The Pilot Lightive is an affordable fountain pen that is similar to Pilot’s Explorer. It was released on December 8, 2021. The name is a combination of “light” and “active.”
The Lightive is described by Pilot as a lightweight fountain pen with a very tight cap fit, which prevents the nib from drying out. This makes the pen portable and always ready to write, which is not the case for some of Pilot’s other cheaper pens, particularly the aging Metropolitan, which often has hard starts.
The company notes that the pen is aimed at writers in their 30s and 40s as a starter fountain pen — something to get them interested pens and having it fit into their busy lives, particularly when they have jobs. This means the pen must be practical and functional, not just enjoyable to use.
The Lightive has a retail price in 2000 yen (2200 with tax) in the Japanese market, where it was released.
The Lightive looks a lot like the Explorer but Pilot says there is a new inner cap design that makes the seal airtight, preventing the nib from drying out. This airtightness rivals that of a more expensive to produce screw-on cap that would be found on a $50+ pen, like Pilot’s Custom 74.
Like with the Explorer and Kakuno, people will have complaints about the pen’s light weight. The Ligthive weights just 12 grams
The Lightive does not include a converter but will fit all Pilot’s converters including the largest one, the Con-70.
The Lightive has a stainless steel nib — which Pilot calls its “Special Alloy,” just like on the retractable Vanishing Point.
Pilot Lightive Fountain Pen Information
| Street Price | Check Price |
| Manufacturer | Pilot |
| Pen Type | Fountain Pen | Cartridge/Converter |
| Rating | |
| Barrel Color | Clear, Black, White, Red, Blue, Neon Green |
| Barrel Material | Plastic |
| Grip Color | Smoke Grey |
| Grip Material | Plastic |
| Grip Diameter (mm) | 13.5 |
| Country of Origin | Japan |
| MSRP | $20 |
| Still Sold | Yes |
| Release Year | 2021 |
| Similar To | |
| Refills | |
| Capped? Retractable? | Capped - Snap On |
| Clip? | Metal |
| Length Capped / Retracted (cm) | 14.2 |
| Weight (g) | 12.0 |
| Ink Color Shipped | Black |
| Nib Material | Stainless Steel |
| Nib Color | Silver |
| Nib Sizes | Fine, Medium |