Review: Lamy Nexx Aluminum Fountain Pen EF Nib

Am I getting heavy into fountain pens now?  Not quite - I still don't use them on a daily (or even weekly) basis, but it is hard for me to pass up a new Lamy model.  The Lamy Nexx Aluminum Fountain Pen is a recent addition to the ever expanding JetPens lineup, and comes in a few different flavors.  My model has the orange cap with metal clip, and an extra fine nib (see all options here).

My first impressions of this fountain pen is that is a design mashup of the AL-Star and Safari lines from Lamy.  The Nexx has a nice aluminum barrel like the AL-Star, and a plastic cap like the Safari, which results in a more industrial look, as the product description puts it.  The one thing that is different from both is that the grip area is a solid rubber as opposed to plastic.  It is still molded in the triangular shape, but the rubber gives you a litte more security in the grip area.

At the start, I only have the standard Lamy blue ink cartridge that came with the pen, but many other ink cartridges are available, and the Lamy Z 24 converter works with it as well.  I'm a fan of the standard Lamy blue, and the EF nib in the Nexx actually seems a little smoother than the EF nib in my Charcoal Safari.

The Nexx is a great fountain pen for Lamy fans and for those looking for something different.  Since I only have a Safari to compare it to my opinion is limited to those two, but gun to my head I will pick up my Safari first, but it is really close.

Click here for the XL review.

Products used:

Lamy Nexx Aluminum Fountain Pen EF Nib from JetPens

Writing Pad from Doane Paper

See also:

Review: Lamy Safari Charcoal/Black EF Nib

Review: Lamy Safari Lime Green with F Nib

Review: Bic Clic Ballpoint

Ever since starting this blog I have been asked by emailers and commenters to review some of the most common pens around - the standard Bic's, PaperMate's and things of that nature.  That has been hard for me because I really don't use those pens (which is one of the main reasons I started this blog).  I keep meaing to break down and buy some of the very basic pens found in desk drawers, store counters, and the like, but I just never get around to it.  It took me forever to realize I had one of the classic pens sitting right here the entire time in the Bic Clic.

I'm not sure when the Bic Clic was first introduced, but anyone who has ever written a word in thier life has surely used one of these at some point in time.  This pen is as common as the day is long.  It has been years and years since I have put one to paper, but it is really not a bad pen.  The only reason I have this one is that it was a freebie in an old Field Notes order, and that is pretty much what the Clic has been relegated to these days - a promotional pen workhorse.  Need a logo pen?  Well the Clic, along with the Stic, are the kings of that arena.  I imagine most people don't even use a non-promo version of this pen.

On the performance front it is not bad at all, like I mentioned before.  The 1.0mm ballpoint is very smooth, and the black looks nice on the page and is much cleaner than I remember a Bic ever being.  That is pretty good for, well, free.

Click here for the XL review.

Review: Muji Gel Retractable 0.38mm Blue

Has anyone who was not a Muji owner prior to one of my several Muji reviews actually bought one of these pens?  That's kind of the issue, isn't it?  If you don't live near a Muji store, they are difficult to come by.  Either pay high shipping fees for very inexpensive pens, or go the ebay route and pay a bit of a premium to acquire them.  I almost hate to heap the praise on them because they are so hard to get a hold of.

But praise them I will, especially when readers keep sending them to me (thanks Carmen!).  My favorite thing about them is the sharpness of the line.  That does come at a price - they can get a little scratchy like most micro tips - but as I discussed in the All Questions Answered post, that is something I am willing to live with for otherwise exceptional performance.

The retractable model as shown in the picture is my favorite, preferably with the brushed plastic barrel (this one is smooth).  The blue ink is similar to Uni-Ball and Pilot inks despite the fact that the photo is a bit washed out.  Despite looking generic, they seem well made, and the ones I have had for a year or two are no worse for wear.  All in all, you can never have too much of a good thing, even if they are a challenge to acquire.

Click here for the XL review.