What Is Your Favorite Cheap Pen? (<$30)

[Mangrove Jack]

Have a look at the Cross Solo. Not made anymore, but still available NIB often for less than $30.

I love this pen. It is made in Japan for Cross and has a lovely gold plated nib by Namiki (or one of the big three Japanese) which actually is my favourite nib. Balance and feel is perfect for my medium sized hands. The cap has to be pushed a bit firmly to be posted since it clicks into place.

[dragonmanus]

My list of under $30 pens :-

 

1) The Safari - it works... brilliantly... the ability to swap nibs on the fly is dynamite because my preference varies between EF and 1.1 depending on my mood.

 

2) the Varisty - to me, this is the epitome of reliability. This is the ultimate backup pen - never runs out of ink and is just a good solid writer.

 

3) Reform 1745 - classic looks, decent price and I find myself writing neater with that for some reason.

 

4) Hero 616 / 329 / and the rest - hooded nib, squeeze to fill, once my world revolved around them. Thinking back to school, in all the thousands of pages written, I can not remember being let down by one malfunctioning.

 

5) Jinhao Safari - yes, there's an official name, but they look so similar and as long as you like M, they areshockingly good for $3

In regards to #5 that would be the Jinhao 599 and 599a. Available in four colors of translucent plastic, a number of colors in opaque plastic, and in black and blue metal. I have the blue transparent, blue metal, and black metal.

 

Had some pilot Varsities years ago but can no longer buy them locally in stores.

[Arkanabar]

I have an orange demo Jinhao 599, and after loaning it out a couple of times, the cap no longer closes securely. A little bit of electrical tape around the ring in the section-barrel joint has (temporarily) alleviated that. But I never liked the Safari it's based on in the first place, and I'm done with loaning it out.

[dragonmanus]

I have an orange demo Jinhao 599, and after loaning it out a couple of times, the cap no longer closes securely. A little bit of electrical tape around the ring in the section-barrel joint has (temporarily) alleviated that. But I never liked the Safari it's based on in the first place, and I'm done with loaning it out.

 

Sounds like the inner cap is cracked from someone abusing it. the pens are generally pretty resilient. It may work for you to use some model glue or a thin layer of resin to bond the ring back in place. if the model glue does it then the glued section should be just as strong since it chemically melts and binds the plastics. Sorry to hear yours got messed up. Sadly I learned my lesson on loaning things out after loaning friends a desktop pc which they left sitting for days while moving and then let a roommate steal. So I feel your pain.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Well, shoot...didn't realize you were supposed to say WHY.

 

Below $30?

 

That's a long list.

 

I was just introduced to the Dollar Demonstrator, a lightweight piston-fill pen, and you can get them for under $5/each: wet, fun, easy to take on road trips.

 

Platinum Preppy at around $4. Three nib sizes, clear barrels, always comfortable and reliable for me.

 

Vintage large Hero 616 at around $3-5. My first hooded pens, reliable, smooth, fit my hand perfectly.

 

Vintage Sheaffer School Pens, anywhere from $5-20. Cool-looking and feeds my interest in vintagey Sheaffers at a low price.

 

Nemosine Singularity at $15. Come in all sorts of colors and nib choices. Lightweight, thick, reliable, if a bit dry.

 

Pilot Metropolitan at $15. This cute little pen really won me over to the point where I now have five!

 

Sailor Clear Candy, about $15. It's a Sailor. Fine nib, light weight, thickish barrel, reliable.

 

Platinum Plaisir (metal version of Preppy) $11-25, depending on color and dealer. The same pluses as the Preppy, apart from spiffy metal finish, yet still lightweight.

 

Lamy Nexx, some are just about under $30. Use same nibs as Safari, but grip is more comfortable for me.

[Arkanabar]

 

Sounds like the inner cap is cracked from someone abusing it. the pens are generally pretty resilient. It may work for you to use some model glue or a thin layer of resin to bond the ring back in place. if the model glue does it then the glued section should be just as strong since it chemically melts and binds the plastics. Sorry to hear yours got messed up. Sadly I learned my lesson on loaning things out after loaning friends a desktop pc which they left sitting for days while moving and then let a roommate steal. So I feel your pain.

I loaned it out because I didn't like using it, and lending it seemed like a pretty good way to make some converts. On top of that, it would let them know if the Safari would be a good starter pen for them.

[flipper_gv]

Jinhao 159 with jowo nib and a huge pelikan converter.

 

Kaweco sport.

[httpmom]

The Metropolitan wold be good candidate but it has the appearance of it's price-range (that's not a bad thing btw), low price, good quality, reliability and grand looks would fit the Kaigelu 316 aka the poor man's Duofold.

There are lots of good pens below 30 bucks but not that many grand pens.

Are the sections on the Kaigelu 316 metal or plastic? Just curious.

[erpe]

Are the sections on the Kaigelu 316 metal or plastic? Just curious.

 

The section is plastic, the rest of the pen is 'precious resin' aka plastic with an attitude , the white version is even slightly translucent. The core is brass so it has a bit of weight.

[httpmom]

 

The section is plastic, the rest of the pen is 'precious resin' aka plastic with an attitude , the white version is even slightly translucent. The core is brass so it has a bit of weight.

Thanks. I am not at all fond of metal sections and or heavy/ pens. This sounds like a good fit.

[A_Bea_Sange]

An old Sheaffer Nononsense pen that I used to borrow many times from a school friend of mine. Built like a tank and a pleasure to write with.

[encremental]

Muji make two aluminium pens - one a pocket pen, the other full size - which are absolutely fantastic. UK stores don't carry them, but both are available on Ebay for between £11 - £15 direct from Japan. Beautiful design, but only really suitable for people who like a fine line, (I think the nibs are JoWo no 3 F), they are terrific bargains. Wet and precise, I almost always have one of them inked.

 

John

[Arkanabar]

That is a relly modern, bauhaus-esque design. So, as for me, I don't like it.

 

But hey! We can add the full-length pen to the list of "pens with knurled sections"!

 

Muji make two aluminium pens - one a pocket pen, the other full size - which are absolutely fantastic. UK stores don't carry them, but both are available on Ebay for between £11 - £15 direct from Japan. Beautiful design, but only really suitable for people who like a fine line, (I think the nibs are JoWo no 3 F), they are terrific bargains. Wet and precise, I almost always have one of them inked.

 

John

[basterma]

Most of the pens in my collection fit the price range. Many have not been mentioned here.

 

Any pen by Schneider.

 

Inoxcrom Sakyo

 

Pelikan Grand Prix

 

Youth Parker 51 clone

 

Flair Inky

 

Centropen Jupiter

 

Herlitz Tornado

 

Any pen by R. Pirre Paul

[TSherbs]

too many to mention

[EricTheRed]

For under $30, my vote would be for the TWSBI Eco...

[snowbear]

Pilot MR/Metropolitan fine point and Jinhau 599A (Goldspot Pens edition)

[thygreyt]

noodlers creaper and pilot metropolitan!

 

Both are great pens.

[max dog]

At this price range I agree TWBI ECO would be hard to beat.

Other recommendations, Kaweco Sport.

Note made any more but can find them for good price in ebay: Cross Solo, Sheaffer No Nonsense.

[Blowboat]

My favorite is the Nemosine Fission.