Inexpensive Pens That I Reach For Often

Whilst it may seem that the only writing instruments I use are fancy fountain or machined barreled pens, I actually use my fair share of your normal, everyday, "over-the-counter" pens for much of my general writing and note taking. And, it is nice from time to time to not worry about whether or not I leave a pen on someone else's desk in the office or simply to give it to them if they want to try it out.

And, like most pen people, my road to more expensive pens started by trying lots and lots of new pens of all different kinds that you could pick up from any local store or online retailers.

I thought I'd put together a list of what's currently on my desk at home and at work that I seem to pick up the most. 

Paper Mate Flair

By far, one of my favorite go-to pens is the Paper Mate Flair. If you've never used one, it is a plastic/felt tip, porous pen that writes a bit more like a marker than a pen. I tend to print in all capital letters (more of an architect or draughtmans style) and the Flair helps a lot in making the lines look more expressive and clean. It has a sort of old-school look which I think adds to the experience as well. 

I'd say it is a pretty forgiving line, particularly for writing, but I also use it when I doodle or draw up diagrams. Personally, it is best used for me on a clean sheet of white copy paper... even the cheap stuff will do. I also have a stash of an entire ream of 11 x 17 paper just to use with the Flair...

And, I buy them by the dozen...

With any porous point pen the tip starts to break down after awhile, but luckily they are pretty cheap.

Pilot Precise V7

A classic! I'm not sure when this pen came out but it has a cool, engineering, vintage sort of aesthetic to it and I'm so glad Pilot hasn't really changed it over the years. Even if you don't recognize the name, when you see one you'll probably remember having one stashed in a drawer or cup at your house somewhere.

The Precise V7 (also known as the Hi-Tecpoint V7 in places like the UK) is a needle tipped rollerball pen which means it has liquid ink sloshing around inside.

What you get are really wet and dark lines. It also comes in a V5 (0.5mm vs 0.7mm) in case you want a finer line as well as also comes in a retractable version. Although, I can't swear by this, but the retractable version ink is different which makes my experience a little "off".

Pentel Energel

Not to give it too many props, but the Pentel Energel is probably my most referred gel pen ever. Super smooth, dark lines, quick drying times... over-the-counter gel pens, in my opinion, don't get much better than this. Like the Flair, using this pen on plain old office paper works great! No specialty fountain pen friendly stuff needed.

I wouldn't say that I love the plastic barrel it comes in, but it works and the writing is worth it. The nice thing is that Pentel also has an Alloy series of the Energel which looks almost identical to the plastic version, but is metal. I've actually purchased this metal version for a few of my non-pen friends to have as a replacement for the crappy pen they were using and they've loved them. If you wanted an inexpensive spruced up barrel, the Alloy version will only run you about $6-7.

This pen comes in a standard conical tip or you can get a finer line that they make in a needle tip version.  

Uniball Signo 307

Fresh out this last year from Uniball is the Signo 307. Many of us are likely familiar with the Signo 207, but not sure if the 307 is simply meant to be an addition to the lineup or an eventual replacement? The shape and feel of the pen is nearly the same as the 207, but with updated styling.

What I have found with the 307 is that the ink flows much wetter and heavier than the 207 (which was a bit skippy or light from time to time) so it makes the colors stand out a bit more on the page.

Originally the only downside to this pen for many people is that it only came in a 0.7mm while the 207 comes in a spectrum from 0.38mm up to 1.0mm. But, it appears that you can now get the 0.5mm! Might need to check those out...

What are some of your favorite over-the-counter pens? Have you tried many of these?

Montblanc M Fountain Pen Review

The past couple of months have been a bit crazy which has lead to posts being a little more sparse than usual. We welcomed a new addition to the family as well as bought and moved into another home, so those two things as well as keeping the Dudek Modern Goods shop open in the meantime has spread my days pretty thin. Things are getting more settled, so expect things to be a bit more consistent.

Earlier this year I received a pen that we've heard quite a bit about, the Montblanc M fountain pen designed by Marc Newson. There was quite a buzz when this pen was first announced as it has a few unique features that Montblanc has never done like having the emblem on a "plateau" of the side of the pen as well as a magnetic cap. 

Now, to be clear I am not a Montblanc aficionado by any means. Only within the last year or so had I acquired my first and the M is my second. Due to the pricepoint on these pens I have a hesitancy to purchase them because there is always a debate of "what you're paying for". I knew that over time I would eventually purchase one or two, but I don't foresee it being a consistent thing.

I got the pen from Appelboom of the Netherlands (also a sponsor of The Clicky Post) and the package came promptly and well packaged. Their shop has a wide variety of pens by most of our favorite brands, so definitely take some time to check through their selection. If you live in the states and purchase through Appelboom, 21% is automatically removed from the price due to VAT (which we don't pay), which can often make pricing extremely reasonable.

