Battle of the Pens: Pilot Kakuno VS Lamy Safari

[@pamelabozzi239]

Hello Marc. I bought my first Lamy Safari about 3 years ago. I actually expected to hate the triangular grip but I LOVE IT! It is so easy to hold with my very arthritic fingers. I like the balance of the Lamy Joy even more... I swapped out the calligraphy nib for a regular nib like comes on the Safari. It may seem authoritarian to you but the grip is a real bonus for me.

[@mkompan]

It's good to know that this pen is good for people with arthritic hands. Things like comfort are so subjective, and I can only report my personal experience.

[@chykalov]

I have six Lamy Al-Star pens. I purchased four of them from retailers and two directly from the Lamy website. Both of the ones from the website had issues with skipping and scratching. Lamy kindly replaced the nibs, but the problem persisted. I tested them with different inks as well. Some of inks are drying out in it and some of them are not. I think it depends on ink. The feeder in Safari is also removable.

[@mkompan]

@@chykalov thanks for your note. It’s good to know that my review is consistent with other people’s experiences.

[@ChrisMalloy-u3f]

I started with a Lamy Safari, then went to Lamy Vista, Platnium Preppy, and then the Pilot Kakuno. For a pen that's supposed to be for kids and beginners it's an amazing pen.

[@mkompan]

I agree. I think this is the pen I would recommend to people getting into fountain pens.

[@TheDynamite333]

Thank you for the review. I own many Lamy pens with different nibs, unfotunately their finer nibs feel scratchy out of the box but still peform well enough. Even their 14k EF nib feels scratchy but has fairly good flex on it.

[@mkompan]

My pleasure! I rarely use medium nibs, but it’s good to know that Lamy medium are smoother.

[@ShawneeUnion]

I have a Kakuno in fine and it’s wonderful. It has a very smooth and wet nib. Also the converters on the Majohn A1s fit and work well on Pilots.

[@mkompan]

That’s good to know about the converter. I’m also curious to try the sealable cartridges.

[@ShawneeUnion]

@@mkompan I’m so glad I commented. I didn’t realize those stoppers would let me seal the cartridge for travel and things. I spent like $20 on metal stoppers for international cartridges last year. This tip will make the Kakuno a go to for travel.

[@parleymanderson7527]

I have one and I can confirm the nib is wet as it flashes ink in the cap (I Don’t mind much). It really durable, I stopped using mine for a few months without washing it ( not ideal, I know) found it one day in a hurry, put new ink into it and it’s good to go, no blockage .

[@9Lumberjack6]

Thanks for the comparison. I was thinking of getting a Lamy, but will probably not do so for the time being. Unfortunately, I can't easily get hold of the Pilot Kakuno. I would have liked to try it. I use the TWSBI Eco with an F nib. For finer lines I turn the fountain pen, but will probably buy a second one with an EF nib. Maybe I'll find another Kakuno, then I can fill my fountain pen collection with another brand. xD

[@mkompan]

@@9Lumberjack6 you’re welcome. TWSBI Ecos are some of my all time favorite pens. I would choose them over the Kakuno every time,

[@izzyg8316]

Really hoping I can get my hands on a Vista this Christmas. My 3 Kakuno pens are feeling rather lonely you see...they need a friend. 😜

[@mkompan]

As good a reason as any. :)

[@bruceschlickbernd8475]

Would have liked to see the Twsbi Eco thrown into the comparison with these two. I used the Pilot Prera in the past (now onto Pilot 91 sf, Falcon and 912 FA), and prefer that over the Lamy, simply because I don’t like triangular grips for drawing. But my advice to everyone is give them a try - lots of artists I respect go with the Lamy.

[@mkompan]

I agree, the Lamy is an iconic pen that’s worth trying, particularly since it’s relatively cheap..

[@TSS161]

For those that really miss a clip on the Kakuno, the Kaweco Sport clip fits the Kakuno decently. I personally never use clips but it does make a better roll stop and adds a little bit of weight to the pen (for those who like that) 👍 I love the little sketch of the guys battling, good review

[@mkompan]

Thanks! I’ve seen people put Kaweco clips on the Kakuno. It’s a great idea.

[@fabiosilvadesouza5364]

Neat video! Were I live the Lamy Safari is not a cheap pen. Buying a Jinhao 777 (Safari copy) is a safer way to test the grip and overal ergonomy of this model.

[@mkompan]

That’s a good idea!

