Pilot pens are renowned throughout the fountain pen community for their smooth and consistent nibs, and that goes for the steel nib pens just as much as the gold nib ones. I've written a lot about gold-nib Pilots, but the Kaküno, Explorer, MR (Metropolitan), and Prera are excellent choices, too, especially if you're new to the world of fountain pens or want a reliable everyday companion to bring with you to work or school. They also make great gifts and are a wonderful way to "penable" a friend or loved one and introduce them to fountain pen writing.
All four models share the same kind of nib, so they are all superb writers, but they each have a unique personality, with a different aesthetic, feel in the hand, features, and die-hard fans. They range in retail price from approximately $15 to $80, and you will often find them on sale. If you've ever wondered what each offers and how they compare, I've got all the details for you!
Kaküno
The Pilot Kaküno (meaning "to write" in Japanese) is the most inexpensive of the four, and was designed for children or for adults who can use a little extra joy and whimsy in their lives. Although I've been into fountain pens since November, 2018, and have a very nice collection at this point, I didn't get my first Kaküno until a friend gave me one this spring. My friend thought I might find it a little silly or beneath me, but actually I fell in love with the Kaküno right away, and it became one of my go-to pens when I'm at work or out for the afternoon. I reach for it all the time because it's so comfortable, is such a great writer, and it just feels friendly in my hand. No, my Kaküno isn't fancy or beautiful, but it's cute and makes me happy.
My Kaküno is an older color that has been discontinued, but, like all Kakünos, it features a fun surprise under the cap: its classic Pilot steel nib is engraved with a smiley face! To be honest, I don't really care one way or another about the face on the nib, and I usually don't pay a lot of attention to it. The pen itself makes me smile, even without the special nib. But, the smiley face isn't just there to be cute. Kaküno's smiley nib is a feature designed to teach young or inexperienced fountain pen users to make sure the flat part of the nib is facing up when they write. Seeing the cheerful and encouraging smiley looking up at them helps them know they are consistently holding the nib in the right direction. I love that even the name Kaküno itself includes a smiley face, on the "ü"! This is just a stylistic element for the name, not meant to be pronounced as an umlaut. Kaküno is pronounced KAH-koo-no.
Kaküno's subtly triangular-shaped ergonomic grip also guides you to hold the pen properly, and this is actually something I personally really appreciate. I have a tendency to turn my pen slightly outward while writing, and Kaküno helps correct for this, so I get better contact between my nib and the paper. Starting with a pen like Kaküno can help teach a new user how to get the best experience from a fountain pen and avoid frustrating mistakes.
To help get newbies off on the right foot, the cleverly designed package also comes with a charming user guide in which Kaküno itself shows you how to enjoy your new pen! The step-by-step instructions, written in English, French, and Spanish, are extremely clear and user-friendly. I wish all beginner pens came with such great directions! The reverse side even has a diagram showing all the parts of the pen.
The Kaküno incorporates some other helpful features, too. The plastic barrel and cap have a hexagonal shape to keep the pen from rolling off your desk, with an additional bump on the cap in case the pen starts to get away from you, plus a groove for easy removal. Again, these features are wonderful for users who are less coordinated or aren't as careful, but they are handy for anyone!
I love the shape of the Kaküno just because of the way it feels when I hold it. The faceted cap and barrel feel nice when I turn the pen lightly between my thumb and fingers, as does the juxtaposition between the smooth flat surfaces and curves. The light weight (11 grams) makes this pen very comfortable for me to use for long writing sessions, and it's extremely well balanced, both with the cap set aside or posted on the back of the pen, so it's versatile for users with different hand sizes.
Kaküno also works exceptionally well for many left handers, including my brother, who is an overwriter and usually avoids using pens! Because its contoured grip section is so subtle, it is usually comfortable even for people who don't hold their pen with a standard grip and find pronounced triangular grip sections (like those on the Lamy Safari and Pelikan Twist) to be awkward.
[I'm right handed, but I'm holding Kaküno in my left hand for this photo. It's very comfortable for me in either hand.]
Like other Pilot fountain pens, Kaküno comes with one ink cartridge to get you started, and refills with Pilot or Iroshizuku cartridges for ease of use. But, Kaküno has another great feature you might not know about: it can accept both Pilot's CON-40 and large CON-70 converter. The CON-70 converter holds a lot more ink and is easier to fill than CON-40, but doesn't fit in Pilot's shorter and slimmer pens.
