Lamy Safari

A travel companion who is fun, strong, vibrant and flexible; meet the durable and affordable Lamy Safari.

Available in wide choice of nibs and colors, Lamy Safari easily fits in whichever category you want it to; Be it Everyday Pens - Luxury Pens - Fine Writing Instruments – Gift Pens – Ink Pens; simply because it’s one of the best pens from LAMY.

Overall Rating: 7.25/10
Price Range:  $21.60 - $37.00
Where to buy it: http://penboutique.com/m-158-lamy-safari.aspx

Comfortable to hold, efficient to write with, a sense of balance, easy cleaning, and hassle free refilling, the Lamy Safari is the pen that can compete well with the pens you buy twice or thrice its price. Not a style statement but definitely an invariable must-have!

Lamy Safari

In the course of my never ending quest for acquiring one of the best writing instruments, I came across the perfect one!
A German migrant, the Lamy Safari is designed through experience gathered from around the globe, which must be how it promises such a joyous ride through the writing world. I must admit that it is pleasant company to have. Lamy was a pioneering force behind the use of molded synthetic plastics and they have continued that legacy to this day, providing a sturdy design that is both physically strapping and a nod to those who are minimalists. I have found it to be quite durable. But the best part is the color palette: black is classy, pink is perky yellow is bright, red is glamorous and white is so pure; making it a difficult decision on which is that ONE color you want the most, each one of them being as alluring as the next. With the attractive row of colors, a few special editions, the characteristic design and the ergonomics, the Safari is the best selling member of the Young Writing Family by Lamy pens.

Let’s take an overall look at this series before we break it down (not literally of course!) for an objective view. The grip is ergonomic, denoting a scientific approach to a pen designed to meet your needs, your likes and your style of use. I would say this is a carry-wherever-you-go kind of writing instrument, the kind that is tricky to find. The appealing metal clip holds on to your pocket, or your backpack, or your organizer while at the same time safely keeping you away from the much maligned but omnipresent unknowingly-there scratches to your skin, clothing, or whatever you may be carrying that day. Designed by Wolfgang Fabian, the Lamy Safari writing instruments series is comprised of matching Fountain Pens, Rollerballs, Ballpoints and Mechanical Pencils.

The Lamy Safari has always been described as the best pen for new entrants to the Fountain Pen world.

With an amazing choice of nib sizes, colors, inks, a surprisingly inexpensive cost, and ease; this is not just a good choice for starters but a wonderful tool in the repertoire of even the most practiced pen-aficionado.

1. Lamy Safari Types

The Lamy Safari Series is offered in your choice of Navy Blue, Red, Charcoal, Yellow, Shiny Black, White, or Limited Edition colors and is comprised of the following writing instrument styles:

A. Lamy Safari Fountain Pen

Lamy Safari Fountain Pen

With a sturdy plastic body, characteristic front section and flexible clip of shiny chrome, the Lamy Safari Fountain Pen features a steel nib and is compatible with a converter filling system or ink cartridges. The use of a fountain pen, as fascinating as it might sound, is equally intricate. The Safari fountain pen eases users into the experience with its wide array of options and variety of ink colors.

Lamy Safari Colors available in Fountain Pens:
Lamy Safari Charcoal Fountain Pen
Lamy Safari Pink Fountain Pen
Lamy Safari Shiny Black Fountain Pen
Lamy Safari Navy Blue Fountain Pen
Lamy Safari Red Fountain Pen
Lamy Safari Yellow Fountain Pen
Lamy Safari White Fountain Pen

B. Lamy Safari Rollerball Pen

Lamy Safari Rollerball Pen

Enriching the Lamy Safari series with yet another incredible experience of quality writing is the Lamy Safari Rollerball Pen. Focus your effort on creativity rather than on keeping pressure between pen and paper.

Lamy Safari Colors available in Rollerball:
Lamy safari Charcoal Roller ball pen
Lamy Safari Shiny Black Roller ball pen
Lamy Safari Navy Blue Roller ball pen
Lamy Safari Red Roller ball pen
Lamy Safari Yellow Roller ball 

C. Lamy Safari Ballpoint Pen

Lamy Safari Ballpoint Pen

Matching with the Fountain Pen build, the Lamy Safari Ballpoint Pen sports the same look and feel that makes the Safari series stand out. For the student in a classroom or for the on-the-go traveler; for a short scribble or full page writing, this retractable, lightweight, well balanced Ballpoint from Lamy can be the ideal selection.

