What Is Your Favorite Slim Pen?

[lurker]

What is your favorite slim pen?

 

I have a TWSBI 540, a Noodler Ahab Flex and a friend gave me a fountain pen made from a kit awhile back. All of these fountain pens I have are (what I consider) thicker pens. I have small girly hands that get tired after writing for extended periods. I'm thinking a slimmer/lighter pen will help that.

 

Furthermore, can you all recommend something for me within a $150-$200 budget? Below $150 is okay too.

 

Also, I've checked the FAQ and the threads linked to this questions are a bit old (2006) which isnt necessarily a problem, but trends come and go, I would like to hear current opinions.

 

Pens that I've considered so far: Pilot Custom 74, Platinum Modern Maki-e, Lamy 2000.

 

Thanks guyz!

[mongrelnomad]

Firstly: the Lamy's quite wide, just not at the section. It's an odd shape, and if you have issues with fatter pens, it might be an idea to try before you buy.

 

The Platinums are quite thin, and lovely, well-balanced pens. My wife has the Koi celluloid (the dimensions are, I believe, the same across the range) and it suits her quite well. She also has a Pelikan M400 which would fit the bill.

 

The Lamy CP-1's a great pen too: very slim, and very comfortable, with lovely Lamy nibs..

Edited June 22, 2012 by mongrelnomad

[JCat]

I suggest you look at some of the really cheap options first, and as such recommend:

 

I picked this one up from Speerbob along with a few Sheaffers, and I think it is a lovely little pen. I prefer not posting the cap.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Uranus-Blue-Confetti-Chrome-Fountain-Pen-New-Box-/230557176029?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ae4750dd

 

I love the Ohto pens I have, especially the Rook. I've found they are slow starters though (and very slow enders too), that require 10 minutes of rest after inking to give the best experience. Once rested they have performed marvelously despite daily abuse.

http://www.jetpens.com/Ohto-Rook-Fountain-Pen-Fine-Nib-Silver-Orange-Body/pd/6735

http://www.jetpens.com/Ohto-Tasche-Needle-Point-Ballpoint-Pen-0.7-mm-Black-Body/pd/698

http://www.jetpens.com/Ohto-Fine-Fountain-Pen-Fine-Nib-Black-Body/pd/818

http://www.jetpens.com/Ohto-Fountain-Pen-Converter/pd/5433

 

I've heard lovely things about the Sailor HighAce Neo and the size looks comfortable: http://www.jetpens.com/Sailor-HighAce-Neo-Beginner-s-Fountain-Pen-Steel-Nib-Fine-Black-Body/pd/5526

 

Or, you could go extremely cheap and pick up the Platinum Preppy, which is roughly equal to the capped Tul rollerball

http://www.jetpens.com/Platinum-Preppy-Fountain-Pen-03-Fine-Nib-Black-Ink/pd/1454

 

 

I'll say for the record that my Rook is so comfortable to write with I bought a second. It posts to a full sized length, is aluminum, and is one of the lighter pens I've ever used. While I'm sure there are plenty of much more expensive options I'm very much in favor of fine tuning my taste on the cheap and discovering which choices actually work for me (I'm still testing that stage myself, thus the given suggestions). As of now I would be willing spend on:

 

The Lamy CP-1, Lamy ST, Lamy Linea, or Lamy Pur, the Pilot Cavalier, or the Pilot Cavalier Duo-Color Body, the Pilot Custom, and the Platinum Affection.

And if I really wanted to spend I'd buy the silver one: http://www.nibs.com/SailorChalana.html

 

 

Of course feel free to ignore all the above, however I've found the weight of a pen is just as important in preventing strained hands than the size alone (I wear a ring size 6 myself).

[hari317]

What is your favorite slim pen?

 

My favorites:

 

The Aurora Hastil

The Aurora Kona

Montblanc Noblesse

Montblanc Slimline

Lamy CP50

Lamy CP1 black

[Mike 59]

The Diplomat Traveller is 10mm wide at the widest point, it's obviously designed to weigh very little too, and my own is a very smooth writer. The nib is stamped as being an 'M', but it's seems more 'F' to my eye. Price £19 ish. (About $30) so very good value.

Also has a five year warranty. Build quality is similar to Lamy's, ie. very high quality.

It uses international cartridges, and from new is supplied with one cartridge, but I can't see why it wouldn't take a converter.

It's a plain pen, but that suits me. As a guide, it's almost the same length and width as a Parker Jotter ballpoint.

Edited June 22, 2012 by Mike 59

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

You might consider the Parker 45, which has a rather slender section that is long, smooth and tapered, so a person can grip the pen where the girth is the most agreeable. As fortune would have it, I have a scan which includes a 45 and a TWSBI 530 LINK

L → R: Parker 45, Pelikan M200, Sheaffer PFM, TWSBI 530, Safari, Platinum 3776, Sheaffer 330.

 

Also the not-quite-vintage Parker UK Junior Duofold. Very nice nibs indeed.

 

Perhaps Sheaffer's Slim Targa?

