Pen & Ink Buying Guides

Get the right pen for your hand

Buying a fountain pen or ink can feel harder than it should. These guides help simplify the important differences, whether you're buying your first pen, refining your setup, or exploring new inks and nibs. Our Top 7 reports are based on real sales, and annotated by staff who actually use the tools. 

Fountain Pens 101

Feel of a fountain pen

Why we check brand new nibs

Fountain pen filling mechanisms

Understanding nib size & material

Converter/Cartridge compatibility guide

LarryPOST Loaner Pen programme

Fountain Pen Buying Guides

Beginner Kits for Writing Clearly

Beginner Fountain Pens (Top 7)

TWSBI Fountain Pens (Top 7) 

TWSBI Comparison Table

TWSBI Diamond 580 range explained

OPUS 88 Full Ink. Zero Mess.

OPUS 88 Fountain Pens (Top 7)

Best Gold Nib Pens (Top 7)

Best Pilot Pens (Top 7)

Can a left hander use PILOT Falcon?

What size Pelikan for your hand?

Stub nibs under the microscope

Up close with Jen and her favourite pen

Ask Jen Which Pen

Quick Reviews

Pilot Custom 823

Pilot Custom 743

Pilot Custom 74

Pilot Capless

Pilot Falcon

Pilot Prera

Ink Buying Guides

PILOT Iroshizuku Inks (Top 7)

DE ATRAMENTIS Document Ink (Top 7)

Can you use Document inks in high-end pens?

Mixing custom De Atramentis Document colours