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Add to SafariWhen comparing Lamy Safari vs Pilot Metropolitan, the Slant community recommends Pilot Metropolitan for most people. In the question“What are the best fountain pens for beginners under $50?” Pilot Metropolitan is ranked 2nd while Lamy Safari is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Pilot Metropolitan is:
There are fountains pens that are much more expensive than this one that don't have nearly as nice of nibs.
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Interchangeable nibs
The Safari has interchangeable nibs, with Lamy selling probably the widest range of nibs out of any other company.
Pro Shows how much ink you have left
Has a side-window which shows you how much ink you have left in the cartridge/converter.
Pro Great grip section
The grip section has cutouts which are perfect for people who don't know how to hold a fountain pen properly since fountain pens, unlike ballpoint pens need to be held in a certain angle.
Pro Great clip
The clip is made from Chrome and it's extremely durable. The end is curled up like a paperclip and it's raised up a bit to help with clipping.
Pro Durable
The Lamy Safari has a durable body made of plastic and has a very rugged design.
Pro Great nib
There are fountains pens that are much more expensive than this one that don't have nearly as nice of nibs.
Pro Comes in Japanese Fine
Japanese grinds are narrower than their western counterparts. A Japanese fine nib is about the same or smaller than a western fine. This can be really great fun and is fantastic for cheap paper
Pro Shape
The shape looks classic and attractive. It doesn't look like a toy. It looks like an actual writing instruments that would be used by adults.
Cons
Con Cannot use standard international cartridges
Like all other Lamy pens, the Safari cannot use the standard international cartridges or converters but can only use the proprietary Lamy ones.
Con Not great value for money
If the Pilot Metropolitan or TWSBI ECO didn't exist, this would be the obvious beginner's pen. But for twice the price of the Metro, it doesn't feel like you get much. You don't even get an included converter.
Con Scratchy nibs
The nibs used on the Safari tend to be "scratchy" and a bit dry. This means that not a whole lot of ink comes out when writing and it may also skip when writing faster.
Con Weight
The brass body of this pen is a bit on the heavy side, but it is ultimately well balanced. Long writing sessions might wear out you out a bit, but the ergonomics shouldn't hurt your wrist or anything.
