Lamy Safari Fountain Pen Review

In this 4K video I review the Lamy Safari fountain pen. The Lamy Safari is a collectable and affordable fountain pen with a unique design and a great stainless steel nib.
Lamy Safari - Red + Fine nib - amzn.to/2FPgXvZ
Lamy Safari - Charcoal + Extra Fine nib - amzn.to/3dOz2a1
This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which mean if you buy something I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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About this 4K video:
On Blake's Broadcast, I review the Lamy Safari fountain pen. The Lamy Safari is the most popular pen in the Lamy line. It is made of ABS plastic and has an excellent stainless steel nib. This is one of the best affordable fountain pens on the market.
About Blake's Broadcast:
Blake's Broadcast is a channel that reviews fountain pens, paper, and ink.

[@edgarperez9949]

Great pen to carry around without caring in my opinion. Also the writing experience is good enough. Great video as always!

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Thank you Edgar! I agree. It is always nice to have pens that you can carry around and not worry about.

[@Cortesevasive]

Its respectable pen, very robust, not afraid of scratching. Size is nice, lightweight, nib is good. Feed is hard to remove though.

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Thank you for the comment! It is definitely quite durable. I have not had to remove a feed on any of my Safaris but the nibs are pretty easy to remove.

[@stevehuffman7453]

How is the longevity of the raised ring on the end of the section that secures the cap when capped and not in use? Is it prone to chipping/shearing off so the cap is not held in place, allowing the ink on the feed to dry out? I'm ... cautious ... to carry my Safari, because of issues with pens of similar design (they use a standard N°5 nib, not a Lamy style/type nib, and the feed can be easily removed for cleaning) I admit the Safari I have is smooth writing. I dislike the "medium" (note quotes) nib, though. Writes more like a "broad" nib. I may buy an extra fine nib for it. If it lays a thinner line, I would be more apt to use it. I'm also not fond of the super light weight in hand.

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Hi Steve, I have a black Safari that I've owned since 2008 and it's scratched and beat up but it still works perfectly. I am sure that it wont last forever but for the price I am very pleased with how durable it has been.

[@williamtebokkel634]

I have used Lamy pens for years.....these are great pens for sure😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑😑

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Thanks for the comment William. I agree Lamy makes a great pen.

[@ginopagnani7286]

I thought that the X on the top is the company’s sign for a fountain pen. Roller balls do not have the X.

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Hi Gino, I have seen several models without the X on top. Here is an example: the Safari French Blue from 2006: www.truphaeinc.com/collections/lamy/products/lamy-safari-french-blue-2006-fountain-pen

[@sanketss84]

whats your long term take on lamy safari fine nib. i have a pilot metropolitan fine and medium nib and i like the fine a lot but i am looking for another pen to be my daily driver and lamy safari has been on my radar but i am having a hard time deciding between fine and extra fine and also considering the price. it comes for 40 to 43 USD here in India with the convertor. also would this clog up if left unused for a week ?

[@sanketss84]

a lot of the reviews only portray the first impressions no one does 6 month or one year usage review of these popular pens talking about the durability especially of the popular pens so it becomes kind of difficult to decide if they will stand the test of time. experiences like what happened when left the pen unused for months or first fall or how rugged it has been etc... all that you come to know after its used for a good time not just unboxed it draw a few strokes write quick brown fox and call it a day. another issue is the nib sizes of different manufactures mean different things so how does the fine , extra fine , medium etc .. how do they actually compare... etc..

[@sanketss84]

i hope i did not ask a lot but these answers would really help a lot of buyers since you already are inn possession of the pen.

