I also took the lamy/twsbi/kaweco route for my starter pens and continued upward from there. Excited to hear your full thoughts on these pens!

omg thank you for documenting the whole sticker removal journey, that is genuinely product information I want to know for everything I buy. 😂😂 I've been thinking about buying some fountain pens for a bit to try them out but am worried it'll end up as an expensive impulse-buy hobby that I forget about in a couple of weeks, so thank you thank you for this lovely list of budget options! if I've still got the fountain pen itch in a couple paychecks I'm gonna revisit this video & possibly get started. loving this new journal channel and content! 💕

Happy birthday!!!!! I love the ink colors, and the pilot pen. I think I will get one soon.

I can't believe you chose the same Pilot Metropolitan I did! (Of course you did!) I have about a dozen "cheapies" and I think it is important to purchase them and use them, especially if you think you are going to introduce someone else to fountain pens, especially a young person that likely will not have a lot of spending money to purchase higher end pens! It is also a great way to try out different nibs and learn how to use converters. I can already tell from the comments that newbies appreciate that you are including these in your videos! I also like the Platinum Plaisir, Pelikan Twist, and Kaweco Perkeo!

I loved my first Jinhao, it was a honking great pen called the 159. Beautiful juicy nib and really smooth. For a different orange, my favourite is Sailor Shikiori Kin-Mokusei. It’s fairly bold, with no shading but a silvery sheen, but it’s got a softness to it and it’s very pretty. It’s kind of like the orange you get when you use pink instead of red to mix it. It might not be your cup of tea, but I recommend it.

You got the corgi sticker!!!!! I love mine and had to have it to remind me of my Emmi. I hope you enjoy your Metropolitan!

Thanks!!!! I needed an affordable place to start!!

I really liked this video - I will say I also love my Kaweko sport fountain pen. I am trying to decide a really nice one to ask for the holidays this year. So would love to see all that you are willing to share :)

Pilot Metropolitan was my first purchase. I’ve tried others, but after 5 years, the Metropolitan remains my favorite.

For very inexpensive pens I like the Platnium Preppy and the Pilot Plumix. For something you can get at the big box office supply store I like the Sheaffer VFM. All of my vintage pens are Sheaffer and the VFM is a nice modern interpretation of their classic cigar shape pens. It has a good weight and writes well on regular office paper.

The Kakuno is still my favorite budget pen. Light weight and wonderful nib! Regarding other videos-Maybe storage of pens, ink, samples?

OUUUUU the travellers company pen is so pretty! I have just begun to dip my toes into fountain pen life. I just have my one pen that I choose to start with on a whim during a shopping spree - the muji fountain pen. I think it would classify as a starter or budget friendly pen, and what I thought was cool is that it looks like a regular pen or mechanical pencil...until you uncap it lol. But I am hungry for more, so thank you for the video...might try that chunky black and gold one. Looks so classic...and I'm far from an expert or even novice but it looks expensive...once that sticker was gone ahaha :P

My favourite budget pen will always be the Platinum Preppy (or Prefounte, or Plaisir). I love Platinum’s Medium nibs because I’m a sucker for heavy shading inks and they have the same nibs in the Preppy, Prefounte and Plaisir (basically disposable-style body, acrylic body, and metal body respectively). At such a low price point, I love that I can get a few and keep them inked up (they say 1yr and it’ll write like you just put it down, but I’ve had some I’ve gone back to 4+ yers later and they write like no time has passed), plus I can eyedropper convert them, AND not feel bad about leaving it somewhere/penabling someone else with one. I highly recommend trying one out if you get a chance (in case you couldn’t already tell 😅)

I JUST received a Jinhao X750 from Amazon. It was the coloured sand painting version. I honestly purchased it after seeing someone post on Instagram about it. The body is black with rainbow colored sparkles throughout. It is GORGEOUS! Because it was under $10, I didn't think I'd care for how it would write, as my other Jinhao pen is very hard to write with. NOPE! I used a Jinhao cartridge with it and it writes beautifully! I don't like how the cap only sort of posts, but not a deal breaker. Anyway, it is a beautiful pen that also writes really well and was very inexpensive! BTW, I love your dip pen, but it is currently last call on Jetpens and appears sold out. 😔

I just got brunch date and have bought a travelers company brass fountain pen off of a bst site. I love the brunch date!