As expected, the pen comes in a pretty swanky Montblanc box which upholds the presentation that the pricepoint would demand. If ever you receive a Montblanc as a gift they definitely fulfill on the experience I think.

The M only comes in a black, "precious" resin that is buffed to a piano gloss finish. Most Montblanc pens are adorned with gold or platinum rings to add some "bling", but the M is a sleeker, more minimalist style with the clip being the only part that stands out. I would wager that there are some people that love this and others that completely hate it. Perhaps there is a perception of what a Montblanc pen "should" be or has traditionally been, and this pen stands to apply a shift within the brand to branch out.

Personally, I enjoy the design and its simplicity. Its a bit understated, maybe even a bit boring, but is still unique.

I've only owned a couple of magnetic pens outside of the Ti2 Techliner and the M's unique cap has taken a little getting used to. To its credit it has never popped off in my shirt pocket or when I've carried it in a bag, but there is always that nagging feeling that it might? The way the magnet(s) is positioned within the cap forces the clip to face the plateau. This is actually pretty neat and it performs this task perfectly. I like things that line up when they are supposed to.

The clip itself is also quite simple being comprised of a rounded hoop shape which also has no adornments or embellishments. The design fits the pen, but part of me wishes it was a solid, flat piece of metal all the way up. Or maybe it could have been ion plated black like the Sailor 1911 Black Luster... Oddly enough, on this pen they did some darker metal accents on the section and nib, so it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility. A black metallic clip would've been pretty awesome. 

When you remove the cap (which does not post) you find the section is a darker grey, gunmetal type of finish which is almost completely covered with machined grooves. These grooves act as texture while holding the pen and aren't sharp to the touch. Just behind the grooves are a couple of additional lines and the engraving "MONTBLANC" several times wrapped around the section. 

The section is heavy and, in my opinion, makes the pen a bit unbalanced. You can feel the tip of the pen weighing down while holding it as the inability to post the cap coupled with an all resin barrel makes for a light tail end. It isn't unusably heavy by any means, but compared to the the platinum 146 Meisterstück which is extremely comfortable even when posted it is very unbalanced.

There is a considerable drop and edge where the section meets the barrel. My grip is of the traditional "triangle" sorts so it isn't much of a bother, but my thumb does rest a bit on that ledge.

Filling the pen you are limited to using the Montblanc ink cartridges (or other international shorts) as a standard converter doesn't fit. There are likely other, shorter converters that may fit, but I have yet to try any.

The nib is actually quite small, again, comparing to the Meisterstück, and is very simple or even plain. That being said, I believe this pen shares the same nib and feed as the StarWalker series which is one of the edgier designs within the Montblanc lineup, but is still quite popular.

The nib is rhodium-coated 14k gold and has a two-tone effect due to a ruthenium-coated inlay that has been placed over the tines. The nib also contains the initials "MN" for Marc Newson, the designer. Whilst I can appreciate the addition of his initials as the designer, I do feel it took a relatively unexciting nib and made it a bit less attractive. Sorry Marc....

One thing I cannot complain about has been the performance of the nib. It is flawless and exactly how I would expect a pen of this price range to perform. It is a wet and generous medium that I would rate more on the glassy side. While writing I know the nib is on the page, but there is no dryness and has just the slightest feedback. Other than some occasional slow starting when I've allowed it to sit for a week or so without writing, the nib hasn't skipped once. It really is a pleasure to write with and flows at about the perfect rate for my preference.

The nib is also a bit on the stiff side and doesn't have much of a softness or flex to it.

So, have I completely confused you about my opinions on this pen? I've been saying I enjoy the design even though it is a bit boring and that the writing experience is top notch even though it is a bit unbalanced... Luckily, my place is not to tell you whether to buy this pen or not, but just to share my opinions and experience. I'm personally glad to have the M in my pen collection as it is a bit unique and I've enjoyed carrying it when I do. It likely wont be one of my go-to pens I can't leave un-inked, but I know it will be one I fill from time to time. I don't know; maybe at some point every pen lover needs at least one Montblanc? I'm indifferent about that.

The Planter by Dudek Modern Goods Giveaway - WINNER!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway! We had 144 entries which was a solid turnout.

And the winner is:

Congrats, Eugene! Connect with me via the Contact page with your details and I'll get your prize sent out.

Spring Sale 10% Off

In addition to the giveaway I thought I'd also run a quick Spring special for 10% off using the promo code SPRING10 at checkout on any Dudek Modern Goods order through April 3rd.

Again, thanks to everyone that entered and for the continued support!