TWSBI ECO Fountain Pen Review

Like many in the pen community, I was anxious to get my hands on the TWSBI ECO. I saw it as an important release for one primary reason, a reason no other manufacturer has been able to pull off with any success, or even attempt. Could TWSBI deliver a quality, low cost, piston filling fountain pen? Without question they can, and they did with the TWSBI ECO.

The idea of the ECO goes back almost two years. TWSBI likes to share design prototypes and ideas through their Facebook Page to get feedback along the way from their customers and fans. Not all pens that show up on Facebook make the final cut, and for a while many wondered if the ECO would come to fruition. I wondered that myself, especially from a pricing standpoint. There would have to be a large enough gap between the new piston filler and their existing ones in the Classic and 580 lineup.

Then one day it happened. TWSBI announced a release date and a price. For less than $30, TWSBI was set to compete with any entry level fountain pen on the market. Especially the Lamy Safari, the long-standing dominant pen in this realm.

The overall design of the pen is an economical one in an effort to keep the cost down, hence the name ECO. There aren’t many moving parts outside of the piston, and the clear barrel is accented only with a white or black cap and matching piston knob. I think the cap itself is a little chunky compared to the rest of the pen and wouldn’t mind if it were slimmed down a bit. It is also too big to post and keep a good writing balance.

The ECO’s piston filling mechanism works smoothly and effortlessly, just like in their other models. If, over time, the piston needs to be re-lubricated, TWSBI includes the tool and silicon grease to do just that. I’ve done this on my TWSBI Mini before and it is a simple task. Instructions are even provided in the form of an insert.

I’m a big fan of all of TWSBI’s nibs, and the #5 steel nibs in the ECO are no exception. The extra fine nib in mine is firm and smooth, with little to no feedback, no hard starts, and no skipping. It is spot on, and a pleasure to write with.

This is a flat-out cool pen, and one I have been recommending constantly since its launch last summer. For someone like myself who has some experience with fountain pens, the ECO is a daily workhorse that can be taken out, used and abused, refilled, cleaned, nib swapped, and any other worry-free fun you want to have with a low cost fountain pen.

For beginning fountain pen users, it is a fantastic choice as well, and second on my Top 5 Pens Under $50, behind only the Pilot Metropolitan. If you have never used a fountain pen before and want to jump right into bottled ink instead of cartridges, the ECO is the way to go.

It’s clear by now that TWSBI has another hit on its hands. They are already teasing new colors in the lineup and I know I won’t be able to help myself when they launch. I bet many of you feel the same way.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

TWSBI Diamond 580AL Blue Fountain Pen Review

My Top 5 Pens list is long overdue for an update, but if you are familiar with the list you know the praise I have heaped on the TWSBI Diamond 580. That is going to change in this next update, as the TWSBI Diamond 580AL has taken over.

The standard 580 has been a staple of mine for years, but when plastic parts are replaced with aluminum (and in some cases colored aluminum!) and the price goes up only slightly, it's a no-brainer to replace one with the other.

The most recent release of the 580AL features blue aluminum highlights in the form of the grip section and piston mechanism. Orange and Purple came before Blue, and in the case of Orange they are essentially gone, and Purple is heading that way. So this is your PSA. If you want the Blue TWSBI Diamond 580AL now is the time to buy.

What do you get for your $60? One of the best fountain pen values on the market. The steel nibs on the 580 are firm, fine, and smooth. I generally go for the EF nib, which is what you see in the writing samples here. In the non-Japanese category, these are some of my favorite nibs. I don't recall ever having an issue with any of my many TWSBI's when writing.

The biggest selling point is the piston filling mechanism. No cartridges allowed here. If this is your first fountain pen, you want to be sure to purchase a bottle of ink as well. Unscrew the piston, dip the nib into the ink bottle up to the section, screw the piston back in to suck up the ink, and start writing. It's really simple, and works well in the 580.

From a feel perspective, the 580 is a large pen, but not overly so unless you want to post the cap. This pen is really not designed for posting. It can happen, but it throws off the balance. Unposted, the 580 is right on the money and you can write comfortably for extended periods without issue.

There is no question that I am a TWSBI fan and get a huge amount of enjoyment from their pens. Especially the 580AL.

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

TWSBI ECO Fountain Pen Giveaway

Image via JetPens.com

The TWSBI ECO is one of the coolest fountain pens to hit the market, and thanks to my good friends at JetPens I have one giveaway to one lucky reader.

In my month or so using the ECO I have been nothing short of impressed. It definitely makes the task of choosing your very first fountain pen more difficult while keeping experienced fountain pen users thrilled at the same time. Here is how you can win a White 1.1 mm Stub Nib TWSBI ECO of your own:

1. Leave one comment on this post anytime between now, and Friday night at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. You are limited to one entry. This contest is open to US and International readers.

2. For this contest, I will pick one winner at random from the comments section of this post. The comments will be numbered in the order they are received, i.e. the first comment is #1, the second #2, and so on. The Random Integer Generator at random.org will be used to pick the number of the winner.

3. The contest winner will be posted on Saturday, October 10th. The winner will have one week to email me via the Contact link at the top of the page.

Thanks and good luck!