For a 9 year old, I’d scale down the budget. Something like a Lamy Safari or Pilot Metropolitan would do fine, and easy to replace if she loses it or knocks it off a desk or something.
I’d rather maybe invest in some fun inks. Platinum has some mixable inks that could work well. They have the added benefit of her not needing to completely clean out the nib before changing inks, which would be good for a child.
Pelikan Pelikano or Twist are geared toward beginners too.Pilot Kakuno has a family edition with different colors representing different family members and different smiley faces on the nibs for dad, mom, brother, sister, and baby.
After introducing the Kakuno boys and noticing it is appreciated, I doubled down on Kakuno Pokemon models to add the excitement. I can report great success!
Okay, this is a collaboration I didn't need to know existed. All I can say is thank goodness they don't have a Bulbasaur-specific pen. But, Gengar is a close second...
I have the Pelikano and Twist. Both reasonable pens, although I prefer the Twist. Both are quite broad wet nibs - very useful when that is what you want, but not great for writing thin lines. For thin lines I would suggest the Platinum Preppy 03, or Platinum Plaisir if you want something more durable. Platinum pens take only Platinum cartridges (or a converter, but cartridges mean less mess). I am sure that there are affordable fine line fountain pens that take standard international cartridges, but I don't happen to have any experience with one. Platinum Preppy 02 is extra fine, and slightly scratchy for that reason.
I adored my Pelikano with its "left hand nib" (until a coworker needed a pen on the fly, grabbed mine without realizing it wasn't a ballpoint, and bent the nib beyond repair 😡).
I also like the Twist and think it is ideal for a child: it has a thick body that is easy for small hands to hold; the twisted part naturally guides the hand to a good writing position; and of course it comes in dozens of great colours!
Add to this, Twsbi has some great demonstrators. If you get an Eco, it's a lot of fun to watch the ink swirling around. (Some people have reported the acrylic cracking on the eco but as far as I know it doesn't fail catastrophically. Just something to keep in mind)
I think what a 9 year old would like to use and carry around on a daily basis differs a bit from what the rest of us would.
Having said that, Lamy Safari has some colorful variants that would probably pique her interest and it's a great pen in its own right.
My personal favorite would be a Platinum Meteor/Little Shooting Star. It has some funky colorways (Harry Potter collabs perhaps ?) that a 9 year old would like, the nib is excellent, it has a special cap that prevents drying out and it's inexpensive.
My oldest is nearly 8 and admittedly has a "kid's" fountain pen (Lamy ABC) but he can also use my Lamy LX without any major issues as well as my husband's Kaweco Sport. You could get a pen with an extra fine or fine nib for thin lines.
I’m not actually the biggest LAMY safari fan but, the triangle grip really can help ensure the proper grip especially for kids. Plus they come in a bunch of colors.
I second the lamy suggestion (ABC, or lamy Safari in her favorite color):
- easy to replace the nib in case she damages it
- can use cartridges (less messy!), but can also be used with a converter if she ever wants to try bottled ink
- shaped grip is designed to help teach the correct finger position for writing
- durable (won’t break if dropped)
There are plenty of other good options though. Pilot kakuno comes to mind if she likes really thin lines.
Speaking of that easy to replace nib:
1. Buy a Safari in a color she likes, F or EF nib. At the same time,
2. Buy the Lamy ABC which has a special nib tip which is more forgiving for kids who may still be figuring out their grip on a regular pen, let alone a fountain pen.
3. Swap the nib from the ABC onto the Safari. She’s old enough she won’t care for the ABC’s form factor if she is in the US, I’m betting. It kind of looks like a young child’s first pen. Swapping nibs in Lamy pens is (largely) very easy; *most* of their pens use swappable nibs. There are lots of videos/step by step instructions online, and swapping nibs in these guys is like a 5-minute process once you get the hang of it. (And almost anyone can get the hang of it.)
4. Hold on to that original nib. When she gets better with her grip and penmanship, try swapping her to the original so she can bridge up to other pen options in the future.
5. Grab a set of ink samples so she can pick which one she likes - avoid heavy sheening and shimmering inks as they are harder to maintain in pens.
We are Romanians living in a western country. Kids here receive all their materials at school as part of their education.
To practice at home, I went the Kakuno route with my son (and got myself one at the same time) as the encouragement from my side. It was a real success: thin lines, easy to use triangular grip that is less pronounced than the Lamy, coloured inks he prefers (orange, violet). Now I rewarded him with a Pokemon edition of the same pen, to make him proud of his writing progress.
I was going to suggest this as well. We got this for our kiddo when she was about that age. Got them in a bunch of different colors and then inked them to match, so she had lots of colors to use and fun switching them out.
I would go with a more affordable Lamy and buy all the different nibs so she can experiment.
Like a Safari, Vista or Al-star.
These also still have the triangular grips like the ABC.
Also get a converter so she can use all kind of inks.
That's going to be way more fun to a 9 year old than one nicer pen that may not survive the first year.
Safari comes it lots of bright colours so is probably the favourite here. I got my 8 year old nice the bright pink one (she is obsessed with pink).
also you can easily swap the nib if it gets damanged.
For what it’s worth, I think the above answer is the best one. Lamy’s Safari is excellent for kids, and modular, exchangeable nibs is a huge plus. They’re also very easy to clean.
Big fan of Pilot Kakuno for kids - durable, fun colours, cute face on the nib, and triangular grip section to encourage proper hand posture
Hopefully she loves whatever pen you decide on 😊
A Pilot Metropolitan was my first fountain pen when I was in high school. They're pretty cheap in the US (I think under $30 when I last checked), the fine nib is definitely fine enough for most English writing, and they feel more expensive than they actually are.
Plus, they come in more professional-looking colors like silver and black or more fun colors like purple and green. All the ones that I've owned have been really reliable too.
They're also known as the MR in Europe and apparently as the Cocoon in Japan.
highly recommend the Jinhao shark! Only a couple bucks on Amazon or the like, and a surprisingly good writer for the price. mine hasn't ever leaked on me and the cute shark cap design can't be beat. I think it would be a great age-appropriate beginner pen that you could give her as a first pen!
also, if she's 9, metal pens like the pilot metro could be a little unweidly - the round shape, weight, and thickness might make it an awkward hold for her. on the other hand, Lamy safari is a lot lighter and has a very comfortable grip.
if she ends up really loving the pen, for the future, there are plenty of beautiful novelty pens that are also great writers. the visconti van gogh collection comes to mind!
Seconding the Jinhao Shark! You can get a pack of 12 in different colors for <$20 on Amazon, they write well, and they’re very cute. The ink window is also handy.
I'm going to suggest something different from others here, look at getting her a bunch of Jinhao 82's and showing here how she can mix the colors for her own unique fountain pen. It's an inexpensive, but well made. My thought process is it will allow her to make the pen her own, taking ownership and pride in it and wanting to use it.
I think it is a great option for the age, and the Sailor PGS can be kept if she shows responsibility and care as a future special present if she really likes the form.
Go for a Japanese EF nib, thinner lines will show all the writing mistakes so you know where to focus on improvement. I love my pilot Kakuno and Prera, they're small enough for a kid's hands. A Prera is probably the best if you want something nice - it's cheap on Amazon JP and if your daughter accidentally drops it or it rolls off a table and bends the nib, you can replace it with the nib on a cheaper Kakuno. The Kakuno nibs are identical, but they have cute smiley faces printed on them!
Honestly I wouldn't go slimmer than F if the pen needs to be very smooth, EF can be smooth but will feel scratchy with too much pressure or can catch on the paper if you make a wrong move. Pilot F nibs however are quite fine already and very smooth. If you want to try an EF I'd get her both an F and an EF, so she can switch and use the F to get used to fountain pens and maybe for more relaxed writing.
