I typically spend my days writing about the latest consumer technologies, such as laptops, tablets, digital notebooks (including the reMarkable Paper Pro), and other tools that can be used to compose, read, edit, print, and share text-based content. That said, while I don’t handwrite things on paper too often, when I do, I really appreciate a fine writing instrument, such as a ball point pen or fountain pen from Mont Blanc.
A few weeks ago, I started seeing ads online for a unique, infinitely refillable pen with interchangeable tips created by a small, United Kingdom-based company, called Tom’s Studio. The pen is called the Lumos Pro, and it was designed by a husband and wife team. The pen offers a minimalist design that’s made from your choice of anodised aluminum, stainless steel, brass, or titanium.
This pen also comes in a variety of solid colors, but that’s not what makes it unique: The Lumos Pro comes with 11 interchangeable writing tips, and instead of relying on ink cartridges, it uses a refillable ink reservoir and fountain pen inks that come in a wide range of deep or vibrant colors.
Lumos Pro Pen
In a nutshell, this one pen replaces the need for a ball point pen, fineliner, calligraphy pen, and felt-tip pen. It allows users to truly enjoy the creative and timeless aspects of handwriting on paper. What I quickly discovered is that this is a premium pen in every sense of the word. The Lumos Pro offers a traditional pen design, but there’s also a duo tip design available, which offers an interchangeable writing tip (each with its own reservoir) on either end of the pen.
The full-size Lumos Pro is 155 millimeters long, with a diameter of 10 millimeters, but there’s also the less expensive ($57) and shorter Lumos Mini, which is just 85 millimeters long when capped, also with a 10 millimeter diameter. It’s designed to fit comfortably in a pocket.
I recently purchased the Lumos Pro single tip pen in midnight blue anodised aluminum, along with a mini ink collection ($18) directly from the Tom’s Studio website, although it’s also available from Walmart.com. The pen and inks arrived from the United Kingdom in less than two weeks. Keep reading to learn all about my experience handwriting with this beautiful and unique instrument that was designed by extremely creative people, specifically for creative people.
Specifications
- Price: $75.00 (single tip), $120 (duo tip).
- Purpose: All-in-one pen, fineliner, and brush (calligraphy) pen.
- Material: Anodized aluminum.
- Aluminum Pen Color Options: Matte black, matte midnight blue, rose gold, sage, ivy, lilac, or raspberry.
- Included Interchangeable Tips: Fineliner (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.8, 1.0), Felt-Tip (chisel, bullet, brush), Writing (0.3, 0.5).
- Ink: Dye-based fountain pen ink from Tom’s Studio or other sources.
- Length: 155 millimeters (capped), 145 millimeters (uncapped).
- Diameter: 10 millimeters.
- Weight: 0.71 ounces.
Pros
- Ideal for handwriting, calligraphy, illustrating, drawing, and more.
- Durable and elegant construction.
- Doesn’t use ink cartridges, but is infinitely refillable.
- Available in a single or duo tip design.
- Includes 11 interchangeable writing and artist tips.
Cons
- Requires more maintenance than a traditional ball point pen (but lasts much longer).
- When loading the pen’s reservoir with ink, you need to be careful not to spill or drip the ink to avoid a mess.
- Additional reservoirs are sold separately ($3 for a set of three), and are required to switch ink colors.
Who Will the Lumos Pro Appeal To?
Now that I’ve unboxed the Lumos Pro and worked with it, I’ve discovered it can appeal to anyone who appreciates a fine writing instrument. In particular, people who enjoy handwriting in a diary or journal, or composing letters or notes by hand will really love this pen. Between the 11 Japanese-made interchangeable tips that come with the pen, it’s also a must-have addition to a calligrapher or artist’s collection.
Of course, the Lumos Pro can be used as an everyday writing instrument, but it can handle so much more. Thanks to its design, it will last for many years. It’s also infinitely refillable with fountain pen inks, which are available in a wide range of colors from Tom’s Studio and other sources.
For added versatility, the duo tip version of the Lumos Pro pen allows you to instantly switch between two different tips (with the same or different ink colors). This means you can go from handwriting a note to creating artistic lettering using calligraphy, or creating an illustration or drawing just by flipping the pen over in your hand. If you don’t want one for yourself, it can be a thoughtful gift for a creative person in your life. It truly is a luxury-quality pen with many uses right out of the box.
I found that the Lumos Pro is easier to work with than most fountain pens, but it allows you to showcase your handwriting or illustration talents. Tom’s Studio even offers optional workbooks and free downloadable guides that teach lettering and basic illustration techniques using the pen, so you can develop your skillset.
Working with the Lumos Pro Pen
The Lumos Pro comes with a small printed instruction booklet that clearly explains how to set up the pen, install the desired tip, and fill the reservoir with ink. By following these directions and watching the short tutorial videos offered on Tom’s Studio’s website, I was able to unpackage the pen and begin writing with it in less than 10 minutes. I immediately noticed how smoothly the ink flows onto the paper.
