Posts filed under Safari

Lamy Safari Strawberry Fountain Pen Giveaway

Lamy Safari Strawberry

The Lamy Safari Strawberry Fountain Pen is one half of the 2022 Safari Special edition release. Alongside Cream, this is a fun set for Lamy fans. I have one Strawberry model to giveaway, with a Fine nib, and a matching Strawberry leather sleeve, which Lamy made to mark the launch of the pen. Read the rules below, and enter away!

Posted on May 24, 2022 and filed under Lamy, Safari, Giveaways.

Lamy AL-Star Ballpoint in Turmaline Review

Lamy AL-Star Ballpoint in Turmaline Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

It's been quite a long time since I've used any Lamy AL-Star pens that aren't fountain pens. The Turmaline version of the ballpoint AL-Star is a refreshing take on the old classic shape and design. While it feels familiar in the hand, the writing experience is quite different due to the ballpoint refill in place of a nib. But does that mean it's not as good as the nibbed version? Absolutely not.

Lamy AL-Star Ballpoint Refill

The Lamy AL-Star ballpoint has been around for quite a while, but I really haven't used them very often. This bright color gave me just the kick I needed to pick it up and take it for a spin. Despite it not having one of my favorite refills on board, it's surprisingly good and competes directly with the Schmidt EasyFlow line. The M61 refill looks similar to a standard Parker refill, but there are several small alterations that make it unique and proprietary to Lamy's pens. This is unfortunate because this pen is such a great extension of the AL-Star design — it deserves to be used, and I don't think it's fair for manufacturers to lock people into proprietary refills.

Lamy AL-Star Ballpoint Comparison

Still, it's nice that Lamy provide an excellent refill in this case. The ink is dark, free-flowing, and smooth. The medium point I have is a great middle-of-the-road size and works well on all sorts of paper. It's oil based, so you don't have to worry about paper being too thin or being coated with something that the ink won't stick to. It works on just about anything, which makes it a great pen to have on you. It also lasts quite a while, which is good considering the price. One refill is just under $6, and you only have the option of black or blue — and only a medium point. Monteverde sell a few other options in terms of colors and tip sizes, but they're still fairly expensive.

Lamy AL-Star Ballpoint Knock

I've always loved the chunky click mechanism on the AL-Star and Safari ballpoints. It's such a fun design that's reminiscent of an accordion or old-fashioned button, and it's so satisfying to press. There's a great amount of resistance, and the tactile feel of the mechanism is just perfect. You definitely know when you've extended or retracted the refill because of an audible click and a tactile knock from the mechanism. It's not loud, but it has a lower tone than the typical click of a pen. I attribute this to the rubber sleeve that surrounds the entire thing, but who knows what it really is. I just know I love clicking it.

Moving around to the clip, it's the iconic Lamy clip that you find on all their AL-Star and Safari pens. It's strong, stylish, and also plays double duty by keeping the pen from rolling away on flat surfaces. The only branding on the pen is on the body opposite to the clip — the outline of the Lamy logo debossed into the pen body. It's actually easy to miss unless the light is right.

Lamy AL-Star Ballpoint Grip

Moving down to the grip, something else you'll find on nearly every other AL-Star and Safari: the unique Lamy grip structure. The ballpoint grip is a little different since there isn't a traditional "up" orientation like fountain pen nibs. Instead of the two planes and round belly that makes up the traditional finger placement on the fountain pen version, the ballpoint version is a symmetrical design with three planes so that the grip feels the same no matter how many times you rotate the pen in your hand. It's a comfortable grip for me, and if you've ever used a Lamy AL-Star, Safari, or Vista, you already know how this grip feels in the hand and whether it works for you.

The Lamy AL-Star ballpoint pen is $24, and I think that's a great price for something so well-designed and produced. It makes a great gift and an excellent addition to your desk or carry. It's a shame that there aren't many refill options, so you'll have to settle in that area, but I think the design and materials make up for that shortcoming at this price. Plus, the Turmaline colorway is a knock-out!

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)


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Lamy AL-Star Ballpoint Writing
Posted on September 1, 2021 and filed under Lamy, Safari, Ballpoint, Pen Reviews.

Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil Review

Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil Review

For the first time in my life, the famed Lamy Safari design cues have jumped up to bite me.

There are many things that make a Safari noticeable from a mile away. The often bright ABS plastic used for the barrel. The molded grip section that thousands of children have learned proper writing form from. The unique turned-up wire clip that is often imitated, but never duplicated. And that’s just a start.

As much as it pains me, only one of those things works well with the Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil.

Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil

Let’s start with the good: It looks fantastic. Sure, this is traditionally a love/hate design, with not much middle ground on whether you like the style of any Lamy Safari product. And Lamy has never been one to shy away from bright colors either. Yes, you can always choose a more subdued Black or Blue barrel, but I promise your eye was initially drawn to that Bright Yellow, Red, or even White barrel.

Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil Cap

In fact, this Pink Body is the sole reason I chose this pencil. It is absolutely, 100% my aesthetic. And as fun as it is, that’s where the fun ends I’m sad to say.

Molded grips don’t belong on a mechanical pencil. I knew that going in, but that still didn’t stop me for some reason. I love it in the Safari fountain pen, rollerball, and ballpoint, so why not in the pencil? Because you rotate pencils in your hand when you write, silly! How else can you keep a sharp point on the graphite? Unfortunately, having a molded grip section works against that rotation, leaving you with an awkward, uncomfortable grip much of the time.

Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil vs Rotring

On top of that, the famed Lamy clip bumps into your hand as you rotate, making for a double dose of awkwardness when it lands in the wrong spot. Which it will.

So, what to do with the Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil? Lamy will never change the Safari design cues that make it a Safari, so we are stuck with the molded grip section as long as they make this pencil. And I’m pretty sure we will never see a Uni Kuru Toga lead rotation mechanism on the inside, which would make this design workable. That means for anyone using this to write in more than sentence chunks at a time I would never recommend it.

Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil Writing

If you pick up and put down the pencil a lot, I could maybe see it. Say for math/science work, or for an artist. But then, we run right into the issue of price. This is a $20 pencil, which is fine if it is great. The Lamy Safari Mechanical Pencil is not great, which means I would be well into double-digits on a ranking list before getting to it, if I would at all.

Hire me Lamy.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)


Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Lamy Safari Pencil Review
Posted on September 21, 2020 and filed under Lamy, Safari, Mechanical Pencil, Pencil Reviews.