Your first fountain pen, without the rabbit hole

By Quynh Vu · June 18, 2026 · 3 minute read

People assume you need an expensive pen to start. You don't. You need a pen that writes the moment it touches paper, feels good in your hand, and doesn't make you nervous about ruining it. That last part matters more than anything.

Here are the three I hand to beginners, over and over.

Platinum Preppy · under $10

This is the pen I tell people to buy when they're not sure fountain pens are for them. It looks like a school pen because it basically is one, and that's the charm. It writes smoothly, the cap actually seals so it won't dry out between journaling sessions, and if you lose it at a coffee shop you'll survive. Buy two.

Pilot Kakuno · about $15

The Kakuno has a little smiley face on the nib, and I'm convinced that's why beginners relax when they use it. The grip gently shows your fingers where to go, the nib is forgiving at almost any angle, and it comes in colors that make you want to pick it up. If you're buying one pen for the workshop, this is my pick.

LAMY Safari · about $30

The Safari is the pen you grow into. It's sturdy enough to live in a bag, the nibs swap out in seconds when you want a finer or broader line, and there's a whole world of colors and special editions once you fall in, and you will fall in. This is the one that gets people hooked. Ask me how I know.

The only rule that matters

Whatever pen you pick, use it. Write the grocery list with it. Sketch your latte before you drink it. A $10 pen that fills forty pages will teach you more than a $200 pen that stays in a drawer. You don't need to spend a lot. You just need to use it a lot.

And if you're coming to the SF Pen Show weekend, maybe don't buy anything before you arrive. The vendor halls are full of every pen on this list, you can try them in your own hand first, and it's really fun to learn on a pen you picked out an hour before.

Quynh