2025 - Return of the Fountain Pen - Pilot Metropolitan Pop

Tools & Productivity

Rediscovering Fountain Pens for Serious Note-Taking

Why analog tools matter for Machine Learning studies

Table of Contents

① The Problem With Long Sessions

② Returning to Fountain Pens

③ Why They Work Better

④ Durability & Longevity

⑤ Maintenance & Upgrades

⑥ Impact & Ink Stats

Introduction

As I've been writing a lot of notes for my Machine Learning studies, I've started to notice the physical toll of long writing sessions. On a typical day, I'm putting down 10–15 pages of notes. While reliable, regular gel pens like my Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.5 begin to feel uncomfortable over extended use. The pressure required and narrow grip add up quickly, turning note-taking into a strain rather than a flow.

Section I

Returning to a Familiar Tool

It had been a while, but I recently refilled one of my Pilot Metropolitan fountain pens with Iroshizuku Kon-Peki ink. Almost immediately, I was reminded why I originally fell in love with fountain pens for note-taking. The experience feels fundamentally different—smoother, more relaxed, and far less fatiguing.

Section II

Why Fountain Pens Work Better for Notes

Iroshizuku ink is particularly well suited for standard composition notebook paper. It dries quickly, which minimizes smudging, and flows consistently without skipping. Combined with the broader grip and different writing angle of a fountain pen, the result is a setup that encourages lighter pressure and more natural hand movement. For long study sessions, that difference matters.

Section III

Durability That Still Impresses

What's especially impressive is that my Pilot Metropolitan pens date back to 2017—nearly eight years old—and they still work perfectly. That kind of longevity reinforces why fountain pens feel less like disposable tools and more like long-term companions.

A pen from 2017 still working flawlessly is a powerful statement about design and materials—something you won't get from disposable gel pens.

Section IV

Looking Ahead at Maintenance and Upgrades

That said, time does take its toll on certain components. The CON-20 converter uses rubber, which will eventually dry out and become brittle. I'll likely need to replace it soon. I've considered switching to my Pilot Custom 74, but for now, I'm sticking with the Metropolitan. After losing my Platinum 3776, I'm hesitant to carry another expensive fountain pen for daily note-taking.

Section V

A Small Change With Big Impact

In the end, returning to a fountain pen has made my daily study routine more comfortable and enjoyable. For anyone facing long hours of handwritten notes, sometimes the solution isn't writing less—it's choosing better tools to support the work.

It's also funny that I'm going analog using fountain pens for my Machine Learning studies.

Section VI

Ink Usage Stats

Measured in Composition Notebook College Ruled — Metropolitan Pop, Fine Nib, CON-20 + Iroshizuku Kon-Peki

• → 12/27/25 — 47 pages, Blue Pen
• → 12/31/25 — 27 pages, Purple Pen (possibly not filled completely)
• → 01/05/26 — 39 pages, Purple Pen (emptied completely)
• → 01/10/26 — 45 pages, Blue Pen (needed harder pressure at end)
• → 01/11/26 — 39 pages, Pilot 74 with CON-70 (for comparison)

A case study in how the right tool—in this case, a fountain pen—can transform long writing sessions from a strain into a sustainable, even enjoyable practice.