Pilot Juice Gel 0.5 mm Black Review

Stop what you are doing right now, click this link (Update: No longer available), and then click on the blender icon. Trust me.

The Pilot Juice is a pen imported from Japan by JetPens. This means there are likely import taxes, customs fees, and shipping costs just to get this pen across the Pacific. After all of that, this pen only sells for $1.65. In Japan, I would guess the Juice sells for less than the equivalent of one dollar. This is about as inexpensive of a pen as you can get, and it gets the full marketing treatment with an incredibly cool interactive website.

This is why we can't have nice things in the US.

In Japan, stationery is regarded much more highly than in the US. The tradition is greater, the products are cooler, and the marketing is fantastic. The Japanese people support these products because they are an integral part of their every day life. In the US, stationery is mostly an afterthought.

Why has the Pilot Juice got me so riled up? Because this isn't just some cheap no-frills pen. It is a pen with impressive features like pigmented ink (water-resistant and fade-resistant) and 30 shades of ink. And it is $1.65. This just doesn't happen very often.

The 0.5 mm gel ink cartridge is a solid writer too. I bought the black model and the obvious comparisons to the G2 are apt. The Juice barrel is slightly thinner, especially in the grip area, and has a spring loaded clip. The tip writes very similarly as well - my lines were dark and clean.

The Pilot Juice is a no-brainer. While it may never be the best pen you ever own, it will hold its own in any pen arsenal. You aren't going to find more features at a better price than this.

Guest Review: Pilot Custom 74

(This is a guest review by Joseph Pang)

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Unlike many fountain pen users, I have the luxury of living near some of the finest pen stores in the country. For those who haven’t been to a good pen store yet, let me fill you in. Being able to go to a brick and mortar location to see pens in their display cases, try out new nibs, and look at hundreds of bottles of inks is still one of my favorite things to do on the weekends. There is one disadvantage; it is extremely dangerous for your wallet.

On my most recent spending spree I picked up the Pilot Custom 74, the most beautiful fountain pen that I have ever seen. When I think of the ideal fountain pen, a few things come to mind: a screw-on cap, simple yet elegant styling, the ability to use a converter, and a comfortable section. The Custom 74 has all of those qualities and more. Aside from the nib, the pen seemed to be custom tailored to my preferences right out of the box.

My handwritten review briefly recounts the experience that I had with the nib. When I first brought the pen home and loaded it with ink, I was disappointed. The nib was a little scratchy and the ink flow was inconsistent. Upstrokes and sidestrokes in one particular direction were nonexistent (a common problem for this pen). After applying some of the very basic nib tuning techniques that I have learned over the years, I had the pen writing like what I had dreamed it would be from the start. The line is wet, smooth, and consistent.

If I had to point out a shortcoming of the Custom 74, it would be the durability. Because the pen is plastic, it is prone to cracking. This means that you do not want to drop the pen on a hard surface like tile flooring, as I found out the hard way. My pen will be making a trip down to Pilot USA to get a new cap in the near future. I have never really worried about dropping my Lamy CP1 or Kaweco AL Sport, as I know they would survive the fall just fine. Ironically, I have never actually dropped those pens.

So, should you buy one? If it helps you out at all, I am in the process of buying a second one in blue. The nib will take some getting used to for those who have never used a gold nib before. In my experience, steel nibs are stiff whereas gold nibs have some flex and spring to them. For $160, the Custom 74 is priced near pens offered by Edison, higher end Pelikans, and maybe even Mont Blanc if the right deal comes along. For that price, it really comes down to what is right for you. If you can find this pen for cheaper, perhaps $100, I think that it is a no-brainer. If you are like me and cannot resist the good looks of this pen, go for it; you will not be disappointed.

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Pilot Hi-Tec-C Maica Review

The last thing I expected in JetPens latest new product push was a revamped Pilot Hi-Tec-C but that is what I got with the Pilot Hi-Tec-C Maica. So, what is this new take on an old classic trying to accomplish? I'm so glad you asked!

I must admit upfront that the product description on the JetPens page scared me. The words "jewel-like," "sparkly," and "pizazz" had me wondering if I was truly the target market for this pen. I'm not a 14 year-old Japanese girl after all. But this is the price you pay to get new stationery products on this side of the Pacific, and all things considered, this is not that girly of a pen despite the description.

What it is is a solid upgrade to the standard Pilot Hi-Tec-C barrel. It is rounded and slightly heavier, and the grip area is smooth with small, raised dots. The cap loop I will call roll-away protection since I won't be stringing charms through it any time soon. When posted, it is longer than the standard barrel as well, which you can see in the pictures.

One thing I am not crazy abut is the ridge in the grip area. Since the cap seals flush with the barrel there is a slight step down in that area, and at least Pilot had the sense to round the edge unlike some other companies. I do feel it near the base of my grip when writing but it isn't a deal breaker.

The teen girl marketing aspect of the pen? I honestly don't see it. The only thing that hints of it on my Blue Black model is the tiny faceted jewel on the top of the cap. I didn't even notice it for several minutes - it blends in so well it is hardly noticeable. There is nothing about this pen design that would keep me from using it regularly, but then again I do love my pink pens. Your milage may vary.

So now my big question: Why is the Maica only $2.50, while the regular Pilot Hi-Tec-C runs $3.30 (prices as of current writing at JetPens.com)? The refills are identical in size, although I have either used a bunch of the Blue Black Maica already or it was filled a little short. I ordered a Black Maica as well and it is filled evenly with an unused standard Pilot Hi-Tec-C. The Maica barrel seems a little more complicated to make too, so I'm not sure what warrants over a 30% price difference.

If nothing else, I know how I will be ordering color refills for my Render K from now on.