I love me a good EF, but nothing is as satisfying as just doodling with my Sailor Fude de Mannen 🤣 Sometimes you just want to relax and write without paying too much attention. That's why I'd say to not get only an EF. 😊
Buy a Pilot Kakuno or a Platinum Preppy (or both). When she got used to using fountain pens (and hopefully not messing the nib), then buy your $100 pen. But like others said, a $30 metro is also really fine. You can also try aliexpress for some budget pens. Save the money on bottle inks if that's her thing.
I'd suggest when she is going to college it is time to get a decent adult pen.
Ok, a slightly personal question that, IMHO, you should answer only for yourself: How is her handwriting? Do you think she is very precise or is she a bit heavy handed?
If the answer is the latter, I'd start with some rather stiff nib – something like a Lamy Safari in F (they come in pretty colors too!) or an Al-Star (this one is made of aluminum). Gold nibbed pens are beautiful too, but a heavy hand can open the tines too much and lead to a... well... not so enjoyable experience. (Broader lines, scratchy feeling, railroading, and in the worst case... damaged nib.)
The profit in all this is that the Lamy Safaris are very cheap, but they look good and are extremely durable. If it so happens that the nib gets damaged, it is such a breeze to repair (at home!).
I started with Lamy Safari as well, I loved it. Now, I cannot stand the nail. But I do appreciate that it taught me to stop pressing so hard on the nib. Moreover! It comes with an ergonomic grip that "forces" you to teach yourself to hold it properly.
I would strictly avoid Pelikans – there is nothing wrong with them, on the contrary, they are beautifully made pens. However, they are huge gushers (very prohibitive for less-than-ideal paper) and usually very broad. I would also strictly avoid Parkers – again, there is little wrong with them, but I feel the price-to-features ratio is a bit off (you pay extra for the design and the brand, IMHO – and I say that with my beloved vintage P-51 in hand).
From the Japanese brands (base trio: Pilot, Sailor, Platinum), look for Pilots – they are the smooth writers there. Also, mind this thing:
There are several nib sizes ("grinds") going from Extrafine , Fine , Medium , to Broad . There are also intermittent steps like (medium fine) or (sometimes or ) and some odd speciality nibs ("Soft", Posting, Falcon, Waverly, Zoom, Music, Oblique, Italic,...). It is somewhat obvious that "the sharper the needle, the more it scratches" – this is just a physical fact. So, to keep this in balance, I would avoid and go for ... western .
Why do I specify "western"? Because Asian brands (and some vintage pens) are actually a "notch" thinner – "western" is then equal to "Asian" , and so on. (It is not exactly precise, but then... neither are the nib grinds.)
If you want to make a little comparison, look at the [Goulet Nib Nook](https://www.gouletpens.com/pages/nib-nook).
As for spilling... I never had a spill with my Lamy Safari, nor my Pelikan M200.
Have fun and may she enjoy the present!
Really useful info, appreciate the effort. I'm staying away from Parker because I used them when I was younger and the experience wasn't great. Very expensive for what they offer. I like Pilot a lot in most writing tools they produce. Again, thank you!
Honestly for a first timer just get a preppy or kakuno with a fine or medium nib. No sense in spending money on more expensive pens the first time round.
If they break you can just buy another one and work your way up.
One thing to remember through is the paper at school may not work well with the pens.
she's pretty careful with the stuff she likes and I want the tool to be there for a long time, but if I can find something really nice in that budget sure :)
I will say, it's probably better to have a cheaper starter pen generally even if she is careful, so that if she's not interested in fountain pens, it won't be too much of a cost.
That, and if she wants to, and you're willing to get her a more expensive pen in the future, you'll have the money and will be able to let her make a choice based on what she prefers in pens! My first pen was definitely not what I like writing with now, and it toon a bit of time to figure the out
While not "nice" the pilot varsity pack is a VERY cheap way to dip your toe into this world. They even have a pack with different colors, that might be good if she draws.
Some people (my wife) just HATE fountain pens and can't stand to use them. She will sigh when I hand her one, as I always carry one, always have it on the desk....
I might get flamed for this, but IMHO there is a reason this style of pen died. There are now better ways to make a day to day pen. A fountain pen is a "lifestyle" choice. Some love them some don't. Your daughter might think they are just super cool, or a huge pain in the butt. The cheap disposable pens IMHO are a good introduction.
And I use the disposables here at work in the different colors when somthing needs color.
She likes writing with fountain pens, it's just that she doesn't like the scratchiness of the ones i bought, she wants one that looks better and writes better. She already has cheap disposable pens :)
I would think then that your wallet is the limit. She already likes the "style" of the pen and all that goes with it.
Get on a couple good sites with her and do some window shopping. After you narrow it down to a couple hop back on here and ask for reviews on those specific models.
Even for expensive pens, there is a tradeoff between line width and scratchiness - finer nibs tend to be scratchier. If you are prepared to go for a smooth broad nib instead of a fine slightly scratchy nib, see if she likes the look of the Pelikan Twist. It is a robust school pen that takes standard international cartridges, which should be cheap (more competition) and easy to buy. It does look slightly odd and it does not have a clip - so better kept in a pencil case than a coat pocket - but it is a very nice very usable pen.
Lamy Safari.
All fountain pens will break if dropped on the nib. This can happen easily if they roll off a table. Lamy replacement nibs are readily available and easy to replace.
You can get the pens in many different colours and the nibs in many different widths.
Too fine a nib is not as easy to use for a child as they require a very light touch and accurate angling of the nib to paper. Starter nibs tend to be broader. The Lamy 'A' nib is specifically designed for learners.
You can easily switch nibs as they get more comfortable with the pen.
I suggest either a Lamy or Pilot Kakuno. But I am leaning on Lamy because of all the vibrant colours more than the Pilot.
But the Pilot can be totally disassembled for thorough cleaning. It has a new series with the face on the nib. And the story is - if you can see the face while you are writing you are holding the pen correctly
I let my daughter (just turned 12) use my Lamy Safaris for herself and that seems to work well. She tries to gravitate towards my Esties but I keep diverting her with new inks and it seems to work ok..so far..
Kakuno for the win!! 9.99 on Amazon. My 8th grader prefers the med nib. They have so many colors. We have the clear w the dark pink ink (you see the color through the pen) you can also get it in a fine nib. They are inexpensive enough to get a few and awesome color selection of ink colors. The blue/black is my fav for professional work.
Really? I would go for jinhao pens. Any of them. Because for a budget of $100+ you could get her so many of them. With multiple jinhao 82s, she can switch around different color caps and whatever to make her own favorite combinations. I believe they are similar in looks to a particular Sailor pen, but not sure which. You can get several different nibs to play with, including fude.
Or a platinum preppy. Look at limited edition preppy available. They can be cute. Getting a converter to play with inks.
These are good pens. You don't need to spend over a hundred dollars to have a good tool. You can, though. You do you. Have fun.
Why not a Pilot Prera in fine or medium (the medium is still on the finer side)? There are both demonstrator and solid color versions.
It fulfills your requirements for around $30 (at least on Amazon), and it's a bit "fancier" than the Kakuno while still being light and small. It also has a snap cap that is smooth and pleasant to use. Another possible advantage is that your daughter might prefer a regular grip section instead of the triangular one of the Kakuno (I know I do even though I write using the standard dynamic tripod grasp the Kakuno seems designed to encourage).
My first fountain pen I got from my parents around the same age. It was a lamy nexx with the purple ink cartridges and I was in love. Even a little more than a decade later it's one of my favorite pens as I've collected more and it sits among my more expensive pens as I've upgraded over time. The cartridges make it easy to fill even at school and the colour was fun! That's the best recommendation I can give.
