Sailor Hocoro Dip Pen - 1st Impressions

In this video I give my first impressions of the Sailor Hocoro Dip Pens! I purchased these from Yoseka Stationery.
yosekastatione...
If you look and they are sold out, check back often, that's how I ended up being able to get mine. I have the Fude nib ordered from Amazon. I think it's coming from far away so when I do get it, I'll show you how it writes.
So, in this video we look at the F, 1.0 and 2.0 nibs and write with them. I show how the nib snaps into the barrel for easy and safe storage. I love these. They will be a staple on my desk I am sure. There are so many times when I want to just try an ink real quick for a pen friend in a letter or for myself to check how it may look if I ink a pen. Often I use my Serendipity but these are much faster and the cleanup is quick.
The feeds are $3 in the ones that don't come with one: F and 1.0. The Fude and 2.0 come with the feeds. I recommend a feed because you can get a lot more writing done with one yet they seem to rinse easily ... I recommend the sink for rinsing the ones with feeds. You can get away with just a jar of water for the feedless ones.
Here is a link to Yoseka's awesome video:
• Unbox with Yoseka: Sai...
I'll check back in with you about these pens after I use them longer and receive my feeds for the F and 1.0. Thank you for watching - stay inky my friends!!!!!
My Instagram: / snowball7470
My pen email: [e-mail]
Let me know in the comments, what is your favorite dip pen. I've tried quite a few, I even have a fancy one that I got not long ago which the nib on it has me perplexed because I'm not good writing with it and have to practice I guess. More to come about that brass nib.
These Sailor Hocoro dip pens seem so easy and fun. I'm so grateful I was able to purchase them!!!

[@WMARUoriginal]

Fantastic first impression! Very helpful

[@ChrisSaenz13]

I still really love these Sailor Hocoros -- the F one isn't my favorite I favor the fude and 1.1 over the F but they are all great.

[@aliquot]

Your enthusiasm is infectious 🤩

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Well thank you! I'm glad you're here!

[@adawang2168]

Perfect timing! I was just about the order the Pilot but I do think I'll like the Sailor Hocoro better, especially with the feed. Thanks so much for posting this review!

[@ChrisSaenz13]

I do prefer the Sailor Hocoro F with the feed to the Pilot dip pen ... although the nib is great on the Pilot it just won't write much at a time and I'd like to get at least a sentence or an ink name. :)

[@pensane]

Seeing your excitement at 17:18 is infectious! I ordered mine yesterday: a 1.0 with a fine nib unit and a feed. I have a free other dip pens with feeds, so it will be interesting to compare.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi @pensane my 2 feeds are on their way and I can't wait -- I believe I will leave each one with the feed in it ... and the fude one arrived from Amazon yesterday so I will try it out this morning. So far I love these Sailor Hocoro's.

[@phillipstroll7385]

I'm happy that you are happy. Congratulations with your new acquisition.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Thank you! LOL I like your price/creative idea for a dip pen even better. I think I'll try it!

[@bretjohnston9519]

Thanks Chris, I loved your reaction on the 1.0mm nib; my thoughts were the same as soon as you started writing! I’m getting one of these, maybe two at such an attractive price! May your day be as delightful as you are :)

[@ChrisSaenz13]

@bretjohnston9519 - I still use and really like these dip pens they are really quick to rinse and switch inks too ... I only wish they made a traditional B nib edition but the fude one works great too!

[@amyalphabet722]

oh so fun, Chris! I was on the fence about these dip pens but now I'm adding these pens to my wishlist for sure!

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Amy -- I love them! I have been questing for dip pens that were solid and easy to clean for along time. Everyone I have seems to have some drawback. But these are close to perfect ... now if they'd just give us a Broad nib ... but I do like the fude nib one for that because it's quite broad. :) Hope you really like them if/when you get them!

[@leannezzers]

Thanks, Chris, for the fun video! Your enthusiasm really shines while using these pens Don't worry about being "behind" on product releases, I'm just learning of these now! 😆 I love the look of the 1.0. That pen would be fantastic for writing names on envelopes! Using this pen, with or without feed, would be great for ink sampling. Definitely considering the 1.0 and fude nibs now 🖋

[@ChrisSaenz13]

I did end up getting the little feeds for each and they make such a difference ... I really still love these dip pens so much!

[@leannezzers]

@@ChrisSaenz13 That's awesome to hear that you are still enjoying the pens. I'll definitely look into them :)

[@RitaCwise]

I haven’t heard of these pens before. Thank you for sharing the nfo.

