Top 5 Pens, Fall 2016

One of each: Pilot Custom 823, Blackwing 602, Apica CD

My Top 5 Pens list has entered the refinement phase. While it would be nice to have monthly or quarterly updates, the fact remains that many of the top pens remain unchallenged. There is a reason they are the best, and they are standing the test of time.

Most lists remained unchanged, or possibly had one new pen enter the list. Some lists had two, and none had three. I did add one new list for fountain pens between $200-$500 which has been requested for a while and I have enough experience in that area now to plant a flag.

I also changed my personal comments on each section to a “Just Missed” section, which I think is more useful.

Regardless of the amount of change each version of this list has it is fun to put it together. If you have any questions, feel like I overlooked your favorite, or have a request for a new list please let me know.

---

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, which I am very grateful for.

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

Top 5 Pens, Winter 2016

Added to the list!

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Over nine months in fact, more than long enough to have a shakeup in my Top 5 Pens list.

I was planning to update this list more frequently, but the fact is some categories don’t see that much variance. I think quaterly is too frequent, so let’s look at updates twice a year, shall we? Winter and Summer. Sounds like a plan. Hold me to it, ok?

Most basic categories had little to no change, while large categories like fountain pens and inks saw a bit of movement. This is not only due to new products, but the avaialbility and continued use of products already on the market. The more I use something, the better idea I get of where it stands in the grand scheme. This is how change happens.

I also added two new categories that were long overdue: Mechanical Pencils and Wooden Pencils. There are great products in both of these areas that I am asked about, so putting it on paper, if you will, should help with your purchasing decisions.

As always, any feedback and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Leave a comment below, send me an email, or get in touch on Twitter. I read them all!

Personal Top 5 Pens May 2015

I mentioned during my last Top 5 Pens update that with the reworking of the list I would be moving some of my personal choices out to the main blog in order to keep them seperate from the general recommendations found on the Top 5 Pens page.

The pens listed below are a recent snapshot of what I am using and enjoying the most. Some are new, some are old, but all are mine and I love them!

Franklin-Christoph Pocket 66 Stabilis Ice

I picked this one up at the 2015 Atlanta Pen Show and I haven’t been able to put it down since. It’s not just the design, style, and comfort of the pen - the Mike Masuyama steel needlepoint nib has been a standout. My first fountain pen nib love were nibs in the XXF range, or EF Japanese, but I’ve moved to stubs and cursive italics as my primary writers more recently. This needlepoint has brought me back to to tiny writing once again.

Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Mangaka Outline Pen

My goodness do I love this pen. The tip is the firmest of any drawing pen I have used and holds up extremely well. I am a huge baseball fan and fantasy baseball player and have been tracking all kinds of players and stats since March. It is the perfect match with my Field Notes Roastery Edition.

Ti2 Techliner

This pen has been a mainstay in my rotation for months. There is hardly a day that goes by where I don’t use one of the three that I own. I make that possible by keeping one at my home desk, one at my work desk, and a third - my favorite gonzodized edition - in the backpack I am carrying or in my pocket. I use this pen anywhere and everywhere with a mix of Uni-ball Signo 207 and RT1 refills.

Pilot Custom Heritage 92

I can't quit this pen. And apparently, I can't find time to review it either because I have yet to do so. I will work on that soon because this pen deserves it. The 92 is the piston-filling relative to the Custome Heritage 91 and clear-barreled Custom 74. Is it better than either of those pens? That's up for debate, but I use this one the most because of the nib. I purchased a broad nib with the intent on having it modified into a cursive italic by Mike Masuyama. He did, and it's fabulous. The 92 is a mainstay in my pen rotation.

Edison Menlo

Hey look - another pen I haven't reviewed yet! My first Edison Menlo is a custom job ordered for me by my partner in crime Jeff Bruckwicki. It had been sitting idle for a few months prior to the Atlanta Pen Show but I inked it up to show it off and forgot how much I love it. The barrel design is perfect for me, the fine cursive italic nib is sharp and smooth, and it doesn't hurt that I have it inked up with the now discontinued Sailor Sky High.

I am going to try and schedule this post on a monthly basis and may expand it to include all the products I have used the most during the timeframe. I think paper needs to be represented in this list because it plays a big role in the enjoyment of the pens listed above. If there is anything you would like to see, or have any other suggestions, please leave a comment below.