Fountain Pens · owner-verdict comparison

Lamy 2000 vs Pilot Metropolitan: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 67% of 379 Lamy 2000 owners recommend it, vs 70% of 446 for the Pilot Metropolitan.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Lamy 2000

67%of 379 owners recommend
67% recommend · 17% neutral · 16% don't
Owners praise
  • Smooth, wet nib that owners rank among the best writers they own
  • Long-lived for the owners it suits, with eight, ten and fifteen years of use reported
  • Understated Bauhaus design owners choose over flashier pens, including ones that cost more
Owners complain about
  • Tapered brushed-steel section is slippery enough that owners' fingers slide toward the nib, and some could not write with the pen at all
  • Narrow sweet spot on the nib: held off that angle, owners report the line thinning, skipping or stopping outright
  • Nibs run a width or two wider and wetter than marked, so fine and extra-fine buyers often end up with a medium line
Full owner report →

Pilot Metropolitan

70%of 446 owners recommend
70% recommend · 13% neutral · 17% don't
Owners praise
  • Smooth, buttery nib that glides across the page
  • Exceptional value; writes like pens many times the price
  • Durable all-metal body holds up for years of daily use
Owners complain about
  • Sharp step-down from barrel to grip makes it uncomfortable to hold
  • Scratchy nib, especially the fine and extra-fine versions
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Lamy 2000 if
  • ✓Someone who wants one pen inked and in hand every day instead of a rotation
  • ✓Office notes, meetings and lecture writing, where owners want a pen that vanishes into the background
  • ✓Writers who like a smooth, wet, generous line and medium or broader widths
  • ✓Buyers who want restrained industrial design rather than a pen that draws comment
Skip it if
  • Anyone who needs a true fine or extra-fine line for small handwriting
  • Low grippers, and anyone who holds a pen firmly down near the nib, where the tapered steel section works against them
Get the Pilot Metropolitan if
  • ✓Beginners wanting a reliable first fountain pen under $20
  • ✓Everyday work, journaling and note-taking
  • ✓Buyers who value a durable, weighty metal body
  • ✓Medium-nib writers who like a smooth line
Skip it if
  • Anyone bothered by the sharp step down to the grip
  • Fine and extra-fine seekers, often called scratchy or dry

What Lamy 2000 owners say

“Lamy 2k I got in oblique double broad so I definitely don’t find it dry. I thought it might be too broad for me and considered sending it to a grinder but I’ve been loving it lately.”
— karunamoon on Reddit
“The Lamy 2000 was something I considered a number of times in the past even though I wasn't exactly a fan of the modernist design. That's changed since and I'm very happy with it.”
— draconicpenguin10 on Reddit
“So although my personal opinion is pass, you may actually love this pen.”
— Tarentum566 on Reddit

What Pilot Metropolitan owners say

“I love my Pilot Metropolitan.”
— @hariwebbyin152 on YouTube
“The Pilot Metropolitan was my gateway pen. Now I'm a full-fledged addict with a loooong wishlist of pens, inks, and notebooks.”
— @polynikes5631 on YouTube
“One of the things that bugs me about my Metro is how it always wants to throw itself onto the floor. The damn thing is determined to destroy itself.”
— @evilcritter on YouTube

Lamy 2000 vs Pilot Metropolitan: frequently asked questions

Is the Lamy 2000 or the Pilot Metropolitan better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 67% of 379 Lamy 2000 owners recommend it, vs 70% of 446 for the Pilot Metropolitan.

Who should get the Lamy 2000?

Owners point the Lamy 2000 at someone who wants one pen inked and in hand every day instead of a rotation, and office notes, meetings and lecture writing, where owners want a pen that vanishes into the background.

Who should get the Pilot Metropolitan?

Owners point the Pilot Metropolitan at beginners wanting a reliable first fountain pen under $20, and everyday work, journaling and note-taking.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Lamy 2000 is tapered brushed-steel section is slippery enough that owners' fingers slide toward the nib, and some could not write with the pen at all. For the Pilot Metropolitan, it's sharp step-down from barrel to grip makes it uncomfortable to hold.