Unboxing New Fountain Pens: Exploring Affordable & Underrated Brands
Original video: Atlas Stationers 5 Pen Unboxing
I got a big box from Atlas Stationers, and inside is a mix of affordable fountain pens that I’ve been excited to check out. Some of these brands are less common in the fountain pen world, and I wanted to explore metal-bodied, well-built pens under $75 to see if they’re worth recommending.
Let’s dive in!
A Quick Look at What’s Inside
1. Parker IM
✔ Metal body in a beautiful blue-green finish
✔ Steel nib, cartridge/converter system
✔ No converter included (which is a little disappointing)
A classy, budget-friendly Parker pen that feels solid in hand.
2. Sheaffer VFM "Coffee Edition"
✔ Beautiful brown gradient finish
✔ Snap cap with Sheaffer’s signature white dot
✔ Includes a converter (nice bonus!)
I was looking forward to this one because of the unique coffee-themed design.
3. Monteverde Dakota
✔ Aeronautic-inspired design
✔ Metal body with a short, compact shape that posts long
✔ Comes with a converter and cartridges
This one reminds me of a Pilot E95s with its long-posting cap. Monteverde nibs are usually solid, so I’m eager to test this one out.
4. Faber-Castell Neo Slim
✔ Sleek, modern design
✔ Black steel nib at a very unique angle
✔ No converter included
Faber-Castell is known for great design and high-quality steel nibs, so I’m curious to see how this writes.
5. TWSBI Mini ALR
✔ Compact, piston-filling design
✔ Metal grip and aluminum hardware
✔ Screw-posting cap
This is a new size for me—a mini version of the classic TWSBI Diamond 580.
Why I Picked These Pens
I wanted to find budget-friendly fountain pens that don’t feel cheap. Many people think "affordable" means plastic pens, but there are great metal-bodied options out there.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be inking these up, testing them out, and letting my family try them, so stay tuned for a follow-up video with real-world impressions.
If you want to check out any of these pens, I’ll leave links in the description. Let me know if you have any of these and what you think!
What’s your go-to affordable fountain pen? Let’s discuss in the comments! 🚀✍️
