Gravitas - Vac 2.0 Aluminium | Black

I ordered this pen even though I’ve had some issues with two of my six Monster pens—which amounts to a failure rate of nearly 30%. One of my Monsters (black aluminum) suddenly started leaking after three months of regular use (with Artisan Pastellier Rose Cyclamen ink; it still leaks in small amounts, even though I haven’t used that ink in it for months and am now using the fountain pen with GvFC Viper Green; otherwise, the pen works reliably). Unfortunately, two service requests regarding this issue went unanswered.

The other one (TiSinX titanium) is now, unfortunately, completely unusable, as every time I fill it, large amounts of ink immediately ooze out in thick drops from the same spot (though this could be due to using Diamone Desert Rose—I didn’t initially know that such inks might cause problems). I may contact Pen Venture at a later date regarding the purchase of a replacement ink reservoir (if possible with Ultem).

I haven’t had any problems so far with the Ultem Monsters or the Gravitas Exclusive Rainbow Skittle Monster.

The Vac 2.0, which is what this review was actually supposed to be about, is another great pen. Unfortunately, the Diamine Lady Grey ink I bought along with it seems much too dry for this pen, so I screwed in the gold nib from my Gravitas x Kyuseido Kakari, and now it writes like a dream; ironically, the original nib now writes just as beautifully in my Ultemate Vac - so I guess I have to review the new steel nib separately.

The Kraken filling mechanism works extremely well again and feels almost a bit more powerful in this pen than it does in the Monster; and the new ink window is a joy as well.

It's extremely well balanced and although I very much enjoy the girthier (and heavier) monster, fast note taking is kind of more comfortable with this pen—although, purely for aesthetic reasons, I actually like the flat ends of the Monster a little better.

However, there’s a minor flaw (which definitely isn’t due to the new gold nib, since it also occurred with the original nib) that happens when the ink reservoir is full and you screw the Kraken mechanism shut. Sometimes a large drop falls onto the paper then, but I suspect this can be prevented by simply not letting the reservoir get completely full.

That aside, the pen is a pure delight.

The broad nib I orderd it with is pure delight as well. It's nicely soft and writes very consistently with my (fairly standard, I guess) 50° writing angle. The line width is very consistent, which is a nice experience, given that many broad nibs these days have stub-like characteristics. Interestingly, this nib has this kind of character when using it in reverse for very, very small margin notes—something I haven't come across before with round-ground nibs. I kind of like it.

All in all another great and beautifully designed pen - but only time will tell if it's prone to the same problems as some of the Monsters.

The ordering process and shipment was smooth and seamless as always with pen venture and I received my ordering within just a few days. Emy added a kind handwritten note, a Monster maintenance tool and vial of silicon oil.

That creates a kind of personal shopping experience—which is something, also given that the store appears to be expanding quite rapidly.

On its own, this pen feels very durable and premium, and the bead-blasted, matte black coated treatment gives it a very “professional” vibe. The Fine nib is bouncy and smooth, very usable on the underside as well (with added feedback, but not scratchy), the ribbed steel grip is very comfortable, the feed holds a lot of ink on its own, and the reservoirs behind it will keep it in writing condition for dozens upon dozens of pages after a fill.

The cap screws open and closed smoothly, with a very satisfying click at the end when closed; it posts deeply, and it also posts securely after being pressed down slightly on the barrel. It is light enough that it does not back-weight the pen significantly when posted.

The barrel construction, along with the newly-implemented Kraken filling system, ensure a significant amount of ink is pulled in from the first try. Much like the main cap, the blind-cap screws open and closed smoothly for refills or ink transfers between reservoirs.

Compared to its predecessor:
Fewer transparent areas overall, but the Vac 2.0’s structure feels more solid than the Ultemate Vac.
The body thickness and thread profiles are different on the Vac 2.0 than on the Ultemate Vac, no mix-and-match potential here.
The matte black coating gives the pen a more refined, premium feel on the metallic parts.
The inner lining of the cap doesn’t get stuck in the barrel thread as often, and when it does, it either slips back into correct position, or it is easier to unscrew and reposition, without the metal thread eating into the cap material.
The coated, no-breather-hole design of the new Gravitas steel nib may not be to everyone’s taste, but I like it a lot, and functionally, this nib feels more bouncy and polished, with smoother writing than its predecessor.
The feed seems to pick up a lot more ink on its own from just a 5-second dip, and the small reservoir behind it looks to have more capacity to back it up before needing to unscrew the blind cap and refill it from the large reservoir.
The Kraken filling system seems to suck up significantly more ink per pump than the mechanism from the Ultemate Vac.

Overall, a very well made fountain pen, and a thorough refinement to an already excellent design. Very satisfied with this purchase!

