TGS 12th Anniversary: Updated 2026 "Best Pens" Page

Longtime T.G.S. readers know that I update the “Best Pens” list annually, typically around the T.G.S. Anniversary in mid-April. Once again, this year was more of a maintenance update because as the list matures, there’s simply not as much movement between the categories. Most of this year’s adjustments account for pens moving between the different price points and certain models/brands going away, but I always enjoy this exercise.

As with previous updates, the last 10 or so lists remain live so that you can see how my opinions and tastes have changed over time. View the 2025 Best Pens List and prior lists here, and if you see something you like, please consider supporting us by shopping our store* or pledging via Patreon.

*The “Best Pens” list goes back to at least 2017, and predates our shop by several years. You’ll see that these lists have informed how we built out our own retail operation, as I knew when I opened my own shop that I would only want to sell stuff that I could readily recommend to other people.

Weekly Drops: New Teranishi Inks, More Taccia, and the Pilot Custom Heritage 92 in All Nib Sizes

This week’s theme is ink, as we have plenty of new arrivals from Teranishi and Taccia! We’ve also introduced a wide array of new gel pens in vibrant colors from Pilot’s Juice Up and Juice Plus lines, and we’ve also restocked all of our Uni Zentos and Zebra Sarasa Vintage. On the pen side, we recently received restocks from TWSBI, Pilot, and Lamy, with many long-time TGS “Workhorse” favorites now back in stock for graduation season.

Note: Our allocation of the TRAVELER’S 20th Anniversary Card-Size Notebook sold out in under an hour online. We have a couple left that we have set aside for in-store customers, so if you’re early today you might get lucky. Unfortunately, we do not have any insight into when we might receive an additional shipment.

See these and more in-person! Come visit us in our Nashville store this weekend from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm on Saturday.

1. Teranishi Fujiyama Irodori Inks. This line of inks from Teranishi features six colors inspired by Mt. Fuji, and we now have five of them. Teranishi inks are free-flowing and vibrant, and some of our favorites.

2. Teranishi Guitar Inks (Standard Line). The standard Teranishi Guitar line features many unique colors, especially in the green range. Lady Emerald, Brilliant Mint, and Gentle Green are perennial favorites.

3. Taccia Ukiyo-e Kuniyoshi and Hokusai Inks (New Releases). Taccia has released 16 new inks of the past few months, and they’ve all finally arrived. This round features darker, more subtle colors than previous releases, especially the Kuniyoshi inks.

4. Taccia Roughna “Sketch” Ink. An underrated release of four colors that flew under the radar, especially Earth Green and Earth Blue which are both excellent shades that absolutely invoke their namesake.

5. Pilot Juice Up and Juice Plus Gel Pens. We’ve added all the colors of Pilot’s “Synergy Tip” gel pens, the Juice Up and Juice Plus, to our shop. The Synergy Tip technology combines the precision of the Hi-Tec-C with the reliability of a traditional conical tip gel pen. I reviewed both of these gel pens last week.

6. Pilot Custom Heritage 92 Fountain Pens. I wish Pilot would do more with their piston filler, because the mechanism is one of the smoothest I’ve used and the clear acrylic is perfectly polished. Now available in nib sizes fine through broad. Are you confused about Pilot’s “Custom” series and the different models? We wrote up a quick overview a few weeks ago.

7. TWSBI ECO Black Marble & Bronze Fountain Pens. The popular Black Marble & Bronze is restocked. This one features a swirled black and white acrylic with TWSBI’s bronze-plated trim.

8. TWSBI Vac700R in Iris and Kyanite Blue Finishes. Based on availability we are seeking, the Kyanite Vac700R is either going away in the near future or is in short supply. We recently received pens in both the Kyanite and Iris as part of a recent restock.

9. Lamy Studio Fountain Pens, Rollerballs, and Ballpoints. We’ve expanded our range of Lamy Studios on offer to include the standard color rollerballs and ballpoints, listed alongside the fountain pens to make it easy to create a set. With graduation season approaching, we’ve restocked on pens like the Lamy Studio and the Lamy Swift, both understated workhorses that are well-priced.

10. Belle & Union Stationery Themed Stickers. In addition to their excellent correspondence sets, we’ve restocked on all of the Belle & Union stationery-themed vinyl stickers to adorn your water bottle, laptop, or wherever else you want to show your love for stationery!

We’ve been adding additional Belle & Union folded notecards and other correspondence stationery to our specialized letter-writing section of the shop.

