The fountain pens of Cabin's team

 

These days, since we can't meet up to goof around together, team Cabin has been texting and calling each other more to stay connected. But let me tell you, we're a bunch of goofballs, so as soon as we get together (even online), we can come up with all sorts of nonsense to talk about and lose track of time. It's hilarious, really. We cover every topic under the sun, but somehow, we always end up back at debating the merits of different pens. Classic us, right? 

In team Cabin, everyone has such different handwriting habits and pen strokes, it's like no one's pen is "twinsies" with anyone else's. And gosh darn it, we haven't had a story about the team's pens yet, so today we're gonna spill the ink on some of our members' pens. Join us on this pen-tastic journey, folks!

 

Xoài's Pen

I still cling onto the habit of scribbling down classroom lessons by hand. Partly to remember better, partly to satisfy my scribbling addiction. I relish the feeling of the pen gliding across the paper, the gentle scratching sound with each stroke of a letter. I enjoy my hand getting all inky, though it might look a tad messy, there's something oddly appealing about it. Perhaps that's why I fancy owning a fountain pen. 

So, I ended up getting my first fountain pen sooner than I ever planned. It's none other than the ancient relic, the Pilot Custom K500 RS. This sleek black resin-bodied pen, paired with an 18K gold nib, delivers an exhilarating experience as I release those scribbles onto paper. Opting for the F nib size - petite yet bold enough to showcase the nuances of various inks. Writing with it feels smooth, with just a hint of that signature Japanese fountain pen scratchiness - a sensation that's hard to come by with modern-day Pilot Customs. 

 

But perhaps what makes this pen special to me is the story behind it. To me, the pen is a tribute to my grandfather - who once owned a pen like this when he was young. The nostalgia of the past through the stories my father recounted is what drove me to determinedly hunt down this Pilot Custom. To me, the pen is the string connecting me to old values. I've always believed in the sacred bond between people, and I've come to realize that sometimes I have to be the one to actively tie that string. It's like an old film reel, you can't have a picture if you don't allow the light to penetrate the frame. 

 

LHĐ's Pen

I reckon ever since primary school up until I graduated and entered the workforce, I've lost the habit of using fountain pens. Maybe it's because back in the day, I used to get ink stains all over my hands, and as I grew up, the hustle and bustle of daily life made me feel somewhat estranged from these fancy, intricate ink-pumping contraptions.

So, there was this moment, out of the blue, when I decided to pick up my fountain pen again, like someone running suddenly decides to slow down and take in the scenery. Writing with a fountain pen slows down my thoughts, so I can really feel what I'm thinking as those ink lines roll smoothly across the page. And the pen that brings me back into the inked fold is none other than my trusty Lamy Al-star. Just a regular ol' pen, nothing fancy, but it gives me this solid, reliable feeling every time I grip it. I use it for everything, from jotting down daily work ideas to scribbling poetry or leaving notes for friends.

I'm so forgetful that wherever I go, I bring myself along. So, the times I've left my stuff at bars or coffee shops, every time I come back to ask, they're still there. Guess my pen just can't bear to part with me yet.

 

Ánh's Pen Tao nè

The Ohto Tasche is like the perfect dance partner for drawing those long, uninterrupted lines. Once you find its sweet spot, there's no stopping the flow. It's like each stroke glides effortlessly, whispering sweet nothings to your paper. But hey, sometimes when you're on a roll, the ink might struggle to keep up, giving you those faded lines like it's having a mid-life crisis. And if you're a southpaw trying to go from right to left, well, good luck buddy, because this pen might just give you a cramp and refuse to ink up. It's got only one nib size, a solid M, so you better be ready to make a statement because this pen ain't messing around with those delicate doodles. Sure, it won't lay down a thick, bold line, but it sure helps you make those decisive strokes like you're signing a declaration of independence.

 

This is my first rodeo with fountain pens, so I went all out with the international standard cartridge. After about 22 pages of A4 paper, I ran out of ink in one cartridge.

So, not long after, I managed to lose both my Ohto Tasche and my Parker Jotter at the same time. The agony was next-level, like trying to describe a rainbow to a blind mole. I swore off ever buying those two again because, you know, it would be like betraying my lost comrades. 

 

 

 

Gấu's Pen

The Pilot Elite 95S is like that one friend you always want around, even if you're not sure why. It's my go-to pen, the kind I'd take on a date if it wouldn't be too weird. Slim and sleek, it slips into your pocket like a ninja, ready to spring into action whenever you need it. Plus, it's my first gold-nibbed pen, so it's basically changed my whole outlook on fountain pens.

For me, unlike other Japanese pen brands that are all about precision and sharpness, Pilot pens are like the global ambassadors of smoothness! Instead of poking the paper like their fellow compatriots, Pilot nibs glide across the page with the grace of a figure skater, leaving behind a trail of effortless elegance. Plus, with their golden touch, using a Pilot pen feels like wielding a magic wand that requires zero effort.

On the flip side, the nib is deeply embedded into the body, resembling a toenail or a fingertip, so sometimes I imagine the pen as my own finger, and all I have to do is glide that "finger" across the paper.

The one thing that grinds my gears about the Elite pen (well, actually many other Pilot pens) is that it's a one-trick pony when it comes to ink cartridges. You're stuck with Pilot's dinky little CON-40 ink pump, so you're not exactly swimming in a sea of ink capacity.

 

Bút của An

Perhaps that early morning of the new year, as I sat scribbling amidst the pine forest in Dalat, was also the moment my heart skipped a beat with the Kaweco Sport I borrowed from a friend. And later on, the pen I received as a gift from another friend also belonged to the Kaweco Sport line – a Frosted Natural Coconut – which has been accompanying me through pages of writing till now. 

The thing I've got the most of in my closet is button-up shirts, and my Kaweco Frosted Sport is the pocket-pen that snugly fits into the left shirt pocket for on-the-go scribbles. It just lounges in there, cozy as can be, ready for action whenever I need it. Just flip the cap onto the pen's tail, and voila! I've got myself a pen I can comfortably wield for hours on end. 

Although both hailing from the land of sausages and beer like its buddy Lamy, Kaweco Sport's nib is just a tad slimmer and doesn't drip ink like a leaky faucet. It leans towards the dry nib side due to its itty-bitty ink feed structure. Still, it's chunkier than those dainty Japanese nibs. I fancy the F nib from Kaweco because it lays down a steady ink flow and leaves bold strokes, suiting my scribbling habits perfectly. It doesn't churn out letters as thick as a phonebook, and occasionally doubles up as a sketching sidekick. Since the nib isn't overly soaked, I can feel its dance on the paper, granting me a sense of stability and keeping the slip 'n slide under control. 

 

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So here's a little scoop about our fountain pens squad. Oh, the memories! Like the time Squirrel dropped their Sailor Shikiori pen, then scrambled to pick it up, checking it like a worried parent checking if their kid got any scrapes. Or how sometimes we borrow each other's pens and forget to return them, leaving the owner in a mini panic, thinking they lost their precious pen somewhere in the abyss. Hehe, classic! But you know what? These pens aren't just tools for us, they're like super glue binding us together through all those memories and stories. They're not just pens, they're our squad's secret sauce for bonding over mishaps and adventures.  

Hey there, what's your story? Got any epic tales with your trusty pen? Share the ink-spiring memories with Cabin, won't ya?