[@chi-towncalifornia5916]

An excellent comparison. As someone who owns both Lamys and Pilots, I prefer Pilots for their slightly finer nibs, and the better tuned fine nibs, though I am biased toward Japanese pens. I also find the edges of the triangle grip on the Lamy tends to dig into my fingers more than the softer edges on the Kakuno. Regarding gold nib Pilots, I surmise that they are smoother than their steel counterparts because of the wetter feeds. Gold nib Pilot medium nibs are also noticeably thicker than medium steel nibs; the Pilot fine-medium gold nib tip is roughly the same width as the medium steel nib tip.

[@mkompan]

Thank you. Interesting to know Pilot nib sizes will also vary from gold to steel. This inconsistency in sizing is something the industry needs to remedy.

[@brucehorn7600]

I had a Lamy Vista for a while (the clear version of the Safari. The faceted grip really did not work for me since I like to rotate the pen while using it. I really liked the ease of nibbling swapping, just put a bit of scotch tape on the nib and pull it straight out, and the simplicity and small size of the replacement nibs, just a small curved piece of metal. I also liked the fact that you can get a variety of stub nibs that fit it which are readily available in the U.S., 1.1, 1.5 and 1.9mm. I thought that I would be able to see how much ink was left in it but through the two layers of plastic with the converter it didn’t work so well. I have long since switched to TWSBI pens and am much happier on all accounts.

[@mkompan]

Thanks for the comment. I think the grip section on the Lamy is the biggest drawback. I find ink windows on cartridge converters to be quite useless. And I agree with you on the ECO, it’s one of my all time favorites.

[@DavElectr0]

@@mkompan The Eco is also my favorite amongst the ones I've tried. I found the Lamy backwards drawing comfortable enough and the ink production pretty good, but you are right the funky grip is a love/hate thing.

[@neilpiper9889]

I have both Lamy Safari and Pilot Kakuno pens and like them. However , my preferred pen is a JinhaoX159 with a fine nib.

[@mkompan]

I have one too and love it.

[@davidcostello7320]

The Lamy Safari is fun. It puts a smile on my face every time I use it.

[@mkompan]

It certainly has its devotees.

[@tomb9441]

I have 2 Lamy Safaris. My problem is that they dry out very quickly (in 2-3 days).

[@mkompan]

I haven’t encountered this problem, but the weather here has been damp.

[@DavElectr0]

I have 7 Safaris along with many different brands of ink with no problems of drying out at all.

[@garthliebhaber6914]

Kakuno w/italic nib is my most constant daily user, nib quality approaches my more expensive pens. Feed ability with all my inks, wet or dry is probably best amongst all my pens.

[@HornsForEyes]

I'm really excited for the Sailor TUZU. A Safari with an adjustable grip/nib rotation, the consistency of Japanese nib production, packaged in a slightly prettier body. I'd wager it's got a shot of replacing my kakunos as reliable cheap knockabout pens

[@mkompan]

I’m interested to try the Tuzu as well. Perhaps a review of it is in the cards.

[@adrianmuino3412]

I like both, but aesthetically I prefer the Lamy over the Kakuno. Anyway is a tight comparison and for the price IMO are both excellent choices. Nice video!

[@mkompan]

The Lamy does have a unique, iconic design to it, and I understand its popularity.

[@Navvjot_Singh]

I am hearing a lot about Kakuno and was about to buy them but suddenly saw posts about them being scratchy? people say F nibs are not smooth, I currently have an F nib generic pen but really wanna buy a Pilot Kakuno

[@mkompan]

Fine nibs can be scratchy, but the Kakuno is fairly smooth for having such a fine tip.

[@arlenealennox3136]

I have 2 Kakunos (F and EF) and 2 Safaris (EF). My most preferred width would be the Pilot Fine, but, overall, I like the Safari better. It is made of ABS plastic the same as Lego so very durable. I have Lamy EF nibs on other models (Joy, CP1, and Nexx) and have not had to smooth them, so I was luckier there. I got Kaweco clips for my Kakunos.

[@mkompan]

Good to know that the plastic in the Safari is durable. I’ve seen Kaweco clips on Kakunos. It’s a great idea.

[@foxykc]

My Safari is very smooth. I prefer the pilot metro but the converter doesn't hold a lot of ink and i can't seem to get more ink into the converter

[@mkompan]

I wish that had been my experience with the Lamy. Perhaps their manufacturing is inconsistent. I hear that Moonman makes a Pilot compatible converter for their M1. Perhaps it can fit into the metropolitan.

