Posts filed under Pen Reviews

Laban Solar Fountain Pen Review

Laban Solar Fountain Pen Review

It's been quite a while since I've reviewed a Laban fountain pen, but that doesn't mean I'm not interested in what they're doing. Laban is a luxury brand, but the quality and prices that they set for their products provide a great value. On top of that, they've been fun to use in my experience.

The Laban Solar fountain pen is one that I just can't keep my hands off. The orange anodized aluminum is perfect, and the nib is smooth and responsive out of the box. It wasn't love at first sight, though.

Laban Solar Fountain Pen

The matte orange finish on the body and cap are stellar, but I still can't help but cringe a little when I uncap the pen and unveil the super reflective grip section. If the grip section and clip were a matte silver finish, I'd be completely in love with this pen. In the current iteration, though, the shiny chrome-like finish creates an unsavory contrast with the matte exterior.

Laban Solar Fountain Pen

Despite the reflective quality of the section finish, it feels great once it's in your hands. There's a unique knurling pattern that looks rough to the naked eye, but it's actually fairly smooth and tactile against your fingertips. Holding this pen and writing is a very comfortable experience. I'm guessing that this feels smooth because of how small the knurling pattern is. My finger tips don't have the microscopic resolution to detect a harsh edge anywhere on the grip. I thought for sure that it would feel like the rigid side of a hook-and-loop panel, but it just so happens that I really enjoy writing with it.

Laban Solar Fountain Pen

The pen caps with a smooth twist mechanism. It takes approximately 2 complete turns to uncap or cap the pen, so you can be sure that it won't open accidentally while in your bag or pockets. You can post the cap on the back of the pen, but I find that it's a little too long and awkward in this setup. I prefer to hold the cap or set it to the side when writing. The unposted length and balance of the pen is perfect for my writing grip.

The nib on this pen is a Laban steel EF with a reflective finish that's similar to the grip section. Aside from the Laban branding, there's an "IRIDIUM" etched onto the nib as well. Unfortunately, the nib size isn't etched onto the nib, so don't forget what it is after it's been stored a while!

Laban Solar Fountain Pen

The etching on the nib isn't the only place you'll find Laban branding. The Laban name is also printed in very small lettering right under the end of the clip at the bottom of the cap. It's a very tasteful placement and size for the logo that allows the real star of the show to take center stage — that color and finish.

At under $65, this pen is a steal for what you get. The quality of materials and fit/finish alone are worth this price. Along with the pen, you receive a standard cartridge-converter so you can fill the pen with whatever ink you like. Major hat tip to Laban for including this with the pen. You can pick from EF, F, M, and B nibs as well as lots of different colors for the pen exterior, but I think orange is the correct choice in this case.

Laban Solar Fountain Pen

The Laban Solar makes a fantastic gift for someone else, or a fantastic treat for yourself. If the aesthetic speaks to you, the pen will certainly deliver on the writing front if you choose to pick one up.

(Goldspot provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)


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Laban Solar Fountain Pen
Posted on August 31, 2022 and filed under Laban, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

PenBBS 456 Fountain Pen Review

PenBBS 456 Fountain Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

I vow to stop being surprised by the quality of PenBBS fountain pens, because they're consistently good. This is my third pen, and I always seem to expect a lower quality from such a budget-friendly pen. Those expectations are always cast aside as soon as I take the pen out of the box. A nice box, too, actually, with a sturdy board and magnetic flap closure.

PenBBS 456 Fountain Pen

The 456 model feels solid, with a substantial acrylic body in a gorgeous color. There is a chrome cap ring, a sturdy clip with a lovely art deco silhouette, and another metal band where the end cap unscrews. All of the fittings are flush and smooth with no rough edges or machine marks anywhere. The cap band says "PENBBS 456" and "Shanghai."

PenBBS 456 Fountain Pen

The cap unscrews on metal threads. The grip section is tapered at the center to give a comfortable, balanced grip. The threads and step from the grip to the body are all smooth and the pen is very comfortable to hold.

