Fountain pens are the pinnacle of all writing instruments, which is why they’re favorites for writers, poets, business professionals, and everyone who wants to improve their handwriting. But out of all such pens out there, what is the best fountain pen? This will be the main topic in the paragraphs below.

As professionals in the world of specialty fountain pens, inks, and accessories, we believe there’s an ideal fountain pen for everyone. Therefore, we’ve reviewed the best fountain pens in different categories and included a buyer’s guide to help you select the best fountain pen to start your collection with. 

Pros

• Great beginner fountain pen
• It has a sleek, modern look, and an ink window for checking the ink level
• It offers triangular grip to help guide your hand to an optimal writing position
• Compatible with different nibs

Cons

• The triangular grip may not be the first choice for everyone
• It can only be used with Lamy brand cartridges
• The Lamy converter has to be purchased separately

The LAMY Safari is a winner in every category. It’s well-known in the fountain pen community for being a great beginner pen that’s also very functional and reliable, making it perfect for beginner fountain pen collectors and students. It has a triangular grip, which is helpful for those who are learning how to hold a fountain pen for the first time, but it’s also great for experienced fountain pen writers who prefer this kind of grip.

A unique feature of this pen is its interchangeable nib that can be swapped with a nib of a different size. And the best part is that LAMY tests all their pens during the manufacturing process, so you’re guaranteed to get a pen that’s up to the company’s standards.

Pros

• Fine-tuned nib
• Solid balance
• Beautiful finish

Cons

• High price
• The grab section is a bit thin

The Caran D’Ache Leman has a small 18k rhodium-plated gold nib that goes very well with the pen’s overall look. The finish is a blue color that gives the pen an ethereal beauty and the translucent lacquer gives the illusion of waves rippling across the surface of the water. 

It’s a pen with a well-tuned nib that provides users with a superior writing experience. It writes consistently without skipping and it’s balanced really well, which makes it a great EDC pen. The only downside would be that the midsection is a bit thin and it may not be a great fit for people with larger hands who want to use it for everyday writing.

Pros

• Otto Hytts flagship pen
• Combination of form and function, the essence of the Bauhaus movement
• Both the cartridge and converter are included
• Outstanding finish

Cons

• A little on the heavier side

The Otto Hutt Design 07 fountain pen is the epitome of sleek and elegant design and has the perfect balance between form and function, which was the main goal of Bauhaus design. It has clean lines and looks very polished on top of your desk and in your hand. 

It’s extremely functional and masterfully crafted, with an 18k gold nib that writes smoothly and has a good ink flow. The nib is rather large and it’s available in various line weights, such as extra fine, fine, medium, and broad.

This high-quality writing tool is not only exceptional because of the great nib, but also because of the timeless design. The black version has a mattified PVD coating that gives the pen a luxurious look, which is why it’s part of many fountain pen collections.

Pros

• A large nib
• Legendary pen
• A 2-year warranty 

Cons

• High price
• The edge of the cap can get damaged if it accidentally falls

Montblanc pens are known for their timeless design, and the Meisterstück 149 is no exception. The pen has been on the market for almost 100 years and has remained a classic since it was first made back in 1924. It’s an iconic pen that combines great design and ease of use.

Montblanc’s Meisterstück 149 is perfectly balanced, meaning there’s no excess weight toward the back of the pen or toward the front, which makes it great for longer writing sessions. It feels very light in your hand and it’s very comfortable for prolonged use. 

If you want to purchase a pen of high quality that will also stand the test of time, the Meisterstück 149 is one of your best bets. It’s such a great pen that even JFK had one in his personal collection.

Pros

• Unique look
• Smooth nib
• Unique materials used in the design

Cons

• It occasionally needs a bit of time to start writing

The Visconti Homo Sapiens Fountain pen is a truly unique pen made of volcanic lava and steel, making it almost unbreakable. It’s a pen that fits perfectly in your hand and has an outstanding 18k white gold nib that’s the same as the trim.

Another reason for being one of the best fountain pens on the market is the amount of ink it can hold in the reservoir, about 10 cartridges, which is why it’s perfect for daily use and longer writing sessions.

Pros

• Beautiful design
• Quality materials
• Broad nib

Cons

• A bit heavy for people with smaller hands

The ST Dupont Line D is a pen like no other. Hand-assembled in France, this pen is held to the highest standards when it comes to the production of fountain pens. Proof of that is the pen’s finish that’s made from natural urushi lacquer, which is a technique used to make the finish of Japanese fountain pens.

It’s an elegant pen that’s very comfortable for longer writing sessions. The nib is made from 14k gold and it’s available in extra fine, fine, medium, and broad. It’s a pen that will last you for generations to come.

