Noodler's Apache Sunset Ink Review

Noodler's Apache Sunset fountain pen ink is one of those inks you have to see in person to really appreciate. I was the beneficiary of a sample vial of this wonderful ink from one of my Twitter friends (thanks Anne!), and I have to say it is a real stunner.

I am unintentionally continuing my orange theme from last week but it had to be done. I have been sitting on this review for about a month now and was chomping at the bit to get it out there. What I love the most about this ink is the depth of color. It is so rich, even in the lightest shaded areas. And that shading, wow! It is one of the best I have personally tested, with a wide range of orange, brown, and yellow coming through.

I haven't purchased a bottle yet, but I plan to in the near future. I received a Pilot Falcon last night with an SEF nib that has a little flex. I wanted to load a bright, highly shaded ink into it, but found I was lacking in that category (I already used this sample up.) What inks that fit that criteria do you use in your flex pens? Let me know in the comments.

For more details on Noodler's Apache Sunset check out these great reviews:

Ed Jelley

FPGeeks

The Five Cat PENagerie

Ink Links

-- Blue (Lamy Safari) Monday (Does This Pen Write?)

-- Pen Hack: Kaweco Sport Bulb Filling Conversion (Comfortable Shoes Studio)

-- Intro to Fraktur (Economy Pens)

-- Sailor 1911 music nib stub work by Mike Masuyama (Inktronics)

-- Review of USA Silver Pencils (Pencil Revolution)

-- Rhodia dotPad (A Penchant for Paper)

-- Ask The Desk: The Great Beginner Fountain Pen Debate (The Well-Appointed Desk)

-- A Comprehensive Guide: Pencil Cases, Pouches, & Rolls (JetPens Blog)

-- Levenger's L-Tech (Ionsomnia)

-- Review: Miquelrius “Boarding” Notebook (Notebook Stories)

-- How Big Is My Collection (My Supply Room)

-- A pen with a twist (Leigh Reyes)

-- Swimming in the Bleu Ocean (Rhodia Drive)

-- Review: Levenger True Writer Kyoto Fountain Pen - Broad (Gourmet Pens)

-- I'm Back [and there's a giveaway] (Whatever)

-- Uni-ball Jetstream BLX .7mm Retractable (Office Supply Geek)

-- Diamine Wild Strawberry (Ed Jelley)

Pilot FriXion Ball Slim 0.38 mm Orange Review

If you didn't know this already I am a big fan of orange. Orange pens, orange barrels, orange inks, orange detailing, pretty much anything orange. There is no real reason why, other than the fact I am not a fan of red, so I use orange as my red replacement.

What I have never been a huge fan of is the Pilot FriXion line. They are completely fine pens, but usually not for me. They are growing on me though, especially as the product line matures. I think the turning point for me was the FriXion Biz, which is the only FriXion I use regularly, but the recently released Pilot FriXion Ball Slim may join the club.

The Slim has two things going for it: An ultra-fine 0.38 mm tip, and a slim but comfortable barrel design. I like these slim single cartridge barrels more than I ever thought I would, starting with the Uni-ball Style Fit. The FriXion Slim feels great in the hand and is very manuverable. The knock is placed subtly on the side of the barrel allowing for the eraser to be placed properly on the top of the pen.

I think the 0.38 mm tip is even finer than that. It writes more like a Uni-ball Signo DX 0.28 mm to me. That means there is some scratchiness when writing, which should be expected on a pen this fine.

Where the FriXion runs circles around other pens in this category is erasibility. No other company can hold a candle to Pilot in this area, so if an erasable gel ink pen is what you need, look no further than the FriXion.

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