[@BlakesBroadcast]

I have been using Safaris since 2008 when I first bought one at the University of Freiburg store. I still have that pen and it works great. They are very reliable everyday pens. I have left ink in mine for a long time (over a month) and it worked fine but I don't recommend that as they can be clogged like any other fountain pen. I also think that Lamy nibs are not as consistent as Pilot nibs. You can get scratchy ones and smooth ones. The width varies quite a bit. You can see the tolerances listed here: www.lamy.com/en/lamy-nib-guide/ The good thing is that you can easily change the nibs for not much money. In terms of overall durability, I haven't broken one but it is plastic and I think it would be easier to break than a Pilot Metro.

[@sanketss84]

@@BlakesBroadcast thanks a lot for your long term thoughts.

[@agathoklesmartinios8414]

While I am typically in favour of internation standard cartridges/converters, I am inclined to be lenient towards Lamy on account of the stubs that help lock it in place and the large size of the converters.

[@BlakesBroadcast]

I definitely like that the Lamy cartridges are big. I am not a huge fan of their converters as I find them to be fragile.

[@LeslieGerstman]

I bought the Lamy Safari from Blick that came with 9 color cartridges. Do I need a converter. This is the first I heard about it?

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Hi Leslie, a converter is not required. With a converter you can use bottled ink which comes in more colors and can be cheaper than cartridges. Lamy T10 cartridges hold more ink than a Z28 converter. I like having both. I like cartridges for when I am traveling and converters for when I am at home or in the office. If you are interested in a converter for your Lamy Safari you can find one here: thepapermind.com/products/lamy-z28-converter-for-fountain-pens

[@LeslieGerstman]

Thank you so much. I guess I really didn't expect a reply. You made my day

[@gijsbertnoordam3394]

I have two of these... the Umbra and the 2021 LE in Terra (which I believe is a remake of one of the two original colors). Nibs are fine and medium, respectively, which in case of Lamy means wide, but I don't mind. This is a great knockabout pen and I want to highlight the great choice in nibs. Especially noteworthy are the Lefthanded nib - 10% of the world population and what other fountain pen maker has one? - and the insanely fun 1.1 mm nib that brings out the character in your handwriting. Greatly appreciate your reviews, cheers!

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Hi Gijsbert! Thank you for the comment! I recently bought both of the 2021 LEs because they are the same colors as the originals. Normally I am not moved by LEs but these were too nice to pass up. Have you tried the left handed nib? If so, what is it like? I have a 1.1mm Lamy stub and I agree that it is a very fun nib.

[@AyushRaj]

I'm looking to buy a Fountain Pen and am confused between Metropolitan and Safari. I like the metal build of Metropolitan and is significantly cheaper where I live but Safari has that Triangular Grip which I'm more used to because I always bought triangular grip pens and pencil, because of how I hold them.

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Tough choice. If the grip is really important to you then go with the Safari. I think the Metropolitan is a better value though.

[@AyushRaj]

@@BlakesBroadcast I ordered a fine tip metropoliton. I hope it doesnt take much long to get used to it

[@TukulParida]

@@AyushRaj how is your pen Pilot MR performing? Do you like it for long writing sessions?

[@i.c.3157]

I really enjoy my 2 safari's, oddly enough the Umbra/Charcoal feels a bit more substantial than my white one, it might be due to the finish though. For me proprietary C/C never bothered me, my issue is having to even pay for a converter in the first place, so usually I just refill the free cartridge. My only genuine issue with the safari and AL-Star is the pricing, on some forums people say in Germany the safari can go for as low as $18 which is still pricey but that's by far a better deal than in the US then again there're some seller in Ebay who sell genuine safari's pretty cheap so it isn't all bad, as for the feeling, meh. It doesn't really bother me as I fully am well aware that not all plastic is going to feel luxurious so for me it'd feel a bit odd to say it feels like plastic.

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Thank you for the comment! I think the matte finish versions do feel maybe a bit more robust. I am not sure if they are actually heavier though. Refilling the cartridge is a great way to go as you also get more ink than in a converter. Lamy products are always cheaper in Europe. The same is true for many Japanese brands. I am not sure why they do it but it is what it is. I take your point about saying that a plastic pen feels like plastic. Maybe it is the weight, I am not sure, but it just feels cheaper than many other plastic pens like a Montblanc or even a Kaweco Sport...hard to put my finger on exactly what it is but its more plasticky that others.