As you may have noticed from my photos, there are two different kinds of Kaküno: transparent pens with the same stainless-steel nib all the other pens in this article share, and the new, dreamy Madoromi Collection, which has a milky translucency and introduces a gold-plated version of the stainless-steel nib. Not only does the color look pretty with the translucent material, it's real gold, and the nib writes even more smoothly than the regular one! It's a subtle difference, but definitely noticeable if you compare them one after another. The two nibs have the same line width, as you'll see in my writing sample at the end of this article. The gold-plated nib makes the Kaküno Madoromi about $5 more expensive than the standard kind.
Kaküno's original series featured three different smileys:
- Opaque Grey barrel with colored tops (no longer available) = classic smiley face
- Opaque White barrel with colored tops (no longer available) = winking smiley
- Completely Clear = tongue sticking out smiley
The clear pen, which is the only original Kaküno still available, is the only pen in this article available in Extra-Fine (EF). It also comes in Medium (M).
The newer, transparent "Family Series" (as it is known in Japan) features five faces, so you can pick your favorite or collect them all!
- Translucent Blue = a mustache and tie design (the dad)
- Translucent Coral = a cheerful grin and necklace (the mom)
- Translucent Aqua = the timeless classic smile motif (the brother)
- Translucent Pink = an endearing grin and bow (the sister)
- Translucent Green (looks more like yellow!) = a cute pacifier face (the baby)
This series comes in Fine (F) and Medium (M). Not only are the transparent pens pretty, many fountain pen users love seeing the inner workings of their pens.
All the transparent Kakünos retail for only $15, so they are fun to collect and a perfect introductory fountain pen!
While borrowing my friend Leila's Clear, Aqua, and Coral pens, I discovered another cool advantage: if you use Iroshizuku cartridges, like she does, you can easily remember what ink you have in each pen, as the cartridges have the ink name written on them and you can read it through the barrel! Whether you use a cartridge or converter, the transparent barrels also allow you to see how much ink is remaining.
The pens in the newly released Madoromi Collection are each inspired by the Japanese concept of Madoromi, "the gentle, tranquil state between wakefulness and sleep." How lovely! I affectionately refer to them as the "Sleepytime Kakünos."
The Kaküno Madoromi are available in five serene colors, all of which have the classic smiley and are offered with either a Fine or Medium gold-plated steel nib:
The fountain pen community is wild about these new, soft colors, which have a relaxing and luminous look, and I've been waiting very impatiently for them to be released to the US market! Now that we finally have them at Pen Boutique, staff and customers alike are mooning over the lovely shades and trying to pick a favorite, which is very difficult. The Rosy Dusk is definitely extremely popular, and I love that the color changes a little in sunlight to become more peachy. It's so pretty! Many people see the fascinating Nimbus Gray as being a soft mauve and choose it because they love purple. I don't see the purple tones, but everyone's perception of color is a little different, and I love discussing this shade with others in the store. Cumulus White makes me feel like lying back daydreaming shapes into the clouds, and Twilight Periwinkle is like the twinkling blue of a friend's eyes. I think I have my eye on Azure Sky, the color of a perfect relaxing afternoon, but it's so hard to choose.
As the Madoromi material is translucent, your converter or cartridge will show faintly through the barrel, but the pens have a milky white grip section and white liner in the upper cap (covering the nib), so, if seeing your ink inside your grip section or cap bothers you, that won't happen with these pens. I'm personally not into demonstrator pens, so I appreciate that!
I truly believe that Kakünos are the perfect first fountain pen, and, since I got mine, I have been constantly recommending them to new users in the store and to customers who are looking for a gift to get a young person started. I love to let them try mine if I have it with me, and they are astonished by how smoothly it writes and how comfortable it is. Once they hear the prices, they almost always buy one!
Explorer
The name "Explorer" has multiple meanings: it's an excellent introduction when you are just starting to explore the world of fountain pens, and its lightweight but sturdy resin construction makes it perfect for tossing in a bag or pocket when you're out exploring the world, because it doesn't weigh you down. This lightness inspired the name it goes by in the Japanese market: the "Lightive."
