(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
There are many reasons that Zebra is a household stationery name, but fountain pens aren't among them. Gel pen, ballpoints, pencils, and multi-pens are easy to come by in Zebra's product line, and there only a couple of fountain pen options to pick from. But just because there aren't many options doesn't mean what they do offer isn't any good. At least with the entry level disposable fountain pen, it definitely serves a good purpose.
The Pilot Varsity is probably the most well-recognized disposable fountain pen. It's also very similar in size, design, and price to the Zebra featured here today. With both of these pens, I think they fill an important spot for two kinds of people: those that are apprehensive to trying fountain pens, and those that want a disposable fountain pen that they don't have to worry about losing or maintaining.
At just under $3.50 a piece, these pens are a dollar or so more than comparable gel refill counterparts. What you get for those three and half dollars is a fantastic writing experience with zero fuss.
For many of us, the fountain pen platform is so alluring because of how customizable and infinite it can seem. You can choose practically every small element of your writing experience and dial in your personal preferences to an exact point. That same endless intersection of choices can be daunting for someone who isn't entirely sure if they want to test the water. For anyone in that situation, this really is one of the best ways to try it out.
While the Zebra fountain pen is a great fountain pen for what it costs, it's not difficult to spend just a few more dollars to find a superior pen — and one that you can refill and keep for many, many years. What I really appreciate about this pen is that it offers a great introduction to what you can expect from other fountain pens in terms of how they write and operate. It would be a shame if this entry-level experimental pen was so cheaply made that it failed to deliver a decent writing experience. That would turn away any would-be fountain pen fans immediately. I appreciate that Zebra and Pilot put enough cost into these disposable pens so that you can test drive a fountain and determine if you want to go deeper or not. Well done on that front.
And this is where I think the pen excels — it's perfect for someone who doesn't mind spending a few bucks to see what the fuss is about, or for fountain pen fans to keep on hand to give out to people that are interested in testing the water. It's simple because all you have to do is uncap the pen and start writing. There's no ink cartridge to install, no waiting several seconds for the ink to reach the tines, no chance of user error.
The writing experience with the Zebra fountain pen is good. The nib and feed system are fantastic, but the grip and body materials feel cheap and don't provide the best gripping performance. Still, it works as well as any other pens that fit in the same price bracket. Visually, these pens are similar (look and feel) to the Uni-ball Vision rollerball pens, but the Zebra writes so much better than those rollerballs.
The steel nib lays down a 0.6mm line, which is close to a Japanese medium nib. I'm not sure why Zebra went with 0.6mm instead of using a traditional nib size nomenclature, but at least they went with a good average size. The nib is stiff and smooth. There's not much in the way of flex, and the lines are crisp and dark. The turquoise version that I have is a beautiful, bright blue that looks really good. The feed system integrated into the pen does a great job at feeding the ink into the nib regardless of how fast I write or scribble. And, the good seal that the cap provides means it should last quite a while when not in use (and capped).
Overall, the Zebra fountain pen (and the Pilot Varsity) is a great fountain pen that fits a specific need. Want to try out a decent fountain pen for minimal money and zero hassle? This pen is a great choice for you or your fountain-pen-curious friend. Want a fountain pen that you won't mourn being stolen or lost? This is also a suitable pen as long as you like the ink options and 0.6mm nib size. Already have fountain pens and inks? This pen isn't for you (unless you want it just to give away)!
(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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