T.G.S. 12th Anniversary: 5 Fountain Pens Everyone Should Experience

This month TGS turns 12! Yes, I’ve been at this for over a decade, and while the site has evolved a lot over the years, the core of the business - and what I love about running The Gentleman Stationer - still revolves around pen recommendations and helping those interested in writing by hand find the best pen to fit their specific needs. A common request I get is for an “experience list” or a “what’s next” list - if someone has tested out an inexpensive pen like a Pilot Kakuno or Platinum Preppy and decided that they enjoy writing with fountain pens, what pens should they try next to give them a sense of what else is out there? I consider the five pens discussed here to be to be “foundational,” in the sense that they were all important to me in my own fountain pen journey and still serve as benchmarks for how I consider and evaluate a lot of other pens on the market.

I need to preface this article by saying that this is not intended to be a “pens you need to buy” list, but rather more of a pens to TRY list. Most of these are relatively common fountain pens that you can see in person at most brick and mortar pen shops or pen shows, or in someone else’s collection at a pen club or pen meetup.

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TWSBI ECO (left) next to a Lamy Safari.

Lamy Safari

Originally released in 1980 (46 years old - ask me how I know that), the Safari features a modern design with its signature oversized clip and somewhat polarizing triangular grip. A flexible cartridge-converter filling system and interchangeable nibs make it a versatile pen that you can usually find priced under $30. Importantly, if you try out a Safari or its larger sibling, the AL-Star, and discover that molded-grip fountain pens aren’t for you, this will help you rule out a lot of potential purchases.

TWSBI ECO

“I’m curious about using bottled ink and want to try a piston-fill fountain pen but don’t want to spend $100.” I get some version of this question every weekend, and usually my answer is going to be to try the base model TWSBI ECO. At $36.99, you can test out a quality piston fill mechanism that holds a lot of ink, and discover whether it’s for you or whether you prefer the convenience of an ink cartridge or the flexibility of a converter. If you visit our shop in person we almost always have at least one ECO inked as a tester.

Pilot Custom 74

If you’ve never tried a gold nib fountain pen before, start by trying out one of the best possible no-fuss writing experiences. Pilot nibs are known for their consistency and reliability, and even after all these years the Pilot Custom 74 with a 14k medium nib might be my favorite all-around writer. Both steel and gold nibs can offer an excellent writing experience, but gold nibs have their own unique feel. The Custom 74 is one of the best at a very good price point. (Custom 74 Full Review)

Pilot Vanishing Point or Decimo

“A retractable fountain pen?” A lot of new users are shocked that such a thing even exists, much less that it’s been around since the early 1960s. If the clip doesn’t interfere with how you grip the pen, the Vanishing Point/Decimo’s capless design can be a game changer for those of us who have worked in office environments where writing on the go is a necessity. Personally, the slimmer Decimo works better for how I hold my pen, but that’s something you can only discover by trying both pens out in person. (Vanishing Point/Decimo Workhorse Pen Review)

Lamy 2000

The Lamy 2000 draws strong opinions, and that’s exactly why it’s on this list. The Bauhaus-inspired design dates to 1966, and while some may find the minimalist brushed Makrolon construction “boring”, it remains my favorite fountain pen design of all time. Is it for everyone? No. But for every person looking for a brightly colored acrylic demonstrator, there’s someone looking for an everyday workhorse they can use at the office that disappears in their hand. For me, the Lamy 2000 is that pen. Moreover, like the Pilot Vanishing Point, when something has been around for almost 50 years, and is still manufactured today using basically the same design as when it was originally released, its worth a try simply to be able to add it to your “pen vocabulary”. (Lamy 2000 Workhorse Pen Review)

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Pilot pens are easy to recommend as reliable workhorses. Shown here are the Pilot Custom 74 (front) with a Pilot Decimo (sorry, the finish was an exclusive for Nagasawa Stationery in Kobe, Japan).

What Factors Drive Inclusion on This List?

Obviously this list isn’t exhaustive - it contains five pens I recommend people try when they’re looking to broaden their horizons and explore different fountain pen options on the market. While some of this is intangible and driven by by my own likes/dislikes and personal experience, here are a few general factors I considered:

• Range. This set of five pens I’ve chosen presents a diverse variety of styles, from classic (the Custom 74) to more modernist (Safari and the Lamy 2000). Do you prefer an “edgier” look, or more traditional vintage-inspired design?

• Age and Popularity. For new users, I generally recommend they try as many “classics” as they can, meaning pens that have been around for a while (i.e., usually decades, with the one exception here being the ECO). A baseline familiarity with popular fountain pens broadens your frame of reference and can help you have more informed discussions with other enthusiasts or retailers, making your experience more enjoyable by allowing you to better understand what other people are talking about.

• Value. The most expensive pen on this list is the Lamy 2000, which retails for $223 and includes a 14k gold nib and an integrated piston filling system. The Pilot Custom 74 is another pen with a 14k gold nib that retails at most places for $216. While I tend to be a “buy what you like and use it forever” person who doesn’t overanalyze price if it’s an item I intend to use long-term, I feel that the rapid emergence of licensed/branded collaborations and marked-up special editions has made it more important to have a perspective on value. I’ve found myself considering - and rejecting - certain pens because at $350+ they simply don’t offer anything beyond core pens I already own, that I enjoy using, and which cost much less. Again, price isn’t always everything, but know what you can get for your money.

