I have about 20 fountain pens, and the one I enjoy the most is my TWSBI Eco. Not only does it have a huge ink capacity -- it fills by the bucketful -- but the nib is super smooth and reliable, and the pen itself is gorgeous. Highly recommend.

I really have to respect the huge amount of time put into videos like this to help the community grow. Thank you!

David, this is truly one of the best top pens list videos that I've seen. Fantastic job, my friend! I've been waiting for these top list videos from you since you announced you were going to do them. Let me just say, you delivered tremendously. Looking forward to the next level of pens.

I love the Platinum Preppy. I'm just starting out in my fountain pen journey, but it's so much fun trying out new ones. Thanks for these informative videos!

Thank you for this list. As a poor ole woman on a fixed income, it gives me some ideas about pens to try without breaking the bank.

I've written with $1000 fountain pens and fountain pens under $5, and most of the $5 pens wrote about the same if not better than the expensive fountain pens.

I have/used 8 of the 13 pens you showed and I love them all. Thank you for a great video.

Thanks for the list, I enjoyed last year's one as well. look forward to the next one! I am glad to see my twsbi eco on your list :)

Pilot metropolitan is a really nice pen. I almost use this on a daily basis, worth purchase. Weird enough Jinhao pen is more smoother than MR.

This is a great channel. Just a week ago I had never ever even thought about fountain pens. Now, I want them all. But I have followed your good advice and started easy. Just ordered my first pens, the Platinum Preppy, in three nib sizes 🙂

i recently watched this video after first watching some of your other videos on TWSBI, my fav fp brand and loving how in depth your reviews were. i decided to get the faber castell loom after seeing it on your list and decided to get it because of that. my pen came today and i LOVE this pen! it writes so well! i want to thank you for the wonderful timely recommendation! hope to be a loyal subscriber from now on! love ur vids!

WOW! I agree with the top 5! I can't speak for the last 5 since I have never used them. But as a guy who own and uses all the top 5 pens he chose I can attest he pretty much nailed it!

I love Pilot Varsities. Have used them for years. Now I’m starting to educate myself and up my fountain pen game.

Thank you so much for the video. I bought the Fabel Castell Loom and I totally share your feeling. I love it!!

Great video. I’ll have to check out the Loom. In this category, I’m quite smitten with the Kaweco Perkeo, in medium.💕

Great overview! Possibly the best starter fountain pen overview available. Well done!

Thanks for an informative and helpful video, David. I only wish this was available when I fist started on my fountain pen journey. I use my Varsity(s) for the same reasons you do but also for testing out ink samples and homemade ink mixes (what else can you do with a so-so ink?) Great list and video! One which I'm sure will help many newbies.

Thank you, David. This series is a good idea.

great presentation and information as usual

Good list with some interesting pens! Great suggestions for newbies.

Excellent choices. I have used/use all of these pens. Your review & placement is great. Enjoy the level of detail & justification for your choices. Educational for all. Thanks.

Great presentation & details with fair opinions. 🖋✒

I know this video is over a year old but I found it very helpful. I'm new to fountain pens and have gotten myself a couple of them but don't have a big budget so pens under $50 is were I like to look. After this list I've added a couple more to my wish list. Thank you Figboots on Pens.

Great video ! I would add the Waterman Graduate to the list: about 15 euros in France, metal pen, takes standard cartidges and posts nicely. The nib is a bit scratchy but mainly because It is very fine. Great alternative to the Pilot Mr.

Realy great Video. Thank you much.

Thank you for your amazing Videos! I own olny three fountain pens myself. A Lamy ABC for my first years at school and a Lamy All-star, wich I used up until University. And my newest is a Jinhao 950 I bought a few years ago just because of it nice look. So I would never consider myself a fountain pen enthusiast, but recently I came across your videos and just want to say, that it is awesome that you share your love for the topic with us! You are going to make me join the community 😉

Do you have an updated version of this video for 2020 or at least 2019..?

Such a good video! Thank you for sharing your opinions on these pens are they are looking like great buys too! This looks like the way to go for keeping pens ready to use with different colors of inks! I think that you might have mentioned the prices of the pens in the wrap up at the end as well as the names of the pens, just a thought.

Good video I need a pen to teach a younger person will check out some these fountain pens.

Thanks so much for this very helpful review...I own 2 Lamy Safaris, and a Noodler's Creaper flex pen...I want to add to my collection but want to keep in the under $50.00 price range 1,2, and 3 look very promising! :-)

Preppy is an awesome pen, You are entirely correct !

thanks so much for sharing all this. you *utter* nerd you ;) really appreciate it

I liked your choices very much and agree with them . One note the Pilot MR, the European brother of the Metro, does except Standard international carts and convertors Thanks David

I would recommend Hero 100 for this category. It has a gold nib (!) and very nice packaging (that is more common for $150 pens). My Hero 100 writes extremely well.