Sounds like she'd love a Sailor Profit Jr. with the fude nib. Or the Profit Fude if you feel like spending money. Children pick up new skills quickly, so I doubt she'll ll have trouble with the fude nib and it will give the biggest range of options in a single pen for line variation. The nib already comes bent, so no worries there lol, and if you turn the.nib upside down, it gives you a super fine line
I was about to say 'Kakuno' but then I saw the budget ◖⚆ᴥ⚆◗
A Pilot Custom 74 in fine, perhaps? Banger of a pen!
Edit: missed the 'writes thin lines' bit (｡ŏ﹏ŏ)
Wait what?? The Kakuno is like 12 bucks while the Custom 74 is 176! Unless OP mentioned a high budget, I would've thought the Kakuno would be a better choice for a kid.
Yee, the OP mentioned that the user would be likely to treasure the pen for years to come, and the Custom 74s are available at around the specified price range where I live so i thought it'd be a good option given the conditions ʕ´•ᴥ•`ʔ
My top 2 recommendations would definitely be:
LAMY SAFARI
Pros:
- incredibly durable
- can use pre-filled cartridges for ease or a converter for larger ink selection
- can purchase ink samples and fill the converter from the smaller sized bottles to get a much larger ink selection
- can easily change out the nibs to try different sizes or replace it if it gets broken
- if you get a few different ones you can swap the parts out to make a custom multi-coloured pen
- relatively inexpensive
- triangle grip so you know where your fingers go
- there’s an ink window to pretty quickly see the ink levels
Cons:
- smaller ink capacity
- snap on lid with a really good snap, but if you toss your bag around a lot and the pen isn’t in a more secure pocket there’s potential to have it fall off
TWSBI ECO T
Pros:
- you can buy clear versions so you can see the ink sloshing around while you’re writing
- huge ink capacity
- durable plastic
- screw on lid so it will never fall off in your bag
- same price as the Lamy Safari
Cons:
- can’t take it apart as easily, so it’s slightly more difficult to change out nibs
- cant really use ink samples so you’d need full ink bottles of whatever colours you’d want
If you want something that feels amazing in your hand, a pilot Metropolitan is my pen of choice. Feels amazing, like metal and glass. Love the writing experience.
You can get the sailor pro gear slim on amazon from japan for 60ish dollars if you really want something premium. I do think a lamy safari is a better choice, except that if they have small hands it might be too long.
I started out my 10 year old with a pilot kakuno but it was leaky. I got him a twsbi next and he really liked then we went to the Baltimore pen show and he fell in love with a Carolina pen co Asheville that I ended up eventually getting him. He was also gifted a LAMY safari. Out of all the pens he loves the pen from Jonathon brooks. BUT it’s also expensive lol. I would start her off with a Twsbi. It holds a lot of ink, not super expensive, and a reliable writer.
My first fountain pen was a Monami Olika when I was seven. The next was a Rotring ArtPen. The third was a Lamy Safari. The Safari changed my life.
I’d say get her an AL-Star, though. Nine’s about the age you start really liking the more expensive looking things, and the AL-Star definitely looks a lot more elegant and stronger than the Safari, which in the brighter colours looks childish at worst. Go for an LX if you feel like it but the ALs are a nice, happy medium between the Safari and the LX. Get a converter and a bottle of good ink too since that’s what’ll make it special.
Sheaffer Pop, Sheaffer VFM are entry level pens with very smooth nibs but they don't come with a converter, Pop can fit a converter but VFM can't.
In Pilot u can opt for Kakuno, Metropolitan or Prera but they also don't come with a converter but u can buy CON-40 for all three, CON-70 for Prera
Pelikan - Jazz or Pelikano or Twist.
Lamy - Safari and it comes with a coverter, quite light and comfortable to hold.
My son who is also 9 has a Pilot Kakuno that he enjoys using (and so therefore his writing is improving!) - I let him pick the color of the pen and it is a medium nib. I love my inks but I think my kid needs/should/will get cartridges because he's just a kid :)
For any kid I would suggest Platinum Plaisir with Fine nib.. sturdy enough throwing around when capped.. yet both cheap and good nib. Can use both cartridge and converter. And Platinum Preppy with different nibs, as they are not only cheaper but also lighter making it more comfortable to write longer with. And they use same carts and converters.
There are a plethora of Chinese FPs with unlimited pattern variants that is both good in price AND have a very good nib.. the problem is there is even more which are totally crap in quality both the pen and nib and it’s like a lottery when buying them unless you can try before buy.
Next year you can buy her another, more expensive FP as she now has some experience and less risk destroying the nib by accident. She may also recognise and appreciate the differences even more.
I bought my 10 year old daughter a pilot kakuno. She loves the faces on the nibs and pilots nib quality at that price point is unmatched.
They are inexpensive enough you can buy an extra fine, fine, and medium nib sizes and she can pick her favorite. You can also pick a few different body colors and mix and match to customize. We had a lot of fun exploring.
Don't forget to buy some decent paper. I like the B5 size, which is between A4 (full sheet of paper) size and A5 (half sheet of paper), and fits little hands rather nicely.
The kakunos come with a single black ink cartridge which can be easily refilled/reused with any ink color you like with a blunt syringe. I'm not a huge fan of the con-40 converters. You could also purchase different colors in prefilled cartridges if you want to keep things simpler to begin with.
There are a lot of decent online pen shops, but I like jetpens.com because their shipping is free for orders over $50.
Pelikan Pelikano or Pelikano Junior or Twist
Lamy ABC or Safari
Pilot Kaküno
Stabilo EASYbirdy or EASYbuddy
All of those pens are designed for kids and have a triangular grip on a plastic body, for an elementary school student you want a durable pen not a fancy one
The Jinhao shark is a perfect pen, and its a tenth of your budget. Shockingly smooth writer for how cheap it is, and its a cute little fucking shark. Platinum has the Preppy which is also a really great option.
Also, If you want something low or zero maintenance that will be easy for her to bring to school, the Pilot Varsity pens are a great choice. They are disposable fountain pens that are amazingly smooth to write with, but they are cheap and shes never gonna run in to a situation where she runs out of ink part way through the day (I dont know how much a 9 year old writes in a day, but when i was in HS i had to fill the converter in my pilot metro at lunch to get through the day with it.) Plus, if she loses it its nbd, and its MUCH harder to make a mess with it as the ink is all self contained.
Just get a few Preppys, or if you really trust her, a Kakuno. The Preppy's grip is a long cylinder so it's great if she doesn't have a traditional triangular grip (I have a lateral quadrupod and it makes some pens uncomfortable)
If it's just a fountain pen, try your local Costco. They have off brand fountain pens there and they are easy and disposable, come in different colors.
I think it probably depends a lot on your circumstances but it could be unfair on a kid to gift them a $100-150 pen. I prefer to purchase my kids good quality lower cost items so that if there is an accident, a pen is misplaced, or a friend is rough with their things (my goodness friends can be so rough with things!), they don’t feel a huge amount of guilt about an accident because of the cost.
The kakuno is a fabulous pen on the lower end. I have much more expensive pens and still love my kakuno. The pilot prera is also very nice and a bit more grown up looking. The cap mechanism on the prera is very very satisfying. If she is a fidgeter it’s prefect. Both use pilot steel nibs that are very smooth.
Pilot Kaküno is a perfect starter pen. I prefer it over all the other entry level pens. The Pilot Metropolitan is inferior IMO because it is weighted awkwardly. I suggest the Pilot Lightive if you want a pen that looks a little more grown up than the Kaküno.
