If the pen is mightier than the sword, the fountain pen might seem like the canon: outdated, unwieldy, and total overkill. But these nibbed scribblers have their benefits. For one, their refillable design is the antithesis to the plastic ballpoint’s planned obsolescence. But the biggest advantage becomes clear the moment you sign your name with one: the fountain pen offers a completely different sensory experience than any other pen, pencil, or stylus. There’s an art to using one well, which adds a little weightiness to the act of writing. Be honest: If you could sign an important contract with a fountain pen or a clicky-top ballpoint, there’s really no choice, is there?

You can spend $100 on a fountain pen that will last you a lifetime, but those fancier pens come with hidden costs: new nibs, rare ink colors, writing notebooks, and customized ink converters. We’ve rounded up seven inexpensive fountain pens (all are under $30; one is only $3) that either are disposable or employ swappable cartridges to make refilling simple and tidy.