Pilot Heritage 91 vs Sailor Pro Gear Slim

[AJ20]

Hi everyone,

 

Between Pilot Heritage 91 and Sailor Pro Gear Slim, which one do you think makes a better writing instrument? I am looking for an everyday writer from a long-term usage perspective. Both are classic pens with a form factor that I like. Also, this would be my first gold-nib pen. I know it’s a good tough one as both are strong contenders. Opinions and insights are welcome. 🙏🏼

[A Smug Dill]

Both can be equally competent at that. I have only one Pilot Custom Heritage 91 pen and don't want more, but I'm not intending on getting rid of mine (the way I couldn't wait to be rid of my Pilot Custom 74 pens). I have multiple Sailor Professional Gear Slim pens, partly because I prefer Sailor nibs for their nib geometry and kinaesthetic feedback, and partly because I think they are prettier. However, there is no reason for me to believe that a Pilot EF nib cannot be as precise as a Sailor EF nib, if precise and suitably crisp lines are what one is after in “everyday” writing; and, if you specifically want a nib that is marked as Soft and matches the description, then between the two, Pilot Custom Heritage 91 is your only choice.

[KLscribbler]

They are both good pens, it's hard to say which one would be better suited for you as a daily writer without knowing your usual pen preferences in more detail.

Dill has mentioned several important considerations above, i.e. that the Pilot 91 has Soft nib options whereas the Pro Gear Slim does not, and that the Sailor nibs have a very unique sort of nib feel, this feedback that is kind of like a very crisp and precise pencil, and that may or may not be to your liking (best to try them out in person!)

Other factors which might be worth considering:

- In hand, in a writing position, the Pilot 91 is slightly longer than the Pro Gear Slim in both cap unposted and cap posted configurations.

- If you happen to be interested in the soft nib options of the Pilot 91, note that the soft nibs are normally only available on the black coloured model.

- Pilot converter issues: the Pilot Custom Heritage 91 can accept both the CON-40 and the larger CON-70 (now with a slight redesign, called CON-70N) converters currently made by Pilot. However, both of them have some features that may be annoying. The CON-40 has a smallish ink capacity (Pilot's own product page states it as 0.4ml) and it also has ball bearings that rattle around inside to aid ink flow and prevent surface tension from holding the ink in the back of the converter. However, to retain the ball bearing agitators, there is a metal "basket" thingy inside the CON-40, and a bit of ink can sometimes stick around the "basket", further reducing the useful ink capacity.

The CON-70N on the other hand has a notably large capacity (Pilot says 1.1ml) but because of its push button pump mechanism, it is more laborious to flush out and clean compared to normal piston converters. This may not be an issue if you rarely change ink colours. However, if you do tend to switch ink colours frequently, it can be a bit of a chore. The ideal user for the CON-70N would be someone who writes a lot and usually sticks to the same ink, or same colour family of ink in the same pen for long periods. (Bonus tip: if you do get a CON-70/CON-70N, I've found this cleaning tip from FPN member Honeybadgers very useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQDzfJkGCjA )
 
The Sailor Pro Gear Slim on the other hand just uses an ordinary piston converter with no particular special features like agitators or fancy vacuum pump mechanisms. I was unable to find the actual listed capacity of this converter from Sailor's own site, though Goulet estimates it at 0.47ml. This is not much more than the Pilot CON-40, and Sailor does not have an extra-large converter like the CON-70N.

Finally, I assume you are already aware of this, but with the Pro Gear Slim, there is a major difference between the Pro Gear Slim and the Pro Gear Slim MINI models, in that the latter are smaller and cannot take the standard Sailor converter, instead requiring an even smaller mini converter with a reduced capacity of 0.3ml.

 

[Daosus]

I'll agree with the posters above.  I have both and you really can't go wrong with either.  

[Olya]

To add to what's been said so far:

 

Your choice will also depend on your preference on smoothness and tooth.

 

Pilot nibs are the smoothest of the Japanese big 3 and Sailor's are not only toothier, but also heavily depend on paper and ink and writing angle in terms of whether the experience would be smooth or toothy, whilst Pilots are always smooth.