The Explorer is a great alternative for fountain users who want a less whimsical-looking writing instrument than Kaküno, but find the brass MR/Metropolitan too heavy or not comfortable for their grip. The Explorer is 6 grams, so it's even lighter than the Kakuno (11 grams) and much lighter than the MR (27 grams). It's priced in between Kaküno and MR.
I often find customers who aren't crazy about Lamy Safari's unconventional-looking clip, or don't like its triangular grip section, love the Explorer as a more traditional alternative in the same price range. The Safari is a very good pen, but it's not to everyone's taste, so it's wonderful to have choices!
Speaking of grip sections, one reason die-hard Explorer fans love this pen is the extremely comfortable grip section, which is designed to be slightly grippy so your fingers won't slip. It's made from the same material as MR's grip section, but is longer and has a much more gradual transition, so it's a hit with people who find the metal step between MR's section and body uncomfortable. The MR's grip section has never bothered me, but I know it is a problem for some people, and I appreciate that each of these four pens has a completely different form factor so people with strong preferences can choose the one that's right for them!
Explorer's grip section also has a transparent lower section to add visual interest, a design choice that makes it more dynamic looking. This area doesn't get inky on the inside, so it stays nice and clean and just looks kind of cool. I also really like the little round indentation on Explorer's cap, which reminds me of the round window on a spacecraft. These two details give the pen a space age feel, and I always thought the newer metallic and white models looked like little space capsules!
Another big reason to love the Explorer is that, like Kaküno, it can accept both Pilot's CON-40 and large CON-70 converters as an alternative to Pilot's cartridges. CON-70 is the highest-capacity converter we sell, and features a unique push-button vacuum-filling mechanism. It's easy to use and holds about twice as much ink as the CON-40, and even more than a Pilot cartridge.
Pilot's Explorer pamphlet also describes the pen as being "highly airtight," and shows a face-off between the Explorer and a "Company A" brand pen, in which both pens were left to sit unused with their caps on for a month. Only 1.7% of the Explorer's ink evaporated, while the Company A pen lost 9.1% of its ink. I have no idea what company Company A is, but a 1.7% evaporation rate sounds pretty good!
Explorer is a pen I hadn't explored (ha ha) as much until I started writing this article, as I don't own one yet, but it's actually a lot more interesting that I realized! I really enjoyed writing with the tester pen I borrowed from the store and found the weight, balance, and shape very comfortable. The snap cap posts securely on the back of the pen, and the barrel is also a nice length for writing with the cap set aside, if you prefer not to post your pens.
When it comes to colors, this model is in a state of transition as I write, and I will update it with new photos in the future. Most of the current Explorer colors are being discontinued to make way for new finishes, so we will only have them until Pilot's supplies run out. If you like any of the brightly colored or metallic colors, grab yours while they are still around! Of the current Explorer colors, only Matte Black and Demonstrator Clear will remain.
The original six Explorers, which launched in October 2018, were Gray, Red, Lime, Blue, Pink, and Turquoise, and I love how vibrant those colors are. In August, 2021, Matte Black, Demonstrator Clear, White, Copper, Gold and Silver joined for a space-y looking update. All colors come in Fine and Medium.
[Pictured: Pink, White, Turquoise, Lime, Red, Matte Black, Demonstrator Clear, Gray, Copper, Gold, and Silver. Blue was out of stock when I took the photo!]
There are definitely some pretty cool colors in this lineup, so it's kind of sad that we will be losing them soon. But, in early 2026, we will receive the new colors: Coral Matte, White Matte, Navy Matte, Turquoise Matte. I really like the finish on the Matte Black Explorer, so I think this is exciting news!
MR Metropolitan, Retro Pop, and Animal
The pens in the Pilot MR Collection, commonly known as Pilot Metropolitans, are sturdy and streamlined, with a brass barrel, contrasting polished stainless steel accents, and ergonomic black plastic grip section designed to be slightly grippy so your fingers won't slip. Their nearly symmetrical shape looks modern and almost futuristic, but also timeless. As the "Metropolitan" name implies, they have a sophisticated and urbane vibe, with a sleek minimalism that's very versatile. The MR's neutral and classic appearance makes it feel a little more serious than most other pens under $50, but, because it's available in bright colors and with fun patterns, it appeals to a more playful audience as well as a conservative one.
