Live data from Hacker News

The Best Pens for 2023: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

jetpens.com

81–90 of 202 posts

Re: The Best Pens for 2023: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#81

For most of us the best pen is the one that is functional and within reach when we need it. Everything else is just for fun or for show. It's nice to know what artists and people who regularly spend hours writing things out by hand think about specific brands/models, but I can't justify the expense of getting anything too fancy when I can go many many months without even touching a pen or a pencil and none of them ar…

And honestly some of the expensive pens don't write that well. I was given a Waterman pen and its ink cartridge was crap until I replaced it with a compatible cartridge from a cheap gel pen. And it still pretty much sits in a pen holder on my desk because the gel pens I like are lighter and cheap.

I mostly go with the Uniball Signos at this point. Though based on the article I should probably investigate more of the variants.

Re: The Best Pens for 2023: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#83

I spend way more money on jetpens's selection of notebooks than pens though. Also, I tend to prefer pencil, and will recommend the Pentel Kerry. --------- I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The future of online stores is jetpens and websites like it. Jetpens is useful because I trust their reviews. They're a store, yes, but more importantly, they're a trustworthy source of information. Amazon reviews are no…

When I was a student I think I read online that (for water based inks) laser printer paper works well and better than a lot of notebook paper. I think something about feathering or drying time but I don’t really remember. I’m not sure how true it was and I preferred having loose leaf paper with no lines so I was pretty happy feeling like I was getting well suited paper on the cheap.

Printer paper does work great. It's designed to be disposable, though, so the lightest weight will buckle under heavy ink, and it also yellows and fades more easily than "archival" papers designed for art.

The simplest kind of sketchbook I would make is a manila file cover for printer paper, bound by a binder clip. The manila is stiff enough to add some protection, and the clip makes it rigid.

Re: The Best Pens for 2023: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#84
I love these pens, but my hobby lately has been pen turning. Here's a pen just finished today: https://ibb.co/59bhKP7

I'd love a source of reviews like this for the refills. This pen takes a Parker style refill (Cross is another common refill style), and the ones that come with the kit doesn't last long anyway. So a nice source of reviews for the inserts would be really valuable.

Re: The Best Pens for 2023: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#85
post #71

If anyone from JetPens is reading this(?) - would love to hear about the effects of this article ending up on HN today. Why? Because I'm about to drop ~$40 on pens as a result of the post, and discussion here. Echoing other people's sentiments here - love the site, love the density, love the niche'ness, love the information.

My unsolicited advice to JetPens owner: This is the first time I've ever seen the Jetpens site, and it's amazing. The guides are great, and I instantly trust the advice.

I have a $100 cart though, and I'm not going to checkout because there is no Apple Pay or Shop Pay or Amazon Pay option. Sorry I'm too lazy to add my data to yet another e-com site!

Re: The Best Pens for 2023: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#87

I spend way more money on jetpens's selection of notebooks than pens though. Also, I tend to prefer pencil, and will recommend the Pentel Kerry. --------- I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The future of online stores is jetpens and websites like it. Jetpens is useful because I trust their reviews. They're a store, yes, but more importantly, they're a trustworthy source of information. Amazon reviews are no…

When I was a student I think I read online that (for water based inks) laser printer paper works well and better than a lot of notebook paper. I think something about feathering or drying time but I don’t really remember. I’m not sure how true it was and I preferred having loose leaf paper with no lines so I was pretty happy feeling like I was getting well suited paper on the cheap.

Laser printer paper varies widely in quality. Most of the ones I've used have a lot of feathering. I have had good experiences with the Target brand papers.

Re: The Best Pens for 2023: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#88
post #54

I spend way more money on jetpens's selection of notebooks than pens though. Also, I tend to prefer pencil, and will recommend the Pentel Kerry. --------- I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The future of online stores is jetpens and websites like it. Jetpens is useful because I trust their reviews. They're a store, yes, but more importantly, they're a trustworthy source of information. Amazon reviews are no…

How many people read the reviews on Jetpens and then buy the pen from Amazon though. Obviously not so many to put them out of business, but that's always the danger.

I bought my first fountain pen on Amazon (didn't know about Jetpens/Goulet/others).

My second pen (Jinhao) - I think I got it from eBay.

I suspect my next pen was also from Amazon.

After that, though, all my pens came from niche stores. A number of PenBBS pens directly from the maker, etc.

I just compared one of the pens I bought: Amazon is not cheaper than Jetpens.

Re: The Best Pens for 2023: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#89
post #71

If anyone from JetPens is reading this(?) - would love to hear about the effects of this article ending up on HN today. Why? Because I'm about to drop ~$40 on pens as a result of the post, and discussion here. Echoing other people's sentiments here - love the site, love the density, love the niche'ness, love the information.

My unsolicited advice to JetPens owner: This is the first time I've ever seen the Jetpens site, and it's amazing. The guides are great, and I instantly trust the advice. I have a $100 cart though, and I'm not going to checkout because there is no Apple Pay or Shop Pay or Amazon Pay option. Sorry I'm too lazy to add my data to yet another e-com site!

I get it, but just do it.

Re: The Best Pens for 2023: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens

#90

I bought the TWISBI ECO on a lark. I was hesitant because I already had the GO and the ECO was just more expensive. Well boy-howdy is the ECO not only leagues better than the GO, but I much prefer to all my other pens. Folks recommend the really cheap platinum preppy pens, but be warned they are super scratchy. I would go a size up from what you normally prefer wrt to nib (if you are new, try M as F and EF are extrem…

I started with a Metropolitan and then bought the Eco as an upgrade. Returned the Eco - too scratchy for me.

The Metropolitan was my favorite until I got a PenBBS and custom nib for it.

Post reply on HN