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Comment by semi-extrinsic | Hacker News Reader

Pen: Jinhao X750 ($10) is a no-brainer. Or the Platinum Carbon desk pen ($12) if you like really thin lines.

Notebooks: Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Leuchtturm1917, or equivalent quality. Should be around $15 depending on size. Moleskines are no-go (ink bleeds through page)

Ink: Private Reserve is a nice starting point. I am particularly fond of their foam green. $11 for a 66ml bottle.

Shop: I really like Goulet Pens. Good service, amazingly careful packaging.

Source: personal experience and preference.

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I'd generally recommend the Pilot Metropolitan over the X750, I feel as if the Metro is a "surer bet" when it comes to QA, and it's only around five bucks more. Plus the Metro comes in fine and medium nibs so you have a bit more choice there.

Source: I have $100+ pens but I'm using a Metropolitan literally right now.

Interesting. My X750 sees quite randomly varying usage, and I really like how it's easy to "hard start" it after a couple weeks of non-usage. Is the Metropolitan similar?

Edit: after reading some reviews the Metropolitan is now on my buy list. Thanks for the tip.

I've gone from a Pelikan fountain pen and Leuchtturm1917 to... Faber-Castell pencil (grade B) and cheap Muji notebooks.

Yes, pencil does smear a bit, and those non-mechanical pencils get annoyingly short. But pencil is surprisingly durable (against light, and even against water accidents).

And cheap is a big psychological factor in "I want a set of those everywhere".

I use Zig Writer with Moleskines without any bleed through. Heck, I even use a Papermate Flair with them without issue sometimes. Edit: I see you use fountain pens, that explains it. I prefer the fine tipped markers since you get a smooth writing experience with an adjustable line width without the mess or bleed through.

I appreciate the reply, I have had a few Moleskines but the pages seemed relatively thin, is that your reason for them being a no go?

Updated to say the ink bleeds through. I use a Moleskine, but only with a 3B pencil.

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