3 Pens for Great Note Taking

I write things down a lot.  I have a little notebook I carry most places with me, and then a larger binder for when I’m working.  I much prefer handwriting to typing.  When I take notes on the computer or phone, I always forget about them and never go back.  When I hand write them, it’s different.  I’m more likely to remember what I wrote, but also have a tendency to just flip through my notebook.  Aside from improving recall, I would also assume it’s great for hand-eye coordination.

If I’m going to take a lot of notes, I want to have a nice pen.  I like something that writes smoothly, but also has a nice weight to it.  I also like the idea of having my own personal pen that no one else uses.  Now what makes a pen nice, you ask.  To me, a nice pen is one that I like writing with, fits my hand, but is also sturdy.  I want to know that it’ll last for a long time with constant use.  Styling matters too.

There are 3-4 different kinds of pens depending who you ask: fountain, rollerball, ballpoint and fineliner.  Rollerball and ballpoint are typically designated separately, but they’re very similar.  A rollerball puts out more ink, whereas in a ballpoint, the ink is much thinner and flows at about 1/3 the rate.  You’re probably familiar with fountain pens.  Classic.  But depending on the reservoir and style of writing, they can be difficult for everyday use.  A fountain pen requires a little getting used to, as the tip is not round like in a rollerball/ballpoint or fineliner.  

Rollerball and ballpoint are pretty standard and are easy to write with.  They’re also generally easy to refill.  Of the two, I prefer the excessive ink of the rollerball.  However, my everyday piece is a fineliner.  It’s like a super skinny marker.  It’s a little felt tip.  Drags on paper real nice.

Anyway, where was I going with this?  Here are 3 cool pens.

I’m counting this as 1 pen. These are pens by a Japanese company, Namiki. Whether or not you think you’re familiar with them, you are. Ever hear of a little company called Pilot Pens? Well, it was originally called “Namiki Manufacturing Company” until they changed their name. Namiki is now Pilot Pen’s high end subsidiary. These pens are particularly interesting because of their designs. They’re all handmade in Japan using a technique called Maki-e. Apparently. the designs are painted with lacquer, at which point precious metal dusts are applied before drying. The series in the photo is the Nippon Art Maki-e Fountain Pen, and they run about $750 a piece. Click here for more info.

This is a pretty simple Caran d’Ache pen. The standout feature is the hexagonal shape, which Caran d’Ache calles Ecridor. From here, all kinds of beautiful patterns are guilloched. Guilloche is a form of engraving that I’ll go into deeper in a future post that will be part of the timepiece series. I had a painted Ecridor in high school, in fact I still have it somewhere, just don’t know where. It’s a solid, sturdy pen that’s really easy to maintain and can take a beating. It writes well and is easy to refill.

I can’t do a pen post without mentioning Montblanc, and I’m not just saying that because I own stock in their parent company. They’re probably one of the most widely known high end pen brands. This one up top a favorite. My go to pen is very similar to this one. Instead of the spider, it has a snake. And I refilled it with a fineliner tip.

If you have any questions or are looking for a new home with a new drawer just for your pen collection, give me a call! I can be reached at 617 528 8461 or willy.charleton@nemoves.com