Faber Castell Grip 2011 Fountain Pen Review

[@federicofigueroa538]

I got one a few months ago by recommendation from a friend, and it has become a workhorse for everyday use, solid pen, great nib, good flow, comfortable, not fragile... it's just a nice everyday pen.

[@March22012]

I prefer the Grip to the Safari. I have small hands and like the feel in my hands much better. I love the feedback for drawing. This pen is one of my top ones for that purpose.

[@herrkeks8509]

The M nib on mine is the best thing of the entire pen. It is smooth and has quite some give. Very good for the price!

[@linevariation]

There was/is a Grip 2010 fountain pen as well. I found some at Barnes and Noble in a blister pack with 5 cartridges of matching ink for $20. The finish on the 2010 is shiny, whereas the 2011 looks matte. B&N only had extra fine nibs. Not usually my thing but for an EF I find it fairly smooth. I don't have a wide experience of Faber Castell nibs but nothing about this one disappointed me. The only issue was that the cap insert that came loose from its mounting inside the cap, but that was fixed with superglue.

[@barbarah-p8661]

Thank you for a very informative review. I bought my F-C Grip (EF) at Barnes & Noble before I saw your review. They had only 2 choices for nib size, extra fine and medium. I prefer extra fine nibs, so that was not a problem for me. I also have several Lamy Safari and AL Star pens. The Lamys, even the EF point nibs, write wetter than the Grip and more smoothly with less feedback. I actually like the F-C Grip. I don't mind a nib with feedback and actually expect a certain amount of feedback with an EF nib, and it doesn't seem to tear fibers off the paper, which some EF point pens do. It does seem to write drier than the Lamy EF but I am not sure of it is just the ink, or the ink feed/nib combination. I am using the pink cartridge ink that came with the pen. I am going to use it for a while. Once the cartriges are used up, I plan on converting it to an eye dropper pen. I am very interested to see how the medium point F-C Grip writes, but that will have to wait until I get one. The nubs on the barrel don't bother me when I'm writing.

[@curtism5333]

I may well get me one of them. They seem worth the price. Regarding weight and heft, perceptions can vary. I can appreciate a very light pen provided it has a good size and it performs reliably. There’s nothing more frustrating than a pricier pen that dry starts etc., only to have one of these cheaper ones that you reach for on occasion only to have it write immediately without fuss.

[@Indusxstan]

Thanks for the honest review. You saved my time. Thank you!

[@sherinzadakhudukhel6342]

Loom is very suitable for daily use especially recommend for secondary school students.

[@dagbruck]

I think FC has upgraded their production process. Bought one recently and it is very smooth. Much better nib than my Lamy Safari.

[@AdrianMutu87]

If these didn't have a triangular section, they would totally destroy the market in this price range.

[@jennieeveleighlamond]

My friend and I refer to these as the "Dalek pens". I found the bumps the most uncomfortable thing, ever. After about half a year of not very heavy use the cap on my friend's cracked and broke.

[@SailingHanu]

I'm not a scratchy nib kinda guy - the smooooother the better. The wetter the better too for that matter. More than two nipples is too much, though I can probably do three...but not a hundred. A company that stresses quality better tread very lightly when it offers a very low quality product. I'm not a FC fan, though I do have the Loom. Bottom line, I don't like this pen because of the nipples everywhere and how it's scratchy. Thank you so much for showing us this pen model Stephen! Another fair and thorough review. Be well!

[@andrewtongue7084]

Obviously, Stephen, this is very subjective; certainly, I own a 'Basic' & a 'Loom' model, & yes, they're super smooth. Perhaps, at twenty euros, F-C have deliberately not made the nibs as luxurious as the aforementioned - a distinction purely at price point, but I agree, not a wise decision on this fine, quality manufacturer, & in truth, when you consider how many people own at least one Lamy Safari, then that same distinction is abundantly clear - Faber-Castell will never be able to compete with their fellow German giant. Ultimately, if you're not fussy about nib smoothness, & primarily want a workhorse scribe, this may well be for you. Finally, I would say, you & I - & everyone else that owns a basic model, upward, have been spoilt - we're too used to immeasurable quality from this company. Thank you for another excellent presentation, cher college :D

[@liamvictor]

Interesting, thank you. I have a Grip in extra fine and enjoy it a lot. In fact I prefer it to the Safari. Both are decent pens. I must pick up A Basic to see how it compares.

[@greyareaRK1]

I really liked the Loom. I hope this doesn't indicate a shift in the strategy of the company.

[@MrAndrew1953]

Do they have a Red? I like inexpensive pens🖋. Feedback on fine nibs isn’t a bad thing in my opinion-bit of character. just cartridge or converter extra?

[@alexpastukhov8222]

you help me ,thanks for review!

[@jeko32]

Actually, what I find interesting is that this version of the Grip uses a standard #5 nib. The rest of Faber Castell's entry level pens do not.

[@anitabhattacharya1243]

Using a good flowing ink should be good in this pen?

[@pritamdas5889]

Please review on Click Aristocrat fountain pen it is very reputed in fpn community regarding its price and the quality it offers

[@pmccord9]

Would FC make a different nib for the Grip than the Loom? I usually love FC nib texture. Good review, thanks.

[@silkspinner7010]

There is a range of Faber Castell student level coloured pencils called grip, that have those stud pattern all along them.

[@MrLaTEchno]

.......it is what it is.....20-Euri's fun, does not makes it a Rolls under the Fountain Pens. Honesty makes me every time coming back here to your Channel, you do the Things we need a clear view on things.....for you it's the Fountain pen......that's clear to me my Friend ,...keep going and I keep coming back.....deal ? GreetZzZ from Holland.

[@robedwards2830]

The Writink had a very smooth nib as well. This was the first Faber Castell I saw which wasn't made in Germany (presumably to save on manufacturing costs), so maybe the nib quality is also a cost-saving issue?

[@robedwards2830]

That said, the nib is still very smooth compared to a lot of other brands...

[@cbronoord]

What are your thoughts about the new Wing Sun 3013. A less than 5 Euro vaccum filler...

[@swagathshetty]

This pen should have been reviewed a long time ago.

[@chrislj2890]

I have a Loom that has a great broad nib, but the grip ruins it for me. I just checked and Goulet and Pen Chalet don't even carry the brand anymore. You should have compared it to other brands in the same price range instead of more expensive F-C models.

[@zainalu]

Are the nibs on this pen different than those on looms?

[@collecter3456]

Lamy safari faber edition

[@andrewl6319]

Start 1:06

[@AnzanHoshinRoshi]

Thank you, Stephen, but no thanks.

[@sass8001]

Моя ручка царапает( Я разочарована. И ручка перо М рвет бумагу, она застревает в перышке

[@iwnicholson]

Converter included?

[@sbrebrown]

No

[@c.catlover4080]

@@sbrebrown I just got one of these pens. I want to get a converter for it but not sure what converter to get. Also, did you say this could be converted into an eyedropper? Thanks.

[@neemancallender9092]

you have expectations because of the smooth Loom nib and failed the pen But how does the nib compare to Lamy Nobody will ever call the Lamy nibs smooth But you don’t fail them because of that

[@sbrebrown]

The Lamy Safari nibs I have used are smooth. So, just for you: the Safari nibs are smoother than the Grip nib. I also do not think I have "failed" this pen: I provide my opinion, which is the point of a review. Your opinion may, of course, vary.