Light vs. Heavy Pens

[UsFour]

Greetings. Another newbie question:

 

What would you say is the difference between a lighter pen -- like, say the M200, and a heavier pen, say, like the Studio. I'm not referring to those models specifically -- just using them as examples. The main focus of the question is on weight, including:

 

1. One's view of the differences

 

2. One's preference, and why...

 

 

Thanks to all! I now prepare to bask in more radiant illumination.

 

Am even trying out a few icons this time!

 

UsFour

 

[vermillionpart4]

Weight is all about preference. Some like a lead-fishing weight in their hand and others prefer a more ethereal feel

[UsFour]

Weight is all about preference. Some like a lead-fishing weight in their hand and others prefer a more ethereal feel

 

Thank you for your reply, Vermillion...

 

If you have time, what would you say is your preference -- and can you speak -- even "ethereally" -- as to why?

 

Thanks!

 

Usfour

[Songwind]

Comfort and balance is the big one.

 

Some people feel they cannot control a light pen as well. They like the solid feel of the heavier pen in their hand. OTOH, some people feel a heavier pen wears them out and they can't write as long.

 

Personally, I used to think I liked heavy pens, until I got some light pens that I liked. Now I am vastly in favor of the lighter pens. I have better control and penmanship with them, and can write marginally longer.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Since I have perennially sore hands I NEED a light (and fat) pen. I have a couple of nice heavier pens like the Sheaffer Legacy, the Levenger Mach 6, and some custom wood-bodied pens that I can't really use much now.

 

So for me it's a matter of necessity, but even before, I wasn't keen on a really really heavy pen. Too tiring.

[Sharkle]

 

For comfort, I think I finally narrowed down my preference to 25-35 g, although I have pens I use regularly that weigh more and less than this range. I would definitely choose a very light pen over very heavy for fatigue reasons. Also, I don't like to be aware of the pen's weight the entire time I'm writing. It is definitely a comfort and balance issue for me. Of course, you can find a pen that is just the right weight for you, only to find that the balance isn't in your favor, with too much of the pen's weight in one spot. One thing that's a real plus for me is when an online seller lists weight. Most don't, though.

 

[leftnose]

I'll take the middle road. I like mid-weight pens. My personal favorite pen to write with is the Lamy 2000. Its size is perfect for my hand, it balances nicely, and has that middle-of-the-road weight.

[Ondina]

Oh, my.... I think the Studio is light!. My preferences tilt over very heavy ones. But light pens are nice sometimes.

[mayeeta]

Sometimes I only want to write with heavy pens, sometimes I only want to write with light pens. It depends on what I'm writing, how long I will write, and my mood. There are plenty of great light/heavy pens that I would be happy to write with.

[EventHorizon]

Oh, my.... I think the Studio is light!. My preferences tilt over very heavy ones. But light pens are nice sometimes.

 

And there is a good point............

 

For me, I lean more towards the lighter pens. I have two Esterbrook model J's with me today and they weigh a little over 15 grams (0.5 oz) and that is my preference. Please note they are both about 50% full of ink. Why? I write about 2 pages of notes a day at work and I have found that this weight works the best for me. I do have heavier pens and like them also but overall it's this weight range that works for me. I have some smaller vinatge Arnold pens that weigh around 10-12 grams and those are to light plus to small. I bought them because I collect as much as I use.

 

[lapis]

Hmm, actually a good question but hard to answer so here's my go:

 

1. My view (no joke here) is the real weight or mass itself, just like the dimensions which are in inch or cm etc so I just look up the values in grams or weigh the things myself on a good balance. E.g. a Pelikan Toledo M900 weighs 40 g. My M215 is only half as heavy, but my M800 is "already" 3/4 as heavy. (Your M200 is one gram lighter than my M215)

 

2. My preference is a somewhat heavy pen. Of course a pen can be way too heavy. E.g. a Montegrappa Blauer Nil -- the very most beautiful pen I've ever seen -- weighs in at 179g (yes, one-seventy-nine). But at the same time I'll never be able to afford it anyway so forget it

 

If a pen is too light for me (like anything lighter than my NoNonsense of 18g) then I just have the feeling that I don't have enough in my hand, don't have anything to really get a hold of.