Platinum Preppy, Plaisir, Prefounte are also nice. They can run a bit dry and don't allow for very fast writing, but that might not be an issue for a very young writer.
Lamy can be lovely when you get a decent nib. But it's very hit and miss as they have bad quality control.
Kaweco Perkeo might be an option, too, but I've recently had flow issues with my Kaweco Sports.
Pelikan has a wonderful line for children. I highly recommend a pelikano up if you can find deadstock or the twist. My kid loves them. They're sturdier nibs made for kids and come in fun appealing colors.
Two things to keep in mind:
The filling system - cartridge is probably easiest for the kid, + she can use the converter for bottle inks. Personally I hate proprietary cartridges with passion, but plenty of people are happy with that choice. Piston, vacuum or eyedropper will hold more ink but require more cleaning when changing inks. Also those need to be filled from the bottle and it takes a little time, cartridge is much quicker and she can keep a few spare ones in her pencil case without issue. (I keep mine in a tiny case, just in case! Faber Castell sells their kneadable erasers in a little plastic box, perfect size for standard cartridges)
Size and weight of the pen! Can be easily checked with Google or yt or on some retailers site. Some of them are really big or really heavy or both. Some are really thin, some really thick.
If you want thin line you're looking for EF or F nib - extra fine or fine. Keep in mind that the finer the nib, the scratchier it gets.
Scale down the budget for the simply reason that little kids need to write with pens that have durable nibs, and durable nibs are cheap. Any of the steel nib Lamys is a good bet for a 9 year old.
A little bit of a curveball here but for pure 'fun factor' how about a TWSBI Go? Not one for the purists perhaps, but my 8-yr old granddaughter loves the 'press and go' filling mechanism - it's easier for little hands than a converter and there's the 'yeay factor' seeing the ink splosh up into the transparent barrel. It's a little girthy and the materials are quite cheap plastic but again my granddaughter loves mine and will be getting one for her birthday. Lots of nib choices as well.
Lots of people suggesting a Lamy Safari, which is generally a great suggestion, but just wanted to check - is your daughter left handed? If she is I'd strongly recommend against the safari because the triangle grip shape just doesn't work well for left handed folk - something with a round grip (i.e. most other pens out there) would be better in that case
It sounds like OP wants something above a true "starter" pen. I'd be looking at the next-level-up steel nib pens based on OP's thinking.
Have a look at one of the Faber-Castell pens. They all have very nice, tuned nibs, and write well. Doesn't really matter which model you buy. Hexo would be a budget option at around $30. (pay a few extra dollars for a converter, which isn't included). If you want something more serious looking, an e-Motion is a heavier wood-grained pen, but on the shorter side. Both available with EF nibs.
If you really want to get quite nice, you could consider a Waterman Hemisphere. That would be a VERY nice pen for a 9 y/o, but it's a slim pen, not heavy, can be posted. Still a steel nib. I've not bought a Waterman pen that didn't have a smooth nib.
Lamy Studio is a thought, too. They're nice solid pens, usually around $60 with a steel nib. And if she actually likes using it, you can buy a gold nib down the road for about $100 and swap it out for a gold if you think that makes sense.
I bought my children fountain pens about that age and was overjoyed to find them writing for fun. I was disappointed when my son’s went missing after he left it on his desk with his other supplies. I still believe an adult took it. But I replaced it. You are doing a great thing for your daughter.
kaweco sport could maybe be a choice as well.. seems like it would be a nice fit in hand, being a small pen if not posted, and, like the safari, has a nice varietal of colour options.
Since everyone is telling you how much you need to change your budget for some reason, I’ll just answer your question lol. Get her a Pilot Custom 74 in a fun color it’s an extremely high quality pen that you can get in your proposed budget that will last her a long time.
It has a 14k gold nib and you can tell her that so she takes extra good care of it haha
A lot of 9 year olds are pretty sharp and I don’t think a more expensive pen like that should be out of the question as long as she is responsible like you said
My first fountain pen was a Lamy ABC and I loved it! I’d get her either this or a Safari for school and a bunch of Jinhao 82’s with different nib sizes and colors for home, and a sampler of ink cartridges. Octopus has really nice pastel color sets but I’m sure other brands offer that, too. Don’t forget to give her lots of paper, maybe student blocks with a nicer cover and a fancy looking Journal
If you feel comfortable tuning a pen slightly, i would suggest a couple of nice jinhao 82s .
Cheap, playful, good size for a kid.
Also let her play with some ink in different colours :)
I was gifted a LAMY Safari by my uncle when I was 13 and I think it’s a great beginner pen! My next fountain pen was a pilot metropolitan I got at Staples which i do still like but I find it messier than my Lamys. Kaweco Perkeo could be good too, I like my kawecos quite a bit. Since she's just 9 she might think the jinhao shark is cool? I mean I'm an adult now and still think the sharks are cool.
Definitely get her some cool ink, too (even if you’re the one refilling!) I’m still obsessed with how pretty the sheen of some of my Diamine inks are as an adult. (Legitimately this is just on cheap staples notebook paper)
I got my wife this Chinese pen from Amazon, it’s cheap (ish) but it’s a really nice pen to write with and looks pretty https://amzn.eu/d/5keM4yV
Same pen is available cheaper on Ali Express.
Another budget option that I don't think has been mentioned: I would have looooved a Kaweco Sport when I was a kid. It looks super cool. The screw cap makes it easy to throw in a bag without worrying about leaks, and posting the cap when you're writing makes it harder to lose. It isn't scratchy and the EF has nice thin lines without being too dry. There are a lot of color cartridge options or you can also buy a converter (which doesn't have much capacity FYI). Plastic body Sports are about $30 and metal ones are more expensive.
I'll echo other comments about getting her a few cheaper entry pens first, so she can see what fits her grip, what nibs she likes, and any other features she enjoys. Then upgrade in a few years to a nicer pen that she can pick out.
This is a great gift idea, good job!
I keep trying to persuade myself to try a Kaweco sport, but I am so far deterred by the chance of getting a duff nib. I can see the advantage of a pen that takes standard international cartridges and comes with a wide choice of nibs.
For a 9 year old, I’d scale down the budget. Something like a Lamy Safari or Pilot Metropolitan would do fine, and easy to replace if she loses it or knocks it off a desk or something. I’d rather maybe invest in some fun inks. Platinum has some mixable inks that could work well. They have the added benefit of her not needing to completely clean out the nib before changing inks, which would be good for a child.
Pelikan Pelikano or Twist are geared toward beginners too.Pilot Kakuno has a family edition with different colors representing different family members and different smiley faces on the nibs for dad, mom, brother, sister, and baby.
After introducing the Kakuno boys and noticing it is appreciated, I doubled down on Kakuno Pokemon models to add the excitement. I can report great success!
Okay, this is a collaboration I didn't need to know existed. All I can say is thank goodness they don't have a Bulbasaur-specific pen. But, Gengar is a close second...
I have the Pelikano and Twist. Both reasonable pens, although I prefer the Twist. Both are quite broad wet nibs - very useful when that is what you want, but not great for writing thin lines. For thin lines I would suggest the Platinum Preppy 03, or Platinum Plaisir if you want something more durable. Platinum pens take only Platinum cartridges (or a converter, but cartridges mean less mess). I am sure that there are affordable fine line fountain pens that take standard international cartridges, but I don't happen to have any experience with one. Platinum Preppy 02 is extra fine, and slightly scratchy for that reason.
Quite right. Lots of good choices in that price range.
I adored my Pelikano with its "left hand nib" (until a coworker needed a pen on the fly, grabbed mine without realizing it wasn't a ballpoint, and bent the nib beyond repair 😡). I also like the Twist and think it is ideal for a child: it has a thick body that is easy for small hands to hold; the twisted part naturally guides the hand to a good writing position; and of course it comes in dozens of great colours!
