Beginner Fountain Pens – Lamy Safari Fountain Pen Review
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The 3rd Beginner Fountain Pen in my series of reviews, the Lamy Safari.
Many of you have had some great suggestions on other fountain pens to review in my series of what I consider to be beginner or starter fountain pens. I know that a lot of people might not really consider the Lamy Safari to be a true beginner fountain pen but my view on this is that if you have owned and used one of the two other beginner fountain pens that I reviewed (Pilot Varsity or Platinum Preppy) then I think you have enough experience to decide if you want to upgrade to a slightly more advanced but relatively inexpensive and beginner fountain pen.
The Lamy Safari Fountain Pen with converter installed.
Now as I mentioned, the Lamy Safari is a step (or more) above the other two beginner fountain pens that I reviewed, however I feel that if you have used either of the other two and you even slightly enjoyed them, then its time to take another step forward with the Safari. The Lamy Safari is a much more sturdy fountain pen that is also designed smarter with its comfortable grip, smooth writing nib, and functional clip. The version of the Safari that you are looking at here is the charcoal body with EF nib, and I purchased the converter for the ink so I could use my own ink instead of the cartridges. I really like how the stainless steel nib is black, so it matches the pen.
This fountain pen was my first purchase from the Writers Bloc site, and I was impressed with their good pricing, quick shipment and nice packaging. For the record, I was not given any complimentary or discounted items from Writers Bloc in exchange for this review. The Lamy Safari itself was $25, and the converter was an additional $4.95, so the overall cost (not including shipping) was $29.95. You can also pick up the Lamy Safari EF from Amazon, but I was not able to find any converters that pair up for free shipping. Having a fountain pen with a converter is something that really helps a new user to enjoy the experience of using all of the different inks that are available. Again, I am sure that many people probably cringe at the idea of a $30 beginner fountain pen, but the intent of this series of reviews was to just get a look at some options if you are just getting started, it was not intended to be for just bargain models. The simplicity of the Lamy Safari, along with the high quality associated with the Lamy brand really make it a great option for the money.
Lamy Safari writing sample in a Mead notebook.
Writing with the Lamy Studio is very smooth, and very comfortable. In my initial research on fountain pens, I came across lots of questions that people had regarding the extra fine nibs and if they were “scratchy” because of their small size. In my opinion, this is a non-issue with the Lamy Safari, and it also was not an issue with my Lamy Studio with the same size EF nib, they both write very smoothly. The grip area (also known as the “section”) on this pen has a unique design with two flat areas that help you position the nib perfectly on the paper, while also providing for a very naturally comfortable place to rest your fingers while writing. In comparing the Lamy Safari to the Lamy Studio I also noticed that the converter is slightly easier to use because the design of the part which you twist is a little easier on the fingers due to some slightly more rounded edges.
The Lamy Safari grip, or section on the right shows its unique and comfortable design.
The thing that makes this such a great beginner fountain pen in my opinion is not only that it offers quality and flexibility with a very smooth writing experience, but it is also a pen that you will want to use regardless of what other fountain pens you have around. Even though I consider this a beginner fountain pen, I still get as much enjoyment out of my Lamy Safari as I do with someof my other more expensive fountain pens. I think the value that you get with the Lamy Safari is huge because as long as you think you will like fountain pens in general, this one is a keeper that you will look forward to using for years to come.
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Excellent review – very thorough! I whole-heartedly agree with your assessment: the Lamy Safari is a great beginner pen and a great fountain pen, period! I have two Safaris that I use almost daily because they write better than some of my much more expensive pens. I added the converters to both and will probably purchase more Safaris (one of each color isn’t too many – is it?).
@John Johnston – Thanks for the great feedback, I definitely dont think that one of each color is too many.
Lamy just came out with an orange version of the pen too, so that can keep you busy if they keep adding colors, although this pen has been a part of their line for a while now.
Two Safaris on my desk right now so that tells you something about my opinion of them. The grip took a little time to adjust to but now I miss it on other pens. The shape of the extra-fine nib even improves my handwriting and for a small investment, you can even purchase extra nibs. The Safari is definitely one of my favorite pens.
Now if they would just release a brown version…
@Inkophile – I agree about the grip, took a little bit of getting used to, but now I really like it. Brown would be cool…they did recently release a brown version of the Lamy Studio, so there might be some hope.
Interesting recommendation. I know a lot of people who swear by the Safari but I’ve never tried one. I owned one Lamy, the name of which escapes me, but it was sold by Levenger, was entirely metal (stainless steel, I think) and the majority of the pen was a stark hexagonal shape with no rounded edges. Only the very bottom grip of the pen was a rounded shape, albeit with rough ridging. Not very comfortable – no amount of “getting used to” could make me enjoy writing with it. Although I wasn’t particularly impressed by that particular design, I’m willing to give the popular Safari a try.
@Cranky – Ill be honest, before I bought my Safari, I didnt find it to be such an exciting or interesting fountain pen, but after having used it for a little bit, it really grew on me. Totally worth a try if you dont mind spending the $30. I just feel like its a great every day use type fountain pen, and you dont have to worry too much about it getting beat up or anything…not that I would abuse it, but its nice not to worry about every tiny little possible dent or scratch.
Im with you on any pens that have any kind of hexagonal shape or rough edges, just the site of them makes my fingers hurt…I could never write with something like that.
I have the Safari Vista XF (the clear demonstrator) in my pen box. I have problems at times with peripheral neuropathy in my rt hand which makes gripping any pen a reader’s challenge (numbness – no grip strength.) BUT – that unique design of the Safari really holds the pen in the right position. I run for this pen when the fingers act up. Plus, even with my large-ish hands, the pen sits corretly in my hand whether or not the cap is posted.
