.png)
✅ Pen Review Checklist & Rating Definitions
- provincialmills
- Jan 3
- 4 min read
**Please note that our reviews may differ significantly from what you typically see from other individuals or companies. This is more than just a review—it's an pen test conducted for both our benefit and yours. We use each pen for multiple weeks to gather as much information as possible. During this time, we test pens with a range of inks, multiple writing conditions and writing styles.
This isn’t a “sit down, open a box, and write a review in 15 minutes” kind of approach. Instead, we aim to offer insights based on real-world tests and extended daily use. Keep in mind, ink matters, and your pen may vary from this review based on how you use it!
Rating System for Fountain Pen Reviews
This system uses 1 to 5 nibs (✒️) to indicate performance across different categories.
🖋 Core Properties
PEN NAME:
PEN BRAND/MODEL:
NIB SIZE (e.g., EF, F, M, B, Stub):
FILLING SYSTEM
⬜ Cartridge/Converter
⬜ Piston
⬜ Vacuum
⬜ Eyedropper
⬜Other (Specify: )
NIB INTERCHANGEABILITY:
⬜ No: Fixed Nib/Housing.
⬜ Yes, Simple Removal: (e.g., Friction fit, pulls out easily).
⬜ Yes, Screw Unit: (Entire housing screws out).
Required Type: (e.g., #5 Jowo Unit, specific manufacturer unit)
CAPPING MECHANISM:
⬜ Screw-on (Turns to seal)
⬜ Snap/Click (Pushes on)
⬜ Magnetic
⬜ Other (Specify: e.g., Slip-cap, vacuum seal)
COST RATING (MSRP/Street Price)
⬜ $ (0 - 50 USD)
⬜ $$ (50 - 100 USD)
⬜ $$$ (100 - 200 USD)
⬜ $$$$ (200 - 500 USD)
⬜ $$$$$ (500+ USD)
The Review: Core Impressions
Written paragraph summarizing our experience using this pen!
Overall Thoughts? Design & Aesthetics:
(Does the pen look appealing? How is the finish quality?)
Build Quality & Durability:
(Does it feel sturdy? Are the parts well-integrated?)
Pen Inspiration – Any fun facts about the pen's name, brand, or origin? Ergonomics:
(How does it feel in hand? Weight, balance, section diameter.)
Value Proposition:
(Is the price fair for the features and performance?)
Downsides?
Performance Ratings (Scale of 1 to 5 Nibs)
Nib Smoothness & Feedback
(How the nib glides across the paper and the sensation it provides.)
⬜1 Nib (✒️✧✧✧✧) – Scratchy Nightmare. Excessive friction, feels like dragging a needle.
⬜2 Nibs (✒️✒️✧✧✧) – Rough & Catchy. Noticeable drag or 'sweet spots' make writing inconsistent.
⬜3 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✧✧) – Serviceable. Mild, pleasant feedback (like pencil on paper).
⬜4 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✧) – Silky Flow. Very smooth with only minor, well-controlled feedback.
⬜5 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️) – Effortless Glide. Perfect smoothness; an exceptional writing experience.
Ink Flow & Consistency
(How reliably the pen delivers ink without skipping, hard starts, or being overly wet.)
⬜1 Nib (✒️✧✧✧✧) – Unreliable. Frequent hard starts, skips, and flow issues.
⬜2 Nibs (✒️✒️✧✧✧) – Inconsistent. Sometimes too wet (railroading), sometimes too dry. Unpredictable.
⬜3 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✧✧) – Steady. Reliable flow for routine use.
⬜4 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✧) – Smooth Feeder. Handles various inks well; steady, consistent line.
⬜5 Nib (✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️) – Perfectly Tuned. Flawless, consistent ink delivery.
Start-Up & Drying
(How long the pen takes to start writing after a period of rest, and how well it resists drying out.)
⬜1 Nib (✒️✧✧✧✧) – Stubborn Starter. Requires aggressive priming or dipping after a minute.
⬜2 Nibs (✒️✒️✧✧✧) – Slow to Wake. Hard starts after a few minutes uncapped or days capped.
⬜3 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✧✧) – Acceptable. Starts easily, but may experience minor dry-out.
⬜4 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✧) – Ready Writer. Starts instantly even after being capped for a week.
⬜5 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️) – Always Prepared. Writes instantly, even after long-term storage.
Filling System & Maintenance
(Ease of filling, capacity, and cleaning.)
⬜1 Nib (✒️✧✧✧✧) – Fussy & Messy. Difficult to fill, small capacity, and hard to clean.
⬜2 Nibs (✒️✒️✧✧✧) – High Effort. Requires tools or significant effort to fill/clean.
⬜3 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✧✧) – Standard Operation. Straightforward, average capacity, cleans easily.
⬜4 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✧) – Smart Design. Easy, clean fill process; excellent capacity.
⬜5 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️) – Ingenious. Exceptional capacity, effortless to fill, and flushes completely clean.
Comfort & Weight Balance
(The ergonomic quality of the pen for long writing sessions.)
⬜1 Nib (✒️✧✧✧✧) – Uncomfortable. Too heavy, too thin, or a sharp step/thread.
⬜2 Nibs (✒️✒️✧✧✧) – Fatiguing. Causes hand strain after a page or two of writing.
⬜3 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✧✧) – Well-Balanced. Neutral feel, manageable for medium writing sessions.
⬜4 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✧) – Ergonomic Delight. Feels natural, great for long sessions.
⬜5 Nibs (✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️) – Perfectly Weighted. Disappears in the hand—supports hours of effortless writing.
Overall Opinion
This is not simply an average of the individual performance factors—it's a holistic reflection of how the pen feels in hand, behaves, and inspires expression. Whether sketching, journaling, or crafting letters, this rating speaks to whether the pen fulfills its promise and earns a permanent place in your collection.
If we believe the pen has exceptional, design, ease of use, and low maintenance it could receive:
The “Pen Collection” badge!
Comments