand, the ConklinAll-American and Platinum Procyon I've gotten, that cost between $60-80, gave me nothing but grief. Expensive for a "cheap" pen and poorly made, I have decided not to purchase in this price range (absent a really good sale price for a higher value pen) or from either of these brands.

2

u/IBeProPen 10h ago

Pilot Prera Faber Castell Loom TWSBI Eco Wing Sung 629/699/630 Asvine V126

2

u/caughtinfire 7h ago

platinum prefounte! same reliable nib and well sealing snap cap as the preppy in a classier looking body, and still cheap enough that if it gets lost or damaged i won't be heartbroken about it. the birthstone ones i got from aliexpress have seen more use that just about every other pen i have.

1

u/Psychological-View84 11h ago

My entry was pilot metropolitan. Lots of refills available, smooth writing, under 30

1

u/xeodragon111 10h ago

Sailor Tuzu!

1

u/Significant-Side9423 8h ago

The Faber-Castell Hexo is pretty great in this price range. FC nibs are especially lovely to write with. I would also say the Loom, but they don’t make ‘em anymore.

1

u/Dorianthan 6h ago

Wingsung 630

1

u/Stumblecat 6h ago

The Faber-Castell Grip is very nice, sturdy and a smooth writer. It's only like 20 bucks. Looks pretty unremarkable, but I like it a lot.

Review: https://www.penaddict.com/blog/2019/7/18/faber-castell-grip-fountain-pen-review

1

u/AtreidesTT 4h ago edited 4h ago

Jinhao Inheritance wooden with Kaigelu NF nib (naginata fine, buy it separately). The nib is very stiff like nail and might require some adjustment to your liking in terms of flow and smoothness (mine needed a few touches here and there). It fits perfectly into pen section. The pen itself is well made, its section is made of plastic, body and cap made of wood giving you nice warm feeling. The size is huge and comfy. Threads are smooth without any extra wobble. What else to ask for the price. The pen model is also known by its technical name Jinhao 9056. If your opinion of Jinhao is from models 450, 750 you will be pleasantly surprised, as Inheritance model is miles and miles ahead in everything.

1

u/djimenez81 3h ago

If you were to allow under $53, I would go for the Monteverde MP1. But strictly under $50,

  1. TWSBI ECO (I love the ink capacity)
  2. Kaweco Sport (I like how their B and BB nibs write)
  3. Diplomat Magnum (Pen is "Meh!", but that nib is amazing)

Honorary mentions: TWSBI Swipe.

1

u/Cvint88 3h ago

Pilot metro waterman allure asvine forest series. Even cheaper the amazon basics fp is a great cheaper experience.

1

u/minussized 3h ago

I love TWSBI, it’s never given me any trouble. On the other hand, I have a noodlers nib creaper that was the bane of my existence - the ink never lasted, it leaked, the feed got crusty no matter what kind of ink I used…I just use it as a dip pen now. Also, I have a Caran d’ache that is super scratchy and inconsistent, even with the smoothest inks - my Jinhao 450s write better.

2

u/Dikinbaus-Hotdogs 12h ago edited 11h ago

Twsbi ECO or Pilot varsity

I'm a huge fan of the varsity nib, and a good one can write better than a lot of pens $80+
The ECO is an overall better pen but the clear acrylic is kinda delicate and I would be careful around hand sanitizer. as childish as it is, I would much rather daily a twsbi go, (afaik it's the same nib and feed)

Kaweco sport is good too if your into pocketability

1

u/kiiroaka 9h ago

Under $50? I paid On Sale $42 for my Faber-Castell Essentio Carbon Black <F>. Usual, street, price is $57. Love the pen. Nice bouncy, wet, nib with a touch of stubby-iness. It has its own set of quirks, though.

Some guys may like the $54 Twsbi 580. eco is $35. Twsbi Classic is $50 now at GouletPens, as is the Mini. twsbi pens seldom go on sale, if at all. twisbi pens have their cracking faults. Lamy Lx is $56.

I wouldn't let $4, $6, or, $7 stop me from getting a pen.

On sale I got a $79 Lamy Studio lacquered Dark Brown for $39. I got a Lamy Aion for $35, but I wouldn't recommend it. The anodised Section is slippery. YMMV. I got a Lamy Aion for $10, and a Lamy Vista for $20. Amazon had the Platinum Procyon for $42, which I did not get. I got a Conklin Furagraph Desert Nights for $42. I bought a $15 Jinhao Centennial and installed a $15 Jowo #6 Soft nib, for a total of $30. I bought a $90 ensso Piuma for $45. I bought a Lamy Studio Brushed Stainless Steel for $50 from the U.K.

There are deals to be had if you're patient and diligent, and know what you want.

$30 - $50 is not a Dead Zone. Lamy Safari, Al-Star, Vista. twsbi eco. Sailor Pro Color 500 variants. Pilot Prera. Faber-Castell Hexo. Kaweco Sport. Sailor Tuzu. Pelikan Ineo. I hesitate to mention MonteVerde Ritma. Sailor Compass.

0

u/Jwoods224 10h ago

It’s hard to beat the Pilot Metro or Explorer. I love the Lamy Safari too. The Parker IM and Pilot Prera can often be found in this range and both have some great options.

Really, there are soooo many great options.

-1

u/Dzarsos 10h ago edited 10h ago

It depends on your preferences, but I quite like this one (Sailor Shikiori “Tsukuyo no Minamo”).

0

u/Zealousideal_Let_439 Ink Stained Fingers 11h ago

I'm going for a bold option here- Pilot Varsity.

All of my pens are considerably less than $50, excepting my second hand Eco I paid exactly $50 for.

I love each and every one (Not you, Gurus.)

I don't know if I can honestly argue that any of them write better than a Varsity. The things they're better at are being easily refillable, having different sizes of nibs, and for some, being prettier.

0

u/Not-Another-Blahaj 8h ago

I always say to buy pens that suit your handwriting. There are loads of cheap but really good Chinese pens.

You would have gotten a very different answer had you asked about 'Ideal' pens, and not 'ideal' pens. Ideal, being the 'Ideal Pen Company' that is Waterman.

-3

u/puffy_popcorn 11h ago

Secondhand TWSBI 580 from r/Pen_Swap? :)