The Best Fountain Pens of 2024

[@ashzhu3085]

I’m not an artist. But I absolutely love my Justus. The wetness adjustment is surprisingly useful when using with different inks. I don’t mess with it really often. Usually just play with the wetness when I change ink.

[@mkompan]

This is true. The flow can be adjusted to work best different inks.

[@queenbuzybee4074]

Thank you Marc! I also love Kaweco pens and now I‘m going to try a Hongdian M2.

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome!

[@angus1667]

Always nice to watch your video. Thank you kindly for this year. If i was able to manage coming back to drawing after 35 plus years, it was only thanks to learning from your content. And it's excellent both highly informative and pleasent in expression. Have a great new year of 2025 !!! :)

[@mkompan]

Well, thank you for watching and your support! I'm glad I could help with your return to drawing.

[@MikeRandolph-kt2fr]

Great video and IMHO the wing-it, no-script approach is the winner! We appreciate your insights. Thank you.

[@mkompan]

Thank you! More videos in this less formal/scripted style to come.

[@daveh3339]

Thanks for your views on these pens, Marc. I liked the informal style of presentation and look forward to more videos in 2025. All I need to do now is save up for a Justus 95 ! Happy New Year 🎉

[@mkompan]

My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed this more informal style. More content like this to come!

[@ianscheid5032]

Thank you very much < I enjoyed this very much and agree with having no NEEd but definitely enjoy buying new pens.

[@mkompan]

@@ianscheid5032 you’re very welcome!

[@kjmav10135]

I meant to get the Platinum 3776 SF, but when I opened the box (marked SF), it turned out to be an Ultra Extra Fine. It is absolutely needle fine. I love it. Highly recommend.

[@mkompan]

That’s for the recommendation! Perhaps the platinum UEF will be on my best of 2025.

[@shane6242]

nice video! i am a big fan of the m2, and they make a brass one now... :)

[@mkompan]

Thanks and thank you for the heads up! :)

[@GaryDerry11]

So helpful to learn from you depth of experience! Thank you!

[@mkompan]

You are so welcome!

[@GenWivern2]

Many thanks for another engaging video, and a happy new year to you. After a long moratorium I actually bought a fountain pen in 2024 - sort of. It's a Pelikan Graphos, so that opens up a whole new vista of exciting possibilities and opportunities to get my hands covered in ink.

[@mkompan]

@@GenWivern2 you’re welcome! I’ve heard good things about the Graphos, and will look into them.

[@OllytheOl]

HNY Marc, I have really enjoyed your channel this year, my first year as a fountain pen addict. I followed your advice re fude pens, which I love to use for music notation. Thanks for all your work and excellent advice. Olly.

[@mkompan]

You're very welcome! I'm glad my advice has been useful to you!

[@jerryw255]

Try the Noodler's Boston Safety Pen. It takes virtually any type of ink. Great for artists. Never dries out.

[@mkompan]

Tried it, loved it, reviewed it.

[@Miroslaw-rs8ip]

Pilot fountain pens are fantastic, I have a handful of them and they’re all great and trouble free unlike many European piston fillers that have piston problems and are hard to clean.

[@mkompan]

they really are terrific, though I also love my piston fillers.

[@yafelu]

Thanks for the excellent video!❤ Happy New Year!

[@mkompan]

Happy New Year to you, and you're very welcome!

[@TheDynamite333]

Thank you Mark, I got my Hong Dians after your reviews, especially M2 is a great little pen, I love it and even considering to buy another one in a different color. I also got Asvine v126, I'm not sure if I even get my hands on P36 but we will see. Not recent but one of my latest and best purchase was a Platinum PTL-5000a, it was a bit of blind purchase because it has a 14 k gold nib and the deal was a steal. Later I found out that it had been discountinued. The pen was the cheapest model of the Maki-e series I believe. It has nothing speacial to it; very simple but slick design and the gold nib has a fair flex on it. I was very suprised with the line variation. Even big brother "Kanazawa" has 18k gold nib, they are not over my budget actually but never purchased such an expensive pen, stilll I might consider getting one.

[@mkompan]

You’re most welcome! I only have a few Platinum pens, and this a brand I’d like to explore more. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@magdalenaholt2967]

Happy New Year! Very enjoyable video indeed. I absolutely love your work and channel and the beautiful lighting in your videos. Little curiosity: I've studied drawing for years with G. Vilppu. He also highly recommends the Pilot Justus 95. Love the 2024/25 drawing. So clever...

[@mkompan]

Happy New Year to you, and thanks! I didn't know Glen Vilppu recommends the Pilot Justus, but have seen his excellent demos using a fountain pen (I can't remember what he was using, perhaps a Pilot Falcon). That man is a legend, and I wish I could have studied with him. I did have the chance to draw next to his colleague (and I believe mentor), the great Harry Carmean.

[@magdalenaholt2967]

@mkompan yes, a falcon. Both the man and the pen! Just during the past year or so, he is also recommending the justus...two birds of a feather! i love watching your videos. they have helped me many times.

[@spinningchester6481]

Happy New Year, Marc! Thank you for your 2024 fountain pen reflections! I've had my eye on the Asvine P36 for a bit now. Perhaps when I am ready to phase out my Duke 600's. The size 6 nib of the Asvine P36 is very attractive...

[@mkompan]

Happy New Year, and you're most welcome!

[@juanmarialberdigaritaonand4153]

I'm curious Marc. You mentioned you owned five Pilot flex pens, would you mind telling those model names, please?

[@mkompan]

Certainly. I have the Pilot Custom 74 SF, the Pilot 912 FA, the Pilot Falcon F, the Pilot 743 FA, and the Pilot Justus 95. I have a full comparison of them on my channel.

[@ronwoch]

I have a Pilot Justus (original style not the 95) and it is a great pen!

[@JezIpadski]

Hi. How much did you have to pay for it?

[@mkompan]

I love mine dearly, and might have to lose it again, and repurchase it, just so it can be on best of 2025 list. :)

[@katyakompaneyets7982]

Definitely the last of this year!

[@brnsssophie]

the lighting is very rembrandt-ish :)

[@mkompan]

It hides the mess in the back, which I’m sure was Rembrandt’s intention.

[@sharonkatz4451]

I bought 3 of the #5 FPR ultra flex nibs and have been trying to find a pen holder for them. The Hongdian M2 sounds like just the ticket - thank you! And happy new year... here's to more live workshops!

[@mkompan]

Happy new year to you, Sharon! The M2 is a fantastic choice fo the FPR #5. The nib and feed are a litte tough to pull out, so you might need pliers or at the very least a rubber grip.

[@ichirofakename]

1. You make the Justus look quite tempting, but it is too pricy for a casual purchase by someone who already has too many pens. 2. I wonder when, and why, you would choose a particular nib size, #4, #5, or #6? I am not sure that I get different results amongst them. And lately I've been using my ridiculously thin Sailor Candy from the 70's, which has a miniscule nib (#2?). Sometimes I think I can better see what I'm doing with this tiny pen, but that may be a lie.

[@mkompan]

1. As a casual purchase it is indeed too pricey. But this pen is nice enough to commemorate a special occasion and will not disappoint. 2. Nib size has no effect on performance, full stop. However, those #8 nibs we’re seeing more of these days are gorgeous.

[@arlenealennox3136]

Since you use fountain pens as professional equipment can you take them off your income tax?

[@JezIpadski]

Good point! I'm sure that'll be a yes.

[@mkompan]

Hey, good idea! :)

[@Bleoberis1]

One should NEVER spend more than $200.00 for a fountain pen! They ALL perform mostly the same. Sponsor- plea creator…