Posts filed under Safari

Lamy Safari Ballpoint Piña Colada Review

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

At this point in the year, summer vacations are winding down and everyone is settling in for the last big push before the end of year holidays are upon us. When I think of piña coladas, I instantly associate that with beach-side vacations and carefree living. While the 2024 special edition Safari can't replicate that experience, it can certainly lighten the mood with these bright colors.

The Lamy Safari Piña Colada is a light blue and bright yellow color combo that I haven't been able to put down. I'm using the ballpoint version, though you can get this in fountain pen, rollerball, and pencil variants as well.

If you've ever used a Lamy Safari ballpoint before, then there's nothing new here aside from the unique color combination. The refill included inside is Lamy's proprietary M16 medium point with black ink. As far as ballpoint refills go, the M16 is decent, but not my favorite. Unfortunately, there aren't other refills that you can easily drop-in to replace the M16, but Lamy do offer some other point sizes and color options for the refill.

The body of the Piña Colada is a light blue with a touch of green. There's a clear finish on the body that catches the light. The clear finish also provides a nice feel when writing, but can cause some oil build-up after writing for a while. The pen is easy to wipe down, though!

The accents (nose cone, bellows/nock, and clip) are all a matte bright yellow color that goes perfectly with the light blue-green body.

The squishy bellows mechanism requires a good amount of force to operate, but it's so satisfying to use, just like any other Lamy Safari ballpoint. I love the bellows cover — it would be easy to identify this pen as a Lamy just from the clip shape, but the squishy accordion nock is another signature clue.

The grip section is a three-sided contour that provides three flattened areas for resting your fingers. This works well for how I grip the pen, but it might not be to everyone's liking. The nose cone is long enough that you can even grip the upper part if needed for more control.

The only branding on the pen is a LAMY logo debossed into the side of the body right under the bellows and opposite the clip. It's subtle and can be easy to miss in low light. The clip is strong and will keep the pen secured to whatever you clip it to.

At $16, this Piña Colada special edition Safari is a good deal on a classic pen. For me, this was a compulsive purchase just because of the colors. The fact that it's a great writing instrument is just a bonus. If these colors speak to you, be sure to pick one up before they're gone!

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)


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Posted on August 21, 2024 and filed under Lamy, Safari, Ballpoint, Pen Reviews.

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.)


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