It can be very difficult to shop for ink online, because there are so many things that might impact how a type of ink looks and feels.

I have never paid for a bottle of ink myself that I did not like. But I have received a few for review at my former stationery site that I didn’t like.

Not getting into this here.

I usually start with ink brands, and I try to read reviews of them and to figure out the general feel and properties of the brand as a whole.

What I look for in a ink is great colors and a well lubricated ink that flows well. Like my favourite Pilot Iroshizuku.

I usually start by reading at least 5 different reviews from different sites. If I’m still interested at this point I move into colors.

I usually just go to where I buy most of my ink, look at their stock and try to find something I like.

When I find something I think looks interesting I start to check out ink reviews of that color. I usually focus on how it looks at this stage.

I try to find reviews on different paper, ideally with something like what I use. Different pens, ideally the kind of pen / nib combinations I use. To get a feeling for how it will look.

Some inks will look very different depending on the nib and wetness of the pen.

This is a place I just keep looking until I feel like I have a strong impression of how it will look.

I try very hard to not pay for inks I’ll hate. But there are times I just wing it and hope for the best. But if you happen to get a ink you really don’t like you’ll probably find someone to trade it with.

Lamy Safari is a very popular beginner fountain pen, when I was considering to get into fountain pens this was kind of the only option.

There was probably others, but this was what everyone suggested. I got a Pilot Metropolitan as my first pen instead, and bought a Safari at a later point.

There is a lot to like about the Lamy Safari. You have a ton of colors available, plus a lot of special editions over the years that you might be able to find.

Much more nib options than the Metropolitan. And I think the Lamy nibs are way better than the Pilot ones.

As an added bonus it is really easy to change them.

I like how goofy it looks, but the Metropolitan has a much more “serious” look that some might prefer.

The reason I have never been able to actually use this or any more inexpensive Lamy pens is because of their grip sections.

Some pen brands do this thing with some of their pens where they shape the grip section to help you “correctly grip the pen” as in the Lamy Safari or they put the clip in the middle of the grip and all kinds of stuff like it.

This can become a problem if you for example are left handed or in any other way are outside of the “normal”.

Not all left handed people have a problem with this pen, but I do. I tried a bunch of times to get into it. But it is just either uncomfortable or very weird for me to use it.

I wish I could recommend this pen, but I have never liked it or been able to use it much. If it only had a better grip section I’d be all over it. Great colors, easy to change nibs and all of that.

My first fountain pen. I still think it is a great pen, but haven’t had one inked up in years, because I have so much other stuff I’d rather use.

When I got into this it was about $10 if I remember correctly.

It is a cartridge converter pen. So it is a great first fountain pen because you can just get a pack of cartridges and get started.

The nib options are limited, all of mine have been the medium nib. And the colors aren’t the best. But I think it is a really good pen.

The one thing I don’t like about this pen is that the point where the grip connects to the pen body is kind of sharp and bothers some people. Wasn’t a problem for me, but it might be a problem for you.

I think this is a no brainer for your first fountain pen or if you want something cheap.

The day I became a pen and paper person, as in more than just using what ever was around or cheap at the store, was when I picked up a Pilot G2 and a Moleskine.

I used to use the 1mm black ones.

After I bought the first, on a Friday. I went back to the same store the Monday after and bought a handful more.

From that day until I got the Retro 51 I always had two of them in my bag. Much more enjoyable to use than the random stuff I used to use, it lasted longer.

It was great.

I never went that into other gel ink pens. That is something I have had on my list for like forever. And probably will do this year.

There are some other gel ink pens that are supposed to be available all over. But I ended up sticking with this one until I no longer used the stuff available everywhere.

Sometimes I buy one when I see it on the shelf, just because. I recommend it for a what it is. But, if you are reading this you’ll probably be better served with something better.

This is the refill you can find in the Retro 51 and a bunch of other pens.

I think it is so popular because of the Retro 51, and have kind of become the goto refill for a lot of pens.

It isn’t for everyone though, I like it a lot and it matches my preferences very well. But it isn’t the best for people who prefer something finer or less wet or more colours.

This might not be what you use a lot. I don’t anymore. But I recommend something that use it to non pen addict people all the time. And most of them are really happy with it.

This was my first fancy fountain pen. I love it. This is most likely the single pen I have written the most with ever.

I have lost one of them, long story, but I lost a bunch of stuff when a winter coat was stolen from me in a pub years ago. Not sure if I was the most annoyed about losing the pen or walking for 20 minutes in a snow storm without a coat.

During the 2nd half of my bachelors degree this was the only pen I used; during the first half I only used the Retro 51 and Pilot Metropolitan.

The great thing about using the Lamy 2000 was that it never ran out of ink. It had enough ink capacity to last me a full 8-10 hours of lectures / studying with constant note taking or writing. And then I usually did a refill before leaving each morning.

The pen itself is an art icon, writes great and I never get tired of using it.

One note on the nib. It is hooded, and that can require some getting used to. It can feel a little scratchy until you get used to how to angle the it. But once you do it is a freaking awesome writer.

The thing about it is that it seems like there are a smaller angle where it writes well than other nibs I use.

This is also one of the few pens I own that starts writing immediately.

Why can’t they do more alternate designs of this pen? Like in different colours and more nib options.

I think it is a no brainer for me to recommend this pen to anyone. It is just a great writer. But it is a Lamy so it will be a wet writer, so that might not be your cop of tea. And as stated above, it might get some getting used to the nib.

There are two kinds of syringes all fountain pen users should own. I bought these from Goulet years ago:

• https://www.gouletpens.com/products/goulet-bulb-syringe?variant=11884649873451

• https://www.gouletpens.com/products/goulet-5ml-ink-syringes?variant=11884650168363

The bulk syringe makes it way faster to clean a cartridge converter fountain pen. You just fill it with water, stick it into your nib section and flush like 50 cartridges of inks through it in seconds.

The ink syringe on the other hand can be used to different things. Some use them to re-fill used cartridges, I use them to fill my converters all to the top. And can also be useful for quickly rinse converters.

They are not expensive, but can make your fountain pen life much more enjoyable. Makes it way faster to clean or fill your pens.

If you use fountain pens, I think you should have them. Made my life so much easier.

I have owned three of these. Two of them are gone because my ex lost them. And the last is the first Pen Addict limited edition.

This was the first “fancy” pen I bought, and probably the start of me becoming a “pen addict”.

It looks awesome, the build quality is great, and there is a design for anyone.

What makes this pen great is 50% of awesome the build quality and design of this pen is; and the other part is the Schmidt P8126 refill.

It is the perfect gift pen, and if you just want a really good regular pen this is it. I cannot recommend it enough.

This is my main notebook brand.

In 2016 I stopped buying “the least terrible I could find locally” and started to order online again. After stopping the same stuff in 2013-2014 because of expense.

And since then I have used Leuchtturm1917 most of the time. Except a period I used the large Field Notes notebook, and another couple of periods where I was into Travelers Notebooks.

They are awesome. Think the Moleskine aesthetic with good paper.

I have never had any problems with them. They are however not as good as Rhodia in some aspects. But Leuchtturm1917 dries faster. Pick your poison.

You find them in all kinds of page formats, sizes and designs. I usually buy something different each time if I can find something.

If you want a good hardcover notebook, I always recommend Leuchtturm1917.