Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-Kai Ink Review

What qualities make Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-Kai my favorite fountain pen ink? It is one of the very few inks that works in any pen with any nib on any paper and in any situation. Plus, it is blue black, which I have a well known affinity for. I never hesitate to use it, which is not something that can be said about every ink I own.

Shin-Kai translates into "Deep Sea" and I would say that is pretty accurate. It is the perfect combination of blue and black with no stray colors you see in other blue black inks like green, teal, purple, or grey. It does have a slight red sheen on wetter lines, which is a nice touch. In the pantheon of blue black inks I have tested it falls smack in the middle in darkness. There are lighter and darker blue blacks to be found.

The Pilot Iroshizuku line is notoriously well behaved. It works with any size nib, from extra fine and firm like my Pilot Custom Heritage 912 PO nib to 1.5 mm stub nibs. It is also easy to clean, leaving no trace behind in any pen or converter I have used.

If there is a knock on Shin-Kai - or any Iroshizuku ink - is that it is not waterproof. It will run or fade if it gets wet so if that is high on your ink requirments list you may want to look elswhere. For me, it is not a consideration at all for the type of writing I do so its not a negative on my list. Other than that it is flawless in my mind.

You have one ink that can be your favorite. Just one - no hedging your bets. What is it?

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)

You Win, Pilot Metropolitan

The Pilot Metropolitan is the best fountain pen for beginners. There. I said it.

Ever since it was released, the Metropolitan has been gaining steam. I liked what I saw when I reviewed the original medium nib model, and now that the fine nib model has hit mass release I think it is the fountain pen to choose for beginners over my previous favorite, the Lamy Safari.

I still love the Safari, so what changed? The Pilot Metropolitan nib is superior. Japanese nibs are finer than their counterparts from the rest of the world, and the fine Pilot nib is amazing. I love it in the Pilot Prera, and now it is available in a pen less than half the price? I'm sold. The sharper edge on the step-down from the barrel to the grip is still present, so that flaw puts it even with the molded grip on the Lamy Safari. No pen is completely perfect, right? And while the Safari line has many more stock nib options, the Metropolitan is easily modifiable with the EF nib from the Pilot Penmanship or the stub nib from the Pilot Plumix, all for approximately the cost of the Safari.

What do I want to see next from the Metropolitan line? No more Python or Leopard patterns, that's for sure. Since it is a metal body pen and Pilot is doing some interesting colors in their Vanishing Point line, how about some colored barrels? Get on that Pilot - don't let the Kakuno line have all the fun.

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)

Pilot Ageless Future Gel Ink Pen Review

The Pilot Ageless is a pen I have been fascinated with for years but was never sure how it would fit into my writing rotation. I was finally able to pick one up courtesy of JetPens and it is an interesting pen. Let's check it out!

The primary selling point of the Pilot Ageless is the barrel design, and specifically, the retractable mechanism. It features a double-twist deployment. Twist the section once and the nose cone appears. Twist again and the ink cartridge pops out and its ready to write. Reverse the twist and it retracts in the same two-stage process.

There are many things I like about this feature. First of all, it can be operated with just one hand. Rest the barrel in your palm, put the grip section between your index finger and thumb, and give it two little flicks to get writing or retract it for storage. The mechanism is smooth and flawless. Secondly, it is integrated seamlessly. There is no visible knock like with traditional retractable pens, and really no indication of how to deploy the nib if you aren't already aware. It is very well designed.

The barrel itself is made of metal and has a good weight to it. If you have a Retro 51 Tornado Laquers Edition it is close to that weight, maybe a touch lighter. It feels great and is well balanced when writing. When fully deployed it is a full length pen, too.

I have the Carbon Black Gray model with the 0.7 mm gel ink refill. It is ultra smooth and dark but I would prefer a finer refill alternative. I'll need to do some research because the refill is an interesting size to fit this pen. If you like 0.7 mm gel ink you will have no issues writing with this pen.

I compare the Pilot Ageless to the Zebra Sharbo X. It is a premium pen at a premium price, and for that reason it is not for everyone. For me personally, I love the design and if I can find an alternate refill I will use it a lot. If not, It will probably sit on my desk, look pretty, and be used sparingly.

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)