After working with the first pen tip I selected, I replaced it with several others to experiment with the different ways each provides a different writing or drawing experience.
Unboxing the Lumos Pro: What’s Included
The Lumos Pro single tip pen comes in a box with the pen itself, 11 tips, a holder, a tip cover, and a silicone tip grip. You also get a small vial of Tom’s Studio’s own deep black ink. To get the most out of the pen right from the start, I’d recommend purchasing one of the company’s mini ink collections, which include five different colored inks.
At the same time, purchase a bunch of extra ink reservoirs. If you purchase the single tip Lumos Pro, be sure to select the 85 millimeter-long ink reservoirs for this pen. The duo tip Lumos Pen accommodates two shorter, 42-millimeter reservoirs at once, so you can have two different tips and two ink colors installed, then simply turn the pen over to switch between them. You will need a separate reservoir for each ink color you use with the pen. Only one reservoir is included with the pen, however.
Choosing and Installing a Writing Tip
The box of 11 Japanese-made pen tips include six fineliner tips (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0), along with three felt-tips (chisel, bullet, and brush), and two writing tips (0.3 and 0.5). They come in a cardboard holder which clearly labels each tip, and provides a convenient way to store them. Each time you switch between tips, it’s necessary to rinse off the used tip, and then allow it to dry before reusing it again later, with the same or a different ink color.
Compared to the fineliner or felt-tips, each of the writing tips offer a more rounded shape that gives the pen a smoother feel on the page. But, if you’re creating illustrations or need to generate precise and consistent lines, choose between one of the five fineliner tips, each of which is a different thickness. The three felt-tips are best suited for calligraphy and for more creative lettering.
Loading the Pen’s Cotton Core Reservoir with Dye-Based Fountain Pen Ink
Perhaps the trickiest aspect of using the Lumos Pro pen is filling the reservoir with ink. After attaching the selected tip to the tip holder, attach a reservoir to the opposite end of the tip from which you’ll be writing. Carefully insert the reservoir into the ink vial or ink bottle. Over a period of about 20 seconds, the reservoir sucks up the ink. Once the ink level reaches the pen tip, carefully remove the reservoir and connected pen tip and tip holder and screw it into the body of the pen.
I discovered the hard way that it’s easy to tip over the smaller ink vials when inserting or removing the reservoir, which causes ink spillage. Until you’ve practiced inserting and removing the reservoir from the ink bottle (or vial) several times, place a paper towel under the ink bottle.
Also, when gripping the pen tip and tip holder with the filled reservoir attached, keep your fingers on the metal tip cover. This will help you avoid directly touching the ink. As you remove the reservoir from the ink bottle or vial to insert it into the pen, use a slow and steady motion, so the ink doesn’t drip or splatter accidentally.
The fountain pen inks that Tom’s Studio offers are specially formulated and water-based, acid-free, non-toxic, and vegan-friendly. The inks come in more than 24 colors that are deep and concentrated. They’re designed to flow smoothly on the page and dry extremely quickly to prevent smudging.
For people who are more artistic, the inks can be diluted using a small amount of water to create watercolor-like washes, or to lighten the depth of color. If you choose, multiple ink colors can be blended to create custom colors.
My Final Thoughts: Is the Lumos Pro Pen Worth It?
It’s clear that a lot of thought was put into the design of the Lumos Pro pens, interchangeable tips, and the company’s own line of inks. Tom’s Studio uses high-quality components to manufacture the pen and everything it comes with. The thickness and weight of the pen makes it comfortable to work with. Plus, the anodised aluminum housing is ultra smooth and well balanced. I like that the pen’s cap securely screws into the pen over the tip for transport or storage, but can be screwed into the opposite end of the pen when you’re using it, so you won’t lose the cap.
My one minor complaint about the pen’s design is that it doesn’t have a pocket clip, and it’s perfectly rounded. As a result, it can roll freely when placed on an uneven desk. The large ink bottles are easier to work with, compared to the smaller 5 milliliter vials that can tip over more easily and make a mess. That said, these smaller vials allow new pen users to experiment with the different vibrant ink colors offered by Tom’s Studio, providing you have extra reservoirs on hand for each ink color you want to work with.
Each of the pen tips that come with the Lumos Pro are Japanese-made and designed to last. I found that they’re easy to clean, but you need to be gentle when inserting and removing them from the pen. A full set of 11 replacement tips can be purchased for $12 from the Tom’s Studio website, or if there’s one or more specific tips you use often, replacements are available in packs of three (of the same tip) for $4.
Lumos Pro Pen
Yes, the Lumos Pro requires a bit of cleaning and minor ongoing maintenance. What’s required is equivalent to what you’d expect when using a traditional fountain pen. Unlike a traditional fountain pen, however, the Lumos Pro can serve as several types of writing and drawing instruments. Overall, it’s a very unique writing instrument that offers excellent quality and value. I found that it’s a pleasure to work with and it felt wonderful in my hand.