Gravitas does it again. The new nib is a delight to write with and the minimalistic / industrial design is awesome. I’ve used the pen for a few hours now, fits great in hand and is well balanced. I feel like the pen is at the border of casual sport and elegance, and you can match a good variety of inks to it. Black will never go out of fashion.

Excellently engineered, beautifully made, intelligently designed pen. A decently large pen, at least for my small hands, its knurled section really makes a difference. I haven’t tried cleaning or doing maintenance on the pen yet, but it certainly will be a nice process than on those pens that void the warranty as soon as you open them up. TLDR: writes well, great grip, good balance, excellent mechanism and capacity; some may be put off by the lack of a clip. I am not, but those who are might be interested in the fifty4t titan SL.

This pen has exceeded all of my expectations. Not only does it feel excellent in the hand, but it writes like an absolute dream!

Fast delivery and a very smooth writing pen. Goes really well with Hals Oud bruin

The pen is wonderful- a very smooth writer! Emy from Pen Venture wrote a nice note- I really appreciate this thoughtful touch. The pen came fast, writes great, and the service is excellent-what more could I ask for? Thank you.

This has quickly become one of my favorite pens. The aluminum body feels incredibly solid without being overly heavy, and the machining is excellent. The vacuum filling system is satisfying to use and holds a huge amount of ink. I currently have it filled with Diamine Athol Violet, and the combination has been fantastic. The fine nib is smooth, wet, and really brings out the richness of the ink. If you appreciate a well-built pen with a unique industrial design, the Gravitas Vac 2.0 is an outstanding value.

The Vac 2.0 is hands-down the smoothest writer I have. The pen arrived with the nib tuned to perfection, with exquisite machining of every single component. The capacity is massive, yet the pen does not feel overly bulky. The balance in the hand both posted and unposted is right on. You can really tell that Ben pays the utmost attention to even the smallest detail!
Shipping to Australia was very quick and the order arrived with a wonderful hand-written note from Emy. This will certainly not be my last purchase!

The construction of the Vac 2 is flawless. The textures of the materials and it's simple lines display an elegant beauty. The large steel nib delivers a pleasant writing experience and also provides a bit of flex.

Amazing Pen! Gravitas makes one of the best piston fillers out there. I dont keep the nib and normally use the pen for coustom flex nibs with Jowo #6 compatible nib units. So, i really cant speak on the nib. However, this pen is just built with high quality components. The weight, feel, and overall aesthetics are unmatched. You wont find better at this price point.

The VAC 2.0 is a great improvement to an already great pen (the original VAC Ultem). The weight and balance are spot on. The cap and the new threads engage without hesitation. No missed closures and the cap has a nice stop when threading back on. It posts securely without issue. Filling with the Kraken system is easy. I got a medium nib and it is smoooooooth. Mine is on par with my 823 medium nib The smoothness, wetness and bounce would make you think it's a gold nib. Line width is slightly narrower than the 823 medium. The pen feels solid and well built. I'm not worried about this one getting knocked around. Overall a great pen. Shipping from Pen-Venture to Colorado was five days! Great pen and service all around!

まずGravitasの万年筆を買ったことがないなら、このペンは恐らくその中でもっとも使いやすいペンであることから、オススメする。
このVac2.0はGravitasシリーズで最新（2026/6/9時点）の吸入機構であるKrakenFillingSystemを搭載したもので、売りは大容量インクタンクかつボタ落ちなどに強いということ。
これ自体はMonsterシリーズにも搭載されているが、新たに首軸にもインク窓を採用し、メインタンクの残量も見えるようになっている。
透明な軸はウルテムという素材で出来ているため、黄色い独特なカラーリングとなっているが、そこに嫌悪感がなければぜひ使ってみてほしい。
使い方がわからなければ、ページ上部にあるVideoPresentationの動画参照。
またクリップは無いので転がって落下することにだけは注意。

そして何本かGravitasペンを持っているひとへ。
恐らく迷うとすれば、サイズ感は近いがピストン吸入式のGravitasシリーズか、或いは同じくKrakenFillingSystemを搭載したMonsterシリーズかといったところだろう。
結論としては、ロマンを求めるならMonster、使いやすさを求めるならVac2.0（本製品）、素材の味わいを求めるなら他Gravitasシリーズということになる。

PistonCarbonを使っている身からすると、インク残量が分かるインク窓があるのは元からそうなのだが、胴軸に透明素材（ウルテム）を使用していることで全体量が一目で分かるのが良い。
それに加えてピストン吸入式よりもかなり大きなインクタンクによって、インク持ちもかなりある。
もちろんペン先はいつものGravitasクオリティなので、インクフロー潤沢にして滑らかな書き心地で文句なし。
重量バランスも良く、適度な重みを持っているので
更に専用ツール（別売）によって吸入機構を分解出来てメンテも容易なので、利便性は全面的に上回っている。
一方で、現状素材はアルミとウルテムしかないので、Gravitasならではの多様な素材の味わいがないのは惜しいところ。
そちらを重視するようなら、他のラインナップが増えるまで待つことを勧める。