 

Even though both makers' nibs are great in their own way, I prefer Pilot's, Sailor has a wider choice for bodies and can be prettier.

 

Pilot offers a greater choice in converter type and capacity and a greater choice in nib sizes/types.

 

Even Pilot's regular "hard" nibs are softer in feel than Sailor's. That's another factor.

 

Pilot ink cartridges can be easily re-sealed, maybe that's something that interests you.

 

Girth is very very similar, possibly identical, Pilots are longer though.

For some the PGS and the 1911S are too short.

[AJ20]

A big thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences with the pens and pointing out similarities and differences. As owners/users, your opinions are insightful. 😊🙏

 

@A Smug Dill You are absolutely right about the aesthetic appeal of Sailor nibs with their scrollwork, dual tones, lettering, etc. The nib on Pilot Heritage 91 is single tone, rhodium plated with some decent work, even if it is not as elaborate as a Sailor nib. I think it goes well with the overall rhodium applications across the pen. I try to find a balance between form/aesthetic and functionality. I believe you need to have that balance to get the joy when you reach out for your pen every time. Until now, I have mostly written with medium nibs and I seem to like their smoothness, flow and shading.  However, I want a fine nib now as it can give you more control with wet inks on a variety of paper. I don't mind a bit of feedback, but would want the nib to perform consistently and smoothly over a range of paper out there. Based on that criteria, I think Pilot Heritage 91 makes a strong case. 

 

@KLscribbler Thanks for raising some valid points here. In my reply to @A Smug Dill above, I have mentioned a few of my preferences. To your point, I would rather prefer a pen with a regular size. Real estate on offer is more with Pilot than Sailor Pro Gear Slim. Pilot wins hands down in that department.

I like pens with minimalistic design and understated elegance. Both pens fulfil that requirement. Also, I like classic black pens so colour preference is met too. I know that Sailor pens come in a range of colours, but I stick with basic and darker tones. And you cannot go wrong with black colour as it doesn't scream for attention, flies under the radar in almost every environment. Also, interesting points mentioned by you about converters, and their design and mechanisms. Pilot offers more flexibility in terms of filling capacity/mechanism too. Thanks for sharing the cleaning tip for CON70 converters.  

 

I would like to follow one-pen-one-ink rule, enjoy one kind of bottled ink for some time before trying out a new ink.

I need to find out about Pro Gear Slim Mini. I just knew that Pro Gear Slim and Regular models existed. Once again, Pilot makes a compelling case. 

 

@Olya Thanks for driving the point home. How the nib performs is a very important factor in making the buying decision. Pilot nibs are known for their smoothness and I have heard people extol their virtues.  Sailor nibs offer a niche writing experience for many people.  I think for long-term use across a range of papers and inks, smoothness of the nib would be an important factor for me. The length of the pen is another area where Pilot scores more points than Sailor Slim, not to mention more options in converters. 

 

@DaosusThanks for endorsing what others mentioned. 

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Note: Is there a substantial difference in the materials used in making both the pens? To my mind, both look solidly made with decent fit and finish.  

 

 

 

 

[Olya]

I don't feel a difference in the materials, they feel to me identical.

 

Sailor says they use PMMA plastic, Pilot doesn't specify.

 

Though seems you lean heavily towards Pilot 😉

 

Both are equally good choices and should last forever, it's really down to details which one will make you happier!

 

The only model that feels a bit different is Sailor Promenade, the closing of that one feels much nicer compared to I'd say most other pens, likely because of the springy inner cap (same as Platinum 3776 Century, same slip & seal mechanism). The Promenade has been retired, but it's actually back just under a different name (I think it's "Profit Light", possible that finials and clip are slightly changed, but that's minor and cosmetic only).

 

Sailor was my main brand for years, though I had a Pilot 91 for years as well, but it remained uninked most of the time. Well, I brought it back into rotation and was blown away by the nib and regretted not having used this pen more, sooner. It is much more to my taste, smoother than Sailor and not so fussy across paper and ink variations and I discovered that it can also write finer when held at a steep angle, same as Sailors can.

