Pilot guides
15 guides to Pilot products, plus 5 roundups that include Pilot. Brand origin: Japan. Made by Pilot Corporation.
Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo: Moonlit Blue Ink Explained
Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuki-yo explained: a dark moonlit blue dye ink in a 50 ml glass bottle, 15–30 s dry time, faint red sheen, low water resistance and origin.
Pilot Juice Up: Synergy Tip, Sizes & LP3RF Refills
Pilot Juice Up gel pen explained: the Synergy Tip, pigment gel ink, 0.3/0.4/0.5 mm sizes, 142.8 mm body, LP3RF refills, Juice Up vs Hi-Tec-C, and origin.
Pilot S20: The Birch-Barrel Drafting Pencil
Pilot S20 wooden mechanical pencil explained: 145.6 mm length, 18 g, resin-impregnated birch barrel, 0.3 and 0.5 mm, colors, price and where it's made.
Pilot Prera: Compact Size, CON-40 & Demonstrators
Pilot Prera fountain pen explained: a compact 120 mm, 15.4 g pen, steel F or M nib, Pilot cartridges or the CON-40, clear demonstrators and new solid colors.
Pilot Custom 74: 14k Gold Nib, CON-70 & Sizes
Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen explained: 14k gold No. 5 nib, CON-70 converter or cartridges, 143 mm and 17.4 g per Pilot, nib widths, the 1992 launch, origin.
Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-peki: Color, Bottle & Dry Time
Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-peki ink explained: a deep cerulean dye ink in a 50 ml glass bottle, low water resistance, 20–25 s dry time, pens it suits, and origin.
Pilot Vanishing Point: Retractable Nib & Converter
Pilot Vanishing Point (Capless) explained: the click-out 18k gold nib, trap door, CON-40 converter and cartridges, 140 mm and about 30 g, nib sizes, and origin.
Pilot Hi-Tec-C: Needle Tips from 0.25 mm Explained
Pilot Hi-Tec-C gel pen explained: 0.25 to 0.5 mm needle tips, LH-20C model codes, biopolymer ink, skipping fixes, G-Tec-C4 name, refills, and where it's made.
Pilot Dr. Grip Mechanical Pencil: Shaker & Fat Grip
Pilot Dr. Grip mechanical pencil explained: the shake-to-advance Fure Fure mechanism, the 14.6 mm double-layer grip, THE Dr. GRIP specs, US models and origin.
Pilot Acroball: Acro Ink, Tip Sizes & BRFV-10 Refills
Pilot Acroball explained: low-viscosity Acro ink, 0.3 to 1.0 mm tips, BRFV-10 refills, how it compares with the Jetstream RT, and where it's made.
Pilot Precise V5: Liquid Ink, Needle Tip & V5 RT
Pilot Precise V5 rollerball explained: 0.5 mm needle tip and line width, liquid ink, V5 vs V7 and V5 RT, refills, smearing and water, and where it's made.
Pilot Kakuno: The Smiley-Nib Beginner Fountain Pen
Pilot Kakuno fountain pen explained: the smiley-face steel nib in EF, F or M, Pilot cartridges and CON-40 converter, 130.9 mm and 11 g, and why it suits kids.
Pilot Metropolitan: Nibs, Converters & Brass Body
Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen explained: F, M and 1.0 mm stub steel nibs, Pilot cartridges and CON-B or CON-40 converter, 138 mm and 26 g, and the Cocoon.
Pilot FriXion Clicker: How Erasable Gel Ink Works
Pilot FriXion Clicker erasable gel pen explained: why the ink vanishes at 60 °C, when it comes back, 0.7 and 1.0 mm sizes, refill numbers and where it's made.
Pilot G2: Tip Sizes, Refills & Ink Colors
Pilot G2 gel pen explained: 0.38/0.5/0.7/1.0 mm tip names, refill codes, ink colors, G2 vs G2 Limited and G2 Pro, smudging, and where it's made.
Best Pens of All Time (2027): 10 Icons Since 1941
The best pens of all time, judged on documented sales, years in production and firsts: BIC Cristal, Parker 51, Jotter, Montblanc 149, Fisher Space Pen and more.
Best Fountain Pens for Beginners (2027): 6 Picks
The best beginner fountain pens compared: Pilot Metropolitan, Platinum Preppy, Pilot Kakuno, LAMY safari, TWSBI ECO & Kaweco Sport. Nibs, filling, size, price.
Best Gel Pens for 2027: G2, EnerGel, Sarasa & More
The best gel pens compared by use: Pilot G2, Pentel EnerGel, Hi-Tec-C, Sharpie S-Gel, FriXion, ZENTO, Signo 207 and Sarasa Clip. Tip sizes, ink, refills, price.
Best Highlighters That Don't Bleed (2027): 7 Compared
Which highlighter doesn't bleed through paper? Seven compared by ink type: gel, pigment and liquid picks for Bibles, pastels, erasing and bulk, with tip sizes.
Best Pens for Left-Handed Writers (2027): 6 Picks
The best pens for left-handed writers compared: Pentel EnerGel, Zebra Sarasa Dry, Jetstream, Acroball, LAMY safari LH and Micron, with dry-time claims and tests