[@DavElectr0]

As an amateur artist/fountain pen lover who has a small collection of inexpensive pens, I feel that the Lamy Safari are overall definitely rougher than the Pilot Metro, TWSBI Eco, FPR ultra flex & Wings super quality. But I can deal with it for drawing, I like the feel for certain things. Marc thank you very much, there is always loads of info and much excellent "inside" sort of info with many tips that can save years of study for artists of all levels.

[@mkompan]

You're very welcome! Other than the annoying grip section, I actually think that the Lamy is a nice well designed pen for the price, and the feedback is perfectly tolerable on some papers.

[@jacobmach3740]

Interesting comparison. You mention the con70 converter. Is there some sort of secret trick/arcane ritual to cleaning them. Love that converter but i struggle to clean out waterproof inks.

[@arlenealennox3136]

I find a blunt-tipped syringe is very helpful in flushing out converters and cartridges.

[@mkompan]

I second that recommendation. This is definitely not the easiest converter to clean.

[@jacobmach3740]

​@arlenealennox3136 thanks for the tip. I have tried that a few times and it is definitely more effective.

[@vonkarbel]

Thanks for sharing. A Factual comparison. I have 2 lamy pens (a safari and a vista). I found the grips probemstic so I filed them using a file (a sand paper will take longer.) Unfortunately the very back end of the lamy feeds is not circular making the transplant to a suitable eyedropper pen difficult (need to seal that end). Lamy nibs, however, can be transplaned on cheap chinese knockouts (their nibs can be rotated, so they haven't copied a drawback!). I wish all fountain pen manufacturers produce pens with interchangeable parts (as Nathan tardiff of noodlers inks does).

[@mkompan]

You're welcome! Filing the pen down is a good hack.

[@noskey9725]

I used both and have very similar experience as Marc describes. for Lamy If you are not fan of scratchy nib you can use black nib instead of steel nib. the black coating on nib makes it smoother. I think for drawing purpose its better to use black nib/for writing = steel nib. Japanese nibs are thinner because Japanese/Chinese letters are more complicated compared to alphabet. I ended up using lamy safari, for its durability and grip. I tend to dilute ink with water to draw with lighter color. for this purpose pilot is better but once you are used to safari's grip it's really hard to use other fountain pen.

[@mkompan]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks the nib is scratchy. I was doubting whether I got a faulty pen.

[@noskey9725]

@@mkompanNext time try Lamy Black nib. Though black coating is only for decoration, generally it is more common to get a smooth black nib than steel nib. So there is a little luck here. I like scratchy pen for writing though. In my experience either nib will become smoother as you use it.

[@steventhomas7292]

interesting comparison, my Lamy Vista's fine nib is impressively smooth, could it be asking too much from an extra fine?

[@mkompan]

I don’t see a reason why the extra-fine should be so scratchy. Perhaps I got a faulty nib?

[@Plaza-ej4dk]

Good comparison. Thank you Mark.

[@mkompan]

My pleasure!

[@sisa1958]

Very interesting video! Could you please tell me the name of the Pilot pen you mention at the end of the video. The one that has the same nib as the Kakuno you presented. I own 2 Lamy safaris (fine and medium nib) and am looking for a pen with a finer line where the ink dries faster. Many urban sketchers praise the Platinum carbon ink pen and I was said to find out that they no longer produce the one with the extra fine nib. Thank you in advance!

[@mkompan]

@@sisa1958 thank you! I was referring to the Pilot Prera. I’m fortunate to have the older version of Platinum desk pen, and it is indeed very good.

[@sisa1958]

​@@mkompanThank you so much for this super quick answer! So you you could recommend the Pilot Prera as an alternative to the platinum carbon ink pen!?

[@ichirofakename]

1. How nice that the one that costs half as much is the winner. I have heard so much praise for the Kakuno. 2. The one time a triangle grip is slightly useful is when the nib has a sweet spot - it helps you find it. However triangle grips are quite awkward for reverse writing, so much so that I avoid them altogether.

[@mkompan]

The prices on both actually vary quite a bit, so I consider these pens to be in the same price range.

[@jimkrieger776]

"Authoritarian" pen? A better adjective might be "helpful". Or "pleasantly different from the shape of all your other pens" for people who write every day for long periods and could use a change of pace. Nothing against Pilot, but I think the Safari is a great pen. Along with my Sailor, Franklin Christoph (2), Aurora, Omas, Pelikan, and Kaweco.

[@mkompan]

You might enjoy living in a benevolent dictatorship if you find the Safari “helpful.” :) Jokes aside, perhaps those who only write with this pen might enjoy the coercive grip. But for many artists (the intended audience here) or anyone that shifts their grip often, this feature is a nuisance.