Most people in the US refer to the entire group of pens as Metropolitans or Metros, but Metropolitans are technically a subset of the MR Collection, which includes the MR Metropolitan, MR Retro Pop, and MR Animal collections. (In the Japanese market, the name for the MR Collection is Cocoon, and they come in some different colors.)
Pictured left to right above is the complete MR Collection: MR Metropolitans in Plain Black, Plain Gold, Plain Silver, Gold Zig Zag, and Silver Dots; MR Retro Pops in Gray Houndstooth, Green Marble, Orange Flower, Turquoise Dots, Red Wave, and Purple Ellipse; and, MR Animals in White Tiger, Crocodile (black), Leopard (plum), Lizard (bronzy gold), and Python (silver).
MR actually stands for "Mid Range," and, although an MR was many people's first fountain pen (including mine!), the collection is intended to be a little more elevated than a typical beginner pen, and to fill the tier between inexpensive pens (such as the Kakuno and Explorer) and Pilot's most accessible gold nib fountain pens (such as E95s, Vanishing Point, and Custom 74). Although Pilot was able to keep the price low for many years, they are adjusting their MR prices by about $10 on January 1st, 2026 to reflect the significant increases in their business costs, from raw materials to labor.
Store customers who pick up an MR often comment on the nice weight (27 grams), excellent balance, and solid, premium feel. The cap snaps close with a satisfying click, and can post securely on the back of the pen if desired. Most MRs have a matte metallic finish that sparkles slightly when it catches the light. It's a well-built, high-quality design that looks great, stands up to years of use, and, even after the price increase, will still be only a little over $40 at full retail price.
[Featured: Gold Zigzag, Turquoise Dots, and Leopard MRs.]
The three MR Collection subsets each has its own distinct style:
1) The Metropolitan collection, which launched in 2012, are elegant and sophisticated-looking modern classics, available in five styles. The Plain Black Metropolitan pen with matching glossy black band that is featured in these photos is my own pen, which I've owned for seven years. It was my first fountain pen, and it's still in great shape and writes wonderfully! The Plain Gold and Plain Silver pens also have matching glossy bands, while Silver Dots and Gold Zigzag feature bands decorated with a subtle pattern. The plain black version is available with a "calligraphy medium" 1.0 mm stub nib (CM), in addition to the fine (F) and medium (M) options that the others come in.
2) The Retro Pop collection, launched in 2015, was inspired by the vibrant colors, energy, and motifs of the late 1960s and 1970s. The middle bands on these six pens feature a coordinating band with a cool pop art pattern on it. I love the fun designs and nice colors: Orange Flower, Green Marble, Gray Houndstooth, Turquoise Dots, Purple Ellipse, and Red Wave. This whole series is available with the calligraphy (CM) nib, in addition to the fine (F) and medium (M) options.
3) If you want to express your wild side, the Animal collection, launched in 2013, is the one for you! This series has more subdued colors, but features a different exotic animal print on each accent band: Leopard (plum), White Tiger, Lizard (bronzy gold), Python (silver), and Crocodile (black).
The Tiger, pictured below with the Black Metropolitan and Purple Ellipse Metro Pop, has a glossier pearlescent finish that's different from the matte metallic finish on all the other pens. It's subtle but quite attractive! It feels smoother and warmer, like you are touching enamel instead of metal.
[Featured: Plain Black, Purple Ellipse, and White Tiger MRs.]
The MR has a more tapered body than the Kakuno and Explorer, so it uses the smaller CON-40 converter. For greater convenience, you can also just pop in a Pilot or Iroshizuku ink cartridge.
With its classic torpedo shape, Metropolitan resembles many other well-known pens that are much higher priced, such as the Sailor 1911, Esterbrook Estie, Pilot Custom 74, 743 and 823, Diplomat Elox, and Montblanc Meisterstuck. It's a great entry point to the world of more sophisticated fountain pens, and, depending on color choice, wouldn't look out of place in a suit pocket or a young person's pencil case.
