Lamy Noto Ballpoint Black - Pen Review

 I found this pen on Lamy's website and thought to myself, "how have I not seen this?"  This particular black one I purchased on eBay, but I also have an orange one (discontinued) that I found on clearance at Cult Pens  in the UK... follow up photos forthcoming when it arrives.

The Lamy Noto is actually a really cool pen!  Although they are just molded plastic, the design makes for a really unique choice for an "inexpensive" pen.   At a retail price of $14 (I didn't pay that much), its probably about as close to a disposable Lamy as you'll get.  Although, the plastic Tipo might be cheaper.

The barrel is actually triangular in shape and I really quite like it.  It seems that most things Lamy makes are on the edge of cool and weird.  I honestly think that this fine line, as well as their impecable quality, is what makes them so unique as a brand that draws people in and keeps them coming back for more.  

This pen is very sturdy and the molded plastic is very dense.  It does not feel flimsy or cheap in the least.  The knock doesn't actually have a "click" noise, but more squishes into place.  It is stiff and responsive though and doesn't feel awkward.  The spring on the inside is a little squeaky when you push in the knock.  

This pen takes the Lamy M16 ballpoint refill which is pretty good.  There is a Monteverde Soft Roll refill that is compatible which is also an option if the M16 isn't quite your favorite.  I don't mind this refill for a ballpoint though as it seems to be a pretty consistant writer. 

My only real concern long term with this pen is the clip.  The plastic in the clip is pretty flexible which I imagine will start to bend outward over time with use.  Again, for a cheaper pen this may not be a huge issue, but does limit the lifetime usage of the pen for someone if Lamy did decide to discontinue it completely. 

Overall, very happy with this one and I could see myself recommending it as an every day desk or carry pen for someone that wants a unique and fun instrument that they can enjoy, but not worry too much about.

If they only made a version in metal... 

Kaweco AL Sport Fountain Pen Review

A friend of mine kindly sent this little pen over to me after a discussion about the TWSBI Mini vs Kaweco AL Sport.  You know who you are and I want to again say thank you for sending me such a fine pen to enjoy.

Kaweco is one of the pen brands that is most fascinating to me.  Even more so because it is a very old brand that is less mainstream; less publicized or flashy than other brands like Lamy (whom I also love).  There is kind of a mystique to the brand (for me) that produces this unique faceted design that has withstood nearly the last century. 

I was interested in finding some history around Kaweco and discovered this really great presentation of slides from Kaweco.com.  There are a lot of pictures that go through examples of Kaweco pens over the last 100+ years.  Pretty awesome as they have held very true to their heritage.  If anyone has any vintage Kaweco pens that they would like to share images of or stories about, please do.

I really enjoy metal barrel pens and the Kaweco is no exception.  Although small, this pen feels amazing in your hand.  It is well built, sturdy, and frankly, beautiful.  The body finish is more of a matte and is soft to the touch in a rich blue color accented with a silver logo and white lettering.   

It is a small pen, but with the cap posted it extends pleasantly out to the right size and feels very well balanced.  Although metal, it is light enough (yet weighty enough) to feel comfortable writing with for extended periods of time. 

Also being a small pen, the nib seems a bit tiny (about the size of a dime) when compared to a more full-sized fountain pen, but the writing experience is not hindered whatsoever.  Don't let the small nib psych you out into thinking it will be strange to write with!  

This particular Kaweco came with an EF nib which made me a bit nervous at first because I generally prefer a wider line, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I actually like the finer nib.  It makes me slow down my writing a bit (and write smaller), but the ink flow was very good with the Kaweco blue cartridge and the line was nice and dark.  It made my handwriting a bit neater it seemed which is a plus.  I'm still putting it through its paces, but I'm enjoying it nonetheless.  I did order an M nib from Jetpens and may do a follow-up review to compare the ink flow when this cartridge is out. 

My thoughts about why Kaweco pens are less mainstream are because there is a limited selection of pen types, it is a "unique" product in size and aesthetic, and the price barrier to entry may be high for people.  The Classic Sports run about $20-25, but to make the jump to an AL Sport pushes the price up to $70+.  Without using or handling one, this would be something to weigh pretty heavily on before buying one.    

After handling my AL Sport ballpoint and also this AL Sport fountain pen, the build quality is superb and, in my opinion, worth the money.  It is a special item that also has a value of ownership all of its own.   

All I know is that from my experience this will likely not be the only AL Sport fountain pen that I own in the near future.  The raw aluminum is pretty enticing...  Cult Pens even carries a capped rollerball version in the raw aluminum; for convenience and looks, (and the fact that it takes the Schmidt Cap-less Rollerball) that one almost has me pegged too. 

Cross Click Gel Matte Black - Pen Review

It seems that I start most pen reviews with, "this pen has been on the radar for about a year", and the Cross Click is no exception to this.  Often times I'll see a pen online or happen to stumble upon one in the store that I forget about over time.  With the Cross Click, I recall being intrigued by the idea of a click-style Cross pen because it is definitely outside of the norm for them. 

I was looking on Staples.com for a completely different pen when I noticed a little add for a Cross Click Gel gift set that comes in a nice box with three refills.  This package normally retails at $40+, but they had it on sale for $15.  Sold.  The refills alone would probably be that much, so I felt like a got a good deal.  As of this review they are still at that price.  Not sure if Staples will no longer be carrying them? 

I traditionally haven't been a fan of Cross pens.  Not because they don't make great pens, but because they haven't really fit my style.  They always seem a bit too "gold" in color or too ornate for my tastes.  A bit gaudy maybe?   

When I saw the matte black Cross Click, I thought to myself that it could be a pen that may be something I'd like to try and I'm glad I did. 

I'm going to first start with the refill; I really like this one.  I was surprised at how much I actually enjoy it.  It lays down a nice dark line and I didn't have an issue of skipping once in my entire writing sample for the review.  I opted for the blue refill (included in the gift set) which has an appealing dark navy blue color.  It is pretty smooth, although not the smoothest I've written with, but the slight friction on the paper isn't a deal breaker.  As far as the ink flow and line width, I'd probably compare it to the Schmidt Cap-Less rollerball refill found in the Retro 51 Tornado which actually says a lot.  The Schmidt is still a smoother experience I'd say, but the Cross gel isn't far behind.

The body is very thin as it fits in line with most other Cross pens in this style which isn't my favorite, but the pen feels good.  The body has a good weight to it and is made of brass.  The matte finish looks cool and the silver accent ring around the knock and subtle "CROSS" lettering on both the clip and back are nicely placed. 

The knock on this pen is fun to click.  It is substantial and doesn't feel cheap.  I'd consider it a loud click, so be mindful of your neighbors... 

In my opinion, a great pen for a great price.  I really enjoyed the writing experience with this one and I'll probably keep it in my rotation of daily carries. 

As a side note, found out that the Karas Kustoms Retrakt accepts the Cross gel refill which would be a great option.  Visit the Kickstarter campaign to give them a look if you haven't already.