If a pen is pretty heavy (the M900 is on the border) then my hand might conk out after writing with it for more than an hour but then I'm not sure here...

So, you see, I can already explain why I need a lot of new pens. :ltcapd:

 

Cheers

Mike

[el3ssar]

I don't like fat pens, I'm comfortable with pens in the 18g - 25g range

[burmeseboyz]

I like fat pens that are also medium to light weight. Like plastic or hard rubber pens. I say no to those bulemic pens. They cramp out my hand a lot more regardless of their weight.

[KCat]

I have hand pain quite often and I use lightweight pens because I can use them longer without discomfort. However, balance is critical. a lightweight pen with a heavy cap that can't be posted has come to be a bit of problem. I never used to post and now I do most of the time. I have 2 or 3 pens that have such heavy caps relative to the barrel weight that I can't post them. No big deal as long as they're long enough pens, M600 or longer, though I post my 600s as well.

 

At the same time, an example of what I consider a heavy pen, the Namiki/Pilot VP, is very comfortable for me. It is so well balanced that I don't notice the weight most of the time. Otherwise, a heavy pen makes me feel like I have to grip tighter and this increases fatigue. I have trained myself not to give FPs a death grip like I do BPs. That means a heavy pen will feel like it's going to fall out of my hands so I go back to a death grip.

 

For me, there's no such thing as too light though aesthetically I prefer something at least M200 in weight. That's just aesthetics. There's something a little bothersome to me about the Varsity and similar ultra-cheap pens. I think it's because it feels too much like using a bic stic. Even though Varistys in particular are excellent pens for the price.

 

 

[MYU]

I hate to admit it, but I used to have a subconscious tendency to feel that a light pen is "cheaper". I know it's silly, because Maki-e pens are light pens but wow--so much effort goes into making them, demanding top dollar. Conversely, a heavier pen would feel more substantial to me. I have a large hand and don't write many pages a day, so the extra weight does not impact my writing.

 

But... over time I've managed to "shift" my mind about that. Yeah, a really, REALLY light pen will always feel cheap to me, but certainly an uncapped Parker 51, Lamy 27, Lamy 2000, and many other pens of similar or even higher price caliber don't feel cheap to me any longer.

 

I have recently used inexpensive pens that are heavier than average... and they don't feel more "value substantial" to me anymore.

 

Ultimately, you want a pen that you can control well without developing undue fatigue. Too light a pen might make it difficult to keep the nib on track exactly as you wish, whereas too heavy a pen will tire out your hand sooner.

 

 

[KCat]

I hate to admit it, but I used to have a subconscious tendency to feel that a light pen is "cheaper". I know it's silly, because Maki-e pens are light pens but wow--so much effort goes into making them, demanding top dollar. Conversely, a heavier pen would feel more substantial to me. I have a large hand and don't write many pages a day, so the extra weight does not impact my writing.

 

I think that's a very common misconception. It makes people shirk some very good pens unfortunately. And in truth, it probably is harder to manufacture a lightweight pen that remains sturdy and has a quality integrated filling system (yes, Pelikan comes to mind) than it is to manufacture something like a Phileas with it's brass lining.

[langere]

For me, balance is the key (as a number of you have said). I fell in love with the Scheaffer PFMs (and their successors) because of that reason.

 

Otherwise, light pens, heavy pens - they're all the same because they are all different. I delight in the variability of the pen-writing experience - every pen gives me a different feel.

 

And that's one of the most important reasons why I have a whole bunch of fountain pens (good excuse, right?)

 

Erick

[DeaconKC]

I think a great deal has to do with the size and strength of an individual. I love the beauty of my Sheaffer Balances, but many are small, light pens and are nearly too small to be comfortable in my hand, so they are used for special occasions and Church [underlining, notes, etc.]. But someone with small hands would find them perfect. I bench press over 300 pounds so the weight of a pen is negligible to me. But someone with arthritis in their hands will find a vast difference in a few grams of weight. The physical size of the hand will also affect whether a particular pen feels better posted or unposted.

[Shangas]

I prefer pens that are light/medium-weight.

 

Pens which are heavy (either by design or by accident, or which are unnecessarily heavy), are a pain to use.

[Bela]

I have a Waterman Lauréat and an Hémisphère, and a Parker 61: they're all perfect for me. What do they qualify as? Medium weight?