Prera
Prera, the most expensive member of Pilot's steel nib family, is one of my all-time most beloved pens and definitely a favorite in the fountain pen community. I got my Soft Blue Prera back in February 2019, and I liked it so much that I bought two more, in Vivid Pink and Slate Gray. I don't usually collect different variations of the same pen, but I just really love my Preras. I have used Prera to write down the most crucial information in the most harrowing of situations, to compose long letters and rambling journal entries, to draw whimsical nature illustrations in the woods and beside the ocean, to scribble notes on the backs of envelopes and on napkins and in a spiral notebook at work. It’s always there for me, through thick and thin.
Although this pen shares the same nib as the MR, Explorer, and Kaküno, it has a more refined look and feel that I find extremely attractive. I love the compact size (about the same as a Pelikan M200, another one of my favorites) and the simultaneously friendly and sophisticated aesthetic. It looks helpful, neat and clean, but not overly serious or boring, and, although it's fairly lightweight at 15 grams (heavier than Kaküno, but much lighter than the MR), it feels like a high-quality, grown-up pen.
Prera's vacuum sealed snap cap, which prevents ink from drying out, is so satisfying to use, and actually has a cult following because it feels so great to slide on and off and click into place. It securely posts, too, allowing this small and portable pen to grow to a size that's very comfortable for smaller to medium-sized hands. The flat ends, shiny silver trim color, great font used for the name, and fantastic color choices all join in to make Prera special.
The Prera officially came to the US market in 2011, with the introduction of seven beautiful demonstrator pens sporting a crystal-clear resin barrel ideal for showcasing your favorite ink colors. Each of the original Preras is accented with an eye-catching, translucent top and bottom finial in one of seven colors: Blue, Pink, Green, Orange, Light Blue, Black, and Red (not pictured).
Although I admire the clear demonstrator Preras, I'm more of an opaque pen person, so when I heard that Pilot was releasing four new opaque Preras this fall, I was thrilled. Empress Teal, Honey Yellow, Porcelain White, and Cinnamon are wonderful additions to the Prera lineup, and officially introduce opaque Preras to the US market for the first time.
I love all the new colors. The teal is a quiet and slightly moody shade, like a restful overcast autumn day, perfect for staying inside and curling up with your cat or dog and a good book. The warm rich brown reminds me of milk chocolate with a dash of cinnamon, or my old friend, my bear, Teddy. My coworker Harsh says, for him, it brings to mind the earthy color of clay pottery. It's a comforting, homey color.
When I saw the stock photos Pilot sent out with their announcement, I didn't think I'd like the white as much as the other colors, but I actually love it in person. It's a softer and friendlier white than I expected, and reminds me of irresistibly delicious whipped cream. The more I look at it, the more attracted I am. It's such a nice shade of white, and looks fresh, clean, and airy, like a Swedish coffeehouse.
The yellow is my favorite, even though I'm not usually a yellow lover. There is just something so warm and joyful about it, without being too bright or cloying. It's a nice, clean, happy yellow, and reminds me of a welcoming kitchen, an egg yolk from a contented and healthy chicken, and late summer or early fall flowers like sunflowers and black-eyed susans.
Pilot says each hue is inspired by "the cozy, nostalgic ambiance of traditional Japanese coffee houses, which evoke warmth, charm, and quiet sophistication." I think they hit the nail on the head. Warmth, charm, and quiet sophistication is exactly what these shades convey.
Preras are available with a Fine or Medium nib, and there are now CM (Calligraphy Medium) nibs available for all of the transparent ones, as well. Prera is too compact to fit the larger CON-70, but can use a CON-40 or Pilot ink cartridges.
Recently on the Fountain Pens subreddit, a user posed the question, "What's your favorite pen and why?" The top answer, which received over 40 upvotes, was "Pilot Prera... due to how it lays down ink, its small size, the satisfying click it makes when placing on the cap and its color. The perfect everyday pen for me." Another user commented, "The capping mechanism is so damn satisfying," and a third added, "Seconding this!! I feel like the [Prera] isn’t talked about enough as a great everyday smaller pen. It feels so good in the hand and the plastic feels surprisingly high quality. The clear plastic ones look so damn cool too. I have it in medium and it feels amazing!! It’s my favourite too tbh." I wasn't surprised. The Prera is mentioned often as a favorite in online fountain pen discussion groups, and the community's affection for this little pen warms my heart.
