Having a fountain pen with a flex nib can feel like owning something really special. When it comes to flex nibs, line variation is the name of the game. It gives your writing calligraphic flair that you wouldn’t otherwise achieve with a standard hard nib. Writing with a flex nib can be a satisfying experience that produces beautiful handwriting. But which flex nib fountain pens should you try? Here, we’ll talk about some of the best flex nib fountain pens, all of which are perfect for beginners and seasoned fountain pen enthusiasts alike.
Pilot Falcon
The Pilot Falcon has a sleek, nondescript look that might make some writers gloss over it. But make no mistake; it’s one of the best flex nibs out there. This lightweight pen is very comfortable to use. It comes with a nib that produces a wet and very fine line. The softness of the tines gives you some of that beautiful line variation. It has just enough give that the nib gently yields to any pressure applied to it, making for a very satisfying writing experience. The nib is also made of 14-karat gold, which adds to its smoothness.
The Good Blue R615
The Good Blue R615 fountain pen has been touted as the flex fountain pen of the masses because of its high quality and decent price point. The pen has a beautiful body made of high-grade aluminum that is anodized in matte black which offers protection and makes the pen more durable. Writers who don’t like slippery grip sections will enjoy the textured roughness of The Good Blue fountain pen. Flex options are available for beginners, such as the titanium flex, which is the softer and smoother option but with less line variation. The steel flex nib is firmer and not quite as smooth but provides more line variation.
Opus 88 Demonstrator
One of the main attractions of the Opus 88 Demonstrator fountain pen is its large ink capacity. But the nibs are also something to marvel at. Opus 88 uses Jowo #6 nibs, which are known for their smooth writing. Their flex nibs also perform well. It takes an average amount of pressure for the Opus 88 Demonstrator’s nib to flex, and the spring back is quite good. Ink flow is also excellent with no railroading. This allows you to add sweeping strokes and tapering to your writing.
Pilot Custom Heritage 912
The second pen from Pilot on this list, the Custom Heritage 912 fountain pen, is similar to the Falcon in that its external design isn’t anything particularly remarkable. The magic is all in the nib. This comes with a rhodium-plated FA nib (short for Falcon), which has cutouts that look like wings. This design makes it possible for the nib to flex whenever pressure is applied to it. The tines of an FA nib spread apart to give you that coveted line variation. The FA nib also has a nice amount of springiness to it. It’s a light pen that weighs just about 25 grams, and it is a fairly comfortable length to write with whether posted or unposted. This pen comes with a CON-70 push-button converter that holds plenty of ink, so you can keep writing for long periods.
Leonardo Momento Zero
Leonardo pens are gaining a lot of momentum in recent years, and it isn’t difficult to see why. Their pens are made with expert craftsmanship while respecting years of tradition. The same goes for the Momento Zero fountain pen with the steel flex nibs. They are smooth to write with and have just enough flex when pressure is applied during writing. The tines also snap back when pressure is lifted from the pen. You can expect ink flow to remain decent even with more demanding and rigorous flexing of the nib. Overall, this fountain pen is a solid choice if you’re just starting out with flex nibs.
As you continue your fountain pen journey, you will likely learn more about what flex nibs are and how they can elevate your writing. You can choose any of the pens listed above to start experimenting with a flex nib and see where it takes you.
Happy writing!
Written by EndlessPens Blogger Ramona Kabigting
