Top 5 Affordable Fountain Pens for Back to School.

Need a new fountain pen for school? Ah, Autumn is nearly upon us, The nights are getting chilly and the buses will be running soon. It's time to matriculate in this course and to learn which are the best back-to-school pens!
Join me, won't you?
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00:00:01 - Intro
00:00:28 - Parameters
00:01:12 - First Choice from Lamy
00:02:38 - 1st Choice, Dry, Dry Desert
00:02:33 - 2nd Choice, from Platinum
00:03:47 - 3rd Choice, Kaweco
00:05:16 - 4th Choice, TWSBI
00:06:55 - 5th Pilot
00:08:00 - Another Pilot
00:10:05 - Thank you to the Awesome Members!

Wardrobe: Blue Oxford by J Press

[nccastro]

I have now a good amount of pens.
From expensive Aurora 88 with a super feedbacky 14k gold nib to suuuper smooth Asvine v126 with M, Hongdian N7 (F) and Twsbi Eco with a broad (glass smooth). I got to say: nowadays we dont need to spend too much for a fountain pen. Just buy the ones that resonate with you the most. All fountain pens are an experience worth having!


I hope everyone is blessed with beautiful days, drawing and writing sessions!
Take care.



Amazing video as always.

[abrahamd]

“An armored insect” - I will never see my Kaweco the same again 😂 Honorable mention: I’d recommend the Waterman Allure. At $30 USD, you get a reliable pen with a high capacity cartridge. It’s my cheapest pen but it always finds its way on my desk inked up. Thanks HJ! ~ ADL

[sonferjef]

Thanks for the writing demonstration for each pen. That really helps!

[kurtgeisinger]

Outstanding selection of back-to-school pens. When I graduated college thirty years ago, my fine-writing instrument was the Waterman ballpoint. I used it to take notes as I thumbed through the card catalog in the library searching for research materials.

[Grasbyy]

Really nice video! I adore the laid back, yet educational style in this. Everything else was great as always, so keep going 👏

[stevenkidwell]

Excellent video. The shortened intro was appreciated, I like how you just jumped right in. I was at lunch when I viewed the video, and like the length. Excellent suggestions for back to school.

[MaChengwen]

Good choices and good video. Recently, I'm changing my preppies for the kakunos ones. 😅 And I'm always carrying an ECO, prepared to write.

[fossilimprint]

You almost make me wish I was a student again, nice choices. The TWSBI Eco is awesome!

[lislearnitalianwithsongs]

I teach 8th graders and I gladly noticed this year that fountain pens are making a comeback!!
Some students (the best ones I think, but I might be biased) are using lamys and others are using Pilots.
I’m using a Preppy (how cheap!) and a Namisu Nova.
Thanks for this video from your doppelgänger /dopplechanneler (the Wudn guy)!

[himanishgoswami]

The new line of Jinhaos (with an x) are great! The Jinhao 82 is a hidden gem.

[differentkindofGEKE]

My favorites are (not in any order)
Platinum Plaisir (aluminum upgrade to the Preppy)
Lamy Safari/AL Star
Pilot Metropolitan
TWSBI Eco
Honorable mention: Pilot Kakuno
I upgraded to the Con40 in my Metropolitans and put the squeeze converter on my Kakuno. I kind of think of it as a dip pen with a bit more capacity.
I normally buy from pen shops but do recommend knockoff Platinum converters 5/$10 from Amazon. Mine all work perfectly but MMV with that sort of thing

[KendallW]

I would add a Jinhao 82 to the list. Very inexpensive, and fun to mix and match the colors by swapping around the end finials, grip sections, and caps. Cheap enough to get a few of them and customize :)

[coffeeandbarbells]

Terrific video! Excellent, thoughtful choices.

[flaviabardhi]

Great video with great timing. I got into fountain pens this year funnily enough through the Pilot Kakuno! I tried the TSWBI Eco but it was too bulky for me, and the twist cap wasn't intuitive. Now I'm the proud owner of a Pilot Metropolitan. Having tried three of the pens in your recommendations I'm looking forward to trying out the others you mentioned!

[SunshineFL]

Great list. I have every one of those except the pilot metropolitan. I conquer

[lead-dog]

Great choices HJ. 6 months ago I would have said I never heard of any of those pens. But after a few months watching your channel not only have I heard of them but I have 3 of the 6 pens you suggested. And quite honestly the Platinum Preppy pen writes as good or even better than my Montblancs, Parkers and ST Duponts. Just a fantastic pen on a lot of different papers I might add. Thanks. Great show. See you Tuesday.

[lunchbox]

a good affordable option is the pilot prera. I use mine quit often and is reliable and can be used with a converter.

[richardzak]

Hello HJ. This was an insightful video of just how inexpensive getting into this wonderful hobby can be. I'm hoping that younger people will come across this video and join us in a writing experience that just might change their lives. Great job.

[NinSK]

I can't argue with the Lamy Vista, but i would suggest considering a Safari instead for their colour selection.

The Platinum Preppy is a GREAT value pen; they write beautifully, and as you say, losing one is barely an inconvenience (I gave one to a coworker who was interested, and she loved it). However, the Preppy is a little fragile and the caps can split if you're not super-careful. So buy a Plaisir or two instead or in addition to a Preppy. You get the same nib with a stronger aluminium body and cap for under $25 Canadian.

I don't have a TWSBI Eco but I do have two TWSBI Swipes (medium and fine nibs), and I'm sure the Swipe's nib is just as good. Plus you get THREE ways to fill it. The smoke version is also a bit of a demonstrator. I find the medium nib is like a fire hose for ink. It seems as broad as the Lamy Safari's Broad nib, but it's a smooth joy to write with and will show off your favourite colour of shading or sheening ink.

I received a Kaweco Sport pen two days ago. It has a great nib, is surprisingly comfortable to write with, and it's small and light enough to slip into my bag, along with a Preppy. I suspect the Kaweco Sport won't be my favourite pen - it's a little bit short for me even when posted. But it's an excellent back-up pen, or an extra when the favourite unexpectedly runs out of ink. I have to admit, too, that the brass version is tempting me.

The Pilot Kakuno looks like fun, but i'd get my colour from the Safari. And the Metropolitan is like the Preppy/Plaisir. You won't go wrong with it; I just prefer the Platinum pens.

Happy writing!

[BenJoeMarkland]

Nailed it on this one. These are all ones I would recommend as well. I could add the Pilot Prera as well but Pilot is Pilot! The TWSBI Nib Section sometimes bothers my fingers since I crowd the nib sometimes, but all of these are great.