For this Friday’s Fountain Pen Friday we’re going to talk about one of the most accessible fountain pens: The Lamy Safari (retails for $29.60 without the converter) is one of my go-to pens. I have a lot of those, but I do have a soft spot in my heart for my Lamy Safaris.
They’re some of my longer pens…second-longest next to my Moonman pen at 6.5 inches when posted (remember, that’s when the cap is placed on the back of the pen)
but because they’re made up of the same plastic lego blocks are made of, they’re pretty light. This is how they stand up when it comes to my other pens.
I think I have average-sized hands so the pen feels pretty comfortable in my hands. It also, unlike the other two entry-level FPs, has a triangular grip that “trains” your hand as to how best to grip a fountain pen.
Most of the Lamys have that plastic/lego type finish on their pens, but some versions, such as the matte black or the terracotta orange (above) have a matte style finish that feels like it would stand up to longer writing sessions just a little better because of how the pen would feel in your hands.
It also tends to be a little bit more generous with the ink flow so remember to scale down one if you’re trying to write very finely.
Final thoughts
Cons
- Tends to be a wetter pen and so care must be maintained to keep it in working order
- You have to buy the converter.
- The included cartridge doesn’t have the best type of ink
- the most expensive of the entry-level pens by at least $10 (vs the Pilot Metropolitan at $18 and the TWSBI Eco at $30)
Pros
- They write beautifully and for M and B nibs you could really see the shading of the colors
- Lamy is a solid brand and can be used to travel places with provided you take the adequate precautions when it comes to traveling with it
- Lamy proprietary cartridges are very easy to find at stores as well as online
Overall, they’re a really nice pen to start out with. It’s got a little bit more boldness than the Metropolitan and a decent amount of ink in its cartridges. The clip is secure and unique in its design, and it’s a delight to write with (although for my preference for longer sessions I prefer my Lamy AL Star or my TWSBI).
