Clairefontaine, Rhodia, Leuchtturm, and house favorite Write Notepads all make excellent and more widely available paper that handles water-based ink quite well, but the paper may be more expensive than what you are used to. Writing with a fountain pen or rollerball will likely force you to more carefully consider your paper choices.
The problem is, most fountain pens and many rollerballs tend to feather and bleed through most thin or inexpensive paper, leaving you with ballpoint, gel pens, or even pencil as your most plausible "cheap paper" options.
Some people absolutely love Field Notes, Moleskines, composition books, and yellow legal pads, or want the flexibility of being able to use whatever their office stocks in the supply closet or printer.
For lefty-related questions, I would refer you to Ana over at the Well-Appointed Desk, who has published a wealth of helpful information on considerations for left-handed writers. The other can't, and sticks to ballpoints and quick-drying gel pens. One is an "underwriter" who can use pretty much any pen comfortably, including fountain pens. I'm right-handed, but the other two members of my household are southpaws. Many fountain pen inks can take as long as a minute to dry, and even more if you use slick paper. When I'm away from my desk, I find myself reaching more and more for a ballpoint pen, gel pen, or a woodcase pencil, which are not only easier to deploy but also withstand things like rain and coffee rings.įor lefties, choosing the proper pen can be tricky, depending on how you hold the pen and whether you tend to smudge ink that doesn't dry quickly enough. Or do you spend your days "in the field," jotting down notes in a pocket notebooks or otherwise writing while standing up? Then it might be hard for you to use a fountain pen, especially one that you have to cap/uncap one-handed while simultaneously holding a notebook or a clipboard. If you choose wisely, you'll get years of enjoyment from your new companion.Īre you writing mostly at a desk, where ink can take time to dry and things like water resistance are less important? If so, you probably have a lot of flexibility. When considering a purchase, I'd encourage you to ask yourself the following questions. For many people, ballpoints, rollerballs, and gel pens are infinitely more practical solutions, and you can find great pens of all types at every price point. Don't set your heart on an expensive fountain pen simply because other people think fountain pens are the only option for "real" pen enthusiasts. I firmly believe that if you're going to buy a pen that you will use everyday, it's worth it to take some time, carefully consider the purchase, and spend what you need (and can comfortably afford) to get the right tool that actually works for you. What kind of pen should I buy?" It's also one of the most difficult question to answer, because it depends on so many variables: personal aesthetic preferences, how you plan to use the pen, and of course, your budget. By far, the most common question I receive through the website and via social media DMs is "I want to buy my first nice pen.