 

Bye,

S1

Edited June 22, 2012 by Sandy1

[Cerbeos]

Have you considered a Sailor 1911M? I have one and it writes beautifully, but is a tad small for my (incredibly large) hands...

 

It's definitely the thinnest pen I have - then comes the Konrad, which is quite nice!

[Sasha Royale]

A more slender pen might be your solution. Or, the solution might be changing

or relaxing your grip of the pen. Some experimentation is appropriate. The

TWSBI 540 is one of the "fat" pens. (I love fat pens.)

 

Two pens, with narrower grips, would be Parker 45 and Reform 1745. Since both

are available for under $20 USD, experimentation would not cost too much.

 

Good hunting.

[Paddler]

Sheaffer Saratoga Snorkel.

[VillersCotterets]

The Japanese are the specialists of pens for smaller hands. Take a look at the Sailor brand.

[olivier78860]

S.T. Dupont Classique

Waterman Executive

Waterman Exclusive

Waterman Maestro

Parker Rialto

[Marlow]

Sheaffer Saratoga Snorkel.

 

+ 1! (only my snorkel is a statesman - same difference size-wise)

Lovely writer! Pick up a working one for £50ish or get one restored for £20ish that you've bought for £25ish. You will NOT be disappointed!)

 

[enriquitorl]

The discontinued Pilot Birdie is the slimmest pen I've held, with a diameter of 8mm.

Even with the inflated prices you find in ebay, it is way under your budget.

 

Regards.

Enrique

[Cerbeos]

Are the Jitterbugs thin pens? I know they're small, but now how thick they are.

[Laura N]

I am going to echo JCat and suggest you try a cheaper one first, just to see if slim will really work. Jetpens is a great source for these. I personally like the Pilot Cavalier and the Ohto Tasche. Both are slim, metal-bodied pens, and for me they have been great writers with no issues.

 

Another option might be the Kaweco Sport or the Lamy Safari. Neither is particularly slim, but they are lightweight. They have more nib sizes available; the Japanese pens tend to have fine nibs.

 

The Lamy 2000 is a wonderful pen, but it's not what I would consider slim. Still of the ones you mentioned, it's my favorite. I would try it first, if possible.

 

If you want to go vintage, the world is wide open. I would look for a Parker 51 or a Sheaffer.

[dcpritch]

Another vote for the Aurora Hastil, plus it has such a great design pedigree. Nice review of it here.

[wspohn]

Want something elegant in the vintage area? Here are two:

 

Sheaffer Targa Slim model (current ebay listing at $145 BIN)

 

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqZHJDQE8fdBgM(8BPH7GpFC9Q~~60_3.JPG

 

Same thing in GP at $90 BIN

 

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MzUzWDE2MDA=/$(KGrHqR,!i4E8W!qnkOQBPMZtnVyyQ~~60_12.JPG

 

Parker 180 starting at $120 with what looks like an F/M nib (these had two different sizes depending on which way you wrote with them)

 

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqVHJEQE-QjQTwvQBPpmTvR!ww~~60_3.JPG

 

Same thing in a rare (Ecorce) pattern, new in the box, at a BIN of $195 (just to give you a range)

 

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqIOKnME3bvVhK6pBN5wHjesCw~~_3.JPG

Edited June 22, 2012 by wspohn

[lurker]

Awesome suggestions and input so far. Thanks so much guys.

[kaissa]

I am suprised that nobody recommended Cross.

 

Cross Spire or Sailor Chalana

 

Sailor may be above 200$ but you may hunt for a cheaper price. Has a diameter of 9 mm.

 

Spire is also pretty slim with a diameter of 8 mm.

 

Regards,

Edited June 22, 2012 by kaissa

[Jadie]

I have small hands too, and I'm currently using a black Ohto F-lapa. It's long and slim, but be warned that it's a bit "heavy", so you might get tired after using it for a while. (Jetpens also offers them in a silver/gold version). I've never had flow problems with this pen while using Diamine Midnight--I think that particular ink has some lubricating properties?

 

I also have a Pilot Myu, but as I'm waiting for a convertor, I haven't inked it up yet. It's definitely lighter than my Ohto, though. I found a nice one on Ebay from a Taiwanese seller for $130.50 (including $6 shipping).*

 

In terms of other slim pens, if you don't mind hit-and-miss quality control, you could always check out Chinese brands like Hero, Duke, etc. (though I've found Duke pens to be annoyingly weighty, too.)

 

And then there's at least a few reviews on the unique Franklin-Christoph Eclipse, such as this one by FPGeeks. I haven't figured out if it's a fat pen or a skinny one, but it looks nice and sleek to me!

 

And if you don't mind vintage, I also suggest checking out Mabie Todd swan pens. The ones made from hard rubber are classy, slim, and lightweight. =D Plus you get a fair chance of owning a flexible nib at an affordable price!

 

(*On a side note, that same Myu seller is currently selling some vintage Sailor pens--those look pretty slim, too, if you're interested.)

 

Good luck and tell us what you get!