Customer Reviews

Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pen Assorted Ink 7-Pack Pouch (90029)

5 star:		(74)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I use fountain pens everyday, so I know what I am talking about: This is a great fountain pen for everyday writing -- one that you will not care gets lost or damaged due to its very low price (unlike the average (non limited edition) fountain pens, which can cost over $100 -- and sometimes much more). The Pilot Varsity pen lays down a great fine-to-medium line of ink, and the nib (IE: the writing tip) does not dry out too fast when left uncapped -- and the pen seems to write forever with its large internal ink reservoir. Fantastic buy; and with no muss-'n-fuss of having to refill the pen either!

Simply put, these pens are amazing. They rival some of the best ball point pens I have ever used because they have such smooth writing. The thickness of a line is perfect and this pen provides a very consistent amount of ink (not runny). However, I would advise you to store the pen in an upright position (nib pointing up) because the other way makes slightly more ink to flow through. The ink dries up quickly and does not smear...the colors are very vivid as well. Also, I have used the pen for a while now and the ink has not runned out quickly. These pens are great for those who have expensive fountain pens but dont want to use them all the time. Plus, they get a lot of attention at school. Bottom line, these are outstanding quality and cheap pens.

This is a very inexpensive way to find out what fountain pens are all about. If you are not a newby but don't use FPs any longer, discover improvements made in recent years. Noodlers ink, for example, becomes permanent when it hits the fibers in paper, is water soluable in your pen. So get in there with these great disposable pens!

Love the feel of the pen, writes great, and the ink looks impressive. It is indeed a true fountain. However, the ink is the least stable I have ever used. It takes quite a while to dry. Do not shut the pages of whatever you are writing for a while, or you will have smudging. Even the smallest amount of moisture will cause significant bleeding and smudging. As with all fountain pens, the ink is water based, but this ink runs way more than rollerball (also water based) or gels. Balpoints use oil based ink and are more permanent - even though the writing often is terrible. Therefore, I use these pens for notes needed only in the short term - would never write a check or return address, or sign anything with this pen. The only way to avoid this with a fountain is to buy a nondisposable fountain pen and load it permanent ink (ex. Noodler's).

It is true about fountain pens - they significantly imrpove handwriting. For the first time in years, I can read everything I am writing.

I just pull out the nib - taking care to wrap the pen in an old towel first,as it will spray a teeny bit of ink - drop ink into the reservoir with a medicine dropper, then replace the nib. It is fast, easy, and actually, less messy than the refillable pens which have plungers and the like.

These pens are fantastic. They write every time - no drying out of the nib. They never leak. I just love them, and I'm ordering this set for myself because I love the colors. They write very nicely.

While these are cheap pens that write smoothly, one should note before buying these that they are quite thick and have very heavy ink flow.

They bleed through the spiral-bound notebook papers you'd normally find.
On a blank(not lined) moleskine notebook paper, they do not bleed through the next sheet, but will definitely show on the back so you can't write on the back of the page.
On a 20lb A4 paper, they show a little less conspicuously on the back, but you can see what you wrote(except for the pink and red ones) and dots occasionally bleed through.
On a yellow legal pad - I forgot the brand name, but the sheets are one of the thicker ones - I see that it will be possible to write back-to-back thanks to the yellow color of the paper, but you can still see what's written on the other side so it will look a little messy.
They are thicker than Uniball Signo RT 0.7mm(gel pen), Bic Ultra Round Stic Grip (ball-point), and Papermate Liquid Flair Medium.

So, if you have a big handwriting/like thick pens, and plan to write on only one side of normal-to thick papers or to write on really thick and nice papers, these pens will be satisfactory. They are really smooth and have vivid, pretty colors after all.
But if you are like me and like to write small, or plan to take notes on the cheaper, commonly-used student notebooks or loose leaf papers, these will not be a good choice.
(I don't own other fountain pens so I don't know if this is a weakness in most fountain pens. I'm getting a Lamy Safari EF soon; I will update if I think a comparison would help.)

I picked up a few of these at a local retailer the other day to see what it would be like writing with a fountain pen. I am planning a purchase on a refillable fountain pen soon. No pressure is required to get a nice bold line. There are a wide range of colors available, but that is not a real big thing for me.

The pens have a smooth stroke though some are a bit smoother than others. Basically consistency in stroke I found to be a problem. Some are a bit scratchier than others but they are still more of a pleasure to use than my old roller balls.

The ink is not waterproof so don't make sure you don't use them to sign checks, important documents, or write things that need to have the ability to be forge-proof. Plus the cost of these while far from expensive can add up making it more economical to simply buy a refillable pen and some ink.

I am studying Chinese and writing calligraphy with these though they are not calligraphy pens is much easier and provides smoother results.

I have always wanted to write with a fountain pen and to say the least I can't put it down. These pens are a pleasure to right with but inconsistencies and the ink hold the pen back. They require no pressure and are light weight so you can write for quite a while with little fatigue. Still a good buy for disposable pens.

If they were, then everybody would use fountain pens. I buy the pack with all the colors. You got your Black (which I always give away), your Blue, your Purple, Green,Pink, Red, and Turquoise.

Remember to put the cap back on before you put it in your shirt pocket....you have been warned!

I decided to try the disposable fountain pen because I wouldn't have to buy refills and it is a great price compared to other pens. Also I wouldn't feel guilty for misplacing one of these. At first I thought they were great, they write smoothly and quickly, but when I tried to write in a notebook I realized that the ink was bleeding through to the next page making double sided writing impossible and the next page of my notebook covered with dots. The ink also spreads slightly so the line will be a bit thicker than you intended making fine writing and small script difficult. However, if you want to try the feel of a fountain pen before making the switch up, these are a good get your feet wet for how it feels to try a fountain pen. There is also much more ink in one disposable pen than in a single ink cartridge refill of a standard fountain pen. Just realize that an upgrade to an inexpensive fountain pen that takes refills will be an even better experience.

Having an interest in these pens, I managed to find a three pack which had black, blue, and purple. All the colors wrote the same regarding the feel and line widths. Basically the pens write very nicely and smoothly, from the moment the tip touches the paper; no 'jump start' needed. The colors are deep and rich, no 'see-through' lines noticed. The pens are fairly light in weight compared to some other fountain pens I've tried. The cap clips do an O.K. job of holding the pen in your shirt pocket, but could be a tad tighter.

Cons: The pens are too short for me to write without placing the cap back on the back sides of the pen to extend the length. That is not a big deal, but you have to pay attention to the clip position on the cap when doing this, as the clip can get in the way on the web of your hand while trying to keep the tip square with the paper. The ink, although it flows smoothly and exhibits little bleeding and creep (feathering) into the papers I tried, will readily smear if you wipe a wet finger across the writing, even after it's dry for quite a while. I'd say for the price, you get your money's worth, and the pens are fun to write with, so I'd say give them a try.