Monsterシリーズからの比較で言うと、やはり大人しい印象ではある。
とはいえ一回の吸入で3ml、二回で4.5mlという量はかなりの容量には違いない。
問題は容量よりも、首軸のインク窓による利便性や、細身の軸による持ちやすさ、重量バランス、キャップポスト時の安定性といった点でこのVac2.0の方が取り回しが良いという点にある。
それ故「Monsterは好きだけどちょっと使いにくいんだよな」と思っていたならちょうどいい選択肢となる。
ただ素材面はまだ限定されているため、やはり素材にこだわるなら一旦待ちである。
あとMonster用の分解キットとVac2.0用のキットは若干径が異なるため、使いまわしは非推奨。

最後に。
私は他のGravitasシリーズやMonsterを持っていても、このVac2.0を買ったことに後悔はない。
ハート穴の無いペン先も、いつも通り滑らかで非常に快適だった。
エボ芯ではないものの、潤沢なフローで問題なし（エボ芯の方が気持ちとしては嬉しいが）。
願わくば、アクリル軸でインクの色も楽しめたり、チタンやジルコニウムなど他の多様な素材の手触りを楽しめたりと、さらなる展開があることを。

The pen itself is excellent—especially the Kraken system and the nib. However, I really miss having a clip, mainly for its roll-stopper function on an everyday carry pen. Additionally, I would love to see optional semiflex nibs and more organic materials, such as ebonite or carbon fiber. Maybe in the next iteration… version 3?

First off, the service from Pen Venture was amazing. This is the second pen I have purchased and was completely satisfied with both experiences. I very much appreciated the handwritten note from the man himself...that really meant a lot to me. Now to the pen: It has a very satisfying weight and overall feel. It is a very comfortable writer and the nib just attacks the paper. Very responsive with nice feedback and consistent flow. I've paired it with Birmingham Pen Company's Iron Ore ink and it is a wicked combo. This pen is unbeatable at its price point. Couple that with the aforementioned outstanding customer service and you will have treated yourself to a way cool writing experience.

The Vac 2 is a refinement of both the Monster and the previous Gravitas vac fillers. This is a very robust, beautifully balanced writer that will bring pleasure to even the most particular purchaser. The filling system holds just the right quantity of ink. Long writing sessions are a breeze without the risk of having ink sit in the pen for extended periods. I have used this pen extensively since it arrived and have found it to be consistent and reliable. The nib is smooth and flows evenly with the lightest of touches. I prefer this pen over the monster because of its size and balance. The Vac 2 becomes an extension of my hand, allowing me to forget its presence and locus entirely, focusing on what I am writing.

Excellent service. Love the pen. Thank you.
🙏🙏

The Gravitas Vac 2.0 is an amazing tool for handwriting. The nib is smooth, distinct, and reliable, and it has some weight due to its durable materials, black aluminium/aluminum and ultem, the perfect combination of a tool which will survive most of us, still functioning if the internal vacuum piston system is cared for. I have enjoyed this fountain pen for seven days and I am pleased to say it is one of my better ones, and it is fun to use. I recommend it.

(Emy was correct: The nib has great flow, about six drops of ink will automatically flow from the nib after I have just filled it, after that no problems; tissue paper or the ink bottle under the nib until that happens is recommended, other than that: an excellent fountain pen.)

What a fantastic pen—and customized too!

It writes beautifully and arrived surprisingly quickly, even though I’m in Canada. This is my third order from Pen Venture, and once again, the experience has been outstanding. It's always a pleasure to come back.

My Gravitas arrived perfectly tuned and was ready to write straight out of the box. I filled it with Pelikan Royal Blue, and from the very first stroke, it was smooth, consistent, and an absolute joy to use.

I own several excellent fountain pens, including a Pilot Custom 823, a Sailor 1911, and a Leonardo Momento Zero, and I can honestly say that this Gravitas holds its own among them. It is remarkably well made and comes very close to being the perfect writing instrument.

A big thank you to the entire Pen Venture team for the exceptional service, careful tuning, and attention to detail. I’m already looking forward to my next order!

Wow!
Just like the Monster but thinner. For me it is more comfortable for longer writing sessions. The filling system is stellar. Holds lots of ink. As always Ben Walsh and Emy have delivered a innovative and enjoyable writing experience. Can't wait to see what's next. Keep up the wonderful work!

The Gravitas Vac 2 is a wonderfully looking and writing pen. The nib is very smooth and the pen holds a ton of ink. The #6 size nib feels more comfortable in my smallish hands than the Monster #8. I like that it's made of Ultem because now I don't have to worry about whether a particular ink will stain the barrel. A real winner - and relatively inexpensive!