introducing a new addition: kaweco al sport in rose gold, extra fine nib

The Kaweco AL Sport in Rose Gold was originally a Hong Kong and Taiwan exclusive. It was sold in their Eslite stores; a store that specialises in books and stationery and one I always visit whenever I am in Hong Kong. When they announced that this pen would be released worldwide, I knew it was one that had to be added to my collection. It isn't my first Kaweco; my first one being a Skyline in mint.

First Impressions

This pen is a lovely rose gold in colour and my first impression was one of awe. The aluminium finish definitely plays more to my taste than the plastic Skyline Sport. And as a magpie to anything rose gold, the initial flutter in my stomach when I saw it was a good sign.

Design

As said before, the colour is definitely to my taste. The aluminium finish is one I have got used to with my Lamy Al-Star. The extra weight, compared to the plastic Skyline, actually makes it easier to hold and feels more balanced in hand. The facets on the lid break up the simplistic design and the pocket nature of the pen means it can be taken anywhere and everywhere.

There is no pen clip that comes with the pen so I had to order my own for it. However, even without a pen clip, this is not a pen that will roll off the table because of the faceted design.

Usability 

As said before, though made of aluminium, it still feels balanced in hand. Because of this, hand cramp does not occur often as a firm grip is not needed when writing. The pocket pen is made a bit longer when capped so for this reason, I would highly encourage you use it with the cap posted.

The pen either takes a cartridge or a converter made especially for this pen. Neither hold very much ink so for those in jobs with a lot of writing or those who like longer writing sessions, you might want to choose another workhorse pen for that.

Other than that, a pen that will likely please all and disappoint very few in how nice it feels in hand.

Nib and Writing

I chose the extra fine nib (predictably) and it wrote well straight out of the tin. No hard starts, no baby's bottom and no scratchiness. I was impressed as I initially had issues with my Skyline Sport's nib when I first got it. It writes well with no skipping, even with rapid note taking.

Price

At £58 from Pure Pens (not an advertised or an affiliate link; just a very happy customer time and time again), it falls more into the mid-range category than any other. It is for the seasoned user rather than the beginner but I think it is priced as such.

Conclusion

The Kaweco AL Sport will make a good workhorse pen for those with smaller hands (I think it would be too small for someone with larger hands). It definitely feels more premium than the Skyline but you would expect that with the price you're paying.

Having used this pen for a few months now (I purchased it back at the end of July when it became available on Pure Pens), I can definitely say that it is a delightful pen to use. The design cheers me up and the ease of use means that I am often reaching for this pen at home when studying.

The relatively small amount of ink it holds is problematic and is one reason why it doesn't often come to work with me. Nothing more frustrating than running out of ink mid-shift!

That said, this pen is still worthy of staying a part of my collection (...for now. I'll be the first to admit I'm quite fickle at times!) and is a pen I would recommend to anyone wanting a step up from a basic fountain pen but wanted something a bit more durable. It is the perfect pen for any handbag or pocket and is one that will appeal to the majority.