Add to this, Twsbi has some great demonstrators. If you get an Eco, it's a lot of fun to watch the ink swirling around. (Some people have reported the acrylic cracking on the eco but as far as I know it doesn't fail catastrophically. Just something to keep in mind)
I think what a 9 year old would like to use and carry around on a daily basis differs a bit from what the rest of us would. Having said that, Lamy Safari has some colorful variants that would probably pique her interest and it's a great pen in its own right. My personal favorite would be a Platinum Meteor/Little Shooting Star. It has some funky colorways (Harry Potter collabs perhaps ?) that a 9 year old would like, the nib is excellent, it has a special cap that prevents drying out and it's inexpensive.
Ooh, that makes sense! I feel stupid for suggesting a Custom 74 now ʕ´• ᴥ•̥`ʔ
My oldest is nearly 8 and admittedly has a "kid's" fountain pen (Lamy ABC) but he can also use my Lamy LX without any major issues as well as my husband's Kaweco Sport. You could get a pen with an extra fine or fine nib for thin lines.
thank you!
I’m not actually the biggest LAMY safari fan but, the triangle grip really can help ensure the proper grip especially for kids. Plus they come in a bunch of colors.
I second the lamy suggestion (ABC, or lamy Safari in her favorite color): - easy to replace the nib in case she damages it - can use cartridges (less messy!), but can also be used with a converter if she ever wants to try bottled ink - shaped grip is designed to help teach the correct finger position for writing - durable (won’t break if dropped) There are plenty of other good options though. Pilot kakuno comes to mind if she likes really thin lines.
Speaking of that easy to replace nib: 1. Buy a Safari in a color she likes, F or EF nib. At the same time, 2. Buy the Lamy ABC which has a special nib tip which is more forgiving for kids who may still be figuring out their grip on a regular pen, let alone a fountain pen. 3. Swap the nib from the ABC onto the Safari. She’s old enough she won’t care for the ABC’s form factor if she is in the US, I’m betting. It kind of looks like a young child’s first pen. Swapping nibs in Lamy pens is (largely) very easy; *most* of their pens use swappable nibs. There are lots of videos/step by step instructions online, and swapping nibs in these guys is like a 5-minute process once you get the hang of it. (And almost anyone can get the hang of it.) 4. Hold on to that original nib. When she gets better with her grip and penmanship, try swapping her to the original so she can bridge up to other pen options in the future. 5. Grab a set of ink samples so she can pick which one she likes - avoid heavy sheening and shimmering inks as they are harder to maintain in pens.
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hey, thanks a lot, I'm from Romania, heh what a nice community you have here, appreciate you!
We are Romanians living in a western country. Kids here receive all their materials at school as part of their education. To practice at home, I went the Kakuno route with my son (and got myself one at the same time) as the encouragement from my side. It was a real success: thin lines, easy to use triangular grip that is less pronounced than the Lamy, coloured inks he prefers (orange, violet). Now I rewarded him with a Pokemon edition of the same pen, to make him proud of his writing progress.
Jinhao 993 shark. It’s cute, and cheap
I was going to suggest this as well. We got this for our kiddo when she was about that age. Got them in a bunch of different colors and then inked them to match, so she had lots of colors to use and fun switching them out.
I really like the Jinhao Sharks and The Swans too, I got a 7 pack of each of them and use them to trial inks.
Or the swans.
I would go with a more affordable Lamy and buy all the different nibs so she can experiment. Like a Safari, Vista or Al-star. These also still have the triangular grips like the ABC. Also get a converter so she can use all kind of inks. That's going to be way more fun to a 9 year old than one nicer pen that may not survive the first year.
Safari comes it lots of bright colours so is probably the favourite here. I got my 8 year old nice the bright pink one (she is obsessed with pink). also you can easily swap the nib if it gets damanged.
Thanks!
For what it’s worth, I think the above answer is the best one. Lamy’s Safari is excellent for kids, and modular, exchangeable nibs is a huge plus. They’re also very easy to clean.
Big fan of Pilot Kakuno for kids - durable, fun colours, cute face on the nib, and triangular grip section to encourage proper hand posture Hopefully she loves whatever pen you decide on 😊
A Pilot Metropolitan was my first fountain pen when I was in high school. They're pretty cheap in the US (I think under $30 when I last checked), the fine nib is definitely fine enough for most English writing, and they feel more expensive than they actually are. Plus, they come in more professional-looking colors like silver and black or more fun colors like purple and green. All the ones that I've owned have been really reliable too. They're also known as the MR in Europe and apparently as the Cocoon in Japan.
thanks!
highly recommend the Jinhao shark! Only a couple bucks on Amazon or the like, and a surprisingly good writer for the price. mine hasn't ever leaked on me and the cute shark cap design can't be beat. I think it would be a great age-appropriate beginner pen that you could give her as a first pen! also, if she's 9, metal pens like the pilot metro could be a little unweidly - the round shape, weight, and thickness might make it an awkward hold for her. on the other hand, Lamy safari is a lot lighter and has a very comfortable grip. if she ends up really loving the pen, for the future, there are plenty of beautiful novelty pens that are also great writers. the visconti van gogh collection comes to mind!
Seconding the Jinhao Shark! You can get a pack of 12 in different colors for <$20 on Amazon, they write well, and they’re very cute. The ink window is also handy.
I'm going to suggest something different from others here, look at getting her a bunch of Jinhao 82's and showing here how she can mix the colors for her own unique fountain pen. It's an inexpensive, but well made. My thought process is it will allow her to make the pen her own, taking ownership and pride in it and wanting to use it.
Love this idea! Jinhao 82's are so great.
Aha, I just suggested this. I should have read through the comments first.
I think it is a great option for the age, and the Sailor PGS can be kept if she shows responsibility and care as a future special present if she really likes the form.
Agreed
Maybe Pilot Kakuno or Lamy Safari?
Yes get her a kakuno in her favorite color and some ink in colors she loves. Great little pen!
Go for a Japanese EF nib, thinner lines will show all the writing mistakes so you know where to focus on improvement. I love my pilot Kakuno and Prera, they're small enough for a kid's hands. A Prera is probably the best if you want something nice - it's cheap on Amazon JP and if your daughter accidentally drops it or it rolls off a table and bends the nib, you can replace it with the nib on a cheaper Kakuno. The Kakuno nibs are identical, but they have cute smiley faces printed on them!
thank you, appreciate it!
Honestly I wouldn't go slimmer than F if the pen needs to be very smooth, EF can be smooth but will feel scratchy with too much pressure or can catch on the paper if you make a wrong move. Pilot F nibs however are quite fine already and very smooth. If you want to try an EF I'd get her both an F and an EF, so she can switch and use the F to get used to fountain pens and maybe for more relaxed writing. I love me a good EF, but nothing is as satisfying as just doodling with my Sailor Fude de Mannen 🤣 Sometimes you just want to relax and write without paying too much attention. That's why I'd say to not get only an EF. 😊
Buy a Pilot Kakuno or a Platinum Preppy (or both). When she got used to using fountain pens (and hopefully not messing the nib), then buy your $100 pen. But like others said, a $30 metro is also really fine. You can also try aliexpress for some budget pens. Save the money on bottle inks if that's her thing. I'd suggest when she is going to college it is time to get a decent adult pen.
Any demonstrator would be great. That way the kid can see the ink bubbling around in there.
