Pen suggestion

[tandaina]

I need to pick the collective brains of you good people.

I have moved my planning into a lovely compact Filofax Malden. It zips closed and just against the zipper inside there is a pen loop. The issue? If the pen is too fat it smooshes the planner pages, and very long at all it interferes with the zipper.

For example, a regular ballpoint is about the right girth but way too long. My Kaweco sport is about the right length but way too fat (doesn't really fit in the pen loop even.)

Can anyone think of a little bitty pen that would work? I'm happy to just use an eyedropper for filling, nib just needs to be pleasant, not fancy. Short and super skinny. I'm stumped, what do you all suggest?

[Laura N]

Go to Jetpens because they have some that would work. I'm thinking of the Ohto Tasche offhand, which has a very decent nib for the price, is slim and is short when capped. The Pilot Cavalier is possibly too long, but another good thin pen. And I'm sure they have others like it.

ETA: here's a link to the Ohto Tasche.

[Neo]

Or the J.Herbin fountain pen. http://www.jetpens.com/J.-Herbin-Fou...-Body/pd/14037

It writes surprisingly well considering the price.

[sloegin]

Parker 45 or 75.

[klpeabody]

Do you have your heart set on using fountain pen? Perhaps the Kaweco Lilliput?

If you are open to ballpoint, then maybe consider a Fisher Space Pen. I am having great luck with that. I don't use Filofax, but do I use a pocket planner. Additionally, it has been easier to use ballpoint as EDC while I'm at work.

My other favorite compact planner EDC is the Pentel P205 mechanical pencil; it's slim, and resilient. The advantage of using pencil for me, is that when plans change, I can simply erase and I don't have a big cross out mess in my small planner. :-)

That's just a couple of ideas; I'm looking forward to reading everyone else's suggestions.

[tandaina]

I love the 75, but that's way too long, I've got a number of pens that length that don't work. Good ideas, have you tried eyedroppering the J Hebrin?

[Bold2013]

Jet pens Chiba?

[Neo]

Yes, after plugging the three holes at the top with crazy glue. Check with water before use. Based on unfortunate experience......because my first attempt at plugging did not completely cover the openings.

[sloegin]

The 75 is about as long as a normal ballpoint. Sheaffer tuckaway?

[migo984]

If you're not wedded to making it an eyedropper, go for a vintage Pilot Elite. The 14k nibs are good; but if you can nab one of the 18k which sometimes fly below the radar, they are phenomenal.

[Neo]

If you're not wedded to making it an eyedropper, go for a vintage Pilot Elite. The 14k nibs are good; but if you can nab one of the 18k which sometimes fly below the radar, they are phenomenal.

Like this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pilot-Elite-...item566f8c685e

[tandaina]

Oh, the Pilot Elite does look nice! Looks like they make modern ones too, are those similar size to the vintage?

[migo984]

If you're not wedded to making it an eyedropper, go for a vintage Pilot Elite. The 14k nibs are good; but if you can nab one of the 18k which sometimes fly below the radar, they are phenomenal.

Like this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pilot-Elite-...item566f8c685e

Yes, but that will be a steel nib from speerbob. However, they can be good nibs too.

[migo984]

Oh, the Pilot Elite does look nice! Looks like they make modern ones too, are those similar size to the vintage?

The modern ones are the Elite 95S, and come in black or a dark red. I like them a lot. They are fairly expensive though so might not be what you are willing to pay for a diary/planner pen. The nibs are 14k and the one I have is a very nice writer.

[Wile E Coyote]

Parker 51 Demi?

[Dronak]

I have a Cross Century (I think) ballpoint, and I've seen the fountain pen version of it -- it's quite slim, IMO. If that's not too long, you could try it or another Cross pen. It seems like many Cross pens are on the slim side. I think the shortest pen I own is a Pilot Prera, but it may not be as slim as you want. Sorry I can't help more, but hopefully this is of some use.

[Cookies]

Would an Esterbrook SJ work? Or perhaps a Pilot Cavalier or one of Ohto's slimmer offerings.

[catbert]

Kaweco Liliput?

Muji aluminium compact fountain pen?

I don't have either of these but they are certainly slim and short. The standard sized (about Parker 51 length) Muji is a nice writer if you don't mind the knurled grip. I guess the compact has the same nib.

[inklord]

Pilot Stella 90s = Pilot Stargazer. Super rugged, piston-style converter (the E95s uses an aerometric version only), soft 14k nib (may be dry, but easy to adjust). This is my pen-loop pen for life! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qGjXe3ldAc

[tandaina]

Pilot Stella 90s = Pilot Stargazer. Super rugged, piston-style converter (the E95s uses an aerometric version only), soft 14k nib (may be dry, but easy to adjust). This is my pen-loop pen for life! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qGjXe3ldAc

Sadly that looks like a fill size fountain pen to me? At least Parker 51 which is too long.

I thought about a Kaweco Lilliput as it is exactly the size I need.... But I can't bring myself to spend that much on a Kaweco and I'm just not a fan of metal pens.

Following a couple of Pilot Elite actions on Ebay, right now it is looking like the best bet! Anyone tried both the gold and steel nibbed versions? Is the gold worth paying more for or just grab a steel?