In a recent Instagram post I alluded to the fact that Twsbi is one of my favorite fountain pen brands. The Eco was one of my first FPs, and the first demonstrator and plunger-filler I ever used. Since then the brand has earned my loyalty with their high quality, low cost product line.
In 2017 Twsbi launched the Eco-T, a slightly triangular version of the Eco that featured a slightly different form factor than the original. The first Eco-T to hit market was clear with a lovely shade of blue on the cap and base. Whether they were just testing the market, or never intended the Eco-T to be a part of the main product catalog, the blue Eco-T quickly sold out. At the time, I was curious about the design, but waited too long to scoop one up. This year, when a new Eco-T Yellowgreen was announced, I decided to jump on it as soon as it became available. While the pen is still available, I must say that I’m glad I got in early.
Let’s take a closer look at the Eco-T, and how it compares to the original.
Design
The Eco-T has more than a few similarities to the original eco; The nib and feed are identical and interchangeable, the pens are both the same length and weight, and they both use the same plunger-fill mechanism in the clear demonstrator barrel. Where the Eco-T diverges from that design is in the cap, grip, and base cap/knob for the filling mechanism. Where the original Eco features a 6-sided faceted design, the Eco-T uses a 3-sided rounded triangular shape that is incredibly ergonomic and visually pleasing.
Under the cap that triangular design comes into play on the grip, giving you a slightly wider but far more comfortable section to grasp while writing. For the sake of comparison it is similar to Lamy’s triangular grip, except all three sides are uniform where Lamy has a rounded underside.
The Nib
I’ve stated before that I really enjoy Twsbi’s stainless steel nibs. Since I already own an EF, a Fine, and a Stub nib from them, I decided to take a chance on variety and order the Eco-T with a medium. The nib is smooth and provides enough feedback to know that you’re writing, and it puts down enough ink to give a little shading without soaking the page. The line width of the Twsbi medium is comparable to Lamy or Kaweco mediums, and the flow is very consistent with no hard starts yet.
Using The Pen
I eyed this pen with a fair amount of skepticism at first. After all, how could they possibly improve on my favorite Eco? Well, it turns out that the designers over at Twsbi really know what they are doing. This triangular grip is really quite comfortable to use, particularly for longer writing sessions. And while I was concerned that the grip would be too thick, it actually fits in the hand very well.
One minor issue I did experience with pen was the small ridge left in the pen cap as a result of the molding/manufacturing process. It’s nothing that takes away from the overall experience of the pen, it’s just noticeable to the hand but invisible to the eye.
Conclusion
It’s no secret that I love Twsbi pens. With the Eco line you get stylish pens that function beautifully and really stand out from other pens in the <$50 price range. I can’t really say that anyone has a “reasonable need” for more than one Twsbi Eco. But if we’re going to start talking about what is and what isn’t “reasonable” this whole is going to fall apart.
If you already have an Eco this pen isn’t going to change your world, but with the Eco-T you do get a whole lot of pen for $29. If you have been on the fence about a new Twsbi, the Eco-T is worth jumping in.
Check out the Yellowgreen Twsbi Eco-T at Goulet Pens.
Disclaimer: The product in this review was purchased by The Poor Penman for the purpose of review and to feed the addiction. All opinions stated are those of the author.
The Poor Penman 