PILOT Varsity Pre-Filled Fountain Pens, Medium Point Stainless Steel Nib, Black Ink, 12-Pack

This is the only pen I use besides refillable fountain pens. Light with a great feel in your hands keeps away the finger cramps for long writing sessions. The pen nib is a medium size so it can smear a little and the writing can run a little thick, but unless you want a very fine line, you’re looking at a great quality pen. One pen also goes a long way as the ink lasts a long while. In my opinion, makes any writing project look great!

I have been writing with, collecting, and loving fountain pens for forty years. I own, and have owned, pens costing many hundreds of dollars. I have restored antique pens to almost new condition. I say this only as background for my comments.These disposable pens are wonderful. For less than $2.50, you can write with a real, expressive fountain pen. The nib, (the "point", business end, whatever) is stainless steel, and the ink supply seems inexhaustable.To clarify some confusion in other reviews, be aware that these are real fountain pens. Expensive pens, that you use, refill, and use again for years, usually have gold nibs (14-21kt). The gold nib usually has a tiny ball of iridium welded to the end during manufacture. Iridium, the same metal found most plentifully in meteors, is hard, and prevents the gold from wearing quickly. The gold provides the flexibility needed for expressive writing. Less expensive are pens with stainless steel nibs, also tipped in iridium.The nibs on these DISPOSABLE pens are stainless steel, without the iridium. The nib wears well, for the life of the throw-away pen.Try these, you'll like them. If you don't, your investment is very small.If you do like the experience, go on to better pens, I suggest the Waterman 'Phileas' as a good next step. The nib is stainless steel, iridium tipped, and gold plated (for looks, only). As a bonus, the pen has a classic look, perhaps reminding one of Jules Verne and his traveller. The price is usually in the $25.00-$35.00 range. Great colors, matching roller ball and ballpoint available. After that, the adventure continues, limited only by your pocket book.If you are a fountain pen person, but just don't know it yet, there is no better, low cost way to find out than these disposable pens. 'Way better' than any ballpoint or rollerball.

Love these pens. They write super smooth right out of the box—no skipping, no weird break-in period, just clean, crisp lines from the first stroke. The ink color is vibrant, and the feel in hand is surprisingly nice for something disposable. The grip is just right for my slightly large hands. The ink dries quickly, though I'm not lefty, so that's not typically something I have too much problem with. I prefer the fine point > medium because my handwriting is messy and small and sometime the medium makes it bit blurry.Only downside? I keep losing them. But honestly, that’s kind of the point—they’re affordable enough that I don’t have to launch a full-scale search-and-rescue mission every time one disappears under the car seat or into the pen void at work.Great for everyday writing without the heartbreak if one vanishes. Definitely a repeat buy.

This is the second box of Pilot Varsity Pens I've purchased. The first box 'lasted' about a year -- which is to say that about a year passed before the box was empty. I only recall throwing two of them away because the ink was depleted, so I imagine that there are 10 more scattered in pockets, purses, cars, desk drawers, etc. These really do the trick if you are looking for fountain pen you don't have to worry about losing. They write easily and reliably. Though the nib is listed as medium, I am a lifelong fine point user, and I do not cringe when I see my handwriting. I love beautiful pens more than I will ever love jewelry, and have a treasured collection -- but sometimes I just want utility. My handwriting is all but illegible with a ball point pen, and the variety of gel pens, roller balls, etc. that I've tried as a compromise just never seem to work the way I want. (And certainly cost at least a much as these.) These fit the bill perfectly.

People who enjoy writing for the sake of writing often gravitate toward fountain pens. Their initial cost can be a bit high, so the Pilot Varsity is an ideal starter pen. You have a chance to try out fountain pens for just a few bucks.It's a smooth, easy writer, and then ink lasts quite a bit longer than you'd expect. It writes fairly wet, but the ink dries quickly, so that smudging isn't a problem. It's very lightweight, which may appeal to some, but I'd like a bit heavier barrel. The barrel style is not particularly memorable, but again, it's an entry level pen. If you own more expensive fountain pens, you may also be hesitant to loan them out to friends. But with a Pilot Varsity, you can let a friend try one. Pretty soon, they may be hooked on fountain pens too. When you're ready to move up a bit, but not spend too much more, try the Pilot Knight, also sold by Amazon.

I originally received these yesterday, but I was sent the wrong color (blue) I ordered PURPLE. I went right in to return/replace & Amazon instantly made it right by sending out the PURPLE without charging me again as long as I drop the other box off at Staples by 2/1 or within 30 days (don't remember, it's in my email). THANKS Amazon, mistakes happen, but this couldn't have been any easier! Happy Customer here! 💜💜💜I just noticed that ALL the reviews I've read for these pens on Amazon are for the blue or black ink. I've just got to say that these disposable fountain pens in purple are actually the best quality purple ink I've ever used! VERY, VERY, HAPPY CUSTOMER! Thanks again Amazon! 💜💜💜