Why I switched to fountain pens

I received my first fountain pen for my 10th birthday. It was a gift from my father. It was a white Parker Vector with a fine nib and black ink.

Although it sparked my interest in fountain pens, my lefthandedness and the wrong paper that caused feathering and ghosting made me shelf my pen for a long time. It wasn't until I got a fountain pen friendly Victoria's Journal around 2018 that I got back to the habit. I also had a lot of time to write journal then, yet regardless of my schedule, I have committed to keep journalling.

Sheaffer 300, the heaviest in my collection, feels sturdy in my hand.

However, today's article is not about journaling but the main reasons why I have fully switched to fountain pens. I rarely use ballpoint pens and pencils these days. Here are the top 5 reasons why I use fountain pens.

First, they are beautiful.
Fountain pens are a work of art. The nibs themselves are a conversation piece because of the designs that range from the simple to the intricate. The nibs are also what makes a fountain pen. That's why pen makers pay so much attention to them. Personally, I bought the TWSBI Vac 700R because of its unique iridescent nib. It is such a joy to use.

Aside from the nibs, the body of the pen itself can be a statement piece. I like how fountain pens can look preppy or professional, depending on the design and the color combination.

Just like this Pilot Vanishing Point, for example. It looks so sophisticated. Aside from that, it has a clicker design, so you don't lose the cap (that's why they also call this Capless).

Second, they are sustainable.
Quality fountain pens may be expensive, but they are also durable. They can last for years, even decades. So you don't need to buy new pens every time the ink runs out. Moreover, with proper care and maintenance, they do not easily get damaged.

My first fountain pen, which is shown below, is 25 years old now. I thought I lost it, but found it shortly before my 34th birthday, and I have been using it ever since.

Some quick tips on how to make your fountain pens last is to thoroughly clean them once a month, especially when changing ink colors. You should only use inks that are made for fountain pens.

For beginners, I highly recommend Parker Quink. It's affordable, and the blue black color is great.

Third, they are reliable.
This is the deciding factor for me. As a leftie, many times, a ballpoint pen would start-stop due to the angle and direction of the pressure that my hand makes. Sometimes, they would just dry up for no reason at all. For pencils, I can't use them in certain occasions because they are eraseable.

But with fountain pens, I can use them right away as long as they are inked. I can also write better despite my lefthandedness. I also use inks that have quicker dry time to avoid blots and smears. It also helps that I mostly use fine nibs because of my handwriting size.

The Pilot Metropolitan's fine nib is perfect for my handwriting.

I also have a Pilot desk fountain pen with an extra fine nib. It's a bit scratchy because of the nib size, but it writes well even on regular paper (not fountain pen friendly).

Fourth, they are customizable.
You can match the fountain pen body with the ink. You can also switch nib sizes on certain models such as with Lamy Safari (I have fine and extra-fine nibs). You can also swap nib housing units in Pilot Capless (Decimo and Vanishing Point). There are countless possibilities with fountain pens.

In the photo above, I am using Sheaffer purple ink to match with the pink Lamy Safari (middle).

Fifth, it is time to go analog again.
At least, in terms of notetaking, journaling, and even letter writing. Writing notes by hand strengthens the neural pathways between the hand and the brain, increasing memory retention. I also feel that I express myself better when I write by hand instead of just typing on a keyboard.

For this article, for example, I have a handwritten draft that I wrote with fountain pens.

So that's it for now. I hope I have inspired or convinced you a little bit to try using fountain pens. I will surely be back in the future with another fountain-pen-related article.

If you're also into fountain pens like me, please let me know in the comment section below. You may also throw me a question.

Happy writing! ✒️