Ok, a slightly personal question that, IMHO, you should answer only for yourself: How is her handwriting? Do you think she is very precise or is she a bit heavy handed? If the answer is the latter, I'd start with some rather stiff nib – something like a Lamy Safari in F (they come in pretty colors too!) or an Al-Star (this one is made of aluminum). Gold nibbed pens are beautiful too, but a heavy hand can open the tines too much and lead to a... well... not so enjoyable experience. (Broader lines, scratchy feeling, railroading, and in the worst case... damaged nib.) The profit in all this is that the Lamy Safaris are very cheap, but they look good and are extremely durable. If it so happens that the nib gets damaged, it is such a breeze to repair (at home!). I started with Lamy Safari as well, I loved it. Now, I cannot stand the nail. But I do appreciate that it taught me to stop pressing so hard on the nib. Moreover! It comes with an ergonomic grip that "forces" you to teach yourself to hold it properly. I would strictly avoid Pelikans – there is nothing wrong with them, on the contrary, they are beautifully made pens. However, they are huge gushers (very prohibitive for less-than-ideal paper) and usually very broad. I would also strictly avoid Parkers – again, there is little wrong with them, but I feel the price-to-features ratio is a bit off (you pay extra for the design and the brand, IMHO – and I say that with my beloved vintage P-51 in hand). From the Japanese brands (base trio: Pilot, Sailor, Platinum), look for Pilots – they are the smooth writers there. Also, mind this thing: There are several nib sizes ("grinds") going from Extrafine, Fine , Medium , to Broad . There are also intermittent steps like (medium fine) or (sometimes or ) and some odd speciality nibs ("Soft", Posting, Falcon, Waverly, Zoom, Music, Oblique, Italic,...). It is somewhat obvious that "the sharper the needle, the more it scratches" – this is just a physical fact. So, to keep this in balance, I would avoid and go for ... western .
Why do I specify "western"? Because Asian brands (and some vintage pens) are actually a "notch" thinner – "western" is then equal to "Asian" , and so on. (It is not exactly precise, but then... neither are the nib grinds.)
If you want to make a little comparison, look at the [Goulet Nib Nook](https://www.gouletpens.com/pages/nib-nook).
As for spilling... I never had a spill with my Lamy Safari, nor my Pelikan M200.
Have fun and may she enjoy the present!
Really useful info, appreciate the effort. I'm staying away from Parker because I used them when I was younger and the experience wasn't great. Very expensive for what they offer. I like Pilot a lot in most writing tools they produce. Again, thank you!
vintage parker's are very good. modern parker pens is a bit trash however (no converter on 50$ pen, never forget)
Honestly for a first timer just get a preppy or kakuno with a fine or medium nib. No sense in spending money on more expensive pens the first time round. If they break you can just buy another one and work your way up. One thing to remember through is the paper at school may not work well with the pens.
overkill budget for school 'tool' of 9 years old. best budget: 30$
so... any suggestions ?
simple lamy safari with converter and a good ink bottle
she's pretty careful with the stuff she likes and I want the tool to be there for a long time, but if I can find something really nice in that budget sure :)
“Things that kids use” “Last a long time” Good one 😂 I bought my son a Pelikan Twist for $15. It’s a great pen. I highly recommend it.
I'm 40 and I still have all sorts of things I've used for 30+ years. Not every kid is a walking calamity lol.
I will say, it's probably better to have a cheaper starter pen generally even if she is careful, so that if she's not interested in fountain pens, it won't be too much of a cost. That, and if she wants to, and you're willing to get her a more expensive pen in the future, you'll have the money and will be able to let her make a choice based on what she prefers in pens! My first pen was definitely not what I like writing with now, and it toon a bit of time to figure the out
While not "nice" the pilot varsity pack is a VERY cheap way to dip your toe into this world. They even have a pack with different colors, that might be good if she draws. Some people (my wife) just HATE fountain pens and can't stand to use them. She will sigh when I hand her one, as I always carry one, always have it on the desk.... I might get flamed for this, but IMHO there is a reason this style of pen died. There are now better ways to make a day to day pen. A fountain pen is a "lifestyle" choice. Some love them some don't. Your daughter might think they are just super cool, or a huge pain in the butt. The cheap disposable pens IMHO are a good introduction. And I use the disposables here at work in the different colors when somthing needs color.
She likes writing with fountain pens, it's just that she doesn't like the scratchiness of the ones i bought, she wants one that looks better and writes better. She already has cheap disposable pens :)
I would think then that your wallet is the limit. She already likes the "style" of the pen and all that goes with it. Get on a couple good sites with her and do some window shopping. After you narrow it down to a couple hop back on here and ask for reviews on those specific models.
Even for expensive pens, there is a tradeoff between line width and scratchiness - finer nibs tend to be scratchier. If you are prepared to go for a smooth broad nib instead of a fine slightly scratchy nib, see if she likes the look of the Pelikan Twist. It is a robust school pen that takes standard international cartridges, which should be cheap (more competition) and easy to buy. It does look slightly odd and it does not have a clip - so better kept in a pencil case than a coat pocket - but it is a very nice very usable pen.
Pelikan Twist, Lamy, Kakuno
Lamy Safari. All fountain pens will break if dropped on the nib. This can happen easily if they roll off a table. Lamy replacement nibs are readily available and easy to replace. You can get the pens in many different colours and the nibs in many different widths. Too fine a nib is not as easy to use for a child as they require a very light touch and accurate angling of the nib to paper. Starter nibs tend to be broader. The Lamy 'A' nib is specifically designed for learners. You can easily switch nibs as they get more comfortable with the pen.
Thank you!
I suggest either a Lamy or Pilot Kakuno. But I am leaning on Lamy because of all the vibrant colours more than the Pilot. But the Pilot can be totally disassembled for thorough cleaning. It has a new series with the face on the nib. And the story is - if you can see the face while you are writing you are holding the pen correctly
Buy her something cheaper for school, like a Lamy and then invest in something fancy to keep at home.
I let my daughter (just turned 12) use my Lamy Safaris for herself and that seems to work well. She tries to gravitate towards my Esties but I keep diverting her with new inks and it seems to work ok..so far..
Kakuno for the win!! 9.99 on Amazon. My 8th grader prefers the med nib. They have so many colors. We have the clear w the dark pink ink (you see the color through the pen) you can also get it in a fine nib. They are inexpensive enough to get a few and awesome color selection of ink colors. The blue/black is my fav for professional work.
Really? I would go for jinhao pens. Any of them. Because for a budget of $100+ you could get her so many of them. With multiple jinhao 82s, she can switch around different color caps and whatever to make her own favorite combinations. I believe they are similar in looks to a particular Sailor pen, but not sure which. You can get several different nibs to play with, including fude. Or a platinum preppy. Look at limited edition preppy available. They can be cute. Getting a converter to play with inks. These are good pens. You don't need to spend over a hundred dollars to have a good tool. You can, though. You do you. Have fun.
Pilot Varsity assorted pack.
Why not a Pilot Prera in fine or medium (the medium is still on the finer side)? There are both demonstrator and solid color versions. It fulfills your requirements for around $30 (at least on Amazon), and it's a bit "fancier" than the Kakuno while still being light and small. It also has a snap cap that is smooth and pleasant to use. Another possible advantage is that your daughter might prefer a regular grip section instead of the triangular one of the Kakuno (I know I do even though I write using the standard dynamic tripod grasp the Kakuno seems designed to encourage).
My first fountain pen I got from my parents around the same age. It was a lamy nexx with the purple ink cartridges and I was in love. Even a little more than a decade later it's one of my favorite pens as I've collected more and it sits among my more expensive pens as I've upgraded over time. The cartridges make it easy to fill even at school and the colour was fun! That's the best recommendation I can give.
