Fountain Pen: Jinhao 82
- whimsicaleccentric
- Feb 4
- 2 min read
VISUAL
The Jinhao 82 is a small plastic pen that comes in many different colors. It's a very affordable approximation of the Sailor Pro Gear Slim, so it is a great way to see if you like the size and feel of this smallish pen before committing to the more expensive Sailor.
The Jinhao 82 has so many color options. The barrel finial is just friction-fit, while the cap finial is threaded. The fact that these pens are so cheap and the color options are so plentiful makes it fun to mix-and-match parts to make customized combinations.
TACTILE
Given how cheap these pens are, I was pleasantly surprised that the plastic doesn't feel 'dollar store' flimsy. In a blind touch-test I actually thought the Pro Gear Slim was the cheaper one, as it has injection mold lines on the grip.
This pen does feel small in the hand, but not uncomfortably so. The section is decently wide, and while short it is proportional to the pen. My fingers rest slightly on the threads, but the threads are not too sharp.
PRACTICAL
Again, I am always impressed by how well this pen performs for its price. The 5mm Jinhao nib is pretty stiff and was a bit dry out of the box, but it didn't take too long to get it working the way I wanted.
The cap posts securely and posting is absolutely needed to make this pen a comfortable length for me. It's not unusable unposted, but it just feels very short to me.
STATISTICAL
Pen Measurements:
Weight: 19.07g
Weight of Cap: 8.3g
Length Capped: 123mm
Length Uncapped: 110mm
Length Posted: 139mm
Nib: 5mm 'Fine' Steel
Body Style: Classic
Fill Method: Converter
Fill Volume: 0.8ml
Comparison Pens: Pilot Metropolitan, LAMY Safari
OVERALL
Pros:
Affordable and great for penabling people
Fun to customize
Cons:
Smaller size than I prefer
Can be prone to drying out
It's impossible not to compare this to the Sailor Pro Gear Slim. I know with the Sailor, the cost is in the nib, and it shows. Superficially these pens look very similar, but feel very different. Over time, I do notice that I experience fewer hard starts with my Sailor, so I imagine the parts are machined with tighter tolerances. However, I love these colorful Jinhaos for worry-free casual use or for gifting and penabling people.
DISCLAIMER: Pens and inks purchased by myself. Photos and opinions are my own.
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