(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.
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.
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.
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.
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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