My Kakuno ran out of ink and now I have to decide if I should get new ink cartridges or try out another fountain pen 😅 because I really do like the feel of writing with them! Your videos are helpful to see the different styles out there, especially the more budget friendly options

Would love a full writing comparison of all your Pilot pens or all your Japanese brand pens

Yes, please do a follow up video about inking up the pens and using them. This video is so timely. I have recently bought pens in the $100-$200 range, so I asked why I should buy something like the Pilot Metropolitan and “go backwards” if that makes sense. But I’ve been so curious about it because everyone keeps talking about how good it is. I would really like to see your thoughts after you use it!

I just picked up a cheap set from Five Below of all places. They had a set of two with ink. I used one with their ink and popped a converter on the other one with some fancier ink. I was surprised that they worked that well. They are a combo plastic/metal nib.

If you ever have the need for a mechanical pencil, Pilot makes a Metropolitan mechanical pencil that's every bit as rock solid as the fountain pen. The next time you're ordering ink samples you might give Monteverde Valentine Red a try. It's my favorite red.

I'm sorry if you've said but is that brand/color thing you shade and write in a stamp? I would love to get my hands on that if you remember where you got it. I love your videos!

I just bought the Pilot Metropolitan (in the retro pop turquoise) recently and I've been really impressed by it. I tried it because my Lamy Safari Alstar was beginning to wear out and I knew I wanted a metal pen, but I didn't want to pay the price of the Alstar. The Metropolitan writes as well, if not better, as the Lamy. I think the sleek design looks really nice, and the pen fits very well in my pen loop, which the Alstar didn't. The downside is that for me, it's not nearly as comfortable to hold. Still, for its consistent and smooth writing, it has become my go-to pen. The converter didn't look like a very good design to me (like it would hardly suck up any ink) so once the free sample cartridge ran out, I refilled the cartridge with an eyedropper. It was easy and only took a sec, so I'll continue doing that unless your review shows that the converter is actually amazing, haha. I'm glad you reviewed the Diplomat Magnum. I was considering buying one, but now I'll pass. I'm definitely a fan of heavier pens, and prefer metal. Very interested to see how the last one (can't remember the name) writes! If it's at all decent, I might have to get one. Can't beat the price! And finally--that Travelers Company pen is GORGEOUS. Want. Edit: Abigail from the future (June 2023) here: I *did* try the Jinhao 450. Bought a 4-pack from Amazon in August 2022 because I got tired of only having two nice fountain pens when I wanted to have more ink colors going at a time. (I had been refilling some "disposable" Pilot Varsity pens for a while and wanted to upgrade.) After using the Jinhaos for less than 9 months, I was tired of messing with them, though: 1. The quality was varied. One pen almost always worked on the first try, one almost never did, and the other two fell somewhere in between. 2. The nib was thicker than I prefer, so I constantly had to adjust my writing in order to be less illegible. 3. They ran out of ink very quickly compared to my other pens, maybe because of the thicker nib. 4. The pen that wrote the worst also had a cap that would barely stay on. 5. Most of the caps didn't post easily. Even with my less-than-stellar experience, I wouldn't necessarily recommend against the Jinhao 450 and I don't regret buying them: 1. You can't beat the price. 2. They're super easy to refill. 3. If you only had one and used it daily, it would probably write on your first try more consistently. I think mine get a little dried out when I don't use them for a week or two. 4. Mine came with a free zipper pen pouch, which I upcycled by adding in dividers and covering with a pretty fabric. I didn't entirely quit using the Jinhao pens (except the worst one, which almost never wrote on the first try, felt scratchy, and had the most problems with the cap), but I did add the old Pilot Varsity pens into rotation again. They have always been very consistent writers with large reservoirs. My problem with them was mostly that they were ugly, so this spring I refinished them with pretty washi tape and modpodge. No, it won't last forever, but when it wears out, I'll just refinish them and have "new" pens again. Then Lauren had a destashing sale, so I snagged the gold Pilot Metropolitan from this vid, and the Diplomat Magnum, which I had forgotten I previously said I didn't want. The gold Metropolitan is now my favorite go-to pen: 1. It always writes first try and is very smooth. 2. The lid snaps on perfectly. 3. It's pretty and matches with everything. (The turquoise one didn't, and besides, I "needed" a second Metropolitan because my original one is perfect for my 5-year-journal-- has an extra fine nib-- and as such, can only be filled with the ink color I'm using for my 5-year-journal. Yes, I know it's a little obsessive.) I ended up really liking the Diplomat Magnum as well, because: 1. It always writes on the first try and is very smooth. 2. It's a nice color and has a good grip, second only to the Lamy Safari grip in comfort. 3. It cost nearly as much as a Metropolitan, so I might as well decide I like it.

