Why I keep coming back to Lamy Safari fountain pens

I am fortunate to get a few emails and comments from some of you good people who read my efforts. One recent comment and email was from a Brompton rider and fountain pen user all the way from Malaysia. He asked whether I could get more blog posts out there other than just once a week. That is probably not going to happen anytime soon as it is a considerable time commitment to deliver one every Sunday. However, I thought I could write one as an addition that has nothing to do with Brompton bikes or London. It is all about the Lamy ‘Safari’ fountain pen - a bit of a design classic. So, if fountain pens are not for you, there will be a Brompton related post out on Sunday. 

If you looked at my desk, my desk drawer, my blazer pockets when going to work you might reasonably conclude that I have enough fountain pens. If you looked a little closer, you would notice that a surprising number of them are Lamy Safaris. At some point it stopped being a deliberate purchasing decision and quietly turned into a collection. Every now and then a new colour appears, or I find one at a good price, or I decide that this ink deserves THAT Safari. Before long, another one joins the family. I have many more expensive pens, most of them being made by (you guessed it) Lamy, yet I keep reaching for the humble Safari.

Yes I do that that many and this does not include duplicates!

Some of the pricer Lamy pens

The pen that just works

The first thing I appreciate is reliability. A Safari starts when I want it to start. It does not demand special treatment or lengthy rituals before it will write. Fill it with ink, uncap it, and off you go. That consistency makes it easy to forget the pen entirely and concentrate on whatever I am writing. That's exactly what a good tool should do.

Built to be used

One of the Safari's greatest strengths is that it doesn't feel precious. If it gets a scratch, it happens. If it rides around in a bag, a pocket, a saddle bag when on a Brompton adventure or a notebook cover, I am not constantly worrying about damaging an expensive possession. There is a certain freedom in using something that is well designed but not intimidating. It encourages writing instead of careful admiration.

The joy of different colours

Lamy releases new Safari colours on a regular basis, and that is where the collecting bit begins to creep in. At first you buy one because you need a fountain pen. The second is because you want a different nib. The third is because the new colour is rather nice - and sometimes orange. Somewhere after that you have stopped pretending there is a practical reason. Different colours somehow invite different inks. One becomes the home for a deep blue, another for a rich green, another for a vibrant red. Suddenly you are choosing combinations rather than simply choosing a pen. It is a harmless hobby, and one that adds a little personality to everyday writing.

See the orange one!

Swapping nibs is easy

One feature I particularly enjoy is how easy it is to change nibs. Fancy trying an extra fine? Swap it. Want something broader for journalling? Swap it. Curious about how a different nib changes your handwriting? Swap it. There is even the option of fitting your favourite Safari with one of their 14k bi-colour gold nibs. Rather than buying an entirely new pen to experiment, the Safari lets you customise the writing experience without much fuss.

A rather lovely 14k in a fine

Comfortable for long writing sessions

The distinctive triangular grip divides opinion. Some people never get on with it. Personally, I have always found it comfortable and usable. Whether I am making notes, planning blog posts or simply enjoying putting words on paper, it remains comfortable hour after hour.

A gateway that never really closes

Many people describe the Safari as a fountain pen for a beginner. They would be right. What they sometimes overlook is that it is also a pen experienced users continue to enjoy. As collections grow to include more expensive pens, the Safari often stays. It earns its place through dependable performance rather than prestige. That says quite a lot.

More than just a pen

There is something satisfying about the familiar click of the cap, the clean Bauhaus-inspired design, and the way every Safari feels immediately recognisable regardless of colour. It is functional design at its best. Nothing seems unnecessary, and nothing feels like it is trying too hard. Perhaps that is why I keep buying them.

Each new Safari is not replacing an older one. It is simply another reliable companion with its own colour, its own ink and, somehow, its own personality. Will I eventually have enough? Probably not. There is almost certainly another colour just around the corner that is quietly waiting to convince me that my collection is not quite complete yet. If history is anything to go by, it will probably succeed. 

One final note to end this blog post. If anyone at Lamy is reading this, orange is always a great colour for a Safari you know!!

Until next time, stay safe out there people!