Pen weight

[fitypoundpdog]

As with some others here, it depends. I voted light, because I don't like having a big heavy pen in my pocket (it pulls down the left side of the shirt leading to shirt asymmetry). But for short notes and 'comfort' I'll usually choose something heaftier.

Kevin

[Pariah Zero]

Expletive. Now I have to break out a scale to see what my favorite pen weighs...

 

Fortunately, I have one handy...

Edited December 6, 2007 by Pariah Zero

[Fountainbass]

It really doesn't matter to me. I love my light Pelikans, but I also love the heft of a heavy pen. (My Parker Sonnet ballpoint is probably my heaviest pen, and I like it a lot.)

[Ink Stained Wretch]

I ended up choosing "Ultra light-Below 13 grams" even though I'm not totally sure about that.

 

I don't have a scale that reads in grams. In fact I pretty much don't have a scale that will reliably weigh a fountain pen at all. But the other day while spending some quality time waiting around in the Post Office I happened to pop my Parker Vector onto a digital scale they have there for the weighing of packages (using it to weigh a fountain pen was probably a federal crime) and it showed 0.4 oz. So most of my fountain pens are similar in heft and Google tells me that 0.4 ounces = 11.3398093 grams.

 

I've recently bought some Guiguan broad nibbed fountain pens and they're made of brass and those things weigh a ton! Nice enough nibs, after I cleaned them a lot, but they weigh too much for me.

 

I do a lot of my writing while sitting on the couch with my knees drawn up and a clip board on my knees. So I end up with the weight of the pen all on my fingers. A light pen just works a lot better in that case.

[lapis]

Time's up but here goes....

I didn't vote for any of your options because I like two weights (or maybe even three).

(1) My basic weight is just under 30 g. Like my Duofolds, M800 or MB 146.

(2) At the same time (literally as of on one and the same day), my M320 or Aurora Optima Mini, which "only" weigh in at 11 to 16 g. They are always in my T-shirt pocket. That's what I bought them for!

(3) Yes, still on my wish list is a Toledo M900 just because it is a heavy pen for that size. The "size" is perfect -- exactly the same as my M800 -- but it's weight of 40 g means that it is 57% heavier than my M800.

 

Sigh :hmm1:

 

[piembi]

I want a lightweight pen. When I pick up a pen to write, I want that pen to disappear. I'm putting ideas on paper. I don't want to have to think about the pen, notice its looks, hunt its sweet spot every five minutes, or fight with weight, or bad balance. I have some pens like that and someday I am going to take them back to the flea market where I bought them. The others can stay as long as they behave themselves.

 

Paddler

 

This describes pretty much how I feel about it. I have voted "lightweight".

I love my Pelikan 400s because they have the right weight and the right size - not too thin - too feel comfortable. I can write without thinking about the pen or feeling uncomfortable with the pen. I have other pens I like for one or another reason, too, but only the Pelikan feels perfectly right for my hands.

[Kelly G]

I didn't vote because it depends on the pen - I generally don't live very heavy pens, but there are some pens that are heavy that just feel right. I also like some lighter pens such as ebonite pen. I'm not as crazy for very thin, very light pens, but again, if the pen is a super writer, it works for a lot of situations.

 

The pens I use most often are medium weight and down - but I sure do like that YOL Grand Viceroy!

[freznow]

All of my pens are below 20g capped, and I write uncapped so most end up around 13g. But I wouldn't mind a heavier pen, it's just I like thin pens, and then turns out to be light!

[hamadryad11]

I voted lightweight - 18 grams, but I really mean 'no more than 18 grams'. I should have voted for 13 grams, since that's really what I'd prefer.

 

Anyway, I write enough that lighter is definitely better, what with my tendonitis and all. I've written some letters with a heavier pen and wouldn't want to use one like that all the time. Heavy pens are a novelty for me, at best.

[Tricia]

I voted for light because I think most of the pens I reach for regularly are lightweight. Medium-weight pens work for me, too, as long as they are comfortable to hold. Heavier pens tend to make my hand tired after writing a while, so I don't use the few I have very often.

 

 

 

[Penache]

Most of my regular pens fall in the lightweight range. I prefer this weight range because it puts less strain on my chronic shoulder without the loss of the 'feel' of writing. I suppose it is appropriate I like lightweight pens considering I have a light build myself.

[succubus]

Heavy, well-balanced pens just seem much easier for me to write with. I don't grip them as tightly and therefore have less fatigue.

[Wildoaklane]

I voted for heavy as I like the substantial feel of the pen in my hand which is curious since I have very delicate long fingers. But perhaps it's the long fingers which likes a bigger pen as then I don't have to wrap them around and around the pen!

[Comiris]

Bringing up an old post. We need more votes!!

[Bo Bo Olson]

no scale...

standard sized to medium-large plastic pens.

[BrandonA]

Balance and physical size are more important to me than the actual weight.

 

I love my light pens and my heavy pens. Once it is in the hand I can't really tell the weight difference, mine range from 26 - 64 grams.

[Gcouch]

Heavier pens are more solid and "there" in my opinion. A heavier pen is easier to guide and avoid the death grip with. Thats why I only use metal pens

[Comiris]

Balance and physical size are more important to me than the actual weight.

 

pardon my ignorance but what does balance have to do with FP?

 

What advantage do you get from say a heavy sided nib to well balanced FP.

[rockspyder]

The more it feels like a cast-iron dropper, the better

[iamchum]

I've specifically gone and bought pens based on weight and balance, so I am keenly aware of how much my pens weigh. On average I will not buy anything below 30 grams uncapped. and then above that, I look for balance, with most of the weight leaning towards the nib.