A few years back I did a “top steel nibs” video, and this is my 2025 update—because my collection (and my hands) have changed. I start by putting the whole gold vs steel debate in its place: I’m not fussy. I’ve got phenomenal gold nibs and phenomenal steel nibs, and what I actually care about is a pleasant writing experience—smooth, consistent, reliable, and a pen body that makes me want to keep writing. I’m also in the middle of a pretty serious downsizing (think: moving on 500+ pens), so my “best of” list is very much about what still earns its spot. I run through three honorable mentions first: the Faber-Castell Loom (still a spectacular nib, even if the body isn’t my go-to anymore), the Fifty4T Titan (an expensive pen with a “generic” #8 vibe, but an absolutely superb writer), and the Asvine #8 steel nibs (ridiculously smooth, wet, and affordable—especially in the C80). Then we hit the top three: #3 is the Diplomat Aero steel medium—yes it’s a JoWo, but Diplomat do something special and it’s sublime. #2 is the Gravitas Piston Carbon Black with a coated #8 medium that’s been basically nonstop inked for me. And #1 is the real curveball: a “regular” JoWo medium that’s been ground into a medium architect by Danny at Inkcision Works—defined line variation, smooth feel, and it genuinely out-writes plenty of gold nibs in my collection.