What if I could only keep one pen?

Today, we're going to take a look at my pen collection, and ask one of the hardest questions of all: What if I could only keep one?

[seafgreen]

I have a Parker jotter, I bought almost 20 years ago. Had it all through high school, and used it in my trucking career for logs and bills of lading and what not. Carried it in all 48 continental states, in the log woods driving log truck. In the oil fields hauling frac sand. I bought 4 refills the same day I got the pen, I still have 1 left unopened. Clicker still works like it did on day 1.

[gryphingeer]

You can kind of see his reflection
Edit: he is wearing a batman mask I’m dead

[hehoff]

I constantly mock my wife's obsession with office supplies. You must never tell her I watched this.

[Polyfusia]

I drilled a whole in a jagged rock and put a Fisher cartridge in it. Best EDC.

[thestig]

I carry the "bullet" style space pen every day. It never gets in my way and it always works when I need it.

[fxrober]

I tried the Parker Jotter based on your comments, and it does everything I need. There may well be more satisfying and/or durable pens out there, but I don't need to get into pens!
Your complete reviews and takedown videos are great, but I really love the 'philosophical' videos, either collection overviews like this and even more the videos like your recent 'Icarus gear' reflections. Thanks for all you do, Dr. Nick.

[HUGOTHT]

I longer I have my Machine-era classic, the more I love its feeling in my hand.
The weight and the balance are just right, It has so much fun to fidget with it and spin it nonstop, Now I love to carry it and write with it more than my Tactile turn.

[DieYuppieScum]

Highly recommend Energel refills over the G2 for an inexpensive refill. Comparable smoothness without all of the smudging and messiness.

[Discodave]

I love my Machine Era Classic for all the same reasons. I love the feeling in the hand and writes really well. I also love the fact that feels like it will last forever.

[MrMikebarrie]

“Parka Charter” cracked me up WAY more than it should have.

[ssvs]

Without a clip that would not be my choice

[Smallfih]

For me a Bigidesign pocket pro in solid brass. It’s a lovely weight and is compatible with almost all the refills I like. From what I’ve been told it can use up to 100 refills, not that I use more than about 6. It comes with some spare parts and a lifetime guarantee.

[captainsewerrat]

Nick, you should consider doing a "What if I could only make/upload one more video?" a more philosophical video where you contemplate what topic you might want to cover, if it should be a review for traditions sake, or something like the billionaire credit card video, or a last message to your viewers? I think it could be an interesting video to make.

[petermitchell]

I’d definitely want a metal pen with as few mechanisms as possible that could break. Also a metal that won’t corrode easily. A titanium version of that machine era pen would be cool, if it fit a variety of refills. In the military, there are a lot of jobs for which an all weather refill is more than a gimmick.

[mattfisher]

Bullet Fisher Space pen in blue ink. Writes great on those waxy receipts and easy to carry for under $20.

[Lack_of_response]

the darriel caston rocket pen for me. all titanium, few parts, fits widely available refills, oval cross-section stops it from rolling away, nice bolt action.

[Yoruichi__Shihouin]

Buy a Big Idea Design pen. Dang things can take almost any refill. The newest ones even transform into a fountain pen.

[amoledzeppelin]

I have two Parkers, two "tactical" pens that take ISO standard G2 refills, and ~15 disposables including two Aihao rollers and oil-based semi-gels like Aihao Zentel or Axent Reporter (technically not a disposable, but good luck finding the exact same refills for it). I decided that if I move away, I only take these Parkers and the Nitecore NTP21. But... If I had to only keep one pen, it would depend on the environment I'd live in. In an urban environment, it would be the current-gen Parker Jotter SS BP. Because compact and reliable while not looking as intimidating as "tactical" pens, and also because ISO G2 (not to be confused with Pilot G2) refills FTW (which refills exactly I'd use for it, is another story). In a rural environment though, it would be... Parker Jotter CT (or SS, or even GT) FP F with a compatible converter. Because then I'd be able to make my own ink for it and not depend on disposable refills, its F nib writes exactly as I'd expect it to write to replace my seemingly neverending one-time Aihao rollerball pen, and it's not much larger than its ballpoint counterpart.
Neither of them, by the way, features a screw-on cap, so they both are quicker to deploy than your pen of choice. And than the NTP21 too.

[standardaccount]

What if Nick could only keep one razor?

[joshuadyck]

In my mind, he closed off the video saying he made the "write" call.