The 5 best fountain pens for beginners

For a technology that's at least 100 years old now, it's exciting to see fountain pens having a bit of a renaissance. As dedicated pen lovers, we can certainly understand why – there's a sense of romance that comes with using a fountain pen, and newer styles can't quite compete. There’s no wrong way to start your adventure, but there are so many fountain pens to choose from that it can be a bit daunting. That's why we've chosen a few of our favourite pens to help you take that all-important first step. LAMY Safari Because the nib needs to be held at a much shallower angle than a more familiar ballpoint pen, there can be a bit of a learning curve when you pick up a fountain pen for the first time. The triangular grip of LAMY's safari fountain pen helps a nib-pen newbie find the proper writing posture, with design is so intuitive that you won't even realise it's happening until you're already gliding across the page.The LAMY Safari is a true modern classic and has become an industry staple since its launch in 1980. Originally designed for the rough and tumble life of German high schoolers, the safari is simple in its construction and super easy to maintain, it's sturdy and reliable enough to be your jumping-off point, or a lifelong companion. Kaweco Perkeo The Kaweco Perkeo is a playful entry-point to the world of fountain pens and is available in a wide range of bright colours. Despite taking its name from one of Kaweco’s earliest fountain pen models that dates back to 1908, the Perkeo is far from your grandpa’s fuddy-duddy old fountain pen, with a lightweight design and fun colours that give a classic pen a more modern feel.One of the fun parts of fountain pens is experimenting with different inks, and the Perkeo makes that super easy. Since it takes international standard cartridges, you can try out all sorts of ink, from French legends Herbin to Kaweco's range of beautiful ink. Pilot Kakuno In many ways, the Pilot Kakuno is the Perkeo’s distant cousin, sharing a form-factor so similar you'd be forgiven for confusing the two. Setting the Pilot Kakuno apart, though, is a wide selection of nibs (and the cute smiley face engraved on the nib – it's not functional, but it IS lovely).Japanese pen makers like Pilot tend to have much finer nibs than their German counterparts, which gives them a very different feel on the page. With a touch of feedback that’s reminiscent of a freshly sharpened pencil, there’s no better fountain pen than the Kakuno with an Extra Fine nib for sharp, detailed line drawing. Kaweco Sport The undisputed king of pocket fountain pens, the Kaweco Sport was revolutionary when introduced in 1911. By no means the first pocket-sized pen, it was certainly one of the first that was designed from the ground up for exactly that purpose.With the cap screwed on, the Kaweco Sport is small enough to fit into the shallowest of shirt pockets. However, once you unscrew it and post the cap on the end, the Sport becomes a brilliantly ergonomic length, perfect for short or long sessions of writing. The Kaweco Sport is available in an array of colours that range from bright and fun to shades as classic as a Racing Green Jaguar D-Type. Traveler’s Company Brass Fountain Pen Since its launch in 2018, the Traveler’s Company Brass Fountain Pen has been slowly accumulating a devoted cult following. A true contender to the Kaweco Sport’s crown as best pocket fountain pen, the Traveler’s Company Brass Fountain Pen is great for the quick-draw notetaker with its snap closure and accurate fine nib.Compatible with standard international cartridges and made from solid brass, this pen really lives up to its name as a brilliantly dependable travel companion. That brass finish also guarantees that this pen will age beautifully, developing a patina that's as unique to you as your fingerprints are.Now, of course, this list is by no means exhaustive. From the kid-friendly ABC Fountain Pen to the curvier Pilot Metropolitan, there are as many options to choose from as there are pen enthusiasts. If we can give you one piece of advice, though, let it be this: just go for it. Dive in, find what works for you, what doesn’t, experiment, and soon enough you’ll find the one for you. The pens on this list, all of them, are sturdy enough and reliable enough to be your one-and-only. There's a whole world of fountain pens out there, and any number of them would be a great place to start. Check out our range of fountain pens to find the one that's right for you.

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