LAMY Safari Fountain Pen Review
The first fountain pen that sticks
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. That never changes our verdict.
Verdict: Karen Verified
Karen VerifiedThe short answer: It is the fountain pen to give someone who has never used one, because it is tough, writes reliably straight out of the box and is cheap to keep in ink. The moulded grip is the one thing that will decide whether they love it or lend it to someone.
- Buy it if
- Anyone who writes in the margins, keeps a journal or has never owned a pen worth refilling.
- Skip it if
- The recipient holds a pen in an unusual grip; the moulded section insists on one way.
- Best feature
- A durable body, a snap cap that survives a bag, a nib that writes wet and smooth, and cartridges or a converter.
- Biggest annoyance
- The triangular grip is not for everyone, and the plastic looks like a school pen to some.
- The catch
- The grip section is shaped with flats that hold your fingers in a particular position. Most people find it comfortable within a day; a few never do, and there is no way to know in advance.
- Evaluation
- In use since November 2025
- Model
- LAMY Safari, medium nib
The 20-second verdict
The first fountain pen that sticks It is the fountain pen to give someone who has never used one, because it is tough, writes reliably straight out of the box and is cheap to keep in ink. The moulded grip is the one thing that will decide whether they love it or lend it to someone. Best for: Anyone who writes in the margins, keeps a journal or has never owned a pen worth refilling. Skip if: The recipient holds a pen in an unusual grip; the moulded section insists on one way.
What we loved, and what annoyed us
What we loved
- Writes immediately and consistently after weeks capped
- Body and clip survive bags and drops
- Nibs swap in seconds if the width is wrong
- Converter means any bottled ink
What annoyed us
- Moulded grip dictates how you hold it
- Looks plasticky next to a metal pen
- Medium nib is broader than many expect
What We Loved
Ten months of margin notes, letters and a daily journal, and it has never skipped or dried out, even after a fortnight capped in a drawer. The ink window shows how much is left. The wire clip holds a shirt pocket or a notebook cover without bending. The body has been dropped on a tile floor twice and shrugged it off. Swapping the medium nib for a fine one, which we did after a month, took ten seconds and no tools. It is the pen we hand to people who say fountain pens are fussy.
What Annoyed Us
The grip has two flats that put your thumb and forefinger where the designer wanted them. For most hands that is comfortable; one of us finds it forces a grip that aches after a page. The plastic body, however tough, does not feel luxurious, and the umbra colour is a slightly dull charcoal. The medium nib lays down a broad, wet line that bleeds through cheap paper.
The Catch
This is a gift that depends on the recipient's hand. The moulded section is famous and divisive. If they have ever complained about a pen's grip, buy a fine nib and hope; if they have any special way of holding a pen, look elsewhere.
Who it is for
- First-time fountain pen users
- Journal keepers and note takers
- Students and anyone hard on their pens
Who should skip it
- Unusual or very relaxed grips
- Anyone who wants a pen that looks expensive
How we evaluated it
- Evaluation period
- Ten months of daily writing
- Where
- Desk, bag, jacket pocket
- What we did with it
- Daily journal, letters, margin notes on good and cheap paper, swapping nibs, refilling with cartridges and a converter
- Compared against
- A Pilot Metropolitan and a Kaweco Sport
- What we looked at
- Whether it started cleanly after days unused, line width and wetness, bleed-through on ordinary paper, comfort over a long session, durability
- Limitations
- We did not test the extra-fine or broad nibs or the AL-star aluminium version
- Product source
- Purchased at retail
- Dates
- November 2025 – ongoing
Read how we evaluate products and our editorial standards.
Performance
The steel nib is smooth with a little feedback and consistent from the first stroke. Ink flow is generous, which is lovely on good paper and messy on newsprint. It starts every time. The cap seals well enough that a week's neglect costs nothing. Against the Metropolitan it is lighter and tougher; against the Kaweco it is larger and more comfortable for long pages.
Ease of use, design, and build quality
Ease of use
Uncap, write. Cartridges push in; the converter twists to fill from a bottle. Nib units slide off with a bit of tape and slide on. It is as easy as a fountain pen gets.
Design and build quality
A slim plastic barrel with a flat-sided section, a big wire clip and an ink window. Some see a design classic, some see a school pen. It is both.
Privacy and connectivity
No app, no account, nothing to connect.
Safety notes
A pen; the cap is a small part for toddlers. Ink stains.
Cleaning, maintenance, and ongoing costs
Flush the nib with water when changing inks or every few months. Wipe the section. Nothing else.
What it keeps costing you
| Consumables | Cartridges or bottled ink |
|---|---|
| Expected life | Many years; nibs replaceable |
Value
It costs about what a decent rollerball costs and can be refilled forever for the price of ink. There are prettier pens for a little more and worse pens for the same. As a gift it is exactly the right amount of pen for someone who has never had one.
Alternatives
The Pilot Metropolitan is a brass-bodied pen at a similar level with a conventional section.
The Kaweco Sport is a short, chunky pen that posts to full length and lives in a jeans pocket.
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Specifications
| Brand / model | LAMY Safari, medium nib |
|---|---|
| Body | ABS plastic (manufacturer states) |
| Nib | Steel, medium; other widths available and swappable |
| Filling | LAMY T10 cartridges or Z28 converter (manufacturer states) |
| Cap | Snap-on with a wire clip |
| Weight | About 0.6 oz (manufacturer states) |
| Warranty | Set by the retailer |
Only specifications that affect the buying decision are listed. Figures marked “manufacturer states” are the maker's claims, not our measurements.
Warranty and returns
The manufacturer does not publish a formal warranty period; returns are set by the retailer.
Reader questions
Which nib should I give?
Can it use bottled ink?
Final verdict
Verdict: Karen Verified
Karen VerifiedThe gateway fountain pen, and a gift that turns a note-taker into a pen person more often than not.
- Best for
- Anyone who writes in the margins, keeps a journal or has never owned a pen worth refilling.
- Skip if
- The recipient holds a pen in an unusual grip; the moulded section insists on one way.
- Main strength
- A durable body, a snap cap that survives a bag, a nib that writes wet and smooth, and cartridges or a converter.
- Main weakness
- The triangular grip is not for everyone, and the plastic looks like a school pen to some.
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. That never changes our verdict.
Update and correction history
- Published.Why: Initial evaluation.Verdict unchanged
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As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. If you buy through links on this site we may receive a commission. You do not pay more because of this. Affiliate relationships do not determine which products we evaluate, recommend, criticize, or reject. Brands cannot buy a Karen Verified verdict. Full affiliate disclosure. Photographs on this page illustrate the product in use and are not test evidence; see our image policy.