You will not regret the Travelers Brass Pen, i've owned one for years and it never lets me down; always starts right up, always quick, always tough to take any situation i put it in. If you end up not liking the nib, it fits any #5 size nib like the diplomat magnum nib you have, so if you don't like the magnum itself, but like the nib you can switch it out if you pull just the nib, unless you need finer in which case an opus 88 #5 nib works fine too since they sell that in EF, that's what i have in it now bc i prefer a finer line from my pocket pens, not because the nib was faulty or not my preference, it was great. I pray that explanation made sense. TLDR, the travelers will become a quick staple in your collection i guarantee it.

The first budget friendly fountain pen i tried is the jinhao shark then moved to pilot metro i went crazy with my metro i have at least 6 colors i use my black metro for work really nice it just post a little awkward but i still love it

Perhaps the Kaweko Perkeo would be a good one to include in the roundup? Though was my first fountain pen (specifically because it was around 15€) so perhaps I'm just attached😂

I actually have been slowly purchasing the entry level pens from each of the big brands. I’ve been really enjoying trying the different brands but in cheaper versions so that it’s more affordable for me, and then eventually I’ll decide what brands I like the most and I’d get one of their more expensive pens.

Both of my fountain pens are the pilot metropolitan (both with a medium nib) and I love them I did end up getting the Pilot CON-40 fountain pen converter (which is about $7) for both of them because I don't care for the converter that they come with.

I love the pilot metro and the TN fountain pen, there are my favorites as EDC. The only downside about the pilot metro is the converter. I´ve used the squeeze one filling it with a syringe, and it holds more ink, but you can't see the level, so you notice just when you run out of ink. I took a lot of time to decide to buy the TN one but I don't regret it aat all, I use it very frecuently, it is so smooth, and honestly the F nib is not tha fine as Pilot and sailor.

I cant stop watching your videos, help :D

Orange or lemon essential oil can help take off stickers. Wash well after since essential oils can damage plasti

The Pilot Prera!

Did the Diplomat or the Jinhao that you tested take a standard cartridge?

Every time I order from Goulet Pens I have my fingers crossed for that sticker! (Not that I order from them that often)

I have Pilot Kakuno as my beginner pen. Then I just can stop buying. Haha. My newest fp is TWSBI Eco but my most reach is Kaweco Sport. I have bought some of Diamine Ink but I thought the ink is quite dry. So I tried Pilot Iroshizuku and I love it. Hope to see maybe writing sample. I might buy Traveler's Company Brass FP. Seem quite nice.

The Metropolitan writes very well. I have the same pen.

I have yet to dive into the world of fountain pens and I'm wondering if you have any tips for beginners?

Pilot metropolitan is my first fountain pen ever, but i lost it after moving unfortunately. Then my next one is Twsbi Eco and Kakuno.

Are you playing at leaky con in Orlando?

How do clean the nibs between inks?

Lemon essential oil is great for removing stickers

i don't believe freudian theory but, my X450 stainless made an impression, especially when someone needed a pen and i said "Here, use mine".