We have all of the pens models shown here available in our Nashville shop, and often have at least one example of each model inked up and available to try in person. We also regularly bring pens on the road to shows. We hope to see you sometime!

New Arrivals: New Taccia Ukiyo-e Hokusai Inks (and more Kuniyoshi!)

Taccia is on a roll, having recently doubled the size of their much-loved Ukiyo-e series of fountain pen inks from 16 to 32 colors. Earlier this month, we received an initial shipment of the Kuniyoshi series, which sold quickly but has since been restocked. Just this past week (with our restock) we also received eight (8) new Hokusai inks. I’ve swatched all of the new colors and from this most recent release, Nakahanada and Rikan-Cha are probably my two favorites!

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Hokusai Nakahanada is best described as a dark teal black, with some sheen. Note that these new releases also have artwork on the bottles.

Rikan-Cha is a dark greenish brown.

Most of the Taccia Ukiyo-e inks are currently available, including all of the Kuniyoshi and the 8 most recent Hokusai inks. They can be purchased both in our online shop and in the Nashville store, and as always you can compare color swatches using our shop swatch books.

We will be open normal hours this week in our Nashville shop, from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm Saturday. Stop by to see these and more in-person!

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Sunday Reading for April 19, 2026

1. My 2026 Atlanta Pen Show Haul (via Inkdependence). I love a good pen show haul unboxing video, and Mike delivers on this unboxing of his Atlanta Pen Show finds.

2. Hakase JG10A (via UK Fountain Pens). I’ve seen these pens in person, and yes, the craftsmanship may justify the wait list.

3. Leonardo + Stilo e Stile Poliedrica Desert Night (via Figboot on Pens). Leonardo is getting in on the semi-triangular fountain pen game. Not sure how I feel about this particular design going mainstream.

4. Hexagonal Fountain Pens (via dwrdnet). Many people appreciate hexagonal fountain pens for the grip, which mimics a traditional woodcase pencil.

5. My Bag (and What’s in It) (via SBRE Brown). I love seeing a good bag dump video, and I’m also partial to bags with lots of compartments and pockets, both internal and external.

6. I Forgot My Sketchbook at Work (via Comfortable Shoes Studio). I forgot a set of pens at work - or at least thought I did - and ended up caving to go in on the weekend and look for them. Couldn’t take it.

7. Back on the Swatch Wagon (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). I’m working through a boatload of swatches myself this weekend, and sort of rediscovered that it’s a great way to unwind at the end of the day, even if it is sort of a work project for me.

In Case You Missed It….

The big news this week was the release of Episode 7 of On the Paper Trail, when Lisa and I managed to get back in the studio after a few weeks on the road to discuss our favorite underappreciated stationery. We each select a handful of items/brands from three categories (pens, paper, and ink) and discuss why we like each one. On Saturday I took a look at the Pilot Juice Up and Juice Plus gel pens, both of which feature Pilot’s “Synergy Tip” - a hybrid pen that combines the precision of a needle-point with the smoothness of a conical tip.

Yes, there are now 8 new Taccia inks that you can choose from!

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop - Gel Pens and Yes, More Taccia Inks!

If you haven’t guessed, we recently received a massive shipment of gel pens, inks, and mechanical pencils direct from Japan. We now have additional Uni Zentos, Pilot Juice+ and Juice Ups, Uni Jetstream standard ballpoint and multi pens, and the excellent double-ended Kire-Na Highlighters. On the paper side, we’ve added new letter writing sets from Belle & Union, and we’ve completely restocked on paper from Kobeha (including Graphilo and some inexpensive iiro Bible-size 6-ring refills). Be sure to check out each week’s Thursday Drops post for a full listing of all new arrivals and restocks.

Stop by our Nashville Shop and see these and more this week, in addition to shopping online. We are open from 1-6pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10am-6pm on Saturday.

Pilot Juice+

Uni Kuru Togas

Kobeha/Graphilo

Belle & Union

How YOu Can Support us further: AND SAVE THE DATE FOR OCTOBER 16-18, 2026 for On The paper Trail Live in Nashville!

If you enjoy our content (whether here on the main website, Instagram, YouTube Channel or elsewhere), and would like early/extra access to shop releases and special promotions, consider supporting us via Patreon. In addition to exclusive content, Discord access, and online meetups, Patreon supporters have access to one or more initial “practice” episodes of “On the Paper Trail” which have not been publicly released. Also, as we noted in yesterday’s post, we are planning an On The Paper Trail Weekend Event in Nashville the weekend of October 16-18, 2026! Stay tuned as we plan to release additional details in the coming weeks.