Lamy Safari Colors available in Ballpoint Pen:
      Yellow, Blue, Red, Charcoal and Shiny Black

D. Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil

Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil

The Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil completes this series of fine writing instruments. This piece utilizes 0.5 mm lead (Lamy M41) and includes a Lamy Z18 Eraser (Eraser Refills available too!) with cleaning needle underneath the removable cap. Stylish looks and design and fantastic performance is what these Mechanical Pencils are synonymous with.

Lamy Safari Colors available in Mechanical Pencil:
Lamy safari Charcoal Mechanical Pencil
Lamy Safari Shiny Black Mechanical Pencil
Lamy Safari Navy Blue Mechanical Pencil
Lamy Safari Red Mechanical Pencil
Lamy Safari Yellow Mechanical Pencil


E. Lamy Safari Special Edition

Lamy Safari Special Edition

For the collector and enthusiast, Lamy has released a number of Special Editions in the Safari line. The latest color, Neon Yellow, is a new fashion statement in writing styles.  It is available in all but the Mechanical Pencil.
Lamy Safari Colors available in Special Limited Edition:
      Lamy Safari Neon Yellow Fountain Pen
      Lamy Safari Pink Fountain Pen

2. Appearance, Design / Look & Feel

Lamy Safari Looks and Design

Specific Rating: 6.5/10
The first thing you will notice about the Lamy Safari is how good looking it is; it may be the shiny smooth finish or the non-sparkly matte touch. The colors are trendy, desirable and brilliantly flashy yet elegant, distinguishing it from any other regular pen. The large LAMY logo on the lower section of the body and embossed GERMANY at the very end endow it with distinctive character.

Add it to your collection of personalized pens with a private engraving to the resilient body, if you desire.

Going by the historical approach, the Safari was designed and produced in 1980 with ABS plastic making it especially affordable and durable for students. This accounts for its different colors as well. The pen still is still loved by all. This proves how timeless and future-proof of a design the Safari enjoys.

The barrel of the Lamy Safari Ink pens is designed with an ink window to provide the user an easy way to view the amount of ink left. The cap for both Fountain and Rollerball Pens is accompanied by the shiny smooth metal clip, which is located at the top of the barrel on the Ballpoint Pen and Mechanical Pencil also. The facets on the grip section are simple, plain and well-crafted for a perfect hold of the pen that you will never want to let go of. The facets are designed to be used by both left and right handed writers.


3. Construction & Quality

Specific Rating: 7/10
The Safari is made of perfectly molded ABS plastic. Plastic may not sound like a superior material for a pen but just keep that thought aside until you see the body of Lamy Safari. The construction is smooth and clean. The cap clicks in place with ease and the button for the Ballpoint and Mechanical Pencil is faultless.

The Fountain Pen is comprised of 4 pieces - cap, body, front section (including the feed), and the nib which is removable/replaceable.

While the Safari may not rise to the same expectations you would have of a Montblanc or Visconti, they are not meant to compete with such luxury pens. Instead, the Safari is meant to give you a high quality. Its a well made, durable pen that is a fantastic writer but won’t break the bank.
If you are a fan of lighter pens, try using the Fountain and Rollerball pens without posting the cap on the back.

The Safari is virtually like a feather weighing approximately 17 grams.
Dimensions:
Length:
Capped pen – 140mm
Uncapped pen – 130mm
Length of the cap – 65mm
Length of the pen with the cap posted back – 167mm
Width:
At the widest – 15mm
Clip width – 65mm


4. Accessories plus Filling System

Lamy Safari Accessories and Filling System

A.    Lamy Safari Nibs
Nibs for Lamy Safari are available in either stainless steel or black, in the following sizes:

• Lamy Safari Extra fine nib (EF)
• Lamy Safari Fine nib (F) 
• Lamy Safari Medium nib (M) 
• Lamy Safari Broad nib (B)
• Calligraphy nib (1.1mm, 1.5mm, 1.9mm)