[@jimkrieger776]

@@mkompan I can understand your feeling, as an artist having to shift your grip. But for a writer, I think it's a damn good pen.

[@bonjovi1354]

here in india i can buy 3 and a half kakuno pens over 1 lamy ... dont know why lamy pens r so expensive in india

[@mkompan]

Prices fluctuate wildly here in the U.S. as well.

[@Carbon.Organic_Emperor12]

Similar with inks Diamine is considered affordable in the UK but due to import duty it's a luxury in india and sailor inks are ridiculously expensive if compared price per ml and japanese pens are the same only japanese pen I could afford is pilot pens like kakuno explorer and metropolitan, metropolitan also required me to strech my budget

[@bonjovi1354]

@@Carbon.Organic_Emperor12 yes.. I wanted to try those.. But after looking at the price.. I just can't I am a student after all

[@Carbon.Organic_Emperor12]

@@bonjovi1354 "a student you are, then away from fountain pen you must" if you dive into fountain pen and inks you may not come back and never feel satisfied When I was a student I got addicted to fountain pen videos now I am to inks In student life it's hard to maintain things like fountain pens and inks Good advice under any circumstances don't use fountain pens in school irrespective of price and ink teachers will taunt you and your peers will annoy you (also applies for pens over ₹100 )

[@marianacabrera2587]

kakuno es la mejjor pluma que tengo amo escribir con ella y es la mas barata de mi coleccion , buen video !

[@mkompan]

De nada! Estoy de acuerdo.

[@katyakompaneyets7982]

Great lecture!

[@mkompan]

Thank you

[@gunsmokeandghouls]

The thing that bothered me about the Lamy is the giant clip. I tend to post my pens and if the cap was positioned with the clip just right it pressed against my hand and was super annoying. A simple fix but annoying. Also lamys black coated nibs tend to cause inconsistent line weight. My XF felt more like a fine.

[@mkompan]

I’ll have to try the black nib, since people have been saying it’s smoother.

[@AlexKahl]

Pheeeew the Lamys are really expensive in the US. Here in Germany they cost around 15-20 Dollars.

[@mkompan]

That’s not surprising since this is a German product. Japanese pens are cheaper in the U.S. than in Europe however.

[@DavElectr0]

Lamys, in the USA, can be had very often in the low 20's on eBay and places like that. For instance I just got a great deal on a lot of 5 brand new twsbi eco pens for under $100. If one looks around, you'll find competitive prices.

[@Oldauntie]

I live with Kakuno with both Fine and Extra Fine nib as an hobbyist artist and they’re so good for drawing (even con-40 is a bit miserable), i couldn’t care less about how it’s durable as i store most fountain pens separately. and i have a 78g+ with round grip section, less thicker plastic than Kakuno but better choice for the one who doesn’t like more force grip section tho 😂 anyway thanks for the video marc!!!!

[@mkompan]

@@Oldauntie thanks for you note. The Kakuno is a great pen, but I agree, the 78g is the better choice.

[@izzyg8316]

Get the Con-70N. You'll be much happier.

[@Oldauntie]

@@izzyg8316 if i did really use kakuno as heavy-duty daily writer, yeah i should be happier lol. but i still happy with full-filled trick on con-40 so i don't think i need con-70, yet.

[@izzyg8316]

@Oldauntie ...yet. 😉 Hahaha!

[@fivespice]

My Safari drys out all the time and skips. Oh, it’s super scratchy. I’m not happy for the price.

[@mkompan]

I haven't had the experience of it drying it out, but the weather here has been humid, so perhaps that helps things.

[@fivespice]

@@mkompanHad my nib adjusted. A million times better with the flow and a lot less feedback. Much happier but I still prefer the Muji, which you recommended.

[@aeonwindsoeur]

My Lamy Steel EF has qick dry ink in it. My only Lamy that dries out so far. My other ones with other ink are all good. EF with that particular ink is set up for Lefty

[@rmariu]

Wasn't Lamy taken over by Mitsubishi Pencil? Perhaps they will end up with finer nibs

[@mkompan]

I doubt it. Lamy is an old company with a loyal following. It would be foolish for Mitsubishi to risk messing with it.

[@NicholasLoizos-j3g]

Just wanted to comment that the feed on the Safari is removable and even breaks apart into 2 pieces for easy access to the ink channel 😂

[@mkompan]

Every pen can be taken apart. The question is, can it be put together again. :)