Ensso XS Minimalist Fountain Pen Review

The Ensso XS is a super compact fountain pen that was launched on Kickstarter back in 2018. So compact it seems to have slipped under my review radar. With an exciting new project from Ensso having just completed the funding stage, it is long past time I gave the XS a closer look. Let’s get into it.

The Pen

The XS Pocket Fountain Pen is one of the smallest pens I’ve seen. Until very recently, it was the smallest in my collection. The XS was originally offered aluminum and brass materials, with the former available in multiple finishes including silver, black, and raw. At the time of writing the XS is only be available in a limited edition of natural Ultem, which I personally find incredibly tempting. Ultem material pens have been increasing in popularity recently, which is a trend I don’t see slowing down any time soon.

The XS features a twelve-sided facetted barrel and cap with a smooth grip section. The cap and barrel are straight, with no contours or curves to speak of. At the end of the pen you’ll find a small drop-off that holds a rubber o-ring which in turn holds the cap in place when posted. When capped, the pen tops out at only 95 mm with a maximum diameter of about 10.5 mm. Under the cap you’ll notice another small o-ring that does a good job of holding the cap in place and keeping the #5 Bock nib from drying out. The grip section is smooth and round, with a very slight taper that narrows by about 0.2 mm from back to front.

Sharp-eyed readers may have noticed that I said “when” posted, not “if” posted before. I understand that some pen users are somewhat averse to posting their pens. (Today’s vocab lesson: to “post” a pen means to place the cap on the back of the barrel while writing.) I generally do not post my pens, but in the case of the XS it is actually necessary. Although the pen is quite tiny in its capped state, posting lengthens it to a more usable size of 130 mm.

The XS also features a slim metal clip which, if memory serves, was a late addition to the design during the Kickstarter process. Although the clip may not have been a part of the original design, I think that it improves the overall look and function of the pen. It also functions as a roll-stop, but the facetted shape does a pretty good job of discouraging roll-aways as it is.

The Opinions

I really like the XS Minimalist Pocket Fountain Pen. It’s well-built, easy to use, and uses a standard-sized nib unit. I think the reason it fell off my personal radar is because I simply don’t pocket my fountain pens very often. My pens usually don’t stray too far from my desk space. This was true in 2018, and it has only become more true as I have transitioned to a work-from-home lifestyle. Despite the diminutive size, this pen is quite comfortable to write with. It feels reminiscent of a shortened or sharpened down pencil, particularly when using the extra fine nib that I’ve swapped to. Speaking of nibs, the stock black PVD coated nib is a little sticky on the page. Slightly gummy feeling when writing. While I believe Bock’s nib manufacturing has gotten better over the past few years, this one is not quite satisfactory. Coated nibs can be a little tricky as they have extra material that will wear away over the life of the nib. It’s entirely subjective depending on how and when you use the pen, but mine has worn in such a way that it feels gummy or muddy while writing. Someday I may take some micro mesh to the nib and attempt to even it out, but until then I have plenty of Kaweco nibs that fit right in. If you’re considering an Ultem XS Minimalist Fountain Pen, my recommendation is that you go with a gold-tone or polished steel nib.

One other minor concern is the gradual drying out of the rubber o-ring, specifically the one on the back of the pen. It has held up and served its purpose pretty well over the years, but it is beginning to show some cracks. Soft, flexible rubber tends to do this over time so I can’t really call it a design flaw. More like the cost of doing business. That being said, it does seem to illustrate why most other pen brands I’ve experienced use either threading or friction fitting for their pens that post.

Matters of Scale

Just saying that the Ensso XS is a small pen doesn’t quite paint a full picture. Luckily I have a few other pens standing by, so here are a few comparative measurements, in no particular order.

The XS is slightly longer than the Gravitas Quark when capped, and slightly shorter when posted. The extra length on the Quark comes from its use of the larger #6 Jowo nib, but when closed it is the shortest pen in my collection.

The XS and the Kaweco Sport are about the same length when posted; however, the XS is noticeably shorter when capped.

Compared to full-sized pens like the Twsbi Eco and Lamy Safari, the XS has about the same operating length.

And lastly, the Karas Fountain K Mini (which does not post) is just slightly longer in use than the XS is when capped.

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! And thank you for reading another one of my reviews. Be sure to check out the XS Minimalist Pocket Fountain Pen from Ensso, as well as the rest of their unique product lineup.

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this post were purchased by the author for the purposes of review. All opinions stated are my own. Items photographed on a 1×1 inch grid background.