Fountain Pen Recommendations For Long Sessions

[Etagelle]

Hi,

 

I've been using the Pilot Metropolitan for long exams and realise that they aren't really very good for me. My hands sweat a lot so it makes me use more force to grab the pen. When writing for long sessions, the part where you cap kinda digs into my fingers which makes it really uncomfortable. At the end of 2 hours and 9 pages of essays, my hands cramped a lot. Any recommendations for fountain pens with a more ergonomic design and also for sweaty fingers? My budget would be around $100 aud.

Edited June 5, 2019 by Etagelle

[ParkerDuofold]

Hi,

 

I've been using the Pilot Metropolitan for long exams and realise that they aren't really very good for me. My hands sweat a lot so it makes me use more force to grab the pen. When writing for long sessions, the part where you cap kinda digs into my fingers which makes it really uncomfortable. At the end of 2 hours and 9 pages of essays, my hands cramped a lot. Any recommendations for fountain pens with a more ergonomic design and also for sweaty fingers? My budget would be around $100 aud.

Hi Etagelle,

 

Insomnia brought me here.

 

For my compatriots... at the current rate of exchange... our friend here is looking for a pen in the neighborhood of around $70 USD.

 

You know, you could save some money and get a Noodler's Ahab. It's a large, but lightweight pen with a girthy grip... and if you swap up the stock nib for a better-grade #6 nib; the pen transforms from a Gagomatic to a half-way decent pen... just don't expect it to see you into your 30s.

 

Other pens to consider... which are inexpensive but reliable... and come with larger grips are the Stabilo EZ Buddy and the Faber Castell Grip.

 

None of these pens will be mistaken for a Cadillac, but they're all lightweight pens with comfortable grips and well within your budget.

 

Be well.

 

 

- Anthony

[ParkerDuofold]

Just to follow-up...

 

Since pens are so easy to lose in the college milieu... either from distracted thought... or from nefarious compatriots who spilled glue on their hands... you won't shed any tears if you suddenly found yourself without any of my suggested pens.

 

 

- A.C.

[Etagelle]

When I write with the Metropolitan, I don't know if it is an incorrect way to write but I feel that it is too light and I actually need to press the pen to write. I think it's me I'm not sure. I hold a fountain pen like how I would hold a normal ballpoint pen.

[Etagelle]

Btw, I saw the Lamy Studio for around 47 usd on Massdrop. I am looking at the brushed steel version with rubber grip. Worth the price?

[OmegaMountain]

Btw, I saw the Lamy Studio for around 47 usd on Massdrop. I am looking at the brushed steel version with rubber grip. Worth the price?

I have one and it is an excellent pen so long as you're ok with using a converter or cartridges. The rubber grip is very comfortable and the pen has a good weight to me but nowhere near too heavy. Also, it's very easy to change out Lamy nibs and the steel ones only cost around $15 so you can do that instead of buying a whole new pen if you find you would prefer a different line width.

[MuddyWaters]

Lamy safari, Al star and studio may all be decent options, but would you be able to go to a store to try them out?

[sandy101]

Platinum Plasir, Platinum #3776 - maybe something with a soft touch grip such as a Faber Castell Grip?

[Bo Bo Olson]

You have Death Grip, and more than likely the deadly Kung Fu thumb pinch.

You grip too hard....Is normal coming over from ball points.

In it takes many people three or more months to lighten their grip from the classic tripod, I suggest the 'fore finger up' method of grasping a fountain pen.

Do look up Death Grip.........use to be a thousand threads on that.

 

The forefinger up is used by a few good posters, but we are in a minority. The forefinger up is an automatic light grip. Takes three minuets to learn; one takes a week switching between the tripod and forefinger up.... before the change of grip is normal.....took me some three or so days....and a couple of days to change from habit tripod grip to the lighter forefinger up grip.

For a day or so, your writing may be larger than it was before..........no big deal.

 

Forefinger up = no more hand cramps/fatigue, no pain at the middle finger nail junction, and no more pressing down like a madman....left over from ball points.

 

( back in the day of B&W TV.....I did have the Death Grip....a teacher told me to lighten up my grip, but didn't stand over me for the three months to do so from the tripod.)

 

Long flat thumb, and at 08:30 on the barrel is the key.

Help! How Do You Hold Your Fountain Pen?

Edited June 5, 2019 by Bo Bo Olson

[ParkerDuofold]

Btw, I saw the Lamy Studio for around 47 usd on Massdrop. I am looking at the brushed steel version with rubber grip. Worth the price?

Excellent option... I love mine... and that's a great price... especially for the Australian market.

 

 

- Anthony

[A Smug Dill]

Any recommendations for fountain pens with a more ergonomic design and also for sweaty fingers? My budget would be around $100 aud.

