Fountain pens keep getting more expensive, but Ellington Pens prove that they don’t have to. How good of a deal are they?
I keep seeing more news about certain pen makers jacking up prices left and right. It’s made me even more glad to have found Ellington Pens. They have sent me a few to check out over the last year, and I’m excited to share my thoughts on these pens with you all. Let’s jump right in!
Disclaimer: I am currently an Ellington Pen’s ambassador. They have sent me pens to show off on social media. I am sharing my thoughts on these pens as I see them. Ellington doesn’t see this post until after it’s live and has no input as to the content. If you purchase a pen with my affiliate links or codes (PaST20 at EllingtonPens.com), I may receive a small commission and you get a discount. This is super helpful to the website and my social media content! Unlike Ellington fountain pens, websites are expensive!
The good:
- The nibs are smooth and controllable
- Always a generously juicy feed
- Pretty finishes, beautiful color options
- Nice weight
- Cap seal is excellent
- Come with converters
- Enough options to cover nearly every preference
The less good:
- Not a fan of the pointy ended clip
- Grip sections can get a little slippery during long writing sessions
- Not a ton of different pen shapes/designs yet
Ellington Pens — Many options, a few designs
When it comes to options, Ellington Pens has a lot of the basics covered. Most standard nib sizes are available in most of the fountain pens. There are rollerball, ballpoint, and even mechanical pencil variations of the main pen design available. They have even branched out into some wood bodied pens and translucent pens of a different design now. There are tons of colors and finish variations available as well. From the matte black Stealth, to the beautiful Urban Hunter, to the shiny Silver Sonata, there are plenty to choose from.
However, there are only a few different designs of the pens themselves. Most of the pens are the same body. The exceptions are the wooden and translucent pens. Those have their own, different variant designs. I’m still not sure if I think this is a pro or a con. If you like the pen, it gives you a wonderful opportunity to get different colors and nib sizes or a ballpoint/rollerball, etc in your favorite pen. It also lets you mix and match parts pretty freely. However, if you like trying a bunch of different types of pen design, Ellington Pens are a little limited currently.
Overall, I think it’s a solid strategy. Replacement nibs can be purchased and mixed and matched. I love that the fude/bent nib is even available on its own. Also, most all of the replacement nibs are available in different finishes to match different pens. If you want to create your own color combos by swapping caps around your different pens, you can.
Ellington Pens — Build Quality
The build of every Ellington Pen I have used so far, has been awesome. I have a total of four pens between the ones Ellington has sent, I bought myself, or was gifted from family members. Two are standard fountain pens, one is a full calligraphy set, and the other is a ballpoint pen. Every one of them has been solid. The caps seal perfectly on the fountain pens. The twist action on the ballpoint is smooth. Using a converter on the fountain pens is as simple as pushing the included one in and filling it up.
So far the only gripes I have are pretty minimal. The grip sections are all a fairly glossy finish. Normally this doesn’t bother me. However, when it is hot or I’m really using a pen for a while, the section can get a little slippery. Also, I wish that the clip ended in a bit more of a blunt fashion. The point of the clips on Ellington pens are all a bit sharp and spiky for my tastes.
I’m glad to say that the nice finishes do seem to be holding up well. The Silver Sonata calligraphy set is my oldest and most used Ellington pen. I have had it for about four months as of writing this (Jan 2026). The finish on it is holding up wonderfully. All the threads are still perfect. I have swapped nibs out multiple times, no problem. If the pens continue to work this well into the future, I’ll be a happy camper!
Ellington Pens — Usability
Of course the most important thing with tools like pens is that they work well. Ellington Pens do deliver on that front as well. Right off the bat, these pens impressed me with how juicy and smoothly they write. I pulled every single one right out of the box, slapped ink in them, and went straight to paper with no problems. As a lefty, I have had trouble with some other pens being too dry (particularly with stub nibs) for my overhanded writing style. The Ellington pens were able to keep up even with the large 2.5mm stub from the calligraphy set!
Usability across different pen types
Speaking of the calligraphy set, I have really enjoyed using the Fude/bent nib on mine. It’s perfect for playing with lettering. I also enjoy using it as I learn to draw and sketch. It can lay down some fat, bold ink lines when used at a shallow angle. It also lays down a quite fine line when at a steep angle to the paper. I still can’t believe how smooth it is to write with. This is a super versatile nib on its own, but the calligraphy set comes with several stub sizes and a medium nib. If you want to get into fountain pens and try a lot of styles out, this is a great way to do it.
Lastly, I received one of the ballpoint pens as a Christmas gift from a family member. I wanted it for use at work or in my field notebooks that aren’t up to fountain pen ink. These pens are very similar to the fountain pens, but use a Parker G2 style refill. Ellington includes a blue and black refill in the box. The refills in mine are good quality. I find the ballpoint to be a smooth writer, too. They would make an awesome gift to someone less interested in fountain pens!
A good deal in an expensive time
Overall, I am quite happy with my Ellington Pens writing instruments. I have enjoyed journaling with them, practicing artistic lettering, and even learning to sketch and draw with them. While some of the big brands are raising their prices, Ellington currently has sales going. While I wouldn’t necessarily put one of these pens up against a Montblanc or Namiki, I also couldn’t buy one of those for less than $50.
I’m happy Ellington Pens reached out to me and that I get to share these pens with you all. I feel like promoting the affordable end of fountain pens is important. You can have a lot of fun and enjoyment with pens like these. They work well for beginners, and a master pen-person or artist can make them do amazing things. In the end, my opinion is that if one of these pens appeals to your tastes, I don’t think you’d regret picking one up!