15030 December 25th Flex

The flex nib on this one gives me line variation I didn't know I could get from a pen this affordable, and the red-tinted resin is festive without being gaudy. It's a touch wetter than I prefer, but that's what makes the shading pop on Tomoe River paper.

The piston filler draws up a ton of ink, which is great because this flex nib guzzles it down when you push for those thick downstrokes. Took a little fiddling to get the flow just right, but once it's set, the line variation is genuinely wild for the price.

The flex nib gives such dramatic line variation that my everyday handwriting suddenly looks like calligraphy, and the red resin is a fun pop of holiday color on my desk. It takes a little practice to control the pressure, but once you get the hang of it, it's a joy to write with.