B.   Lamy Safari Fountain pen Converter and Cartridges

The Lamy Safari Fountain Pen is a cartridge/converter pen which is the most flexible of the different filling systems. Every fountain pen fanatic has used a pen like this at one time or another. Like other products from Lamy, the Safari uses a proprietary Lamy ink cartridge (T10), one of which is included with the pen.  A Lamy Safari Fountain Pen converter (Z24) is not included in the box but can be purchased separately.
Lamy Ink Cartridges are available in black, washable blue, blue-black, green, red, turquoise and violet. These will fit all lines of Lamy fountain pens.

C.    Lamy Safari Ink

Lamy Safari Ink

We strongly recommend using Lamy brand ink (T52) with the converter filling system. While filling the converter, make sure the whole nib is immersed in the ink and that you don’t spill it over the lip of the bottle!

D.    Lamy Safari Refills

Lamy Safari Refills

Lamy Rollerball refills are available in black, washable blue, green and red.
Lamy Ballpoint refills are waterproof and available in black, blue and red in the either Fine, Medium or Broad; Green is also available, though in Medium only.
Lamy Pencil Lead refills come in 0.5 mm size with and HB lead hardness.


5. Performance (Writing Performance, Reliability)

Specific Rating: 7.5/10

The Lamy Safari is a writer which is balanced, light and smooth. The nib is made of stainless steel but glides well across the paper, leaving no scratches or issues with skipping. While steel nibs tend to be stiff, there is some line variation noticeable in the larger nib sizes. Unlike some pens, the Safari is not adversely affected by writing angle. Write fast and it will and keep up with you; but stop for a moment and you may develop a drop of ink on the paper.
Nevertheless, ink flow is constant and that’s a good thing. The Lamy Safari is always ready to write whenever you want. With the material so resilient and colors so trendy, you will want to use this pen again and again. This can be your everyday pen that is able to do the job on demand.


6. Maintenance

The 4 piece construction of the Fountain Pen allows for very easy cleaning. Some users have submitted their experience of rinsing with water, which in our experience works well. The design of the Safari allows those who follow the strictest cleaning regimen to easily detail clean their pen, even if there is something stuck between the nib and feed section. The interchangeability of nibs is swift and hassle free, though I must add not ink free!


7. Cost/Price

Sale Prices exclusively at Pen Boutique: $21.60 - $37.00
Specific Rating: 8/10


8. Pros and Cons

PROS:
• Durability: made of ABS plastic
• Lightweight
• Variety of nib choices available (Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Calligraphy 1.1/1.5/1.9, Lefthand)
• Variety of colors available (Navy Blue, Red, Charcoal, etc.)
• Design: Elegant and timeless but not too flashy
• Large capacity Cartridges, best for everyday writing
• Affordable : Reasonably priced series of pens for starters and aficionados alike
• Functional Ink window on the Fountain Pen
• WARRANTY - Lifetime mechanical guarantee from Lamy
• Available for both left- and right-handed writers

CONS:
• The package doesn’t include a converter which needs to be purchased separately
• The ink capacity of converter is low compared to the cartridges
• Wet and can be a thick writer, which everyone may not love
• Classic Lamy look may turn off some users. Since it’s made of ABS plastic, it may lack the gloss and shine of other luxury fountain pens.
• The difference between the EF nib and F can be hard to discern.


9. Final Remarks/Conclusion

So after going through all the good and bad (mostly good!) points of the Lamy Safari’s character, I am happy to conclude that this pen is one of the most reliable and durable pens that you can throw in your pocket or backpack and still expect it to write as well as it does. Leave the Fountain Pen at your desk, pick it up after a week and you are bound to be amazed at how well it will start right where you left off. No drying out, no skipping, nothing. If you are a beginner with fountain pens, you are going to love it. If you are not, you are going to love it even more. Try out new inks or new writing styles with the easily switchable nibs. The fine writing experience at such a great price is something that only the Lamy Safari can promise you.

Well, short and sweet, I’m going to say that the Lamy Safari is a pen that everybody should add to their collection, for the fun of writing.