For months now Pilot has been my main brand, I have two Pilots inked (Prera & 74 (same as 91 except for finials and clip, I prefer the 91 clip)), one Sailor (discontinued Young Profit/Somiko) and one Pelikan (M205).

I've been considering keeping only the Pilots inked...

[TheDutchGuy]

Some points on top of the excellent input already given above.

 

I’m not sure about the exact ink capacity of Sailor vs Pilot cartridges, but I’m very sure that a Sailor cart lasts a loooong time. With one cart in the pen and just one spare, your back is covered. As far as I know, Sailor makes the following cartridges in 12-piece boxes: blue, black, blue-black, red, kiwaguro, souboku. There might be more colours in certain markets. Pilot sells 12-pc boxes of black, blue and blue-black in most geographies but at least in my country they seem to be harder to come by (I’m still waiting on my blue-black order to come in, whereas I can grab Sailor off the shelf here).

 

Pilot’s CON-40 and CON-70 converters are interesting designs but I cannot say that I favour them over Sailor’s converter. There are some possible drawbacks to Pilot converters, as already mentioned by others. A Sailor converter may not hold a ton of ink, but in years of writing a Sailor never ran dry on me and the converter is well-made and reliable.

 

While many characterize Pilot’s nibs as somewhat smoother than Sailor’s nibs, I humbly disagree. They’re different, and most people seem to favour one over the other, but I would not claim that Pilot is smoother on average. Pilot seems to barely round off the inner edges of the tines, so if one tine is lifted somewhat then the inner edge of the other tine may grate across the paper.  This has bugged me to such an extent that I either sold or re-ground some of my Pilot pens.

 

While hardly statistically relevant, two of my four Pilot pens had some kind of QC issue while my three Sailor pens were perfect straight out of the box. As an example, I recently ordered a resin Falcon SEF from Japan and it has a nib with quite a severe flat foot that removed half of the tipping and writes like a Japanese MF (that by some fluke the nib is actually spectacularly pleasant is beside the point).

 

Pilot seems to be associated with soft and/or flexy nibs due to their Sx nibs as well as the unique Justus and Falcon nibs. My experience with all of the Pilot’s nibs is that they are considerably softer than Sailor’s nibs, which are quite rigid, but none of Pilot’s nibs have anything to do with semi-flex or flex. They’re soft and wonderful, no more, no less.

 

As a FP hobbyist I cherish, admire and enjoy many different pens from many different brands, but at least in the sub-200 euro (or US dollar) segment I honestly think that Sailor and Pilot make the best pens on the market today. Which of the two brands you prefer is highly personal. I cannot claim that my Pilot pens are better than my Sailor pens or vice versa. They all offer something different and they’re all fantastic pens. I do have my preferences, but preferences are meaningless to others.

 

 

[A Smug Dill]

2 hours ago, Olya said:

The Promenade has been retired, but it's actually back just under a different name (I think it's "Profit Light", possible that finials and clip are slightly changed, but that's minor and cosmetic only).

 

As discussed over in the other thread, I don't believe that to be the case. In particular, I doubt that the Profit Lite has a spring-loaded inner cap, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong if someone actually has one of those pens and can test first-hand.

 

1 minute ago, TheDutchGuy said:

As far as I know, Sailor makes the following cartridges in 12-piece boxes: blue, black, blue-black, red, kiwaguro, souboku. There might be more colours in certain markets.

 

Don't forget Seiboku cartridges sold by the dozen, and all twelve of the Shikiori colours in three-packs of cartridges. Sailor also makes and sells especially heavy-duty empty ink cartridges, in packs of six, designed for long-term, continued reuse.

[Olya]

32 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

As discussed over in the other thread, I don't believe that to be the case. In particular, I doubt that the Profit Lite has a spring-loaded inner cap, but I'd be happy to be proven wrong if someone actually has one of those pens and can test first-hand.

