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I Tested Amazon's Most Popular Fountain Pen

Doodlebud

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I bought the most sold & most-reviewed fountain pen on Amazon to find out if it really deserves its 4.5-star rating. After testing it, tuning the nib, and comparing it to several alternatives, my conclusion might surprise you. Is the Hongdian Black Forest overrated, or is there a good reason so many people love it? Let's find out. ✒️

Hongdian Black Forest: https://amzn.to/3SYB4wR
Hongdian Ink: https://amzn.to/4b745wB

Alternative Pens:
Hongdian C1 - https://amzn.to/4w7bgx5
Jinhao 9019 - https://amzn.to/4vuo6pi
Jinhao X159 - https://amzn.to/4eE4tDJ
Jinhao 9016 - https://amzn.to/3QJrEoe
Lamy Safari - https://amzn.to/4xK5SS3
Asvine V126 - https://amzn.to/4eAHjjb

Permanent Ink Options
Platinum Carbon Black - https://amzn.to/4oQxe5a
Monteverde Documental Ink - https://amzn.to/4vsyaPl
De Atramentis Archive Ink - https://amzn.to/4vZ54Ho
Noodlers Black - https://amzn.to/4w5r831

Paper Recommendations
Clairefontaine - https://amzn.to/4vvfcYA
Kokuyo Paper - https://amzn.to/4aedwdw

Want to support my channel without it coming out of your pocket? Use some of the links below next time you're buying any thing on Amazon or other online retailers listed below. Thanks for all the support!
Check out my Amazon Storefront: https://amzn.to/4uRk8GU

Some of my favorite pens:
Majohn Flex Nibbed Pen: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4r...
Jinhao 20: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4s...
Asive P20: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DEY...
Jinhao 9019: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFT...
Jinhao X159: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dkh...
Majohn V60: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_oFa...
Jinhao 82: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdS...
Wingsung 630 (steel): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFH...
Wingsung 630 (14K gold): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBG...
Majohn A1: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DEo...
Hongdian C1: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DeF...
Favorite Pen Case: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mr6...

Probe Lens for close up video: https://amzn.to/3Qcb9kD

Smartwatch you see on my wrist by Kospset Tank M4:
https://amzn.to/48foajo
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3U...

Here's a list of the items I use to inspect, tune, and grind my nibs:
https://www.amazon.ca/shop/doodlebud/...
A great fountain pen:
https://amzn.to/3BCEHgs
Care for some ink?
https://amzn.to/3uzL9kv

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#doodlebud #fountainpen #review

20 Comments

@hiddenhood483 3 months ago

I love how he’s half explaining to beginners and then throws in stuff like “microscope calibration slide”.

@Bex-3D 3 months ago

I love these pens. I have two of them, and I'd gladly buy more. They're reasonably priced, especially for a metal pen.

@rahashi 3 months ago (edited)

I might be lucky, or you might be unlucky, but I have an exceptionally sealing one...
But 3.8 seems fair to me.

@urbanfrog1 3 months ago

I love this pen, I have 4 of them, one for each colour of ink I use. I have a very small hand, and the biggest problem I find is most fountain pens are just too fat, making them rather unwieldy for me. The slimmer line of this one is perfect. I also really like the heavier weight of it.

@animula6908 3 months ago

For people new to fountain pens, this channel has saved me so many wasted dollars and taught me so much about what to look for in the quality of design and manufacture of fountain pens (a lot of it is transferable to other stuff, too).

He knows the way. Listen to his wisdoms!

@danstein2467 3 months ago

Thanks for creating a video for those newer members to our hobby. I’m looking forward to seeing your next video.

@carolemaguire644 3 months ago

I bought this pen about a week age. I wanted an inexpensive way to try a bent point nib. I have really enjoyed writing with this pen! So much so that I've ordered another. The bent point nib is my new favorite.

@judyjacobs5827 3 months ago

Good descriptions of components and function for noobs. Thanks, Doodlebud. I love that you feature pens I actually own, not just those that cost months' income.

@XelsGirl 3 months ago

Oooh, I was hoping you'd review this pen! Happy to see it. Got the green apple ice flower colorway of this pen that released more recent;y, and I like it a lot! No issues with the cap seal on mine and the medium nib was perfect out of the box. It doesn't beat out my favorites, but I enjoy using it when I reach for it!

@lindasue8719 1 month ago (edited)

Of all my pens this is my number one favorite! I had bought the brownish one a few years back, and I just loved the look of the blue one, but I couldn't justify a duplicate. I held out for a couple years and I just had to buy one 😂.

Maybe I'm lucky, but they perform well, look GORGEOUS, and feel so good in the hand🥰.

For me, it's 5⭐ because I can't fault it for anything.

@event1de420 3 months ago

The water vulnerable thing is so real. I spilt a cup of tea on my college book today and the ink basically vanished 3: . The ink was waterman inspired blue

@R.Daneel-Olivaw-8 3 months ago

Oh my! Since some time beside enjoying the great content in your reviews, I found a great joy of turning on the transcription!! What a treat it is every time a surpise! "Doodlebutt here...", "Doodle budy here...", "Doodle bit here...", "Doodling Bud here.." and now even "Dood O'Malley here..."!!! 🤣 Every video with personality !!

@dnewma04 3 months ago

I'd highly recommend the Black Forest Max. I think it resolves almost every concern you had. It's a little thicker, I've gone a month without using it and it wrote perfectly as soon as the cap off. It does add a little weight but I don't find that objectionable.

@AudyRen 3 months ago

I would say that is a fair score.
Also, that 9016 has overthrown the type 82 as the pen that I would just gift to a friend who shows interest in fountain pen.

@cweber9112 3 months ago

I actually use this pen as my daily driver at work. I’ve had it for a few months now, and I like it quite a bit. The nib on mine wasn’t as smooth as my Pilot Metropolitan, but it still writes quite well. I have the fine point version. I also bought a second one with the bent nib, and that one I rarely use. I found the nib to be quite a pain to use, and it causes me to use quite a bit more pressure to get it to write well. The black Forrest is a decent pen, but writes very reliably for me at work. I have smaller hands so the pen’s size is quite nice for me. One thing I will also note is that my pen doesn’t write nearly as wet as your does in the video. I may have to gap the tines as they might be too close together. It writes with a very thin line, and any speed causes the ink to skip.

I agree with your rating. It’s not terrible, but also not 4.5 stars.

@VerhoevenSimon 3 months ago

Thank you for a thorough video on a pen that's popular with/geared towards beginners.
It would be interesting to see you doing a recommendation list, especially given that many lists are outdated and/or ignore other brands such as Asvine.

@jimharper2180 3 months ago (edited)

The pen is an imitation of the Otto Hutt Design 04 and the scrollwork on the nib appears to mimic Sailor nibs.

@SimplyDaval 3 months ago

The Black Forest was my first FP, and perhaps I got lucky, but my M nib is incredibly smooth. It is currently inked with Diamine Writer's Blood and tends to get a bit drier after a week or two. Not sure if it's the property of the ink, or as you mentioned, the sealing issue.

Great video as always!

@doubleuoy9442 3 months ago

I had a similar one for my first one except mine was a jinhao. I fell in love immediately lol

@Dampfmaschiene 1 month ago

5:00 I can recommend Pelikan 4001 Blue-Black because it's basic, completely waterproof and cheap. Just beware that it can corrode your metal parts if you leave it in you pen for too long (we're speaking years).