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Pilot Metropolitan vs Pilot Dr. Grip Gel
Pilot Metropolitan ($22) vs Pilot Dr. Grip Gel ($9.99) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right fountain pen.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Pilot Metropolitan | Pilot Dr. Grip Gel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $22 | $9.99 |
| Weight | 22g | 20g |
| Nib | Steel (F, M, B) | — |
| Fill | Squeeze converter + cartridge | — |
| Body | Brass + painted steel | — |
| Length | 136mm capped | — |
| Cap | Snap cap | — |
| Weight | ~22g | ~20g (approx, estimated from the shared wide barrel; JetPens lists 20 g for the Full Black and the Limited gel; Pilot publishes no weight) |
| Style | — | Dr. Grip Gel, retractable gel pen |
| Point | — | Fine, 0.7 mm |
| Ink | — | Black G2 gel ink |
| Grip | — | Wide barrel, latex-free cushioned grip |
| Refill | — | Refillable |
| Certification | — | Certified for Ease of Use by the Arthritis Foundation |
| Pilot model | — | 36260 (blue); Staples showed it out of stock |
Pros & Cons
Pilot Metropolitan
- $22 lowest-regret entry
- Brass body satisfying heft
- Smooth forgiving nib
- Wide color selection
- Reliable Pilot engineering
- Squeeze converter messy
- No piston fill
- Cap can crack over time
Pilot Dr. Grip Gel
- G2 gel ink writes smoothly with little pressure
- Three bright barrel colors on the comfortable grip
- Certified for Ease of Use by the Arthritis Foundation
- Retailers often show it out of stock
- Black ink only, whatever the barrel color
Pilot Dr. Grip Gel is the better value at $9.99. Both are part of our curated fountain pen index — tap through to check current pricing.
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