Pentel Fude Touch Brush Sign Pen Review: Original vs 2020 12-Color Bundles

Introduction

Pentel’s Fude Touch brush sign pens have quietly become a favorite among journalers and hand letterers, and for good reason. We spent time with both the original 12-color bundle and the 2020 12-color bundle to see which one deserves a spot on your desk. The pens are sold in sets or individually, and the two bundles we tested were purchased for $23 each, with single pens retailing between $2 and $5 apiece. There is also a newer 2023 six-color bundle on the market, but this comparison focuses on the two full 12-color sets.

Design and Nib Performance

Each pen comes in a solid plastic body color-coordinated with the ink inside, with a subtle silver shimmer that adds a unique touch without looking gimmicky. The small felt-tip brush nib is the real star here: it is flexible enough to create a wide variety of line widths, yet firm enough to stay easy to control, which makes it just as useful for drawing as it is for hand lettering.

Durability is another strong point. After several years of use, these nibs have shown no fraying, which is rare at this price point for a brush tip.

Ink Quality and Paper Behavior

The inks are water-based and water resistant, applying smoothly and evenly without feathering. On thinner paper you may notice some ghosting, but on thicker stock around 160 GSM, such as Archer and Olive or Notebook Therapy journals, we did not find ghosting to be an issue. That makes these pens well suited to bullet journals where both sides of a page matter.

Original 12-Color Bundle

The original set covers the standard primary and secondary shades, delivered in vibrant, saturated tones. It is the better pick if you want bold color for headings, drawings, and lettering that pops off the page.

The wide shade range combined with a controllable, durable nib makes this bundle an easy recommendation for anyone building a small brush pen collection.

2020 12-Color Bundle

The 2020 set swaps the bright primaries for more muted and earthy shades, which suits softer journal spreads, bujo layouts, and lettering with a calmer aesthetic. The nib and ink performance are identical to the original set, so the choice really comes down to which color palette matches your style.

If you gravitate toward understated spreads and warm, natural tones, this bundle is the more appealing of the two.

Buying Advice

Both bundles cost around $23 per 12-color set, which works out to excellent value compared with buying individually at $2 to $5 per pen. If you can only choose one, let your palette decide: vibrant colors for bold spreads, muted earthy shades for a softer look.

Many people will simply want both sets, since together they cover a remarkably generous color range at an affordable price, and the durable nibs mean the pens last long enough to justify it.

Conclusion

The Pentel Fude Touch brush sign pens remain a top pick for anyone after a durable small-nib brush pen with a wide color range at an accessible price. The original bundle delivers vibrant primary and secondary shades, while the 2020 bundle offers muted, earthy alternatives, and both share the same smooth, water-resistant ink and long-lasting nib.