My second pen was a twsbi Eco with a stub nib that I babied constantly until one day I left it in my pant pockets and my mom put it through the washer and dryer. Destroyed the feed and James the nib into the feed so now it's almost impossible to remove it.

Excellent review figboot!!! I always enjoy your well spoken and intelligent reviews. keep up the good work. -Gabriel

I have the Loom and find it very slick with the all metal grip Writes very well, but not for long distance writing

Excellent video

try the diplomat magnum soft touch grey pen. Has a unique card stock-like body which feels very nice to hold. accepts standard international cartridges

Great advice!😁

Thanks for sharing all your knowledge. I'm getting really interested in fountain pens. #newsubscriber

Love the content👍🏼❤️. If I may request, can you do more cut-away to close-up to show more detail. I'm looking for a slight flat (calligraphy) nib. Nothing too aggressive, not to write huge letters. Do you have any suggestions?

My favorite under 50 is the Scrivner classic fine tip, it is a amazing pen with a lot for what you pay for, incredibly smooth pocket pen

Hi David, was this just an one-time video topic? I couldn't find this topic in your playlist since last 3 years.

New to fountain pens so appreciate the video! I picked up a cross Bailey... any thoughts? I don’t have any other fountain pen to compare the writing quality with

Wasn't expecting the preppy to be on there. I have a couple as the few I own.

Nice review I have 8 of the top 10, quick question though, can the nib on the Pilot Metropolitan be replaced? I have a fine nib and it's too scratchy and my least favorite. I would love to switch out the nib if possible.

I’m curious about what you do with your pens?

The loom is indeed beautiful. why the pilot versity is not in the top?

No Jinhao?

Which covertor ink would you suggest for the Pilot metropolitan for blue color and which Nib???

FYI: The "label" on the Platinum Preppy can be removed quite easily with Simachrome polish.

the Lamy comes in 4 variations, Safari, Vista, AL-Star and LX (4 colors inspired by the iPhones)

Thanks Figboot, my primary objection to the Lamy pens is that I like to write inverted if the nib will allow it. Some will and you can get a sharper line.The Lamys with the triangular shaped holding part of the barrel do not allow inverted writing -- at least not comfortably. I am going to check out the Faber Castell Loom.

I got the Loom some months ago after watching this video. Very happy with it! Now I'm ordering a TWSBI Eco since I want to into bottled ink :D

This is good fun. I've checked my top ten pens according to pricing and 3 are under 50 dollars, one is 50 to 100 dollars, four are in 100 to 200 dollars range and two are over 200 dollars. There are great (and some bad) pens in every price range.

would you change this list since time has past?

Good one and high expectations for the other three. Appreciate you for picking pens on fair market price rather than on MRP because it is more sensible.

Honestly, it's possible that the metro has the best steel nib I've ever used to be honest. The fine is a little scratchier but a medium or thicker will be smooth as butter. I would say that the $11 metro is just about on par in how it writes with my $50 TWSBI classic. I'll agree though. I hate the squeeze converter and, while the con40 is a better option than the squeeze. It feels super cheap compared to other piston converters I've used. I missed the ability to get a Con50 as they discontinued it right before I purchased my pilot vanishing point.

The Nemosine Singularity won't be available much longer as they're closing down. The singularity is the only pen they have left and it's 60% off at $7.99. I just went ahead and bought 3(in addition to the one I already own and love but I've broken the cap on).

I have 4 of your top 5 and could not agree more. The only one I do not have is the TWSBI because I simply do no like demonstrator pens. The Loom and Metropolitan are my main workhorse pens and the Kaweco is ALWAYS in my pocket.

as always, I enjoy your review... #5 Kaweco was misspelled... :)

Thank you for more quality content, Mr. Boot!

The cap screws with one turn. If you align the nib and clip before you post the pen the clip will end up on the top.

.The latest one I have is the Hero 767 multi colour and it is quite honestly as good as any $400 that I own ,and was only $30 from Amazon.It is also better than most of the pens you name AND I have most of the pens you name .However,having said that I must say your review is excellent.

In the description, you misspelled Faber-Castell.

Hello Figboot, I just got myself an Eco as my first fountain pen. I really like the idea of avoiding cartridges. If you don''t mind me asking, which inks would you recomend. The first ink I bought to use with the Eco is 4001 brown, as I love the shade (or at least how it looks on the screen). The eco will be arriving sometime next week.

Does lamb z26 convertor goes with the faber castell loom

What are your thoughts on the noodlers ahab?