You're quite right, it'd be best to wait for confirmation that the inner cap is (still) spring loaded. I expect the changes to be cosmetic only (if even that) and would be surprised if they changed the cap...

[A Smug Dill]

On 7/5/2021 at 1:08 AM, Olya said:

I expect the changes to be cosmetic only (if even that) and would be surprised if they changed the cap...

 

Well, the Profit Lite is thinner and shorter (and, I note, its dimensions are exactly the same as that of a Profit Standard), and weighs 1.4g or 5.5% less, than the Promenade (whereas it is only 0.2g lighter than the Profit Standard), but boasts all seven ‘standard’ nib options, so it's truly part of the Profit product line in a way that Promenade never was. I wouldn't be surprised if the >1g weigh difference is on account of the absence of a spring-loaded inner cap in the Profit Lite.

[TheDutchGuy]

1 hour ago, A Smug Dill said:

Don't forget Seiboku cartridges sold by the dozen, and all twelve of the Shikiori colours in three-packs of cartridges. Sailor also makes and sells especially heavy-duty empty ink cartridges, in packs of six, designed for long-term, continued reuse.

 

Interesting, thank you for pointing that out.

[AJ20]

3 hours ago, Olya said:

I don't feel a difference in the materials, they feel to me identical.

 

Sailor says they use PMMA plastic, Pilot doesn't specify.

 

Though seems you lean heavily towards Pilot 😉

 

Both are equally good choices and should last forever, it's really down to details which one will make you happier!

 

The only model that feels a bit different is Sailor Promenade, the closing of that one feels much nicer compared to I'd say most other pens, likely because of the springy inner cap (same as Platinum 3776 Century, same slip & seal mechanism). The Promenade has been retired, but it's actually back just under a different name (I think it's "Profit Light", possible that finials and clip are slightly changed, but that's minor and cosmetic only).

 

Sailor was my main brand for years, though I had a Pilot 91 for years as well, but it remained uninked most of the time. Well, I brought it back into rotation and was blown away by the nib and regretted not having used this pen more, sooner. It is much more to my taste, smoother than Sailor and not so fussy across paper and ink variations and I discovered that it can also write finer when held at a steep angle, same as Sailors can.

For months now Pilot has been my main brand, I have two Pilots inked (Prera & 74 (same as 91 except for finials and clip, I prefer the 91 clip)), one Sailor (discontinued Young Profit/Somiko) and one Pelikan (M205).

I've been considering keeping only the Pilots inked...

 

It is amusing how you put it..."Though seems you lean heavily towards Pilot."  

 

I didn't think that I would lean towards Pilot, but here we are. However, I am not dismissing Sailor from my list at all. Maybe, sometime in the future, I will end up owning both of them for their unique characteristics. It's interesting to know your journey of using different pens, and how you rediscovered your love for Pilot. 

 

Honestly, I would like to avoid the problem of plenty and not given in to the urge of hoarding them. We'll see.  

 

The goal is to have two "solid" gold-nib pens that could be used alternately as my everyday writers. Pelikan M205 is another classic pen, though they tend to write broader than how I would like my next pen to write. Thank you!       

 

 

 

[TheDutchGuy]

23 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

I couldn't wait to be rid of my Pilot Custom 74 pens

 

While for me a C74 is an essential piece of kit. I was late to the C74 party but I’m never leaving.

[A Smug Dill]

4 hours ago, AJ20 said:

I need to find out about Pro Gear Slim Mini.

 

That's an excellent pen model, and I love it more than I do the Pro Gear Slim; but one would be far more limited in nib width options in spite of paying more for the smaller sibling. Also, I only like the ones with the thread near the barrel finial for secure posting of the cap; the threads are absent in the most recent release of six pen colours.

[AJ20]

1 hour ago, TheDutchGuy said:

While many characterize Pilot’s nibs as somewhat smoother than Sailor’s nibs, I humbly disagree. They’re different, and most people seem to favour one over the other, but I would not claim that Pilot is smoother on average. Pilot seems to barely round off the inner edges of the tines, so if one tine is lifted somewhat then the inner edge of the other tine may grate across the paper.  This has bugged me to such an extent that I either sold or re-ground some of my Pilot pens.

