The Best Fountain Pen

Updated on 24 February 2023

This comparison is certified 100% impartial and follows our selection process.

Although it appears to have a metal design, this pen is made of plastic. Nevertheless, this did not impede it from winning the German Design Award in 2020. But we did not take this award as the only reason to include it in our selection.  On testing it, we can say that it represents the best compromise between comfort in hand and writing fluidity. Its triangular rubber grip makes it easy to place the fingers and very pleasant to hold, while the nib glides easily over the paper without spilling too much ink. The price is a further argument for making it an everyday pen, whether for schoolchildren, students or professionals.

The fountain pen differs from the biros by having a thicker and more sophisticated writing style.

There are pens made of metal or durable plastic. Depending on the material, price and weight will vary.

The quality of the writing depends on how you hold the pen.

It is also crucial to check if the ink dries fast enough to avoid smudging.

The nib comes in different calibres: extra fine, fine, medium (best compromise) and large.

Our test results were positive for this fountain pen, whose vibrant colours we immediately appreciated. It features a good line quality, enhanced by an ultra-strong steel nib. The flow is light, even a little irregular, but this does not make writing excessively difficult, and the ink dries quickly enough for left-handers. The grip is pleasant, even if the joint between the grip area and the body of the pen is quite marked: the positive consequence is that you have to hold your pen correctly to avoid finger pain. Finally, although it is the heaviest of our selection, we found it quite balanced in practice and appreciated its good quality metal design.

Made of chrome-plated stainless steel and finished with 23-carat gold plating, this fountain pen has a slim but quite long body and grip area. The long gold nib also glides nicely on paper. In our tests, however, we noticed that it is designed more for occasional use (annotations, signatures, etc.) than for long note-taking, as it may lack comfort over time. If it takes one of the podium places in this selection, it is simply because of the excellent construction quality and the elegance of its finish, which make it as ornamental as it is practical.

This model quickly stood out in our tests due to its comfortable handle. The triangular grip with a soft coating helps place the fingers properly and is very pleasing. In addition, the fountain pen is light, so it can withstand long work sessions without causing pain. The iridium nib sticks a little to the paper, so writing is slower and less fluid than other models, making it ideal for children to practise writing. In short, its price/performance ratio is very convincing for this type of use.

This practical fountain pen provides performances in line with what you expect from a classic model. The writing is light, the ink flow is good, and it’s comfortable for short note-taking. On testing, we found the line to be a little wider than its competitors, despite having a standard M-size steel tip. In terms of format, it is a little wider than the Parker Jotter, which is why we preferred its grip, even if the space for the fingers is a little too short for our taste.

Our selection

Our choice, best budget	Best mid-range	Best high-end	Budget alternative	Mid-range alternative
Schneider Ceod Shiny	Pilot MR3	Waterman Hemisphere	Maped Nightfall	Parker IM
It combines high writing quality with an ultra-comfortable grip, thanks to a stainless steel nib with an iridium tip and an ergonomic rubberized grip suitable for both right and left-handed users.	This fountain pen stands out for its colourful design, but also for offering very smooth writing and a pleasant enough grip for long hours of use.	This model stands out above all for its neat design and its case, which means that it is ideal for giving as a gift. Its grip and writing style make it ideal for short notes.	Both lightweight and comfortable in hand, we feel this fountain pen is the most suitable choice for young school children learning to write, despite its lower quality plastic barrel.	It is a simple and functional model ideal for those looking for a fountain pen that does its job well, no more and no less. The weight is certainly notable, but this is due to its stainless steel design.
See the price on Amazon	See the price on Amazon	£ 47.71 on Amazon	£ 10.92 on Amazon	£ 25.49 on Amazon

How did we do the tests?

To test these fountain pens, we naturally took the time to write with each one. First, we looked at their overall appearance, weight and the materials used. Next, we evaluated the handling comfort, especially the length and material of the grip area (space for the fingers).

During the writing tests, the fluidity on the paper, the thickness of the line and the amount of ink supplied were analysed. The drying speed of the ink was also checked.

How to choose a fountain pen?

Capable of offering a unique graphic and artistic experience, the fountain pen differs from its ballpoint counterpart by the quality of its writing (wider and more sophisticated), but also by the ink it uses. Indeed, far from the oil-based ink usually offered by classic pens, it benefits from a more traditional liquid “fuel”.

To choose the fountain pen best suited to your needs, you should pay attention to a few criteria prior to purchase:

• The materials: there are fountain pens with a metal coating or resistant plastic, such as ABS. For the nib, the most commonly used is stainless steel, but some high-end models use small touches of gold to make them more precious. Depending on the materials you choose, the weight and price will be more or less affected.

• The grip space: the quality of writing depends, no doubt, on how the fountain pen is held. The space for fingers is of particular interest: it should be long enough, comfortable and prevent the fingers from slipping. Some are made of plastic, while others are made of silicone and have specific markings to position the fingers properly: these are ideal for young children learning to write.

• The nib: this is one of the most important parts, as it will define your writing on paper. It is available in different sizes; XF (extra fine); F (fine); M (medium) and B (broad). Please note that size M offers an excellent compromise, as it satisfies 80% of users.

• The ink and cartridges: although most fountain pens use universal cartridges, usually available in two different lengths, some only use branded cartridges. Check the compatibility of these, as well as the drying time of the ink on the paper.

Other fountain pens recommended 

Waterman Allure (£14.49 upon publication): a rather good fountain pen reserved for right-handers. This medium-sized fountain pen is a little heavy, but it’s pleasant on hand and glides well on paper. However, it releases more ink than its rivals and therefore dries more slowly, making it unsuitable for left-handers who run the risk of smudging when writing. Its chrome-plated metal barrel and its softness on paper make it an attractive and low-cost alternative for right-handers.

Other fountain pens tested

Pilot V-Pen Pro (pack of 2) (£8.26 upon publication): During our tests, we found its writing to be fluid, but the pen seems to use a lot of ink and it smudges on the paper. This makes it all the more regrettable that it is not refillable, but disposable.

BIC Xpen (£8.95 upon publication): On paper, this fountain pen stands out with its ridged grip area. In practice, however, we found the plastic design very uncomfortable under the fingers. In addition, we found it impossible to write a single word with the pen, despite a full ink cartridge… 

Parker Jotter (£19.28 upon publication): Although very popular, this fountain pen did not convince us during our tests. It is very short and thin (it doesn’t offer the best grip comfort), and even if the writing is fluid, the ink is very diluted, so the result on paper is not very good.

Lamy Safari (£21.98 upon publication): Although we appreciated the presence of an ink indicator and the writing quality of the nib, we didn’t find it comfortable enough when holding to place it in our top selection.