[@paulherman5822]

Coming back around. I think Esterbrook first did the nib with a feed in a dip pen, their Dip-Less. Standard medium through fines I have written up to a page with one. And the later versions (earlier used a feed assembly and the nib could just pressure fit in, later can even use the italics for an Osmiroid 65 or 75, as well as any Esterbrook nib units. Lots of options, still fairly easy to find on eBay. And they had inkwells that hold about 2 ounces (56-59 mL). Easy enough to clean, still available currently. It's nice to see revival or innovation. Sailor is kind of doing both with these.😁

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Paul -- oh here is the comment I wanted to reply to about the Esterbrook dip pen! LOL I saw some on ebay and they look very interesting!!!! I'm so glad to know about these and thank you for mentioning them. I plan to get one eventually for my grandmothers desk. I have it in our book/library room and it would really look the era of the desk I think.

[@paulherman5822]

@@ChrisSaenz13 Get a 407 inkwell for it. 1940s Art Deco. Their prettiest inkwell, IMO.

[@DaedalusGage]

I totally agree with your excitement about these pens, Chris! I saw Inky Rocks talking about how she rinsed her Hocoro's, and I liked her method: she had three water containers on the table, the first for the bulk of the ink, the second for the dirty water, and the last for a clean swish. Maybe that helps for even more tabletop ease-of-use?

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Oh I need to catch up with Inky Rocks- I love her videos! That is a great idea for rinsing the Hocoro's!

[@marilyngardner4269]

I love the way these pens self-cap. I do have the fude nib and it's a very nice pen. The feeds snap in and out easily, so you could move the feed you have from pen to pen until you have enough of them. I believe the idea of the solid plastic feed is that it holds slightly less ink and is easier to clean than a regular feed with fins. So it should still not write quite as long as a Serendipity dip pen, for example. I think that's a good thing -- sometimes you don't need to write a page or more. I see portability and ability to swap nib sizes easily as the big advantages of the Hocoro. A glass dip pen is still easier to clean.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Marilyn -- oh yes -- the glass nib is so super easy to clean! And the Pilot Iro--utsushi is too .... I just love being able to write more with the feeds on the new Sailor Hocoro. I think they did a great job with these! I can't wait til my fude one arrives!

[@lizbensoncox]

Hi Chris! Wow, these pens look awesome! I've only just heard about them but I know I want them now, too.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Liz -- they are pretty neat. I believe I'm going to use them every week for my inky exploring!!!!

[@PlanYourOneLife]

Thank you for doing a review on these dip pens. I saw them in a Yoseka video and I was thinking about buying them.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

I think they are a lot of fun!!!! :)

[@JannyHaak]

Didn't know about these pens. Love my Serendipity, but these pens look like they would be fun too! 😍

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Janny - these are so fast to clean! I guess the Serendipity is too but it takes even less water to swich/rinse these Sailor ones. :)

[@laurabondurant5096]

I think these are fan🎉tastic. I can’t wait for mine!

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Laura -- I just love them -- they are my most stress free dip pens!!!!! :)

[@melissamcintyre7661]

Oh!!! I am SOO tempted now! I too love dip pens and have long admired your Serendipity, but they are a bit costly and I am ridiculously impatient, hah!! I think I like them mostly because they are soo nostalgic 😊 One of my daughters loves them very much too and will write pages and pages with only a dip pen! I think I might have to order one or two of these, definitely with a feed! Thank you for penabling me again!! 🤣💛

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Melissa - These are great - I can't wait to see how the fine writes with a feed. I wish they had a broad nib of course but I think the fude nib will fill that requirement! It just came in yesterday 2/16 so now I can try it out today! I love my Serendipity's I can write 3 pages A5 with them -- but sometimes I want to ink hop in a letter and just rinse off the nib quickly. I agree the Serendipity's are costly and I was nutty waiting for mine although it took exactly 2 weeks I was definitely nervous waiting!!!!

[@Hat_mad_human]

I love my serendipity ... but I may have to try one of these as it seems far more portable!

[@ChrisSaenz13]

That's what I was thinking too -- so nice to take in a pen pouch for journaling and sketching and just everything!!!! I love how it can just be capped within the body!!!!

[@BlushnBlue]

Those look amazing Chris. Hopefully one day I will be able to purchase one when they are back in stock. Like you, ever since my J. Herbin rolled off my desk and broke I was too scared to buy a glass dip pen again. The newest dip pen I have is the Kakimori that was purchased from Yoseika and I love it for testing inks. Thank you for the 1st Impressions.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi @BlushnBlue -- I got a brass Kakimori nib and I can't write with it ... I can make ink go on the page but wow I think I need remedial help with that one. I guess too I need to slow down as usual. I'm sure these will get back in stock again ... right now they are still very quick to come and go from Yoseka. But hopefully they will be more available soon. I'm forever writing and trying to get other pen stores to carry the dip pens in the lower price range. So they know there is demand. :)

[@BlushnBlue]

@@ChrisSaenz13 I think the ones from Sailor would be better with long form writing. I like the Kakimori for testing ink only due to the various widths.

