Twsbi Eco Vs Noodlers Ahab Flex

[suman5492]

Hello, guys. I am here today to ask you a very serious question and seek your opinions. I have planned to buy an expensive pen during the Diwali and I have started saving for that. I have two pens in mind, the TWSBI Eco and the NOODLER'S AHAB Flex fountain pen. Both are piston filler, I just love piston filler and ED types. I have seen the videos on youtube regarding the Eco and Noodlers.If anyone is here that have either or both of these two pens please share me your opinion on the basis of -

1. Durability

2. Maintenance

3. Performance.

 

I would really like to own these two but I can't afford to buy them both, so I have to pick one between them. Thanks in advance.

Edited May 26, 2017 by sneeldip

[Mr.Rene]

Why don´t buy a more cheaper pen instead an expensive N. Ahab or T. Eco..Maybe a Montblanc LE will be a good choice .. ...

[mike.jane]

I really enjoy my Noodler's Ahab (with the flex nib modified by me personally) and would certainly recommend it and also buy a second one if I needed it. From Twsbi I only have a Vac700. It's good, but had had issues in the past also.

 

But now...:

I would argue that the intended use for these two pens aren't the same: The Eco is meant to be a very reliable everyday writer and a pen for students that's able to compete with the Lamy Safari and e.g. the Pilot Metro. What does this mean? It means one should be able to buy the pen, lightly quickly flush it once (or not even), then fill it with ink, and it should be good to go and write every time. It shouldn't dry up between uses either due to a focus on the inner cap design. The wetness shuld be medium and the nib should be stiff for ease of note taking even on bad paper.

 

The Ahab on the other hand is a pen by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. When you get it fresh out the box it basically has to (!) be flushed, then there will be things to evaluate: Is everything put together as intended? piston works correctly? do i want to use the piston converter, or choose another filling method? pen writes and ink flow matches my expectations? how about the nib, working correctly, well aligned? Might I like to adjust it (if it's the flex nib maybe)? All of these choices might require extra input; time, effort, try and error, research, etc. from the user.

The Ahab also provides generous ink flow for the flex nib, so the nib might be more likely to drip ink when shaken. Also, the ink might dry up between uses (requires some tapping) because an airtight inner cap wasn't in focus for this design.

 

As I've said, I really like my Ahab, but if i had to (for example) take notes quickly in college, I'd much rather take my Twsbi Vac in F because then there will be no frills, no spills, no fuss, no words staying wet forever and smearing because my Ahab is a wet writer; just solid performance every day.

(Also, the piston converter on my particular Ahab is super stiff, not so easy when filling)

[antichresis]

Hello! I have both will have to say it depends. The Ahab feels better in my hand and I like the (Noodler's non-flex) nib I have on it better than the F nib on my Eco.The Eco writes...flat. It's hard to describe but some pens write very sharply, some are round, some are flat. The Eco is flat, the Ahab is just right for me.

 

That said, you should know three things about the Ahab (your probably know already but it bears reminding): it smells, the "piston" filler is not the same as the one in the Eco, and for the regular resin ones you will experience huge amounts of ink evaporation while the pen is capped. None of these are present in the Eco, but the Ahab is much easier to clean. A Noodler's Konrad I can recommend too.

 

Finally, mike.jane is right that there seems to be more risk in getting Noodler's pens (much like there is a wide variance between batches of their inks). I have been lucky in that the several Noodler's pens that have come into my possession are all good, but others have had a worse experience. I have many friends who have an Eco (some several) and I have heard no complaints from them.

[suman5492]

Why don´t buy a more cheaper pen instead an expensive N. Ahab or T. Eco..Maybe a Montblanc LE will be a good choice .. .L

LE=LIMITED EDITION? Please suggest some model names

[matteob]

I think having both pens that the ECO would be the better choice. It is sturdy, easy to fill and writes well out of the box. The Ahab is a great pen but you need to fettle it to get it working properly.