Pilot VPen review

[baxtrom]

Disclaimer

 

Dear reader, I hope You will overlook any grammatical and spelling errors present in my review; my native tounge is Swedish and my English is far from perfect. The review below reflects in its entirety my own subjective views on the performance of this precision writing instrument. With that said, I hope you will find this review useful.

 

Baxtrom's Pilot VPen m Review

 

After for the second time having laid my eyes upon the sensually curved shapes of the Pilot VPen being sold in one of my local bookshops, I finally decided to spend 39 Swedish kronor - approximately $6 - in order to have the pleasure of owning it. As you can see from the photo below, the silver-black cigarre shaped pen radiates luxury and craftmanship.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x231/baxtrom/Diverse/pilot_vpen1.jpg

 

The first impression I got when I uncovered the stainless steel nib was the distinct quality of the "click" sound produced. The nib itself is engraved with "Pilot (m)", while the plastic body of the pen is coated with a metallic finish with the text "Pilot VPen m" in black. A chic bar code in black on white is present near the butt of the pen (is "pen butt" accepted terminology?). The pin, cleverly designed to allow the owner to safely attach the pen to for example a notebook or a pocket, is equipped with a plastic sphere in order to decrease the risk for damage to clothing.

 

It is however as a writing instrument that the Pilot VPen m excels. The rich flow of ink produces smooth lines and curls to the delight of the fountain pen enthusiast. The only drawback of the pen, as I see it, is the method of topping up the ink - there is none. However, when the ink is out I intend to carefully disect my VPen and see if there is a way around this seemingly inevitable fate. Until then, I will fully enjoy its writing qualities.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x231/baxtrom/Diverse/pilot_vpen2.jpg

[cmeisenzahl]

Nice pen, and review! ;-)

[Hélène]

If you search for refilling a varsity (the American name for the vpen) in the new Japanese forum you will find several threads discussing the method for refilling the vpen/varsity.

[baxtrom]

If you search for refilling a varsity (the American name for the vpen) in the new Japanese forum you will find several threads discussing the method for refilling the vpen/varsity.

 

Ok, thanks for the tip!

[Celeste]

Nice job Baxtrom! I used one of these pens in college and liked it a lot.

[Paladin]

You might want to try the Pilot Petit. They write very well and can be refilled.

 

Here's a picture

 

http://www.pilotpen.com.sg/products/images/xs/petitmini.jpg

 

Pilot Petit Series

[baxtrom]

You might want to try the Pilot Petit. They write very well and can be refilled.

 

Here's a picture

 

http://www.pilotpen.com.sg/products/images/xs/petitmini.jpg

 

Pilot Petit Series

 

I'll watch out for it!

[kadymae]

Gotta Dag! (I hope I got that right!) Baxtrom,

 

Nice review and yes, if you search for ways to refil a Pilot Varsity (as this pen is called in North America), you'll find some tips and tricks.

 

For such a cheap pen, they write amazingly well and it's only natural that you'd want to refill it.

 

[baxtrom]

Gotta Dag! (I hope I got that right!) Baxtrom,

 

Nice review and yes, if you search for ways to refil a Pilot Varsity (as this pen is called in North America), you'll find some tips and tricks.

 

For such a cheap pen, they write amazingly well and it's only natural that you'd want to refill it.

 

Almost right, it's "God dag" (which is very formal, "hej" is used more often)!

[Rapt]

Actually its called the Varsity in the US, and the V-pen in Canada... Not sure why the difference, but there it is.

 

I've been enjoying mine.

 

Emptied my first one, ink is on the way, mods are started for refilling to FULL capacity and I played around with nibs smoothing on it. Feels pretty slick dry so I'm hoping it'll be fabulous with ink....

[Rapt]

Another note... I was looking at my V-pens and noticed the earlier ones had formed steel nibs the later has a blob of some sort of "tipping material" on it... It may be simply melted steel, but it is a separate blob that has been applied and then cut.

[mr T.]

For such a cheap pen, they write amazingly well and it's only natural that you'd want to refill it.

 

I agree. This pen does write very well, but not for long. Some may see this as a cheap entry into the fountain pen world, but I really don't think they are cheap. Why Pilot did design it as disposable and not as refillable? These pens are not meant to last long. Using this pen in the way Pilot has meant means creating lot's of expensive waste en using expensive ink.

[hatza]

This pen does write very well, but not for long.

A single international standard size ink cartridge doesn't last long either and yet most new FPs are cartridge fillers.

So I bet most users are happy with the ink quantity.

 

For carrying more ink, I just carry a few more Vpens - just as I would carry cartridges for c/c pen.

That way, I have spare nibs and another ink colour.

I need even less to worry about the pen. I can forget it, borrow it or give it away. After a few refills it's basically free anyway. Especially if I fill it with some leftover ink.

[Fox in the Stars]

I agree that the Varsity/V-pen writes very well! Nice and smooth, I've never had one dry up even if I left it capped unused for a long time. I've never actually run one out, either, but am filing away the advice about refilling them; I do dislike disposables in principle...

[DeaconKC]

I just picked a couple of them up to get used to writing with a fountain pen again after many years. What a pleasant surprise. Very smooth and is making me write like an adult again! I can't wait for my better quality one to arrive. However, these may become my choice for a work pen, for everyday use. For $3, it's awfully tempting......

[Fox in the Stars]

Wanted to note here, in my review/dissection of the Itoya Blade I compared it with the structure of a Varsity; they're very similar, with important exceptions.

 

First post of the thread, with Blade schematic drawing

 

Post #10 with Varsity comparison

 

The Blade has some advantages, but ultimately it doesn't write as well as a Varsity, IMO.

[alc3261]

Gosh, so easy to refill!!