If nothing else, esp given the price, this is a good “special needs” kind of pen for folks who have grippng problems that cause their handwriting to wander. I bet it might help folks improve their penmanship/handwiting given that the pen pretty much holds itself in place for you.
I really don’t mind the “scratchy” sound of the XF nib and it adds to the coolness factor of the pen.
I DO like that it’s one of the few fountain pens with a line fine enough that I can use in a smaller format planner book (like a regular size Franklin Covey planner, or Levenger circa in the Junior size.
@RedPiano1 – Thanks for that extra info, thats something I could have never been able to share with the readers here, and Im sure that you are not the only person out there with a similar issue, so thank you!
i have three lamys: a f-nib vista, ef safari, and ef studio. the safari is scratchy, and also thinner — at least, it seems to me — than the studio, despite the fact that they have the same nib size. is this the case in your experience with them?
i use the lamys mainly for drawing and sketching (i fill them with carbon ink and they’ve held up well the past few months), but the barrels of the vista and safari are more comfortable than the studio, which is very slick-looking but has no finger grooves for grip.
for writing i prefer the pilots: prera, lucina, and penmanship — thin, thin lines and smooth, especially with noodler’s ink. private reserve seems to be rather scratchy with the prera, but i’ve yet to confirm this with another ink besides noodler’s. they’re also great beginner fountain pens, though the prera and lucina are pricier.
thanks for the review. maybe it’s just my own lamy safari that’s wonky… XD
@mabeloos – That is interesting, I dont notice much difference between my Sarari and Studio EF Nibs. I have read people mention that there are consistency issues between different nibs of the same size from both Pelikan and Lamy.
I agree with you on the barrel of the Studio being slick and not quite as easy to hold on to, but I still love my Studio. I am actually contemplating buying the Stainless Steel version of the Studio because it has a black rubbery grip instead of the smooth and sometimes slippery metal grip.
Glad you enjoyed the review, and I appreciate your additional feedback on the Lamys and your ink combinations. There are so many variables out there, so it is good to hear from different people on their experiences.
@OSG: Well, with Levenger sending me coupons twice a week these days (they know a fish when they’ve got one on the hook) I’m definitely interested in using one to grab a Safari. (If you’re reading this, Steve, there you go, OSG made you a sale…)
i am writing with a 14 kt gold broad nib fitted on a yellow safari one of a kind writes very smooth.
@peter hernandez – That sounds like a pretty cool looking pen, would love to see a picture if you have one.
I recently bought an AL Star (I don’t understand the spellink there either, unless the AL is because the pen is Aluminum instead of Plastic) because I wanted the particular shade of purple that only comes in that line. Again, went for the F nib. (I’m not sure that Lamy makes an XF for this line: I certainly didn’t need it.)
Wow! Even though it’s the same writing “guts” as the safari, it’s a great pen – very smooth, nice wet nib, and no scratching or skipping (when I’m writing flat on the desk instead of “on the run” in my Circa books.)
This is about four Lamys for me, and I’m noticing that the differences in touch and feel varies by pen. some more scratchy than others, and some less dry/wet. It is a little bit different for each one I have, though nothing so flawed as to say I dislike ANY of the bunch. I’m stil a Safari (and now AL Star) zealot.
@RedPiano1 – i always just assumed that the AL stood for Aluminum. Interesting to know your experiences with differences in the pens, I only own a Safari and Vista, but I do notice slight differences with the two, especially when using the same inks with the two.
Have you ever had trouble with the feed and/or the nib on the Lamy Safari warping while using Noodler’s ink or have you ever heard of anyone having this problem? I’m asking you first of all because I’ve been reading your reviews for a little while now and you seem to have a good knowledge of both pens and inks, and secondly because I was in a store today looking for Noodler’s ink, but when I told the sales associate I was going to put it in a Safari he warned me that some customers have complained about the feed warping. I found this a little odd because on the Noodler’s web site they have an article about how their inks are pH neutral and are safe even for vintage pens. Any information would be helpful.
Thanks.
@eska – Personally I’ve never had any issues. I have used my Safari with multiple different colors and types of Noodlers, including the Bullet proof versions, the regular versions, and even Blue Ghost. I remember before I ever bought any of my fountain pens I read lots on the issue of Noodlers and its impact or lack of impact on fountain pens on FountainPenNetwork.com. It can be a pretty controversial topic, so all I can do is weigh in on my personal experiences that have all been good, so I hope that is helpful.
I just bought a Lamy Safary with extra fine nib based on this review. I was going to get a fountain pen of some kind, and this convinced me. I also got it from Writer’s Bloc and I can attest to their extremely quick turn around time. I got my items (Lamy Safari fountain pen, converter, Lamy blue-black ink and several Clairfontaine notebooks) in less than a week.
I’m left handed and stopped using fountain pens because of the smudging I always got and because they were scratchy on the paper (these were $5 parker fountain pens, btw, so yeah….). Since I learned to write correctly as a left hander, I decided to try out a fountain pen again, and wow… what a difference. The Lamy Safari is smooth, not at all scratchy, and after I started it on a trial basis, just to see how it wrote, I just put my other pens away. Now I use it for everything as much as possible.
Thanks for pointing me toward fountain pens in general (again) and toward this Lamy Safari in particular. My Zebra Sarasa gel pens are nice, but this pen beats them hands down for pleasure in writing.
@Michael – Glad to hear that the review was helpful, and that Writer’s Bloc came through for you. Im always happy to hear of good experiences like that so I know it wasnt just me. Also happy to know that you are back to using fountain pens, and enjoying them so much! Thanks for sharing your experiences.
How does the grip work for lefties?
@Austin – Hopefully someone else can chime in who is a lefty, however Id imagine it works just as well because the shape of it is perfectly symmetrical so it should be an identical experience with either hand.