PILOT Vanishing Point Fountain Pen
A couple of years ago, the detrimental effects a purely digital workflow and screen-based consumption of media were too pronounced to ignore. My mind, like the digital media itself, was becoming superficial and fragmented, and highly distractible.
To regain an analog element and to retrain my brain for long-form, I picked up the habit of writing, every morning. This isn’t a strict practice of x number of pages of stream of consciousness, but, rather, an opportunity to capture thoughts, and synthesize learnings and wisdom from readings, and a place to create simple ink drawings. It quickly turned into an indispensable part of the day.
To help develop a habit out of it, I knew I’d want an enjoyable writing experience. I’ve always had a bit of a “thing” for writing instruments, starting with mechanical pencils in grade school. I wanted a retractable and refillable pen that would be with me for years. It didn’t take long for my search to take me to PILOT’s Vanishing Point Fountain Pen; matte black, with a medium nib.
Handling this pen is a joy; it’s substantial in-hand, but with a balance that makes longer sessions of writing no less comfortable. The retracting mechanism provides a most satisfying “click” and shows no signs of wear after two years and thousands of actions. Similarly, the matte black finish still looks great despite some run-ins with the floor and keys in bags. The medium nib provides a substantial stroke, while being able to capture the nuances of my (lack of) penmanship. It’s a fluid and comfortable writing experience, with the right amount of friction.
PILOT’s Namiki IC-100 refills are designed for these pens. They're inexpensive in a 12-pack (~$0.70 per refill), and I find one will last roughly two weeks with daily writing of a few pages, give or take.
It’s such a pleasure to get back into a slow, long-form, analog practice. I can feel my brain developing new connections as I’m writing in the morning. PILOT’s Vanishing Point Fountain Pen has certainly enhanced that daily experience.
Learn more here. Link navigates to The Goulet Pen Company. No relation.