: Many specialty shops let you test pens with real ink to see how the nib glides across paper.

Fountain pens are deeply tied to calligraphy and sketching. Local, independent art supply shops often carry a surprising array of drawing-focused fountain pens and highly-rated waterproof inks.

These are the gold standards of the pen world. They carry everything from accessible beginner pens to luxury heirlooms, alongside a massive rainbow of bottled inks.