Office & Stationery Best Fountain Pens for a Confident Start to Ink Writing
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By the Pickpedia Team
·2 picks compared
·Last verified September 2026
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Quick answer
For a first fountain pen, choose a nib around the size of your handwriting. This guide focuses on two clear-barrel Pilot Kakuno variants: Extra Fine for compact notes and Medium for a more open writing style. Pilot's general nib guidance associates EF and F with notes and narrow ruling, and M and B with letters and manuscript paper. Pilot nib-selection guidance.
Best Fountain Pens for a Confident Start to Ink Writing at a glance
Why you can trust this guide
This is a research-based comparison of two nib choices within one pen family. We used Pilot's instructions and writing guidance, then considered handwriting size, paper layout, refilling and care. We have not tested these pens or measured their line widths, smoothness or drying behavior. The recommendations are starting points for matching a pen to your writing, rather than a ranking of the entire fountain-pen market.
The Kakuno is a useful place to begin if you want visible guidance for holding the nib. Its smiling nib mark indicates the upward-facing side, and the grip has a rounded triangular shape. Pilot's Kakuno introduction.
Our top picks
The useful question for the Extra Fine is whether the letters you already write need more separation. There is no reason to redesign your entire note-taking system simply to accommodate a new pen. Before choosing, look at a representative page from your current notebook. Check the smallest lowercase letters and the spaces between them. If those are already crowded, put narrow-nib options first on your shortlist. Pilot recommends trying a fountain pen before choosing where possible. Pilot advice on nib selection. Choose it if compact writing is your main task. Skip it if you prefer a broader-looking line. Do not choose Extra Fine merely because it sounds more precise; fit to your actual page matters more than the label.
Pros
- The useful question for the Extra Fine is whether the letters you already write need more separation.
Cons
- Skip it if you prefer a broader-looking line.
Who should buy it
- Choose it if compact writing is your main task.
Skip it if
- Skip it if you prefer a broader-looking line.
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Our suggested use for the clear Kakuno Medium is a page where you can choose the line spacing and margins. Make a simple writing sample before deciding what you want from a fountain pen. Include a heading, a few normal sentences and a short list in your usual handwriting. Keep this example beside the notebook you plan to use. It gives you a concrete way to explain your needs if you try nibs in person. Choose it if your normal writing has generous spacing. Skip it if your main task is filling tiny planner boxes. The nib choice should follow the writing task.
Pros
- Our suggested use for the clear Kakuno Medium is a page where you can choose the line spacing and margins.
Cons
- Skip it if your main task is filling tiny planner boxes.
Who should buy it
- choose the line spacing and margins.
Skip it if
- Skip it if your main task is filling tiny planner boxes.
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What to look for
Compare the starting points
Selection: Pilot Kakuno Clear, model 10816; Nib: Extra Fine; Our suggested use: Compact planner entries and small notes; Main reason to choose differently: You prefer a broader-looking line. Selection: Pilot Kakuno Clear, model 10822; Nib: Medium; Our suggested use: Letters and notes with generous spacing; Main reason to choose differently: Your writing must fit very small boxes. Use-case labels are editorial guidance. The best match also depends on the paper, ink and handwriting you bring to the pen.
Understand the refill choice
Pilot's Kakuno manual specifies Pilot cartridges and also covers the separately sold CON-40 and CON-70N converters for bottled ink. A converter is an optional filling component; do not assume one comes with the linked pen. Kakuno use-and-care manual. For your first sessions, a compatible cartridge keeps the setup focused on learning the pen. Consider a converter when filling from a bottle is something you want to include in the routine. Decide where refilling will happen and how you will store the ink before adding more supplies. Keep the initial combination simple: one pen, one ink and one notebook. If you change all three at once, it becomes harder to understand which change affected your writing experience. Record the combination inside the notebook so you can repeat it or adjust one element at a time.
Make the first writing session straightforward
Insert the cartridge straight into the pen's neck without twisting, following the manual, and allow the ink time to reach the nib. Write with the smiling mark facing upward and close the cap firmly when finished. Kakuno setup instructions. Pilot advises light pressure and holding a fountain pen slightly flatter than a ballpoint. It also recommends water cleaning when changing ink colors or preparing for extended non-use. Pilot writing and cleaning guide. Start with a short passage rather than an important document. Notice whether your usual grip feels natural and whether the line suits the space available. Try the same words on a spare page of the notebook you plan to use. Keep the sample as a reference instead of judging the pen from a single signature.
Frequently asked questions
Will a different pen fix crowded handwriting?
A nib choice can suit your space better, but page layout still matters. Compare your letter size, line spacing and margins before expecting the pen alone to solve the problem.
Should I press harder when ink does not appear?
No. Check setup and consult the instructions. Pilot warns that excessive pressure can deform the nib or interrupt ink flow. Pilot fountain-pen guidance.
What is the clearest starting decision?
Use the comparison above, then consider the grip. If its shape does not suit your fingers, try a different design before committing to the pen family. A comfortable fit and a repeatable writing routine should guide the choice.
The verdict
Pilot Kakuno Clear, Extra Fine
For a first fountain pen, choose a nib around the size of your handwriting. This guide focuses on two clear-barrel Pilot Kakuno variants: Extra Fine for compact notes and Medium for a more open writing style. Pilot's general nib guidance associates EF and F with notes and narrow ruling, and M and B with letters and manuscript paper. Pilot nib-selection guidance.
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