Both the Sailor Pro Gear and Pro Gear Slim are classics of the fountain pen world – and I have already given both of them their appropriate single pen-review treatment (find the ProGear here and the ProGear Slim here).
Since both pens are really quite similar in many ways, and since I got quite many questions about their differences, I thought I shall extend my ‘pen overview-video series’ by just such an overview comparison on these two:
- the Pro Gear vs. the Pro Gear Slim (design, size, feel in hand)
- gold trim vs. silver trim
- the F(ine) 14k gold nib vs. the E(xtra) F(ine) 21k gold nib.
I have done an overview on the Pilot Capless vs. Décimo in a similar fashion – and this format was seemingly quite useful for some people. So here this series continues.
I am already pondering about the next candidate. The Pelikan Souverän series maybe…what do you think?
Before we hop into the review, I would like to take the opportunity to thank Write Here in the UK for supporting this video overview. You can also buy the Sailor Pro Gear pens at their webshop (no affiliate-link, just a friendly pointer).
But now, check out the video-overview below, which is as always preceded by some quick facts. Again, I hope the review is helpful and that you enjoy watching it!
Quick Facts
- Sailor Pro Gear & Pro Gear Slim
- Available in many different colors and finishes
- Cartridge-/converter-filler (Sailor proprietary, converter supplied with the pen)
- Nib: 14k gold (Pro Gear Slim) or 21k gold (Pro Gear), plating depending on trim-color
- Nib-options: Extra Fine (EF), Fine (F), Medium (M), Broad (B) – and a vast amount of specialty nibs such as Zoom, Music, etc. Most speciality nibs are not available on the Slim version, though
- Price: ca. 150 € (Pro Gear Slim) or 300 € (Pro Gear)
Video Review
Picture Gallery
Click on the photos to enlarge.
Thanks for this very helpful comparison. I already have a Sailor PG Slim, and your video moved its “big brother” higher up my wish list. The only hinderance beeing the price, which I find ridiculously high compared to the Slim. All brands seem to do this (eg. Pelikan and Montblanc), but I never understood that “bigger=more expensive” mentality (it’s certainly not the gold price or materials or craftsmanship, as you noted, just pure marketing, which is a shame imho!).
Just FYI: the Sailor 21k nibs have two different bicolor designs: on the gold-trimmed pens, the nib is also mostly gold with a silver line, but on the rhodium-trimmed pens it’s in reverse: a rhodium plated nib with a golden line. I think Sailor may be the only manufacturer doing this.
Also thanks for actually doing size comparisons uncapped – most reviewers only do them in capped state, which is not very helpful. I think it would be even better if you could try to align the pens at the edge of the grip section (where it meets the nib), so one could easier distinguish different nib and body sizes.
At last a comment to this comparison format: I find it even more helpful than individual reviews. Because there are dozens (if not hundreds) of reviews of Sailor pens, but very few like yours which state: if you are this type of writer, pick this style of pen. That’s great if one doesn’t have the opportunity to try pens first-hand.
(I think one could even do all the Sailors (1911 and Pro Gear, both large and slim) in the same mega-review, because there are so few differences apart from the size.)
As for your next video, I’d suggest the Pelikan M2/4/6/8/10 00 series, or Montblanc 149/146, or TWSBI Eco/580/580 mini, or a comparison of various beginner fountain pens.
Thank you very much for your elaborate and insightful comment, Paul.
I am definitely looking into doing more of these comparative reviews. Thanks for the encouragement!
Hello Scriveler-
Thank you very much for all the effort to make this video. In my country (Ireland) there is only one, maybe 2 nice pen shops, and they are over 3 hours drive from me. Videos like this help me to learn more about these pens, and to SEE the differences, as I can’t usually get to a brick and mortar shop- (I did once a long time ago, it was like a little piece of heaven come down to earth!)
Very much appreciated, and keep up the great work.
As a suggestion, as I am still new to fountain pens, how do the gold nibs compare between the big 3 japanese brands?
Or why are graf von faber castell so much more expensive than the regular faber castell?
I have many questions, yet the pen companies do not provide many answers! I am glad there are reviewers like you to help guide me through the mysterious world of fountain pens.
Thank you again-
Brian
Hi Brian,
thank you very much for your feedback. I am glad to hear that my blog is of help to you!
Re: gold nibs of 3 big Japanese pens: Well, very generally speaking (of course there are nuanced differences) it is like this: Pilot nibs are quite soft and bouncy, meaning that will provide a good amount of line variation – and if this line variation is not wanted, need to be handled with an extremely light hand. Platinum nibs are very rigid in general – people call them a ‘nail’; yet they are very smooth and pleasant. Sailor nibs are not as soft as Pilot and not has stiff as Platinum; somewhere in the middle, but with a slight ‘pencil’ish’ feedback that some love and some hate. I, for one, love it. And some say that Sailor makes the best nibs available in the whole market (I don’t necessarily agree with that – but sure: the Sailor nibs are top notch).
Re: GvFC: while the regular FC a steel nibs and the GvFC are (normally) gold nibs, the GvFC is also the flagship luxury line, so there certainly is also some strategic pricing involved.
If you have more questions, feel free to shoot. I am quite busy, but try the best I can to help as quick as I can.
Best regards,
Michael