I think I will echo everyone else. A Platinum Preppy fine will be a great choice for a first time fountain pen user to decide whether a FP is right for them. $6 is not a big loss if it turns out you don’t like it. It seals incredibly well and the pen can last a long time if you aren’t too rough with it. It’s definitely not a pen you can throw at the bottom of a backpack then toss the bag around (compare to the Lamy Safari which can take a good bit more abuse.).

The fine might be a touch scratchier since a Japanese F is usually more like a western EF. If you using a lot of garbage paper, definitely go with the EF. If you’re working with paper that’s more liquid ink friendly, maybe consider M for a slightly smoother experience.

Definitely buy a bunch of samples and a blunt tipped needle to fill the cartridge that comes with it in that order. If you aren’t sure about 100% committing to FPs in that order, fill the rest of your cart for free shipping with stuff you could use otherwise. In terms of paper, I would say Rhodia and Clairefontaine are decent budget friendly paper. I am told Clairefontaine is dirt cheap in France. If you’re in the UK, I’m also told Optik paper from Oxford is widely available for a good price there. Maybe consider some pens or pencils if the retailer has them.

For people who don’t have anywhere to grab a single blunt nose syringe for a reasonable price, go to your local pharmacy and see if they can sell you a single syringe with a gauge of 23 or lower. I found larger pharmacies and ones attached to hospitals have a larger selection. When you get home, carefully grind down the sharp bit using a sharpening stone or a patio stone. Once that’s done, give it a rinse by running some dish soap and water through it and you are good to go. It might be a little awkward to ask for a single needle, but if it makes you feel better, you can always tell them you need a blunt nose syringe to transfer liquids into a small container and can’t find one so you’re making one yourself.

For people thinking about this 100% do not do this in the original bottle. Some inks have known to react with each other to form sludge and such. Non-absorbant surface is definitely the way to go.

I’ve been told De Atramentis Document Ink was designed to be safely mixed with each other. It might be something you would be interested in if you like mixing ink!

To add onto what has already been said:

Personally, my fountain pen on the go choices are durable or beater pens. I have done the TWSBI pens to school path and feel like it worsened my problems with cracking. I favour all metal pens, the nearly indestructible plastic ones like the Lamy Safari, or pens that I buy specifically to be a beater pen, like the Majohn A2.

It’s fine or extra fine all the way. In fact, western EF or smaller is probably the ideal, especially when paired with a well behaved ink that isn’t fussy about paper quality. When I was doing my undergraduate studies which required handwritten exams, my go to was a Platinum 3776 in EF nib with a well behaved and waterproof/resistant ink like a KWZI irongall or Sailor’s nano pigment ink. I would have a complete fill/top off before every exam, and then slowly use the remainder for journaling after exam season. Since it uses a slip and seal cap, I’m not really worried about KWZI iron gall being in a pen for more than a week. Doing this on a smaller budget, I would just use one of the cheaper pens in the Platinum line with a slip and seal cap, like the Plaisir. I knew I didn’t write enough in one exam to justify a piston filler and even stopped bringing a back up ink cartridge after a while.

What I am doing as an on the go pen factors into the choice of pen design. If it’s a pen I will be bringing to the office/school environment, then I will be more willing to carry a full sized pen like the Majohn A2 or the Lamy Safari as they both open and close quickly. There probably are some highly durable piston fillers out there, but I don’t have any in my collection that I would pass as beater pens.

If I’m specifically looking for a fountain pen to carry on me (bag or pocket) at all times to scribble quick notes in a pocket notebook, then it will be a pocket pen with a short international cartridge like the Kaweco Sport, the Ensso XS (my current favourite), or something of similar proportions. I am looking to minimize footprint.

To be perfectly honest though, I’ve mostly stopped EDCing a fountain pen unless I am going somewhere I know I’ll be doing some writing. I normally EDC a mini bolt action pen with a pressurized refill in my wallet and leave it at that. It’s just less of a hassle since I don’t have to worry about drying and is more flexible when it comes to signing heat-based receipt paper and carbon copy paper.

Pilot Cavalier is the way to go. The fountain pen version is a little girthier than the gel pen version, but mines still felt closer to a thicker Bic ballpoint than the common fountain pen widths.

I can’t say I was a fan of Quink washable blue, but I do like the black and blue-black quite a bit! I think the washable blue was about 3 shades too pale for my tastes

Oh that’s a good idea. Rhodia is pretty cheap around here. I completely forgot it comes in anything but dot grid! Something new to add to my cart, thanks.

