Today I had hoped to make my way to my favourite coffee shop in town, Mama Carmen’s, and sit down for a bit to write this review, but I didn’t manage to head out the door before the rain started to fall, as I knew it was supposed to, and one of the limitations of bicycle travel is the quite unremarkable protection it offers from the elements. That said, sitting in my own apartment with music playing and a window open to the steady drip-drip-drip of water is hardly the worst situation I could find myself in. And it does mean access to a rather decent stock of food and drink, already paid for, mere feet from where I sit writing this.
Since the title of this entry tells you exactly what it’s about, I’ll dive right in.
Previously, I have stuck to Pilot pens as my primary writing instrument, the G2 in particular, with a .5mm tip. When I’ve the opportunity, I prefer to write rather small, and thus try always to purchase fine-tip pens. Also, the way that I have generally found thicker nibs to flow over paper simply doesn’t suit me — every pen has a feeling, some of them less refined than others.
I think that there are just three main requirements for a pen that I’m going to use long term. First, the ink must flow easily, yet not so freely that it bleeds from one letter to the next. Second, the lines produced by the pen must be solid, not at all hollow appearing as some I’ve used, as though they’re tubes with air in the middle. Third, the pen must be available with a fine point, .5mm at the thickest, otherwise I won’t consider it even if it does meet my first two requirements. That said, there are other things that I like in a pen that are less important, but still desirable, such as light weight and an understated design. The Sharpie Pen, as I have quite recently discovered, meets my three requirements, and also checks the boxes of my more frivolous wants.
I ought to tell you that I have never owned a really expensive pen. (Though I did once spend a decent chunk of change on one for a friend.) I do appreciate pens and all sorts of writing instruments in general, and can look at the more luxurious ones with admiration, but the most expensive pen I’ve owned is one made by Machine Era Co., which is machined from brass, and uses a well from the Pilot G2. I later replaced that with the well from the Pilot V5, which is a little more precise. The Machine Era Pen is beautiful, and incredibly durable and simple, which is why I like it so much, but it is quite heavy. In fact, some weeks ago, I dropped it from my grip accidentally, and it hit my coffee table with enough force to bend the nib, thus making it useless, and also ridding me of my only dependable pen at the time. Which is what led me to Walmart’s home office isle, where I excitedly began ogling their selection of weapons truly mightier than the sword. I picked out two packs, one of the capped Pilot Precise V5, and one of the fine tip Sharpie Pen, which I’d never tried before, and was honestly rather skeptical of. But I really do love the look of it, so I had to try it out.
And at first I didn’t really like it. It has that distinct Sharpie feel, not at all like a rollerball pen, and if you’re used to Pilots, it is definitely a change requiring some acclimation. But before long, I grew to like it. I think the number one thing that got me to keep using it was that the ink doesn’t flow as much as it does with the Pilot, so I can write a little slower without letters bleeding into one another. The Sharpie is also extremely light, much appreciated over the Machine Era Pen’s hefty 1.6 oz. It’s also one of my favourite looking pens, being very minimal — and as you likely know, aesthetic is very important to me.
Also, since having this pen I’ve been gradually evolving the shape of my letters, and trying to refine my handwriting overall. It’s odd to say that a pen has caused me to write differently, but it has, and I’m thankful for it. My penmanship is improving, and that’s something I can only be happy about. In generally, my letters are my flowing now than they’ve been, which is the sort of thing I’ve always admired in others’ writing.
And so that’s that. I took a chance and decided to give the Sharpie Pen a try, and I really like it. So that’s pretty much my review of the thing, and recommendation not only of it, but simply of trying new things in general. You may think what you use now is your favourite for good reason, but maybe there’s something out there you’d enjoy even more.
Wishing you a lovely day, rain or sunshine,
— Joel
P.S. A bit later the downpour did let up, becoming only a very minor drizzle, and I was able to ride, slowly and carefully, with the occasional leading of my steed by the reins (due to my tires having well over three thousand miles on them and very little wet weather ability), to the shop, where I finished this review, and took advantage of the fantastic light. I like to get out of the apartment when I can.