PenBBS 456 Fountain Pen

The steel nib is two-toned and stamped with scrollwork and "PENBBS since 2005" as well as the nib size, which in this case is a fine nib. It writes a true fine line, with minimal feedback and a very smooth experience. It's closer to the dry end of the spectrum, but not unpleasantly. The writing experience overall is very good, with the pen feeling well balanced and comfortable.

PenBBS 456 Fountain Pen

The coolest feature of this pen is its vacuum filling system, which makes it a high-capacity ink tank. It fills the same way a Pilot 823 or TWSBI Vac does, and likewise needs to have the endcap unscrewed if you want to keep the ink flowing for long writing sessions. When screwed completely closed, the plunger serves as a stopper, which makes this a great pen to carry if you're worried about leaks, especially when flying.

PenBBS 456 Fountain Pen

Despite all these cool features, my favorite thing about this pen is the gorgeous material. The flaked acrylic has deep turquoise veins with pearlescent white chips that flash violet and blue and bright green, like opal or moonstone. It's pretty in any light, but when it catches the light just right, it's absolutely stunning.

The PenBBS 456 retails for around $56, which is a great deal for a pen of this quality. It's certainly one of the best pens you can get under $75, especially if you like pretty acrylics and high-capacity filling systems. To be blunt, I have pens that cost nearly $300 that are not as nice as this one. If you want to be financially sensible without sacrificing on writing experience or aesthetics, this is the perfect choice.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)


Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

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PenBBS 456 Fountain Pen

Bonus Cat!

Posted on August 25, 2022 and filed under PenBBS, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.

Mythic Pens The Prime Fountain Pen Review

Mythic Pens The Prime Fountain Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

The Prime is the headlining standard from pen maker The Mythic Pen Co. The owner, Brad, hand-makes each pen and offers 8 different models, mostly fountain pens, with rollerball and ballpoint options as well. Custom pens can be commissioned, though the shop doesn't list any current custom openings. Your best bet for seeing what Mythic has to offer is to head to their Instagram feed, Mythicpens, where it appears pens are sold as they are made. Or if you're lucky, catch them at a pen show.

This model is The Prime. It's quite large with straight sides, flat finials, and only a slight taper to the grip section. There's no furniture or flourish--it's a very minimal design that lets the material do all the talking.

Mythic Pens The Prime Fountain Pen
Mythic Pens The Prime Fountain Pen

Mythic sources their acrylics from lots of indie blank-makers. This particular material is called Basilisk and comes from Tim Crowe of Turnt Pen Co. In low light the color looks dark and subtle, but when the sun hits it, you get the full effect of silvery-sparkle-red-blue-purple loveliness. It's another one of those pens where I can lose time staring at all the shapes in the color swirls.

Mythic Pens The Prime Fountain Pen

The Prime has a twist cap with very smooth threads, and the section unscrews from the body. It can take a cartridge, converter, or eyedropper fill. It writes well, with good balance, though it's a bit large for my hands. The lack of significant taper on the grip section makes the size a little harder to manage for me, but if you prefer larger pens and wide grips, this may be the perfect one for you.

Mythic Pens The Prime Fountain Pen

The Prime takes a #6 JoWo nib. This one is a fine point, and it writes perfectly. The flow is good and it writes smoothly while showing fun ink characteristics. I do find that it dries quickly between uses. Even with daily use, it needs some prompting to get started. Once it's going, it's delightful. Perhaps it's a cap seal issue, or a feed issue, or it may be the ink I'm using (most likely the ink, but more science is needed).

The baseline Prime is priced at $175, which can go up if any fancy features are added. That's well in line with similar pens from similar makers and it's the least expensive of Mythic's full-sized fountain pens.

If you're a maker-pen addict, or acrylic-pen addict, Mythic's lineup is well worth checking out.

(This pen was purchased from Mythic Pens at regular retail at the 2022 Atlanta Pen Show.)


Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Mythic Pens The Prime Fountain Pen
Posted on August 18, 2022 and filed under Mythic Pens, Fountain Pens, Pen Reviews.