Rhodia only sells in pads and small notebooks unfortunately. It’s a shame because I like their paper as a jack of all trades paper. Clairefontaine does looseleaf. I have used their notebook paper and liked it a lot. I put an order in for their Triomphe paper yesterday. I’m not sure if it’s the same paper that they use in the notebooks. I will find out soon! I finally found some CAL looseleaf and ordered that too. I’ve used it in notebook format and loved it. I’m waiting to put in an order for Midori pads and will probably toss the TR52gsm in the cart while I’m at it now that you’ve given me the nudge. Have you used G. Lalo? It is a bit pricy, so I’m not sure if it’s worth trying.

I use TR68 regularly, but I’ve been hesitant to use TR52 for letters because of the ghosting as I’m a fan of wet nibs, dark inks, and conserving paper by using both sides. I guess I should just buy a few sheets and try it at the very least. I just wish I could find a good source of 68gsm loose leaf in Canada.

Oh that’s a great idea. I have a ream of coated paper designed for ink jets I could try!

I’ve used Midori MD notebooks before and liked the paper. I had no idea they came in writing pads. Definitely getting added to my paper order!

Unfortunately, I’m not in the UK, but I night be willing to see if they ship if I can find enough to make a big order. The slight texture sounds interesting.

Wow, I will have to add this one to the list. I didn’t expect Clairefontaine to ever work with a guide sheet!

Reminds me of a quote I have always enjoyed:

“We know no spectacle so ridiculous as the British public in one of its periodical fits of morality.” Thomas B. MacCaulay

My go to is TR 68gsm. I really love CAL too. I have no idea what I will replace them with yet since they both are discontinued. I enjoy Midori MD, but I wish it came in ivory. For notepads I use as scratch pads, I use Rhodia since it’s relatively cheap and FP friendly.

That being said, I am in the middle of trying out new paper to replace my go to paper. So far I like Maruman Nmemesoine, but the lack of non-spiral bound notebook variety is a big sticking point. Kokuyo Perpernap is up next. I have high hopes.

I’m told the latest iteration of TR is very close to old TR classic 52gsm. I guess that will be my fallback.

I am digging the Misty Blue. It’s work friendly, but that slightly lighter blue black has more personality than a darker one that leans closer to black. It’s on my wishlist now!

I have a hybrid system. I use a combination of both depending on context. In the end though, it all gets loaded into Obsidian unless it is work related. It makes it easier to decide what is important enough to keep and archive in a searchable format.

Usually something very information heavy like lectures will go directly to digital. I have a hard time keeping up in a legible way if I try to do it by hand.

Fast notes and anything that I can take my time with will go onto pen and paper. Same with when I’m away from my desk. I hate taking notes with my phone in general. The only exception is if the note contains a URL beyond the basic name.domain type deals. I do this stuff by hand because scribbling a note when I’m out is faster than getting the phone out and opening a notes app. When I’m at the desk, it is just nice to slow down and think about what I’m writing some times. Other times it’s just easier to grab a writing utensil and scribble down contact information in a full screen application or on the phone.

As people have already pointed out, this is clearly not an issue of the effects of testosterone on the body. So you are right in the sense that this policy can only be defensible on equity grounds.The overlooked issue with the argument that the organization is providing an equitable space for feminine presenting individuals coming up through a system that is overwhelmingly make dominated is that under the current policy, transmen are having their women’s titles stripped from them unless they officially change their designations back to women. Only then, their awards would be restored. Suddenly presenting as male due to testosterone does not immediately negate the past experiences. If this policy is really about recognizing the challenges of climbing the ladder in chess as a feminine presenting individual, then these transmen who are also transitioning later in life should be allowed to keep their hard earned titles. Unfortunately, this policy is not actually about acknowledging the challenges of being a feminine presenting chess player. It smells like the organization wants to be able to claim they are acting equitably without thoroughly thinking about the logic of the policy. Whether people like the policy or not, or whether it is morally right or wrong is irrelevant. Well-crafted, consistent policy is much easier to defend. This policy is neither well thought out or consistent.

My workhorse pens are my three pocket pens: an Ensso XS Pocket Pen, Kaweco Brass Sport, and a Big Idea Design EDC Fountain Pen. I keep a pocket pen and a regular sized pen inked at all times, but I tend to rely more on the pocket pens since they are easier to carry around.