I started with a Waterman Graduate and now I own a Pelikan M1000

So that we could see performance, on future vids it would be cool to see you use the pens, and write with them...so we could see them in action...that would be a big help!

I'm looking to buy my first fountain pen and it's overwhelming looking at all the reviews and trying to decide! Personally, I couldn't care less what the pen looks like, but only how it writes. A writing sample would have been helpful to see. I would like to have line variation, which I guess requires certain kinds of nibs. It would have been nice to hear more about what kinds of nibs these pens are able to use. I saw your video on the Pilot Metropolitan and I think you said it only takes medium or fine, so no line variation, if I understand that correctly.

Is it possible to refill a cartridge with my preferred ink using a syringe?

Just watched this video. Very good info. I own several of these pens and know about some of the others. However, I decided to find a picture and writeup for every one of the ten. I succeeded for all except #8 -- the Platinum Cool. I tried Cool, Kool, Cule, Kule all with no success. I went to Platinum's website and could not find anything resembling the word cool. Can you help me out? Based on the age of these comments this is a very old post, so maybe I am just chasing a ghost.

Great video. One thing that surprised me was that you list the Faber Castell Loom as your number 1 pen in this list, yet you showed the exact same pen in your "Pens I Regret Buying" video from 2 months ago. What made you change your mind?

I hate to comment on a video this old but since no one has mentioned it, as a left-handed person, the grip on the lamy pens is REALLY uncomfortable. I have to hold my hand/pen differently from a "standard" grip to avoid smearing ink, and I just struggled with the safari. Very glad my friend persuaded me to try a TWSBI Eco, which I fell in love with. Nothing "wrong" with either pen, but this may help you decide better if you're a leftie.

Stolla is a real beauty!

I would have to give it to the Monteverde Impressa

Is the Cross Calais fountain pen a good pen

David, you mentioned the Loom's nib but failed to say if it is a medium or fine writing nib. I do not like to write with a fine nib, so was just curious because I now want to buy a Loom. Thank you and happy 2017!

What is your opinion about the Waterman hemisphere?

Pilot have discontinued the con 50 converter. Contact 40 only now.

Cool. It's always nice to visit the pens in person (most of the time it looks great in photos and videos but not in person) at a shop that's not too intimidating, lol (Mont Blanc, not sure why they make it so intimidating- they should put the pens a the entrance so people can just pass by, no pressure, see the nib design especially and the price. God bless, Proverbs 31

What do you guys think about the Lamy Studio? Thanks.

I got a Cross bailey for $50, and i think it would deserve some kind of honorable mention? Just my opinion

can you solve Rubik's cube?????????

I found it useful.

When is the next video coming?

18:17 This was me when I got me Metro :(

Una opinión: Por qué no, en vez de tener siempre la imagen sobre tu rostro, no haces imagen cercana de las plumas fuente, al fin y al cabo, el video es sobre las plumas fuente. Así no se aprecia ningún detalle de las mismas, y se pierde interés en el video. Saludos

Also, why did you not include the obligatory JinHao pen thrown in there somewhere. The pens are quite decent for the price and around the same price as the Pilot Varsity. I got the 450 and it's amazing for the price you pay and you can't really go wrong with it.

I would love to see the writing examples of these

Faber Castell Loom!!!

Man ... I have been tempted to get the Loom so many times, but I just cannot get over the ridiculous looking cap. Looks like a pen with a bobble head. Without the cap, the pen looks fine ... but with the cap ... the aesthetics is downright offensive. Well I do want to a have a Faber Castell in my collection, so I got the Ambition instead (yes, the grip section is a bit problematic, but I wouldn't mind waking up next to it every morning).

I missed a couple of the prices. I went back to catch those but found you did not tell us. If you included the price in the notes below it would have helped me, a complete novice.

Please forgive my ignorance, but are Cross fountain pens trash? I never see any reference to Cross, which makes me think they aren’t considered good.

I think the manufacturers should really take pride in their nib design. The Nemosine nibs are beautiful, even plain TWSBI or Kaweco is nice looking. Lamy is sleek as well. But cheaper Pilot nibs for example are just cheap looking, and it costs them nothing to design and stamp a nib for some added character.

I know these lists are invariably very subjective. I am not familiar with all the pens you mentioned so I cannot criticize your choices. I was disappointed to not see the Conklin Duragraph on the list. It is one of my favorite pens,the more I use it the more I like it and I use it a great deal. And it is an excellent value for under $50.00.

I don't understand, no Parker? Is it 'cause you don't have any in this price range?

TWSBI Eco is easy to disassemble until you lose the wrench, like I did, and I've tried a million different things, I just can't get the damn thing apart.