Lamy Safari Fountain Pen, Medium Nib + 5 Black Ink Cartridges (Matte Black)

I bought a Lamy Safari as my first pen, and I have no regrets. It's a versatile, well-constructed pen that consistently writes well.As anyone who's ever played with Lego sets knows, ABS plastic is sturdy and light; this is an excellent combination for a daily "carry this everywhere" pen, especially if you're a klutz like me. I've dropped it a few times (not nib/feed down, of course), and the pen's been none the worse for the wear. Naturally I DON'T recommend dropping or stress-testing a pen, but it is good for my ease of mind to know that it's at least somewhat resilient to mishaps.The coloration of the plastic in the charcoal model is really nice, too. It looks like a black pen, but in stronger light, there's a nice brownish/greyish character that is really ... MoreI bought a Lamy Safari as my first pen, and I have no regrets. It's a versatile, well-constructed pen that consistently writes well.As anyone who's ever played with Lego sets knows, ABS plastic is sturdy and light; this is an excellent combination for a daily "carry this everywhere" pen, especially if you're a klutz like me. I've dropped it a few times (not nib/feed down, of course), and the pen's been none the worse for the wear. Naturally I DON'T recommend dropping or stress-testing a pen, but it is good for my ease of mind to know that it's at least somewhat resilient to mishaps.The coloration of the plastic in the charcoal model is really nice, too. It looks like a black pen, but in stronger light, there's a nice brownish/greyish character that is really nifty. It manages to look subdued while still retaining a character of its own.The versatility is a great selling point if you're a beginner; the pen takes cartridges and converters are quite affordable. I personally jumped over to using a converter pretty quickly, as the standard Lamy inks are neat, but not quite my cup of tea in terms of color and water resistance. For everyday writing, Noodler's Heart of Darkness flows extremely well (and comparatively wet) in an extra fine nib on the Safari. Also, nibs are affordable and easy to swap, so it's pretty straightforward to experiment, build up a collection of nibs, and figure out your preferences.As many note, the grip is a bit unusual; I was concerned I'd find it annoying, but I don't really find it to be a problem. Coming from mechanical pencils, I discovered that I unconsciously tended to turn my hand as I wrote, trying to "hunt" for the sharpest edge, even though I was no longer using a pencil. I found the grip actually helped me adjust my habits so that I could consistently hold the pen at the correct angle; this habit stuck even when I moved to different pens.All things considered, if the overall style of the pen resonates with you, I think it's an excellent choice, especially if you're starting out.

I wanted to love this pen because of the simple utilitarian design and triangular grip, seemingly making it the ideal note-taking pen for class. Unfortunately, Lamy's black F nib was atrocious and the stainless steel M was only slightly better. I usually find myself reaching for a TWSBI instead.After doing some research, it seems that many people have the same experience with Lamy nibs and have some luck with tweaking them. Messing around with the tines on my F nib increased the ink flow, but didn't improve the weird feel. If you have the tools and time to perfect the nib, you might be fine with a Lamy... but this hardly makes it a "beginner's" pen. Otherwise, a Pilot Metro or a TWSBI Eco might be better for your money.Side note: the proprietary converter seems to ... MoreI wanted to love this pen because of the simple utilitarian design and triangular grip, seemingly making it the ideal note-taking pen for class. Unfortunately, Lamy's black F nib was atrocious and the stainless steel M was only slightly better. I usually find myself reaching for a TWSBI instead.After doing some research, it seems that many people have the same experience with Lamy nibs and have some luck with tweaking them. Messing around with the tines on my F nib increased the ink flow, but didn't improve the weird feel. If you have the tools and time to perfect the nib, you might be fine with a Lamy... but this hardly makes it a "beginner's" pen. Otherwise, a Pilot Metro or a TWSBI Eco might be better for your money.Side note: the proprietary converter seems to be another source of trouble for many Safari users, related to the surface tension of ink entering the feed. I'd skip the $6 and fill the included cartridge with bottled ink from a syringe. Also, clean everything thoroughly before use - manufacturing residue is yet another common problem with these bad boys.

I bought a LAMY Safari in fine over a year ago and have gravitated towards using it and no other pens for note taking. Here’s why I like it:1. Snap caps are quick!2. Structured grip allows for correct nib orientation without thinking about it - allowing one to focus on lecture material. This is very important to me!3. Replaceable nibs in the event that the current nib is bent. You can also buy multiple sizes and try them out!4. Pen body prevents rolling off the desk even when unposted.5. LAMY cartridges are easy to install by ******** the pen body on, as well as being high capacity. Good design here!6. Pen is light but very robust. In a daily use case this pen will easily last many years if taken care of, but if lost or stolen is easily replaceable.7. Ink ... MoreI bought a LAMY Safari in fine over a year ago and have gravitated towards using it and no other pens for note taking. Here’s why I like it:1. Snap caps are quick!2. Structured grip allows for correct nib orientation without thinking about it - allowing one to focus on lecture material. This is very important to me!3. Replaceable nibs in the event that the current nib is bent. You can also buy multiple sizes and try them out!4. Pen body prevents rolling off the desk even when unposted.5. LAMY cartridges are easy to install by ******** the pen body on, as well as being high capacity. Good design here!6. Pen is light but very robust. In a daily use case this pen will easily last many years if taken care of, but if lost or stolen is easily replaceable.7. Ink window!8. If you choose to use bottled ink, LAMY bottles are the best in the business!9. The converter for this pen has little tabs that click in, preventing it from rolling and coming undone while refilling.10. The end of the feed plus short nib on this pen is well made. It doesn’t have any large fins that hold on to ink after filling, making the procedure efficient. If you take the nib off the feed slit isn’t just a straight line, but a rectangular area that contacts the nib. With the right ink (LAMY blue black is a good example, it’s my favorite), I’ve found the pen can be left uncapped for 5 minutes or so without hard starting. I haven’t experienced this happening with other pens.11. Last but certainly not least, hands are very sensitive so sharp bits sticking out, step downs, and odd textures can get very annoying in such a personal object. This pen doesn’t have any. There’s no threads sticking out. The long grip has little ramps at the end that stop your fingers from sliding down. The matte finish on the Safari charcoal is pleasing to hold as it’s smooth yet grippy, even if you have oily or sweaty hands. It really feels like someone scrutinized every minuscule part so the experience just holding the pen felt well-tailored to the human hand. The Safari is like a hammer. It’s a ubiquitous tool. Every hammer is shaped basically the same. Metal head, one side for nailing in, other for pulling nails out and a long handle for leverage. They can be made of super metal alloys and carbon fiber reinforced plastic or just steel and wood. However, the materials don't matter as much as the construction. A well made hammer disappears in your hand and becomes an extension of your arm. At that point it’s less about the tool and more about what you’re using it to do. In my case, that’s hammering away at some fluid dynamics problems.Thanks for reading!