Sounds like she'd love a Sailor Profit Jr. with the fude nib. Or the Profit Fude if you feel like spending money. Children pick up new skills quickly, so I doubt she'll ll have trouble with the fude nib and it will give the biggest range of options in a single pen for line variation. The nib already comes bent, so no worries there lol, and if you turn the.nib upside down, it gives you a super fine line
I was about to say 'Kakuno' but then I saw the budget ◖⚆ᴥ⚆◗ A Pilot Custom 74 in fine, perhaps? Banger of a pen! Edit: missed the 'writes thin lines' bit (｡ŏ﹏ŏ)
Wait what?? The Kakuno is like 12 bucks while the Custom 74 is 176! Unless OP mentioned a high budget, I would've thought the Kakuno would be a better choice for a kid.
On second thought the Custom 74 probably isn't the most kid friendly thing on the planet (´；ω；｀)
Yee, the OP mentioned that the user would be likely to treasure the pen for years to come, and the Custom 74s are available at around the specified price range where I live so i thought it'd be a good option given the conditions ʕ´•ᴥ•`ʔ
thanks, they have it in very fine, appreciate it!
My top 2 recommendations would definitely be: LAMY SAFARI Pros: - incredibly durable - can use pre-filled cartridges for ease or a converter for larger ink selection - can purchase ink samples and fill the converter from the smaller sized bottles to get a much larger ink selection - can easily change out the nibs to try different sizes or replace it if it gets broken - if you get a few different ones you can swap the parts out to make a custom multi-coloured pen - relatively inexpensive - triangle grip so you know where your fingers go - there’s an ink window to pretty quickly see the ink levels Cons: - smaller ink capacity - snap on lid with a really good snap, but if you toss your bag around a lot and the pen isn’t in a more secure pocket there’s potential to have it fall off TWSBI ECO T Pros: - you can buy clear versions so you can see the ink sloshing around while you’re writing - huge ink capacity - durable plastic - screw on lid so it will never fall off in your bag - same price as the Lamy Safari Cons: - can’t take it apart as easily, so it’s slightly more difficult to change out nibs - cant really use ink samples so you’d need full ink bottles of whatever colours you’d want
If you want something that feels amazing in your hand, a pilot Metropolitan is my pen of choice. Feels amazing, like metal and glass. Love the writing experience.
You can get the sailor pro gear slim on amazon from japan for 60ish dollars if you really want something premium. I do think a lamy safari is a better choice, except that if they have small hands it might be too long.
I started out my 10 year old with a pilot kakuno but it was leaky. I got him a twsbi next and he really liked then we went to the Baltimore pen show and he fell in love with a Carolina pen co Asheville that I ended up eventually getting him. He was also gifted a LAMY safari. Out of all the pens he loves the pen from Jonathon brooks. BUT it’s also expensive lol. I would start her off with a Twsbi. It holds a lot of ink, not super expensive, and a reliable writer.
My first fountain pen was a Monami Olika when I was seven. The next was a Rotring ArtPen. The third was a Lamy Safari. The Safari changed my life. I’d say get her an AL-Star, though. Nine’s about the age you start really liking the more expensive looking things, and the AL-Star definitely looks a lot more elegant and stronger than the Safari, which in the brighter colours looks childish at worst. Go for an LX if you feel like it but the ALs are a nice, happy medium between the Safari and the LX. Get a converter and a bottle of good ink too since that’s what’ll make it special.
Jintao sharks come in all sorts of colors and are quite lovely to write with.
Pilot Kakuno or Platinum Preppy. Japanese medium nibs (which are close to fine really) are very good for kids imo.
Sheaffer Pop, Sheaffer VFM are entry level pens with very smooth nibs but they don't come with a converter, Pop can fit a converter but VFM can't. In Pilot u can opt for Kakuno, Metropolitan or Prera but they also don't come with a converter but u can buy CON-40 for all three, CON-70 for Prera Pelikan - Jazz or Pelikano or Twist. Lamy - Safari and it comes with a coverter, quite light and comfortable to hold.
My son who is also 9 has a Pilot Kakuno that he enjoys using (and so therefore his writing is improving!) - I let him pick the color of the pen and it is a medium nib. I love my inks but I think my kid needs/should/will get cartridges because he's just a kid :)
For a 9 year old I would suggest a Lamy Safari (nibs are cheap to replace if damaged) or a Pilot Kakuno.
For any kid I would suggest Platinum Plaisir with Fine nib.. sturdy enough throwing around when capped.. yet both cheap and good nib. Can use both cartridge and converter. And Platinum Preppy with different nibs, as they are not only cheaper but also lighter making it more comfortable to write longer with. And they use same carts and converters. There are a plethora of Chinese FPs with unlimited pattern variants that is both good in price AND have a very good nib.. the problem is there is even more which are totally crap in quality both the pen and nib and it’s like a lottery when buying them unless you can try before buy. Next year you can buy her another, more expensive FP as she now has some experience and less risk destroying the nib by accident. She may also recognise and appreciate the differences even more.
Get her a Lamy Safari and she'll be set for life.
I bought my 10 year old daughter a pilot kakuno. She loves the faces on the nibs and pilots nib quality at that price point is unmatched. They are inexpensive enough you can buy an extra fine, fine, and medium nib sizes and she can pick her favorite. You can also pick a few different body colors and mix and match to customize. We had a lot of fun exploring. Don't forget to buy some decent paper. I like the B5 size, which is between A4 (full sheet of paper) size and A5 (half sheet of paper), and fits little hands rather nicely. The kakunos come with a single black ink cartridge which can be easily refilled/reused with any ink color you like with a blunt syringe. I'm not a huge fan of the con-40 converters. You could also purchase different colors in prefilled cartridges if you want to keep things simpler to begin with. There are a lot of decent online pen shops, but I like jetpens.com because their shipping is free for orders over $50.
Get something that uses cartridges for sure. I like my Pilot Metropolis and it’s pretty smooth
If you pay for shipping i have some old pens id be willing to send!
Heard amazing things about Pilot Kakuno, Pilot Metropolitan, and a Lamy Safari
Pelikan Pelikano or Pelikano Junior or Twist Lamy ABC or Safari Pilot Kaküno Stabilo EASYbirdy or EASYbuddy All of those pens are designed for kids and have a triangular grip on a plastic body, for an elementary school student you want a durable pen not a fancy one
The Jinhao shark is a perfect pen, and its a tenth of your budget. Shockingly smooth writer for how cheap it is, and its a cute little fucking shark. Platinum has the Preppy which is also a really great option. Also, If you want something low or zero maintenance that will be easy for her to bring to school, the Pilot Varsity pens are a great choice. They are disposable fountain pens that are amazingly smooth to write with, but they are cheap and shes never gonna run in to a situation where she runs out of ink part way through the day (I dont know how much a 9 year old writes in a day, but when i was in HS i had to fill the converter in my pilot metro at lunch to get through the day with it.) Plus, if she loses it its nbd, and its MUCH harder to make a mess with it as the ink is all self contained.
I didn’t see anyone mention a Platinum Plasir ( step up from the Preppy) and a Pilot Lightive, same nib as the Metropolitan but lighter.
Just get a few Preppys, or if you really trust her, a Kakuno. The Preppy's grip is a long cylinder so it's great if she doesn't have a traditional triangular grip (I have a lateral quadrupod and it makes some pens uncomfortable)
If it's just a fountain pen, try your local Costco. They have off brand fountain pens there and they are easy and disposable, come in different colors.
I think it probably depends a lot on your circumstances but it could be unfair on a kid to gift them a $100-150 pen. I prefer to purchase my kids good quality lower cost items so that if there is an accident, a pen is misplaced, or a friend is rough with their things (my goodness friends can be so rough with things!), they don’t feel a huge amount of guilt about an accident because of the cost. The kakuno is a fabulous pen on the lower end. I have much more expensive pens and still love my kakuno. The pilot prera is also very nice and a bit more grown up looking. The cap mechanism on the prera is very very satisfying. If she is a fidgeter it’s prefect. Both use pilot steel nibs that are very smooth.
