When you are new to the fountain pen world, it can be a bit overwhelming as to what pen to try. If you want to get a taste of how a fountain pen works without committing to an expensive instrument, the following are some good products to try:

Ohto Tasche Fountain Pens

As blogged about in Mighty Goods, this fountain pens will make you feel "fastidious". The ingenious design of the Ohto Tasche allows one to carry it as a small compact pen when closed, but use it as a full sized fountain pen when open. This pen measures 10.2 cm long when closed, 10 cm long when used by itself, and 14.7 cm when used with the cap on. Conveniently refills with international short ink cartridges.
Cost: $15 per pen.

Ohto Fine Fountain Pens

Designed for the modern working adult, these fountain pens are medium nib (Fine is the model name, not the nib width) and feature an interesting slanted oval look. Three body colors available. Conveniently refills with international short ink cartridges.
Cost: $20 per pen.

Pilot Petit1 Mini Fountain Pens

At just 4 inches, these Japanese Mini fountain pens are a delightful option for any new fountain pen user. They are available in over 24 different colors and conveniently refill with ink cartridges.
Cost: $4.50 per pen.

Platinum Preppy Fountain Pens

These transparent fountain pens are a favorite among beginners and collectors alike. They are a high-quality and low cost fountain pen for ink color testing. The stainless steel nib is colored to match the color of the ink. It's refillable with cartridges and made of 40% recycled plastic.
Cost: $3.00 per pen.

Pilot Varsity & Vpen Disposable Fountain Pens

Available in over a half-dozen ink colors, these pens feature stylish silver color bodies and a fine point nib from Japan or a medium nib from the USA. Disposable and very affordable. Not refillable with ink cartridges.
Cost: $3 per pen

Pilot Penmanship Fountain Pens with Ergo Grip

It's a pen suited for everyday writing and is targeted towards students as a pen for writing practice. The smooth, elongated body has a triangular grip to encourage good writing form. Conveniently refills with Pilot ink cartridges.
Cost: $7.50 per pen

Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen

These sporty and compact fountain pens are made of high-quality, transparent and two-tone plastic, allowing the user to see the ink as it depletes. The pens are compact when capped (approx. 4.1 inches long), but are very comfortable when posted (5.3 inches long). The pens come in four colors and feature a screw-on cap for extra security, a stainless steel nib, and can be refilled with standard short ink cartridges.
Cost: $15-$16.50 per pen

Ohto F-Lapa & F-Spirit Fountain Pens

The F-Lapa and F-Spirit give you a taste of a high end writing instrument at a very low price. Fountain pen features an iridium point nib (from Germany) and an aluminum body and cap. Black and silver models are available and each measures 5.55 inches (141 mm) long when capped. Fountain pen can be refilled with a standard international short ink cartridge refill.
Cost: $15 per pen

Lamy Al-Star, Safari, & Vista Fountain Pens

Lamy is a world-famous pen company headquartered in Germany. Their Safari line consists of high quality pens made of sturdy plastic and self-sprung metal clips. Conveniently refillable with ink cartridges. No need to push in cartridges yourself, just insert cartridge and twist the barrel, and the pen tightens to puncture the cartridge itself. Higher end Al-Star aluminum line also available.
Cost: $26-$36.50 per pen

Sailor A.S. Manhattaner's NY Artists Guild Fountain Pens

Artist Takashi Kuge brings his unique brush strokes and improvisatory drawings to a cheerful line of refillable fountain pens from Sailor. The drawings depict people, objects, cats and other scenes of New York in a Japanese artistic style. Each pen is made of a colored plastic body with a screw-on cap and body. Pen conveniently refills with ink cartridges that are available in multiple colors. One free ink cartridge is included with each pen.
Cost: $21 per pen.

Sailor Ink Bar Disposable Fountain Pens

Writing with the Sailor ink-Bar is like enjoying your favorite milkshake from a new and modern creamery. The pen gives you a refreshing new take on the traditional fountain pen. It features a clean and simple plastic body and a fine point metal nib. The pen is available in a variety of water-based ink colors and is part of a growing trend in Japan of colorful and affordable fountain pens targeted at the modern adult. The pen is not refillable and has a diameter of 9.5 mm, length of 139.5 mm (almost 5.5 inches) and weight of 7.6 grams.
Cost: $2.70 per pen.

See all of the fountain pens available at JetPens here.