The Pilot Prera is one of the first pens I purchased when I got into the fountain pen hobby almost 15 years ago. It wasn’t until recently that I realized that the Clear Preras ($41.50) are available with the rare CM (Medium Italic) nib.
I’ve taken to signing my invoices with a TWSBI Eco with a 1.1 stub nib so I started wondering how the Prera Medium Italic nib would compare. Sometimes. I like to have options!
Aesthetically, the translucent body with mere hints of translucent color at the ends and simple silver clip look quite similar to the TWSBI Eco. Pricewise, it is a fair comparison. TWSBI Ecos start at about $35.50 while the Preras started at $33. The Clear Preras that look most similar to a TWSBI Eco are $41.50 each.
In writing, the nib looked slimmer than the 1.1mm in a TWSBI but, in writing, was quite comparable in width.
There’s a little feedback in the writing with the Prera but I didn’t notice the difference until I wrote with the TWSBI immediately after writing with the Prera. They are both very smooth writers and the Prera was easy to use from every angle I write at as a lefty.
The Prera features a snap cap which I love compared with a standard threaded cap on the TWSBI.
When comparing the two pens, the TWSBI Eco is a longer pen overall.
When the pens are posted, the TWSBI is comically longer. Measurements and weights are written below in the writing sample.
Uncapped and unposted, the Prera is a little shorter than the TWSBI Eco. More space is needed for the longer grip section and the built-in piston filling system on the TWSBI. The Prera has a cartridge converter system allowing it to accept Pilot cartridges or be filled from an ink bottle. Bonus: both a cartridge and the converter are included with the Prera so there is no additional expense.
When looking closely at the nibs, the TWSBI appears slightly rounder where the Prera has a bit more crisp corners.
In writing, the two pens appear to perform almost identically but the Prera has slightly finer lines when used on the horizontal lines and is visibly in the loops above. It creates more line variation in use than the TWSBI.
I do wonder if it would be possible to eyedropper fill the Prera so it would have similar ink capacity to the TWSBI. I think its something I’ll experiment with because I do think it would make the Prera a true competitor to the TWSBI Eco.
For right now, I like using the Prera as an alternative to the TWSBI. Is it better? Not necessarily. Just different. The snap cap is a big bonus in favor of the Prera but the overall ink capacity of the TWSBI may make it preferable for others. Other nib sizes from Pilot will definitely be finer than what’s available from TWSBI so if you like a Japanese EF or F nib, then the Prera will definitely win out.
Which would you choose? Do you have one, the other or both?
I own both pens. The TWSBI ECO with the 1.1 mm stub wins this competition hands-down – but the ECO is getting too expensive these days – just my opinion.
Just seeing this (always behind the times with so much going on in the world at present!).
I have both with stub nibs. I prefer the Prera for fit and finish. I change ink often, so high capacity isn’t a need for me. I love my TWSBI Minis, but just can’t with the cheap plastic of the Eco models. I’ll never buy another Eco. I wish TWSBI came out with more colors in the mini, but it has been good for my wallet that they haven’t.