Pros

• Great starter pen
• Writes fine ink lines
• Sturdy pen

Cons

• Can wear out your hand after long writing sessions
• People with larger hands might find it a bit small

The Luoshi dragon fountain pen is one of the most budget-friendly fountain pens that doesn’t feel cheap at all. The barrel almost looks antique and it has a nice weight to it. It has a smooth nib that’s perfect for daily use and as a traveling companion since it doesn’t spill when you bring it on a plane. It writes really well and has stellar reviews, which is why it also makes for the perfect budget-friendly yet high-quality gift.

Pros

• One of the nicest pens considering its affordable price
• Also available as a ballpoint
• Writes smoothly

Cons

• Not all ink colors look good
• The body can scratch over time

The Pilot Metropolitan offers you the chance to own an aesthetically pleasing, quality pen that comes at a much lower price than other Pilot pens. You can spend hours writing with this fountain pen that lays comfortably in your hand without tiring it out.

The brass-made body is extremely durable, so it’ll last you for years to come, as opposed to some plastic alternatives. And if you’re looking for a unique design, the glossy-mid section is where this pen differs from others, and it comes in different designs inspired by animal prints. Lastly, you don’t even have to stick to the exact refills because it works with different types of Pilot refills. 

Specifications

• Very inexpensive
• Oversized nib that’s replaceable
• Reliable clip
• Equipped with a convertor and can use either bottled ink or disposable ink cartridges

• The pen is styled after the Montblanc 149
• 3 ½ turns to get the cap off
• Slippery midsection
• A bit large for people with small hands

The Jinhao fountain pen’s design is inspired by the Montblanc 149 but it costs a fraction of its price. However, the design inspiration is where the similarity ends. 

The pen is perfect for everyday writing, especially for people with larger hands. It comes with a replaceable nib and a converter that enables you to use either bottled ink or a disposable ink cartridge. You can find the Jinhao 159 in a few different colors that suit different customers’ preferences.

• Smooth capping and uncapping mechanism
• Nice nib that doesn’t skip
• Light and comfortable barrel
• Iconic design

• Takes some time and extra care to disassemble for maintenance

The LAMY 2000 Makrolon’s iconic mid-20th century design is why most people find it appealing initially, but the way this pen writes is why they keep on coming back to it. This premium fountain pen holds a lot of ink and the nib is perfect for writing cursive letters.

Another unique feature is the pen’s body, which is a combination of Makrolon (black polycarbonate) and brushed stainless steel. These materials not only give it its sophisticated look and the possibility to grip this pen anywhere you like, but they also balance it out so it’s neither too light nor too heavy. 

For more LAMY pens, take a look at Truphae’s LAMY collection. 

• Small compact design, which makes it a perfect EDC
• Customization options in terms of adding clips, a converter, new nibs 
• Easy to disassemble for maintenance
• Interchangeable parts with other Kaweco Sport pens (AL Sport, Skyline, ICE Sport)

• Retractable mechanism 
• Wide range of nibs and finishes
• Good quality and design

• Small ink capacity for a nib this wet
• The matt black finish comes off after longer use

The Pilot Vanishing Point fountain pen has been in production since the 1960s and it’s known as one of the best retractable fountain pens on the market. 

The pen is function-focused and has a simple design with a hidden part that keeps the nib from drying out when not in use. It comes in a variety of colors and it’s packed in a minimal black gift box.

One downside of this pen is that it has a really small nib that can dry out quite fast and it only has limited space for a converter. Another thing customers are not that fond of is the clip that’s placed on top of the pen that might get in the way when you’re writing.

• Ultra light pen
• Perfect for beginners
• Metallic plastic looks great
• Smooth Pilot nib

• It feels cheap when you hold it
• Questionable durability of the plastic clip

The Pilot Explorer is the ultimate fountain pen for beginners both because of its affordable price and the smoothness of the stainless steel nib. It comes with a Pilot ink cartridge and you can also order the CON-40 twist piston converter if you prefer to use bottled ink. The pen is extremely light and you won’t even feel it in your hands, so it’s perfect for longer writing sessions.

It’s inspired by poets, researchers, and sailors who love to travel and explore, hence the name of the series - Explorer. This pen has a very minimalistic design, however, it comes in a lot of different colors, and you’re guaranteed to find one that you’ll like.

• Great nib and performance 
• Comfortable to write with for an extended period of time
• Superior design 
• A legendary pen used by well-known historical figures, like JFK
• 2-year warranty 

• Professional servicing is required if the piston fails
• Very expensive
• It’s difficult to tell pens with different nibs from the same series apart 

The Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand is a classic pen that’s the symbol of high-quality, luxury writing. Its iconic design is why the pen has been in production for almost 100 years, which is reflected in its name which means masterpiece in German. The body is made of black resin and it has a 14K solid gold nib that’s coated with rhodium. 

An interesting thing about the Meisterstück LeGrand is that no two pens are the same. Each one has an individual stamp that signifies it’s been hand-tested by a Montblanc master craftsman. It’s an extremely durable pen that not only writes exceptionally well, but it’s also very easy to use and offers a writing experience unparalleled to any other, especially when paired with the Montblanc ink. 