[@hannahskoonberg]

Chris, I just got the fine nib one with the feed and it can write for so long. It's honestly the best dip pen I've used.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Hannah - they are really great right!

[@ToddDolce]

You don't have to bother waiting on feeds for these if you don't want to. Just use a small pen spring with a 2mm x 2mm magnet...and place under the tines. Done. You can get the tiny magnets in packs of 75 and up at Amazon. It works,....I make these myself for all of my dip pen nibs. Bonus: you can swirl it in water and the spring and magnet will also rinse clean. For India Ink, I just rinse in a windex solution.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Wow this is fascinating ... my feeds did come in quick and now I have one on each of these dip pens but so cool to know you found a solution!

[@5t4n5]

That's amazing how long that 2.0 goes.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

I was truly impressed!!!!

[@ruthfeiertag]

Chris, From what I saw on the Yoseka video, you should be able to move the feed from one nib to another. I got a 1.1 and am waiting for my feed to arrive, but I did try it out. As you discovered, swishing it around did not get the pen truly clean; there was a lot of ink trapped in the handle. I’m looking forward to seeing how the fude works! Loved the Tootsie Pop regerence. 🦉

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Ruth -- yes I think these need to be rinsed under running water unless it's a quick dip ... but I know it requires more practice and experimenting. I love them though!!!! The fude I just can't wait to write with that one!!!!!

[@ruthfeiertag]

@@ChrisSaenz13 I’ve been thinking that, when I take for an outing, I’ll pack a small spray bottle and a couple paper towels so I can get up into the handle. Hocoro should consider covering the open end of the nib, perhaps. But it’s really a minor inconvenience.

[@FromStudioZ]

I love the different dip pens too for the same reason. I had just ordered these too and missed out on the Fude. Hope it is back in stock soon. Have not had a chance to test mine out yet but did buy 1 feed. I need to buy another feed now :)

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi @FromStudioZ the fude one I ordered from Amazon is in now and I'm going to try it as soon as I finish answering comments. It looks nice. I hope the stock can soon keep up better with demand. :)

[@tiantuatara]

These look like fun! I can get a medium and a 2 mm to use for my Col-o-ring cards.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Terri - have you seen a M one? I need to look again. I could only find F, 1.0, 2.0 and Fude. M would be super. Maybe they will keep adding options since apparently these sell fast and furious. :)

[@tiantuatara]

@@ChrisSaenz13 I must have imagined you mentioning a M. I haven't looked yet because I'm on a no-pen buying thing for February.

[@davidscott8457]

Great review Chris. Funnily enough, I just received these pens too, though have only tried the Fude nib thus far. Likewise, also I ended up one feed short! Too much of a hurry to order and not reading the description. I have similar feelings abou the Pilot Iro-utsushi, whilst it gives more consistent writing than my other dip pens I often have to dip tiwce just to write the name of the ink under a swatch. The hocoro feed looks like a game changer for these with the amount of ink you were able to get in the 2.0mm. I may try this in my next pen pal letter 🙂Thank you again!

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi David -- these are super fun -- I do wish I had paid attention closer and ordered the feeds right up front ... I don't want to be snapping and unsnapping them although it sounds like people do put them in and out from nib to nib. But I ordered 2 so I'd have one for each nib. :) They should be fun for sharing even more inks in a pen pal letter. I think too that you could just cap the pen and as long as we're keeping straight the color we're using ... keep writing with it in the same session with same ink then rinse it all real good after writing letters. Something like that would really expand the number of inks I could write with in a pen pal letter!!!!!:)

[@MissMarilynDarling]

My newest dip pen experience is I saw this lady take out her converter and just dip her fountain pen in some ink and use it as a dip pen so my favorite combination of that is the pilot prera the nib feed comes out easy enough and I can get a few lines before having to re dip which is pretty good or if I want to do some calligraphy i'll use the spring steel flex nibs and if I want smoothed flowy calligraphy I will use my fountain pen revolution ultra flex nib but for a nice solid broad hands down The Pensive Pens Serendipity with a jobo broad nib

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Marilyn -- oh yeah nothing beats that Serendipity Broad nib. In fact these come in F but then they skip over M and B straight to calligraphy and fude nibs. Interesting. :)

[@SunshineFL]

Those look good and work very well, however, the kakimori lasts much longer. These would be great for traveling

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi @SunshineFL -- I'm going to have to practice more with the Kakimori I just can't write with my brass one ... it's probably just my own inconsistency but I glop and gob and can't write with it yet. And I have a pretty nib holder and everything but I'm feeling like I need a writing class or something lol.

