Little Big Pen: The New Monteverde Mega
Search the web for “Monteverde Mega”, and you’ll find that there have been a smattering of different Mega variants over the years. This Monteverde model first debuted in the late 90s as an ink-ball pen before moving on to inhabit a variety of different form factors. The recent Monteverde Limited Edition “First Steps” pen was even done using a version of the Mega form factor. Now in 2020 the Mega line is returning to store shelves in a standard edition, and I have a look at one of the pens, below.
The new Monteverde Mega is 5.5” long capped and 5.33” uncapped. Posting adds about an inch on the back end. It is definitely not a small or “pocket” pen, and yet it has a look to it that suggests it is even bigger. I believe this optical illusion is owed to the fact that the cap is fairly short in proportion to the rest of the pen. The grip section tapers from 0.42" up to 0.49", and the cap and barrel are 0.67" and 0.59" at their widest points, respectively. The cap is fairly short, however, at only 2.15" long, and the clip is short as well at 1.15" long. The clip holds very firmly in a shirt pocket, however, which is nice because the pen is just short enough to fit in some shirt pockets.
The Giant Sequoia, another Monteverde pen named for its size, provides a good comparison for the Mega’s proportions. We can see here as well that the Mega has a longer barrel, despite the capped Sequoia being the longer pen (the Sequoia is also longer posted). The Mega’s section also tapers wider than the Sequoia’s section, and the transition from section to threads on the Mega is a little softer and more comfortable, for those who grip their pens further back.
The Mega is a cartridge/converter filler, and it uses my favorite Schmidt K6 screw-in converters. If you haven’t paid a lot of attention to universal converts in the past, Schmidt makes some of the best, but they have a few different models, ranging from the all plastic K1, to the superior K5 which is metal reinforced in a couple of key places. The K6 converter isn’t strictly universal, because it is a threaded K5. In a compatible pen, it screws in to the back of the section for added security. Any time I’m investigating a pen and find it takes a K6 converter, it is a very pleasant surprise.
The Mega also has a sculpted cap finial, showing the Monteverde logo. I’ve long been on record as preferring logo finials, especially on pens with rounded caps, and I really enjoy this one. Combined with the name of the company and pen engraved in the side of the barrel, it really helps to give this pen some extra character, and make it more than just another cigar shaped pen.
The Monteverde Mega is available for sale now from some of your favorite pen retailers, or directly from Monteverde. It comes in three colors: Black, Turquoise, and, of course, Orange. It ships with Monteverde’s new Jowo nibs in your choice of Fine, Medium, or Broad. Alternatively, the new Mega is also available in the ink-ball writing format in which this model originated.
Thanks to a combination of its wide width and medium stature, this is a great pen for some one who wants to feel of an oversized pen without the added length. If you find narrow pens uncomfortable to write with for long periods of time, but still want a pen you can clip in your pocket, then this is one worth looking at.
This pen was provided by Yafa Brands at no charge for review purposes, as a part of their Yafa Brands Ambassador program.
