Faber-Castell Loom Fountain Pen Review

The Faber-Castell Loom is a great “next-level” fountain pen. I call it “next-level,” as it’s priced in the forty-dollar range, a cost slightly beyond that which starters are typically willing to pay. I picked it up a couple of years ago on one our trips to Kansas City. As Don Whitney mentioned in my recent interview, Kansas City’s Crown Center has a fantastic local pen shop called “Pen Place.” I realize most of my links here take you to Amazon or eBay, but a few shops like Pen Place still exist. If you can, certainly give them your business. They’re disappearing fast, but they’re wonderful, and they’re worth a visit during travel, or your regular patronage if you live nearby. You can actually try out pens before you purchase them. Knowledgeable salespeople are there to answer questions. Crown Center (and KC) is fun. Stop in when you visit Kansas City, MISSOURI. Back to the point, I opted for the Loom with an orange cap, and I love it.

Packaging and Presentation

I’m typically not that concerned with how the pen is packaged or shipped. I tend to throw them away, or, if slightly nicer than normal, toss them in a drawer. The Loom comes in a nice, cardboard box, with a slide-out insert. Nothing special. A cartridge, and not a converter, is included.

Appearance and Build

This is an impressive writing instrument for $45 or so bucks. It features a sturdy, aluminum barrel. The grip, along with the cap, appear to be plastic, although they’re made to look like aluminum. They flow seamlessly with each other. The clip, along with other accents on the cap, are polished, matching the steel nib. This is a fairly fancy, impressive-looking pen.

Nib and Filling System

The steel fine nib on mine is extremely smooth. I’ve heard that Faber-Castell’s steel nibs are better than most made of gold. That may be an overstatement, but this one is certainly quite good. It glides across the paper with a hint of feedback. It rarely hard starts. It’s reliable. This is a typical cartridge/converter pen that fits the Standard International size for both.

Feel and Experience

The Loom is a pleasure to use. The pen has a nice heft to it. The grip features a series of five rings that allow even sweaty fingers to hold on tightly. The cap posts well and boasts a satisfying click. I really enjoy this pen and would recommend it highly. I hope to add another Faber-Castell fountain pen to my collection in the not-so-distant future.

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