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Best Pens for 2024: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

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Re: Best Pens for 2024: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#61

Post by vel0city »

charcircuit wrote: post #56
vel0city wrote: post #44

I really wanted to get into fountain pens a while ago. I bought several different ones over the years and ultimately had roughly the same experience. In the end I didn't find them great for me, being a lefty in a right-to-left writing world. The main benefits of the fountain pen feel is when you're able to just lightly drag the pen across the paper, its nearly effortless to put down a good line. However, being a left…

If you think it's painful, why not write with your right hand instead? Just because you are a lefty that doesn't mean you have to artificially limit yourself into doing things a painful way.

Because writing with my right hand is even more painful. Trust me, if writing with my right hand was a pleasant experience, I'd do it in a heartbeat. This isn't just some "I identify as a lefty; therefore, I do things left-handed" kind of thing. In fact, most other activities I do, I do right-handed.

Swing a bat/club? Right-handed. Throw a ball? Right-handed. Use a computer mouse? Right-handed. Shoot a rifle? Right-handed. Write a note? Left-handed. Paint a picture? Left-handed.

Re: Best Pens for 2024: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#63

Post by rntz »

charcircuit wrote: post #56
vel0city wrote: post #44

I really wanted to get into fountain pens a while ago. I bought several different ones over the years and ultimately had roughly the same experience. In the end I didn't find them great for me, being a lefty in a right-to-left writing world. The main benefits of the fountain pen feel is when you're able to just lightly drag the pen across the paper, its nearly effortless to put down a good line. However, being a left…

If you think it's painful, why not write with your right hand instead? Just because you are a lefty that doesn't mean you have to artificially limit yourself into doing things a painful way.

Have you tried writing with your non-dominant hand? I'm a righty and I find left-handed writing effectively impossible.

Re: Best Pens for 2024: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#65

Post by delecti »

charcircuit wrote: post #56
vel0city wrote: post #44

I really wanted to get into fountain pens a while ago. I bought several different ones over the years and ultimately had roughly the same experience. In the end I didn't find them great for me, being a lefty in a right-to-left writing world. The main benefits of the fountain pen feel is when you're able to just lightly drag the pen across the paper, its nearly effortless to put down a good line. However, being a left…

If you think it's painful, why not write with your right hand instead? Just because you are a lefty that doesn't mean you have to artificially limit yourself into doing things a painful way.

I doubt they mean literal pain. Writing with your non-dominant hand is an exercise in frustration and futility unless you're really dedicated to it. I find the inability to make my hand do what I'm thinking very stressful.

Re: Best Pens for 2024: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#66

Post by Pat_Murph »

Started using fountain pens a few years back. Started with thr Lamy Safari, a really great pen for the price. Then I got the TWSBI Eco and it's the only one I use now. Great ink capacity and the writing is Nice and smooth. For the price. It's really hard to beat.

Re: Best Pens for 2024: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#67

Post by chrismartin »

For those asking "why handwriting in 2024?", the paper has no notifications or web browser to distract you. It's just your own thoughts on the page. Being more effortful than typing, information becomes more disfluent, which helps you reason about and retain it. I find it a great tool for planning, consideration, and reflection.

I find Jetstream ink to be the nicest for everyday writing. Like gel ink, it's very low-drag (so your hand doesn't fatigue), but unlike gel ink, it doesn't smear on your hand, and is waterproof. These days I use a SXE3-507, with multiple colors for annotating previous writing (or marking up a book).

I use Kokuyo Soft Ring notebooks with dotted rule pages. It looks like regular lined paper, but the lines have subtle dots that you can use like graph paper, so it's easy to make diagrams and tables.

When I fill up a notebook, I scan it. This way I only need to carry one notebook around, but all my old notebooks are accessible digitally.

If you get the chance, visit a Mai Do (in SF, San Jose, and Costa Mesa). There's no substitute for trying out everything Japan has to offer.

Re: Best Pens for 2024: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#68

Post by kloch »

Today I prefer the Pilot G-2 0.7mm. The construction is plastic but decent quality for a disposable pen. The clicker and screw joint have excellent fidget properties. The ergonomics are good except for the injection nub on the rubber grip, and the ink is the best I've found in a cheap disposable today.

In the 1980's I preferred Uniball pens. Back then they had unreasonably high construction quality for a disposable pen with precision fitting parts and a stainless steel clip. The roller and ink were also very high end for a disposable of the time. Unfortunately it doesn't look like they build them like that anymore.

Re: Best Pens for 2024: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#69

Post by brandall10 »

vel0city wrote: post #44

I really wanted to get into fountain pens a while ago. I bought several different ones over the years and ultimately had roughly the same experience. In the end I didn't find them great for me, being a lefty in a right-to-left writing world. The main benefits of the fountain pen feel is when you're able to just lightly drag the pen across the paper, its nearly effortless to put down a good line. However, being a left…

As a lefty who used a Lamy 2000 fine nib for years, it really comes down to adjusting pressure... and of course a quick drying ink.

Once you get it down it's no different than using a fine rollerball.

Re: Best Pens for 2024: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#70

Post by ncrmro »

Pat_Murph wrote: post #66

Started using fountain pens a few years back. Started with thr Lamy Safari, a really great pen for the price. Then I got the TWSBI Eco and it's the only one I use now. Great ink capacity and the writing is Nice and smooth. For the price. It's really hard to beat.

I second the TWSBI though I had a crack that I’m not sure I made and the replacement wasn’t flowing but the third has been amazing! Dromgoolies pen shop here in Houston replaced no questions asked both times
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