For more pens in the same price range ($500 - $1000) as the Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand, check Truphae’s collection. And if you want to check out the most luxurious pens priced over $3000, visit our most luxurious collection.

If the previously mentioned pens inspired you to start your fountain pen collection, the following tips will help you choose the right pen for your needs.

To be able to differentiate between high and low-quality fountain pens, you need to learn more about their unique features. 

The nib is the most important part of your fountain pen and the reason why fountain pens are higher priced than other pens. When looking at the nib, check the material it’s made of, which is typically stainless steel (which can be reinforced with an iridium tip) or solid gold.

Another thing to consider is the nib width which defines whether the nib has a thinner or thicker writing line. The most popular nib widths include extra fine, fine, medium, and broad, though nib widths vary between different brands.

The material of the barrel, cap, and grip section of the pen is usually made of the following materials:

• Plastic (ABS plastic)
• Base metal (brass, stainless steel, aluminum)
• Sterling silver
• Resin (celluloid) 

Depending on the pen’s price, you’ll get higher or lower-quality materials. It’s also important to check how the grip section feels when you place the pen in your hand. And if you struggle to hold a pen correctly, opt for an ergonomic grip section.

There are three main types of refills for fountain pens:

• Cartridge (conveniently placed ink inside a plastic cartridge that you replace once used)
• Converter (used with bottled inks)
• Reservoir (rarely found in modern pens since the maintenance and repairs are more costly)

In terms of the fountain pen size and weight, you’ll mainly need to consider the following:

• Barrel width (check which width feels more comfortable in your hand)
• Barrel length (smaller pens might not be the best suited for larger hands and vice versa)
• Weight (if the pen weighs more, you might find it’s not suitable for longer writing sessions)

Some prefer a minimalistic design and opt for a pen that’s without a clip, while others like their fountain pen to have a clip to prevent it from getting lost.

The cap is another important feature of your pen that prevents it from drying out. Choose one that doesn’t come off easily.

The closure can be a screw-on, which efficiently contains leaks or a click-on that’s convenient if you use your pen on a daily basis.

To appeal to different fountain pen aficionados, most fountain pens come in different colors, so each user can find one they like.

You can use different inks depending on the type of fountain pen you own, though as a general rule, you should stick to the ink that’s sold by the same company. 

Purchase your ink from brands such as Parker, Pelican, Montblanc, Waterman, and others that are renowned for their production of pens, ink, and all writing materials. But keep in mind that not all inks are created equal, and some will be more suitable for you than others. That’s why we suggest having a tester fountain pen, one that’s inexpensive, to try out several inks before using them with a fountain pen of higher quality.

Fountain pens come in different shapes, sizes, and materials, but we can’t say that one is better than the other since this all depends on the budget you’ve allocated for purchasing your pen and your preferences. When it comes to the best nib material, fountain pen craftsmen generally use gold alloy or stainless steel. 

The former comes in 14k or 18k percentage, which tells us how much of the alloy is gold. Gold is a material that’s well known for having a lower reactivity than any other metal and being extremely durable, which is why it’s used to make luxury items, such as fountain pen nibs and jewelry. Stainless steel, on the other hand, mimics the characteristics of the gold alloy nibs even though it’s more susceptible to corrosion. For that reason, stainless steel nibs are more economically efficient.

Proper maintenance ensures that your fountain pen is operating in excellent condition each time you take it out of the pen case. Since pens collect dirt and paper particles while we’re writing, we don’t want to leave all that building up inside and ruin a perfectly good pen. So, to determine how often you should clean your pen without it being excessive, take into consideration the following:

• The type of pen you own (whether it’s vintage or new)
• How often you use it (the more you use it, the more you’ll need to clean it)
• How quickly your pen dries out (the quicker it dries out, the more often you’ll need to clean it)

Most pen aficionados clean their fountain pen anywhere from once a week to once a month, but the general practices include cleaning your pen: 

• Once a week, if you own a vintage pen, use glitter ink, or have a pen that dries out often
• Once a month, to keep your pen writing smoothly
• Once a quarter, if you have inked up pens, regardless of whether you’ve used them or not
• Between refills, when changing the ink

Finding the best fountain pen on the market can be an arduous task since there are numerous options and each person has different needs. But if you take the time to assess your specific needs and figure out your budget, you’re one way closer to finding the right one for you. 

In our opinion, the LAMY Safari is a fountain pen that’s the best of both worlds. It’s not only a budget-friendly option, but it also works both for beginners and experienced fountain pen users. And if you’re operating with a bigger budget, the Montblanc Meisterstück LeGrand is the best one there is.

Let us know which pen was most appealing to you and why. And if you’ve tried some of the pens on our list, feel free to leave a comment and share your experience with them.