 

While hardly statistically relevant, two of my four Pilot pens had some kind of QC issue while my three Sailor pens were perfect straight out of the box. As an example, I recently ordered a resin Falcon SEF from Japan and it has a nib with quite a severe flat foot that removed half of the tipping and writes like a Japanese MF (that by some fluke the nib is actually spectacularly pleasant is beside the point).

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with Pilot pens. It's interesting to note that all nibs are not made equal, not even from the same manufacturer. While some people might have had a very pleasant experience with Pilot nibs, others have found them to be iffy. A case in point is my Kaweco Classic Sport, which I got recently. It wrote very pleasantly straight out of the box. However, many have complained about their scratchy nibs. And then, there are others who have found their Kaweco pens as very smooth writers.  But, I believe you are still not "writing-off" your Pilot pens for the good experience you have had with them.   

 

Also, I think based on our past experiences with pens/nibs, we form the perception of soft, hard, medium, fine, scratchy, smooth, etc. We tend to use them as a benchmark while trying out new pens and accordingly categorise our new experiences. And undoubtedly, there are other factors, such as ink and paper, which decide our writing experience.

 

Comparing Sailor and Pilot pens might seem like comparing apples and oranges. However, the idea was/is to arrive at the most suitable pen in terms of what one expects of his next writing instrument. I mentioned a few preferences in my earlier comment.  

 

[AJ20]

22 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

 

That's an excellent pen model, and I love it more than I do the Pro Gear Slim; but one would be far more limited in nib width options in spite of paying more for the smaller sibling. Also, I only like the ones with the thread near the barrel finial for secure posting of the cap; the threads are absent in the most recent release of six pen colours.

 

I need to explore that too. Thanks!  

[KLscribbler]

Oh, a couple more things which might be worth considering:

- If seeking a more minimalist aesthetic: you may not like the nice shiny anchor emblem on the flat cap top of the Pro Gear Slim. It's not huge or garish by any means, it's quite elegant looking really, but it does make the top of the pen more eye-catching than the plain, polished finial of the Custom 91.

- @AJ20, you mention that you have mostly used medium nibs but now you would like a fine. In that case, if you choose the Pilot, do be aware that there is notably big line width difference between Pilot 14k Fine and Medium. Standard #5 Pilot 14k F nibs such as the ones you would get on a Custom Heritage 91 are quite typical Japanese fines, significantly finer than most F nibs we would get from, say, Kaweco or Lamy or Pelikan. Sailor fines are also typical Japanese fines. But when it comes to M nibs, Pilot's 14k mediums run a good deal broader than Sailor or Platinum. Additionally, because the Pilot 14k #5 M (even more so the SM) nibs tend to be quite wet writers, this greater width is augmented. Depending on the behaviour of the individual nib you get and the kind of ink you use, some of these Pilot mediums could approach Western medium in apparent line width on paper. My own Custom Heritage 91 has a luscious wet SM nib that is hardly distinguishable in line width from my Lamy M nibbed pens (and I like that, but if you are seeking a finer line, you might not like that).

Therefore, if your desired line width is Western Fine (i.e. something like a Lamy fine or a Kaweco fine), then it might be better to get the Pilot in Fine-Medium (FM) or Soft Fine Medium (SFM) rather than the actual Mediums.

[Daosus]

Another pen you might consider is the Pilot Custom 92.  There are some differences between that and the 91:  the pen comes in 3 transucent colors.  The gray is dark but not opaque.  You'd have to be OK with that.  It also has a more limited nib selection.  On the plus side, the nib, section, barrel diameter and length are identical to the 91, and it's a piston filler.  I don't know where you're planning on getting the pen, but it might end up costing about the same as a 91 or PGS.

[TSherbs]

4 hours ago, TheDutchGuy said:

 

While for me a C74 is an essential piece of kit. I was late to the C74 party but I’m never leaving.

 

I agree with TDG