[@graciousideals1509]

Heya! How does the 2mm stub feel? Is it very stiff? Do you have to put a lot of pressure in order to get it write? I have the Sailor High Ace Nero and it struggles when I try to write quickly as you.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

I tend to use really flowy inks so keep that in mind but for instance with my Pilot inks the Sailor Hocoro 2.0 is very smooth and writes a lot with one dip ... I would hate any feel of resistance because I like firehose nibs/inks and I find this to be really good. I can imagine with drier inks it might not be the same experience though.

[@graciousideals1509]

@@ChrisSaenz13You're right! I was trying some Birmingham and Sailor chromashading inks and struggled to write even with fine paper. Loaded it with some wetter inks like the Sailor Yamadori or Private Reserve and it writes like a dream! Still have to be mindful of nib placement but it's good to write with now. Trying to practice Gothic script at the moment.

[@anniescolourfullife]

I love how the nib stores ......wish the serendipity did that. I paused the video and looked online for them, but unfortunately, no UK pen stores or even Amazon UK appear to be selling these yet ☹️. I've can find for sale in Italy on from Japan via Ebay, so I'll have to wait a while until someone in the UK stocks them.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Annie -- oh I can tell you what I'd do = I'd be emailing the stores I normally order from and requesting they carry those Sailor dip pens. I think they could. They seem to sell like little hot cakes at Yoseka Stationery ... I had to wait til they restocked. I hope you find a place to get some!!!!

[@anniescolourfullife]

@Chris Saenz I've now actually found an art store that is selling these pens, so I've now placed an order 🙂. Though the feed is out of stock, so will have to wait for the store to restock those.

[@annepercival7814]

@@anniescolourfullife ..where did you find them in UK?

[@Inazarab]

The Sailor Hocoro is incredibly well thought out and designed: the way the nib stores within the body for protection, the variety of compatible nib units, and the available feeds that snap on to allow extended writing. The engineers and designers clearly spent a lot of time designing and iterating. The only problem is the nibs just aren’t very good. The Pilot Iro-Utsushi is probably the most lazily designed dip pen on the market. It’s just a cheap stick of injected molded plastic with a Pilot nib glued to the end. But the nib on it is fantastic, and that’s what is so frustrating. I would love to use the Sailor Hocoro, but the nib is just awful compared to the Pilot. So now my thoughtfully engineered and designed Hocoro sits ill-used in my drawer, while the lazy and uncreative Pilot Iro-Utsushi sits out on my desk used frequently. It’s very annoying. I really hope Sailor improves their steel nibs to be as good as Pilot, because until then, I’m stuck using the terrible yet great Pilot Iro-Utsushi.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi @Inazarab -- oh I really have stopped using my Pilot Iro-Utsushi completely and have really been enjoying the Sailor Hocoro's constantly. The fine nib one is just a little bit fine for me but smooth and the stubs and the fude have performed so well for me ... it could be the inks I'm using I'm not sure?! I totally agree that if the best features of both pens were combined there would be perfection! I wish the Pilot Iro-Utsushi had a feed!!! :)

[@Inazarab]

​@@ChrisSaenz13 It's entirely possible I just got nibs from a bad batch. Mine are super scratchy, but maybe I should get some replacement nibs to try out. Because, I really do love everything else about the Hococro.

[@phillipstroll7385]

I just buy inexpensive Chinese pens from aliexpress for under $2.00 a pen. Use them for a long as I like. Then, when I want a dip pen I drill a hole into a wooden dowel I can shape anyway I want, then slid a nib and feed into. Then I have several options all for less than $2.50 usd a peice. There is no reason whatsoever to pay more for less. China makes excellent pens. Part of their manufacturing trade agreements is the surrender of every companies research and development. When Parker wanted to make their pens in China they had to surrender all their schematics, r&d, resins etc. Even though it may read made in China is all the exact same as a pen made in Italy, Germany, USA, etc etc. No reason to pay more. Although I often do because Japanese nibs and pens are my favorite. I love a thin smooth line.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Phillip -- make your own dip pen sounds like a cool and fun project! My favorite dip pen is the Serendipity because of the fountain pen nib and feed .... but it's very much smarter to make one for just a few dollars. :)

[@ichirofakename]

1. Watching very closely, it unfortunately looks like it isn't really trivial to rinse fully clean. It would be very interesting to use it with dark black ink, give it a rinse, then try light yellow ink. 2. Yay, she's writing ink swatches with the same color!

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Ichiro -- I think that I would always take them to the sink and run the water into the barrel ... the nib unit seemed to rinse pretty well. I will do some more experimenting and make some additional reports. I totally meant to use different colors ... my excitement carried me away. I truly have been looking for something like this!!! Now I'm wondering if I can eyedropper the entire barrel. I know not the original aim I had for these but they are pretty nice nibs so that's one of the experiments I plan to try.