[@i.c.3157]

@@BlakesBroadcast when it comes to the feeling of "good" plastic I think the weight could play a factor plus the thickness and hardness of the plastic, comparing my wing sung 601A and Safari I find that the 601A feels more substantial than my safari even though they're both ABS plastic. Speaking of the 601A, I read some of the comments on your 601 video an saw some people recommending the 601A (with the tubular nib), if you do purchase one do you plan on getting the one in gold trim, rhodium trim, or the steel body version?

[@BlakesBroadcast]

​@@i.c.3157 I think you are right about what potentially makes a plastic feel good. For the 601A I like the steel cap demonstrator version.

[@DVVlong1990]

Is the body of pen plastic

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Yes it is.

[@sahastrajitsingh2646]

I have the matte carbon finish. It gives a sort of modern feel, and this pen grows on you over time .

[@BlakesBroadcast]

I do tend to prefer the feel of the matte Safaris over the shiny smooth ones.

[@silverjinglebobspur1]

These are great pens. I wrote, for quite some time, with a blue on. In fact, so much writing and not on good paper, at that, I wore three nibs, all F down to what might be considered FM. I use an Al Star now, but really, not that often. I prefer an eyedropper pen, so, FPR ebonite Triveni takes care of that. But it is not always convenient, having to twist a cap off. At that moment, Al Star shines through.

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Thanks for the comment Charlie! Wow, how long did it take to wear down three nibs? The FPR Triveni looks quite nice. I will have to consider getting one.

[@silverjinglebobspur1]

@@BlakesBroadcast I was in a bad depression, and wrote almost continually. It was about two and half years. I still write a lot. I find it calming. My Triveni is awesome. One filling, lasts about a week. And I love it being an eyedropper.

[@cb7560]

Thanks for a good review of a very often reviewed pen! This is definitely a pen to test out in person before buying, as the faceted grip is the only thing about it that could be an issue. These pens were never designed to have any "line variation", so the issue of "flex" is not relevant here. They were designed to be everyday writing pens, aimed at kids, hence the "wide" nibs. They are good for fast writing, like note-taking and school work. I have had mine as an office pen for about 20 years, so the plastic is fairly robust. Overall, it is a good pen, but I can deal with the grip section, whereas other people hate it.

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Thanks for the comment CB! I still have my first Safari and it is about 15 years old now. It still works great. They are great everyday pens that you don't have to worry about it. Have you tried Lamy's "A" (Anfänger) nibs? These are supposedly stronger and more forgiving to "early writers". I might have to buy one just to try it out.

[@cb7560]

@@BlakesBroadcast yes, I have. I had a Nexx which came with one. It was a cross between a medium and fine, but I think that the tipping is a bit more rounded so as to allow you to write at more of an angle, which is something that beginners may find useful. I think it is similar to the old "kugel" or ball nibs.

[@BlakesBroadcast]

@@cb7560 That makes sense. I have had a couple of vintage Pelikan pens with K nibs.

[@cb7560]

@@BlakesBroadcast Yes. One of the pens that I use the most is a Lamy 81 Profil with a 14C kugel nib, which is a great note taking pen, especially when you have to write with a book or pad on your knees! The nib works any which way. K nibs offer the convenience of a ballpoint.

[@sheilasinghal2922]

Super helpful. Thanks! I have tons of fountain pens - including many vintage pens that belonged to my engineer father - but I've been curious about the Lamy Safari fountain pens.

[@BlakesBroadcast]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pubgvideo2972]

Ink name and which company plzz answer

[@BlakesBroadcast]

It is Lamy Red Ink.

[@pubgvideo2972]

@@BlakesBroadcast OK thank