A Nice Nib
I can't end an article about four pen models that share the same kind of nib without talking a little about how the nib writes, so naturally, I had to sit down with a pen in each of the available nib sizes and compare them. Each and every one of the Pilot stainless steel nibs that I have tried has been smooth out of the box, and they have never let me down. I own a lot of pens with this nib and I love the way it glides over the page.
I carry a Fine fairly often in the store, and it's great when I need to write on low quality paper like a drugstore notebook or sticky notes, or in small spaces such as the grid of a Hobonichi planner. I regularly hand my pen to customers and urge them to try the nib, and they are almost universally impressed by how nice it feels, and ask with amazement, "What ink is this?" It's nothing special... it's the nib that makes it feel so good!
Here's a writing sample of all the nib choices:
The Fine and Medium gold-plated stainless steel nibs newly introduced to the Kaküno Madoromi series have the same line width as the standard Fine and Medium stainless steel nibs, but feel even nicer.
Pilot says the gold-plated stainless-steel nib enhances your writing with:
• A smoother glide across paper for effortless strokes.
• Increased durability and corrosion resistance, ensuring long-lasting performance.
• A more responsive feel, offering warmth and control for an upgraded writing experience.
I can definitely feel the difference, but it's subtle, and it doesn't make me unhappy with my regular stainless-steel nib Pilots. They all write extremely well, and it's hard to go wrong with any of these nibs.
When choosing your Pilot nib size, keep in mind that, because Pilot is a Japanese brand, they will write with a slightly finer line than "western" (European or American) nibs. My suggestion for beginners is a Medium. It's extremely smooth, with an excellent controlled feel, will help you get used to the experience of writing with a fountain pen, and will show off your ink a little more than the Fine nib. If you have small writing or want a more precise line, go for a Fine. I started with Medium nibs but grew to prefer Fines over time.
The only pen that comes in Extra Fine is the clear Kaküno. This is an extremely precise nib and is well-tuned, but feels more scratchy on the paper just because it's so fine. I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner, but it's an excellent nib if you love Extra Fines!
I also wouldn't recommend the CM (Calligraphy Medium) nib to a beginner. This one is available on some of the MRs and Preras (see above for specifics), and is fun to use but can take a little practice to get the hang of. As a stub nib, it features a blunted, squared-off tip for broader vertical strokes and thin horizontal strokes, and is more sensitive to the angle at which you hold your pen, so it can be a little harder to maintain good contact with your paper. Some people are naturals with this nib, while it can be frustrating for others. It offers subtle but very cool line variation and can add a lot of character to your writing! I'm not that great at it, but it's other people's favorite nib!
So, if all these pens share the same nibs, how do you choose? It's really a matter of your own style preferences, what feels most comfortable to you, what you want to use the pen for, and how much you want to spend.
As a little experiment while I was working on this article, I got my brother and mom, neither of whom are regular fountain pen users, to compare all four pens and share their opinions. I had Mediums inked up in all the pens except for the Explorer, which was a Fine.
My mother's favorite pen, aesthetically, was the Prera. She thought it was "beautiful" and very comfortable, and kept admiring how it looked as she wrote with it. Her favorite pen to write with was the Madoromi Kaküno. She immediately noticed that the gold-plated nib felt smoother, even though I didn't tell her there was any difference, or even that they all have the same kind of nib. She liked all four pens and found them all comfortable to use and enjoyable to write with. She also especially liked the fine nib in the Explorer.
My brother, who is left-handed and always chooses pencils over pens, wrote "I hate pens!" to test each one. But, to his surprise, he didn't smudge any of them and immediately liked my Metropolitan. He had very strong opinions about preferring the Metropolitan aesthetically and said it looked much nicer than the other pens and felt better in his hand. He also preferred the way it wrote. (Again, I didn't tell him that all the pens have the same kind of nib.) His least favorite was the Fine nib on the Explorer and he didn't like how light the Explorer felt in his hand.
Some people like lighter pens, and some prefer heavier. Some like larger, while others like smaller. Some want a cute pen, or an elegant pen, or a pen that offers special nibs or certain colors. The nice thing about Pilot's Kaküno, Explorer, MR, and Prera is that they offer so much variety and they are all great pens in their own way, each with their own devotees. And, since they are all fairly inexpensive, many people own more than one. I know I do.
-Laura P.
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