NOODLER'SInk Ahab Flex Fountain Pen with Twist-Fill Piston, Stainless Steel Fine Nib, Max Emerald (15034)

Great to work with these materials together

If you can find a way to make writing more fun, you will be more likely to do more of it. I have two of the Noodler's Flex Nibs. The Ahab is kind of chunky, but it is a very light pen. I'm told that as we get older, the chunky pens provide more control and are more comfortable. My other Noodler's Flex Nib is a clear Standard Flex Nib, which I prefer as it is skinny. Both pens are very smooth to write with, and I would easily pick either one over many previous pens. These pens use a reservoir, instead of a cartridge, which may make a difference to some. The nice thing about the reservoir is there is no waiting for the ink to flow through to the tip. As soon as the pen is filled, it is ready to start writing. My ability to create copperplate scripts is way off in the future, but I am enjoying the pens all the same. I can definitely feel a bit of spring action in the tip, and I can vary the line width. The Ahab seems to have more ink flowing from the nib than the Standard. The reservoir fountain pens will allow a greater variety of ink colors. I prefer to sign documents in a dark blue color, that is easy to see on the original. For taking notes, the dark blue is easy on the eyes, and the pen is very fast and smooth for writing.

This is one of five different Noodler's fountain pens that purchased at the same time. I have been using Noodler's inks for at least the last decade, and found them to be a very good ink with a large selection of colors, and I wanted to see how these very inexpensive pen stood up. This Maximilian and one other were the best of the five pens I tested. Since I usually spend much more for a good fountain pen, it was nice to find a good writer at the twenty dollars price range. Noodler's won't keep me from buying more expensive pens, but these are perfect for a novice fountain pen user.

This steel nib pen performs nicely and should be favorably considered as a starter fountain pen. The nib is not flexible but without burrs and puts down a well-metered ink flow. The overall quality and presentation is very nice. I like this pen as a day-to-day utility writer as well. A few bucks to teach a young person the joys of handwriting with a fountain pen. Think about it...

I love this pen to bits, it's my absolute favorite ever edging out the LAMY Vista. The only downside: after a while riding about in my pocket or bag, there's usually ink all over the part of the barrel inside the cap -- it's never leaked actually out of the pen, but I have to wipe it up or get ink all over my fingers before I use it.But everywhere has kleenex and I carry an old handkerchief specifically for ink -- I have a few dip pens -- so it's not a problem, just wastes a little ink.But seriously I love this pen. It's wonderful.