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If there’s one fountain pen that comes up in nearly every beginner conversation, it’s the Lamy Safari. After more than a decade collecting pens and hundreds of “what should I start with?” questions from new enthusiasts, I can confirm that this Lamy Safari review question never gets old — because the recommendation never changes. The Safari has held its spot at the top of the beginner list since its introduction in 1980, and in 2026 it still earns that position. But it’s not perfect for everyone, and there are real reasons some beginners should look elsewhere. Let me give you the full picture.
I own over 200 fountain pens, ranging from sub-$10 Jinhao throwabouts to vintage gold-nibbed pieces that cost more than a car payment. The Lamy Safari was among my first serious fountain pens, and I still keep at least two inked at all times. That longevity is telling.
Lamy Safari Specs at a Glance
Before diving into feel and performance, here’s what you’re buying:
- Body material: ABS plastic (impact-resistant, lightweight)
- Nib material: Stainless steel, polished
- Cap mechanism: Snap cap (opens in one motion)
- Ink system: Proprietary T10 cartridges or Lamy Z24 converter (sold separately)
- Nib sizes available: EF, F, M, B, Stub 1.1mm, LH (left-hand)
- Colors: 50+ options, with new limited editions every year
- Weight (uncapped): ~17g
- Length (uncapped): ~120mm
- Country of origin: Germany
- Current price: ~$30–$38 USD
👉 Check current Lamy Safari price on Amazon
What It’s Like to Write With the Lamy Safari
The medium nib on the Safari writes smoother than its steel construction suggests it should. Lamy grinds and tines their nibs well from the factory — not every pen in this price bracket gets that level of consistency. Out of the box, with a fresh cartridge or converter loaded, the nib starts immediately, flows consistently, and gives you a writing line that’s slightly wet by European standards. That wet flow is part of what makes it so beginner-friendly: hard starts are rare, and the pen rewards casual rather than precisely managed use.
The grip section — that triangular, slightly indented area where your fingers rest — is the most polarizing element of the Safari’s design. It forces your fingers into a specific grip position. For writers who naturally hold a pen near the “correct” grip angle, this feels ergonomic and natural almost immediately. For writers with unusual grip styles — fingers crossing over the section, very low angles, or the pen held nearly parallel to the paper — the Safari’s triangular grip can be frustrating to the point of making the pen unusable.
My honest take after a decade of watching beginners use this pen: roughly 80% of people adapt to the grip within 20 minutes. The remaining 20% never quite get comfortable with it, and those people are better served by a round-section pen like the Pilot Metropolitan or TWSBI Eco. If you can test before buying, do. If you can’t — and most beginners order online — know that the grip is the most common reason people return or trade the Safari after purchase.
The ABS plastic body is lightweight to the point where some people find it feels insubstantial. It weighs about 17 grams uncapped, which is genuinely light even by fountain pen standards. But lightweight ABS has a meaningful advantage: it’s practically indestructible. I’ve dropped Safaris on concrete, into bags with keys, and once (memorably) out of a moving vehicle. They survived. Your $30 investment is safer in a Safari than in almost any other pen at this price.
Choosing Your Nib: Which Size Is Right for Beginners?
This is where I give advice that surprises most newcomers: don’t start with EF (extra-fine). It’s counterintuitive, but here’s why:
- EF: Very fine line, feedback-heavy, scratchy on rough paper, unforgiving. Experienced pen users love it. Beginners often think the pen is broken.
- F (Fine): Good all-rounder for smaller handwriting. Slightly drier than M. Decent starter choice.
- M (Medium): My #1 recommendation for beginners. Smooth, wet, forgiving, and the nib that makes you fall in love with fountain pens instead of fighting them.
- B (Broad): Beautiful line variation, but thirsty and prone to feathering on average paper. Not a starter nib.
- Stub 1.1mm: Excellent for calligraphy practice — the italic edge creates line variation automatically. Fun pen for journaling. Slightly more demanding on paper quality.
- LH (Left-Hand): Ground specifically for the push-motion of left-handed writers. Writes at approximately Medium width. Worth trying if you’re a leftie.
One note: Lamy nibs are interchangeable across the Safari, Al-Star, and Vista lines. You can buy a Safari in Medium and order an F nib separately for $10–$15 — one pen, multiple writing experiences.
The Ink System: Cartridges vs the Z24 Converter
The Safari ships with one Lamy T10 cartridge — a proprietary format that only works with Lamy pens. That’s important to understand upfront: you can’t use standard international cartridges in a Safari. You’re either using Lamy-brand cartridges or the Lamy Z24 converter.
The Z24 converter is a twist-action piston mechanism that allows you to draw ink directly from any bottled fountain pen ink. It holds approximately 0.9ml of ink — modest capacity, but standard for this class of pen. The converter costs around $6–$8 separately and is, in my opinion, the best $8 upgrade you can make to your Safari purchase. With a converter, you have access to thousands of inks across every color imaginable, rather than being limited to Lamy’s cartridge color range.
The case for cartridges: they’re convenient, they’re mess-free, and they’re available in an expanding range of colors. Lamy has improved their cartridge color lineup significantly in recent years. If you want the simplest possible ink experience while learning the basics, starting with cartridges is fine.
The case for the Z24 converter + bottled ink: dramatically more color choice, significantly cheaper per ml of ink over time, and access to the full experience of fountain pen collecting. Most serious users transition to bottled ink within 2–3 months. You might as well start there.