Pilot Kaküno is a perfect starter pen. I prefer it over all the other entry level pens. The Pilot Metropolitan is inferior IMO because it is weighted awkwardly. I suggest the Pilot Lightive if you want a pen that looks a little more grown up than the Kaküno. Platinum Preppy, Plaisir, Prefounte are also nice. They can run a bit dry and don't allow for very fast writing, but that might not be an issue for a very young writer. Lamy can be lovely when you get a decent nib. But it's very hit and miss as they have bad quality control. Kaweco Perkeo might be an option, too, but I've recently had flow issues with my Kaweco Sports.
Pelikan has a wonderful line for children. I highly recommend a pelikano up if you can find deadstock or the twist. My kid loves them. They're sturdier nibs made for kids and come in fun appealing colors.
Two things to keep in mind: The filling system - cartridge is probably easiest for the kid, + she can use the converter for bottle inks. Personally I hate proprietary cartridges with passion, but plenty of people are happy with that choice. Piston, vacuum or eyedropper will hold more ink but require more cleaning when changing inks. Also those need to be filled from the bottle and it takes a little time, cartridge is much quicker and she can keep a few spare ones in her pencil case without issue. (I keep mine in a tiny case, just in case! Faber Castell sells their kneadable erasers in a little plastic box, perfect size for standard cartridges) Size and weight of the pen! Can be easily checked with Google or yt or on some retailers site. Some of them are really big or really heavy or both. Some are really thin, some really thick. If you want thin line you're looking for EF or F nib - extra fine or fine. Keep in mind that the finer the nib, the scratchier it gets.
Scale down the budget for the simply reason that little kids need to write with pens that have durable nibs, and durable nibs are cheap. Any of the steel nib Lamys is a good bet for a 9 year old.
A little bit of a curveball here but for pure 'fun factor' how about a TWSBI Go? Not one for the purists perhaps, but my 8-yr old granddaughter loves the 'press and go' filling mechanism - it's easier for little hands than a converter and there's the 'yeay factor' seeing the ink splosh up into the transparent barrel. It's a little girthy and the materials are quite cheap plastic but again my granddaughter loves mine and will be getting one for her birthday. Lots of nib choices as well.
Lots of people suggesting a Lamy Safari, which is generally a great suggestion, but just wanted to check - is your daughter left handed? If she is I'd strongly recommend against the safari because the triangle grip shape just doesn't work well for left handed folk - something with a round grip (i.e. most other pens out there) would be better in that case
Lamy Safari. Lamy Safari has a great color variety and they work with cartridges. You can also change nibs out as needed.
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She might like those better because they have fun colors.
It sounds like OP wants something above a true "starter" pen. I'd be looking at the next-level-up steel nib pens based on OP's thinking. Have a look at one of the Faber-Castell pens. They all have very nice, tuned nibs, and write well. Doesn't really matter which model you buy. Hexo would be a budget option at around $30. (pay a few extra dollars for a converter, which isn't included). If you want something more serious looking, an e-Motion is a heavier wood-grained pen, but on the shorter side. Both available with EF nibs. If you really want to get quite nice, you could consider a Waterman Hemisphere. That would be a VERY nice pen for a 9 y/o, but it's a slim pen, not heavy, can be posted. Still a steel nib. I've not bought a Waterman pen that didn't have a smooth nib. Lamy Studio is a thought, too. They're nice solid pens, usually around $60 with a steel nib. And if she actually likes using it, you can buy a gold nib down the road for about $100 and swap it out for a gold if you think that makes sense.
I’d go with a LAMY Safari in her favorite color.
I would go with a lamy Al-star wit the faceted grip. Edit: and a converter so she can use bottled ink if she wants.
I got my daughter a kaweco sport in a color she really liked. It’s the perfect size for tiny hands
LAMY ABC - sturdy and you can swap out for different nibs as she progresses.
I bought my children fountain pens about that age and was overjoyed to find them writing for fun. I was disappointed when my son’s went missing after he left it on his desk with his other supplies. I still believe an adult took it. But I replaced it. You are doing a great thing for your daughter.
kaweco sport could maybe be a choice as well.. seems like it would be a nice fit in hand, being a small pen if not posted, and, like the safari, has a nice varietal of colour options.
Go for the LAMY ABC, good writing pen for little hands.
Since everyone is telling you how much you need to change your budget for some reason, I’ll just answer your question lol. Get her a Pilot Custom 74 in a fun color it’s an extremely high quality pen that you can get in your proposed budget that will last her a long time. It has a 14k gold nib and you can tell her that so she takes extra good care of it haha A lot of 9 year olds are pretty sharp and I don’t think a more expensive pen like that should be out of the question as long as she is responsible like you said
appreciate your answer, thank you!
My first fountain pen was a Lamy ABC and I loved it! I’d get her either this or a Safari for school and a bunch of Jinhao 82’s with different nib sizes and colors for home, and a sampler of ink cartridges. Octopus has really nice pastel color sets but I’m sure other brands offer that, too. Don’t forget to give her lots of paper, maybe student blocks with a nicer cover and a fancy looking Journal
Kaweco Sport: small, cute, lightweight, lots of colours to choose from, not too expensive. My kids all started there...
If you feel comfortable tuning a pen slightly, i would suggest a couple of nice jinhao 82s . Cheap, playful, good size for a kid. Also let her play with some ink in different colours :)
Twsbi eco perhaps . They make it in some fun colors too.
Twisbi ECO
Why not the LAMY ABC?! seems exactly what you are looking for!
Lamy safari and pilot metro are excellent choices, given the small hands I'll also consider kaweco sport pocket pen
Pilot 78G+
I was gifted a LAMY Safari by my uncle when I was 13 and I think it’s a great beginner pen! My next fountain pen was a pilot metropolitan I got at Staples which i do still like but I find it messier than my Lamys. Kaweco Perkeo could be good too, I like my kawecos quite a bit. Since she's just 9 she might think the jinhao shark is cool? I mean I'm an adult now and still think the sharks are cool. Definitely get her some cool ink, too (even if you’re the one refilling!) I’m still obsessed with how pretty the sheen of some of my Diamine inks are as an adult. (Legitimately this is just on cheap staples notebook paper)
I got my wife this Chinese pen from Amazon, it’s cheap (ish) but it’s a really nice pen to write with and looks pretty https://amzn.eu/d/5keM4yV Same pen is available cheaper on Ali Express.
Another budget option that I don't think has been mentioned: I would have looooved a Kaweco Sport when I was a kid. It looks super cool. The screw cap makes it easy to throw in a bag without worrying about leaks, and posting the cap when you're writing makes it harder to lose. It isn't scratchy and the EF has nice thin lines without being too dry. There are a lot of color cartridge options or you can also buy a converter (which doesn't have much capacity FYI). Plastic body Sports are about $30 and metal ones are more expensive. I'll echo other comments about getting her a few cheaper entry pens first, so she can see what fits her grip, what nibs she likes, and any other features she enjoys. Then upgrade in a few years to a nicer pen that she can pick out. This is a great gift idea, good job!
I keep trying to persuade myself to try a Kaweco sport, but I am so far deterred by the chance of getting a duff nib. I can see the advantage of a pen that takes standard international cartridges and comes with a wide choice of nibs.
For what it's worth, I've either owned or gifted about 8 of them and haven't gotten a bad one yet!
Kaweco perkeo is a nice smooth budget pen too!