TWSBI Diamond Mini Fountain Pen - Demonstrator

I bought this pen with a broad nib and it writes very smoothly. I've filled it with quite a few different inks, mostly Noodler's, and the results are the same - a nice wet line and a really smooth writing experience. The only reason that I didn't give it 5 stars is because it will occasionally burp ink mid word. The nib will also leak ink into the cap from time to time. It's a bit of a diva but it is still a great pen and I would definitely buy it again.

I bought the full sized 580 about a year ago in the blue aluminum finish and have loved it every single day, as it writes a lot of notes for university lectures. I felt like switching it up a bit, and decided to add the mini into my collection. It fit the role perfectly. I chose the EF nib offering, and man is it ever smooth. The pen not only feels like a quality built product, it writes better than any EF nib I have ever tried. If you are considering adding the mini to your collection, it is perfect. When the cap is posted, it is almost the exact same size as the full size pen which can not be posted comfortably. So reall, in use it is a full sized pen!

I'm a big fan of demonstrators and I love the way this pen looks. It holds a decent amount of ink and is very easy to fill. The pen writes quite smoothly (med. nib), but it dries out quickly when uncapped during a pause in writing. This makes it less than ideal for taking notes during a meeting because you'll be faced with hard starts each time you pause for a few seconds. The only option is to recap it (inconvenient, especially with a screw-on cap) or to press the nib firmly to re-start the ink flow. I don't think the ink (Noodler's 54th Mass.) is to blame because I haven't had the same issue with any of my other pens. Maybe it's a bad nib. I do like the size of the pen and, despite the hard starts, I prefer it to the Kaweco Sport.

Tried the standard size diamond and the vac model in-store and went with the Mini. Very happy with the decision. It writes as smoothly as my Parker 51, the piston mechanism is a pleasure to use and it is the perfect length with the cap posted.

A big difference compared to the Vac model is the pen tapers nicely towards the nib rather than having a large instep like the Vac. I am not sure if anyone actually appreciates the instep but to me this model is much better from a tactile perspective.

I did not go with the standard size Diamond because there are no threads to post the cap on that model - have to hold it in the hand or put it down somewhere. The back of the Mini is threaded for the cap and due to the pen's size the cap can be removed, posted, and recapped with one hand.

At this price it would be hard to beat this pen. As a daily user it's a good balance between quality writing and price - if you lose it you can buy another one.

I waffled a bit between this and the Vac 700. Okay, I waffled for months. There, now we're being honest. I chose the Mini mostly because it posts (comfortably) and I planned on taking this pen with me everywhere.

Man, am I glad I chose the Mini! It is the perfect size in every way. It even fits in the shallow pants pockets we women are doomed to endure.

The pen has good balance posted or unposted. It's just long enough to sit well in the hand unposted for quick notes. It's a dream to write with. I've not had any issues with hard starting or a scratchy nib (EF). Barrel size is great. The piston mechanism is smooth. Pen material feels sturdy. There is good heft. As long as you don't treat this as a $10 metal bodied pen, I can see it lasting a very long time.