👉 Lamy Z24 Converter on Amazon
👉 Lamy Ink Cartridges (assorted colors) on Amazon
Lamy Safari vs the Competition: Three Honest Comparisons
Lamy Safari vs Pilot Metropolitan (~$15–$20)
The Metropolitan is the Safari’s most direct competitor. The Metro offers a brass body (more heft, more premium feel) and a silkier, smoother nib — the Fine on a Metropolitan beats the Fine on a Safari for outright writing feel. However, the Safari wins on durability (ABS vs metal — metal dents and scratches), color variety (50+ vs a handful), and nib interchangeability. If you care most about nib smoothness and premium feel in hand, the Metro edges the Safari. If you care about long-term versatility, color options, and resistance to daily abuse, the Safari wins.
Lamy Safari vs TWSBI Eco (~$32–$38)
At a similar price point, the TWSBI Eco is a demonstrator (clear body) piston-fill pen with a built-in ink reservoir — no converter needed. It holds approximately 1.7ml of ink versus the Safari’s ~0.9ml converter capacity. The Eco’s nib is smooth and available in a wider range of sizes including 1.1mm and 1.5mm stub. I recommend the Eco over the Safari for anyone who plans to use bottled ink from day one, who writes in volume (the larger ink capacity is meaningful for heavy writers), or who wants to see their ink through the clear demonstrator body. The Safari wins for simplicity, color options, and portability.
Lamy Safari vs Kaweco Sport (~$25–$35)
The Kaweco Sport is a pocket pen that posts to full size. It uses standard international short cartridges (not Lamy-proprietary), has a round section that most grip styles find comfortable, and is genuinely pocket-sized when uncapped. The Safari beats it on ink capacity (the Sport’s converter is tiny), nib variety, and writing consistency over long sessions. The Sport is ideal for someone who wants to carry their pen literally in a coin purse. The Safari is the better home and desk pen.
Who Should Buy the Lamy Safari?
Buy the Lamy Safari if:
- You’re completely new to fountain pens and want the pen that’s converted more beginners than any other
- You want a pen you can drop, throw in a bag, and not worry about
- You enjoy color options and want to match your pen to your personality
- You’re a student or daily writer who needs a low-maintenance workhorse
- You want easy nib swapping as your preferences evolve
Consider upgrading sooner if:
- You have an unusual grip and can’t adapt to the triangular section
- You want the smoothest possible nib feel (look at the Pilot Metropolitan or TWSBI Eco)
- You write in heavy volume and want maximum ink capacity (TWSBI Eco wins here)
- You want a pen that feels premium and hefty in hand (the Safari’s plastic lightness bothers some writers)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the Lamy Safari need to be broken in?
A: Not typically. Unlike some gold-nibbed pens with a “sweet spot,” the Safari’s steel nib writes consistently out of the box. If your pen skips or scratches at first, the issue is usually nib alignment (try slightly adjusting your writing angle) or the ink. Most Safari owners have a smooth writing experience within the first page.
Q: Can I use any ink in the Lamy Safari?
A: With the Z24 converter, you can use any standard water-based dye fountain pen ink. Avoid pigmented inks (they can clog the feed), iron gall inks until you’re confident with pen maintenance, and never use India ink or calligraphy inks — these will permanently clog a fountain pen. The r/fountainpens community wiki has an excellent ink safety guide for new users.
Q: How do I clean my Lamy Safari?
A: Flush with room-temperature water until it runs clear. Remove the cartridge or converter, run water through the nib and feed, and repeat until clean. Most beginner inks flush out in 3–5 water cycles taking about 5 minutes. Let the pen dry fully before reloading with ink.
Q: Is the Lamy Safari good for left-handed writers?
A: It can be. Lamy makes a dedicated LH (left-hand) nib ground specifically for the push-motion of left-handed writing. The triangular grip is the bigger challenge: overwriters (who hook their hand above the line) sometimes find the grip section positions their fingers awkwardly. Left-handed underwriters (hand below the line) generally find the Safari comfortable.
Q: Why is the Lamy Safari so universally recommended for beginners?
A: Three reasons: it’s reliably consistent from the factory (fewer defective nibs than budget alternatives), it’s nearly indestructible (beginners aren’t always gentle with their first pens), and the ecosystem around it — interchangeable nibs, available converters, 50+ color options — means you can grow with one pen rather than immediately outgrowing it.
My Personal Lamy Safari Story
My first Safari was a charcoal grey model with a medium nib, purchased from a local stationery shop about fourteen years ago. I was in my mid-twenties, had just started practicing calligraphy, and was told by the shop owner that the Safari was “the pen you start with, no exceptions.” I was a little insulted — I wanted something fancier. I took the Safari anyway.
Three months later, I had filled four notebooks, owned twelve more inks than I had any business buying, and was researching nib tuning techniques at 11pm on a Tuesday. The Safari had, entirely on its own merits, turned me into a fountain pen collector. I now own over 200 pens. Most of them are considerably more expensive and technically impressive than the Safari. Not one of them is more responsible for who I am as a pen person.
That charcoal Safari is still in my collection. I put a stub nib in it last year. It still writes perfectly.
— Alex Chen has collected and reviewed fountain pens for fifteen years. He currently keeps 200+ pens inked across his collection, with a focus on nib testing, ink behavior, and making the fountain pen hobby approachable for new enthusiasts.
External resource: The r/fountainpens community wiki is an excellent ongoing resource maintained by experienced collectors — worth bookmarking on your first day in the hobby.