I'm not going to second-guess what "a more ergonomic design" entails, since I'm completely unschooled in ergonomics and human factors in design. It seems to me you're asking for something to meet the requirements of:

• No significant physical step-down between barrel and section
• Preferably without a 'glossy' smooth section, irrespective of the material
• Possibly lighter in weight than a metal-bodied Pilot MR
• Holds enough ink in its internal ink reservoir for 9 or more pages of dense writing

Without considering what offers good/superior value-for-money on the market, I'd say the Lamy Safari in umbra (matte charcoal) would tick all those boxes. Personally I wouldn't spend Lamy's RRP in Australia for it on such a pen (but I do have one of those), but nevertheless it seems to be a good functional and qualitative fit for your requirements.

[kronion]

[...] Pilot Metropolitan for long exams [...]

[...] the part where you cap kinda digs into my fingers [...]

[...] pens with a more ergonomic design and also for sweaty fingers? My budget would be around $100 aud.

 

It really helped me to switch pens, as soon as I felt my fingers cramping in exams. Therefore, my suggestion: Better get two pens < 50$: One with a slim and one with a wide section (the grip piece), and try them out before. To vary even more parameters: I used to start with a light (slim) pen and continue later with a heavier (and wider) metal pen.

 

Personally, I love the Lamy Safari (not so much its look, but its usability). Mine has a slightly rough surface and does not become slippery from sweat. However, not everyone likes the triangular shape of the section, which forces your fingers into a "correct" position, which some find very helpful. For a more girthy section, I suggest looking at Indian ebonite pens, which may seem big, but are very comfortable, or a heavier Chinese pen made of metal (the large Jinhao 159 might even have a rubber section?). - Again, this is very personal.

Edited June 5, 2019 by kronion

[A Smug Dill]

However, not everyone likes the triangular shape of the section, which forces your fingers into a "correct" position,

That makes it "more ergonomic", no?

[corgicoupe]

I use a light grip much like Bo Bo's illustration in the link, but tend to bend my middle finger under the pen at about 5:30. I suppose this lets me slide down the section just a tad.

[jameswatts]

Lamy Safari and AL-Stars is an excellent choice -- I have several and usually take them on long trips when I will be doing a lot of writing. I prefer EF nibs as they suit my handwriting best, and they are extremely reliable starters.

 

Another, more pricey option, would be the Platinum 3776 Century, which can be found easily for under $100. Like Lamy, Platinum is a proprietary cartridge-converter pen, but it is another excellent pen. Light in weight, great nibs, and a cap sealing system that helps prevent dry-out.

 

Third option would be TWSBI. I know some have he'd issues with this brand, but I've been greatly pleased with the TWSBI pens I have. Current favorite is the VAC-700. It holds a large amount of ink and the nib gives my writing a touch of character. And my 580 rivals the Pelikan 800s I own as writers.

Edited June 5, 2019 by jameswatts

[kronion]

That makes it "more ergonomic", no?

 

Definitely yes, I would say that it helps me during long writing sessions.

 

I'm just saying it is probably not for everyone equally. Some people are used to rotating their pen a bit as they write - those might have a problem with the Safari (one would recommend an oblique nib in this case, I guess). Thus: Try the Safari out before you buy it, and I hope you will instantly fall in love with it

[putteringpenman]

For a quick fix, I also suggest a Lamy Safari. The triangular grip will help you out a lot.

 

For a long term solution, read the chapter about pen grip and arm position in The Palmer Method of Business Writing which will correct many of your hand cramping issues.

[Etagelle]

Thanks for the advice on the grip. Still trying to figure it out, haha. Will try out the Lamy Safari. In the meantime, bought the Kaco Edge. I know that kinda deviates from the recommendations but want to try makralon pen. Saw on etsy that there were some indian ebonite eyedropper pens for cheap as well. Is ebonite good for sweaty fingers?

[A Smug Dill]

Is ebonite good for sweaty fingers?

material ≠ finish ≠ shape

 

A bead-blasted round chrome section would be less of a problem for sweaty fingers than a glossy smooth round chrome section.

 

A multi-faceted smooth chrome section would be less of a problem for sweaty fingers than a glossy smooth round chrome section.

 

Does that mean chrome is good or bad for sweaty fingers?

[BaronWulfraed]

When I write with the Metropolitan, I don't know if it is an incorrect way to write but I feel that it is too light and I actually need to press the pen to write. I think it's me I'm not sure. I hold a fountain pen like how I would hold a normal ballpoint pen.

 

Since I so seldom even use a rollerball (I avoid oil-based ballpoints and "gel" pens; my disposable pens are porous nylon tips -- Pigma Micron, for example) I'm not really sure what "hold a normal ballpoint" entails.

 

I'm presuming it means a rather upright position with the barrel crossing near the 2nd joint of the index finger (counting: tip, first, second, third/base). My fountain pen hold puts the barrel somewhere in the web between thumb and index finger (exact position may vary with how the pen balances -- tail heavy pens may try to settle against the base of the thumb, and have a tendency for the nib to want to lift from the paper, most pens ride closer to the base of the index finger).