Fountain Pens
LAMY Safari review
One design decision defines this pen, and it is the reason people either recommend it to everyone or refuse to recommend it at all.
How this page is funded. Buying through a link here earns us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend or the order we recommend it in, and we have not hands-on tested these products — see how we choose and the full disclosure.
The Safari has been in production since 1980 and has barely changed, which tells you the design was right. The part that matters is the grip section: it is molded into a triangle, so your thumb, index and middle finger land in fixed positions and the nib arrives at the paper at the angle it was designed for.
The grip: a teaching aid or a fight
For someone whose grip was formed around a ballpoint — pressing hard, rotating the pen, holding it near-vertical — the Safari's section is a genuine correction. A fountain pen only works when the nib sits flat, and this pen makes that the only comfortable option.
For someone whose grip is unconventional and comfortable, it is an argument you cannot win. A molded plastic triangle does not adapt, and no amount of use will change it. There is no middle outcome: people either stop noticing it within a week or never stop noticing it.
Swappable nibs are the underrated feature
LAMY's steel nib is a friction-fit unit that pulls off and pushes on by hand. If you buy a Fine and find it too narrow, a Medium is an inexpensive part rather than a new pen — and LAMY makes a dedicated left-hander nib, which is genuinely rare.
It is worth knowing that LAMY grades German, so its Fine is wider than a Japanese Fine. If you write small and are choosing between brands, that difference is larger than it sounds — see the nib size guide.
The cartridge is proprietary
LAMY uses the T10, its own cartridge, and nothing else fits. The Z28 converter is the route to bottled ink and is the single most commonly forgotten purchase in this hobby — the pen ships with one cartridge and no way to use a bottle.
Quick picks
Ranked for the beginner buying their first setup. Every pick names who it is wrong for.
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No image LAMY Safari A molded triangular grip forces the pen into the right position, which is either the best or the worst thing about it. | Learning a correct grip | Check price on Amazon #ad No live price right now. How this is funded |
| 2 | No image LAMY Z28 converter The piston converter that turns any modern LAMY cartridge pen into a bottled-ink pen. | Bottled ink in a Safari, AL-star or Vista | Check price on Amazon #ad No live price right now. How this is funded |
| 3 | No image LAMY T10 cartridges, black The proprietary cartridge every LAMY fountain pen takes, and the only cartridge they take. | Refilling a Safari, AL-star or Vista | Check price on Amazon #ad No live price right now. How this is funded |
1. Learning a correct grip
LAMY Safari
A molded triangular grip forces the pen into the right position, which is either the best or the worst thing about it.
#ad No live price right now. How this is funded
The grip section is the entire argument. It is molded into a triangle, so there is exactly one way to hold the pen, and it happens to be the way that keeps the nib flat against the paper. For someone who has spent twenty years white-knuckling a ballpoint, that is a genuine teaching aid.
It is also the reason some people hate it. If your natural grip is unusual, the Safari will fight you every time you pick it up, and no amount of practice makes a molded plastic triangle move.
Everything else about the pen is deliberately easy. The nib pulls off and pushes on by hand, so if you buy a Fine and want a Medium later, that is a five-dollar part rather than a new pen.
| Nib grades offered | Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, plus a dedicated left-hander nibSource: LAMY Safari, Fine (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
|---|---|
| Nib width in mm | Not published |
| Nib | Interchangeable steel nib unit — pulls off and swaps without toolsSource: LAMY Safari, Fine (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
| Filling | LAMY T10 proprietary cartridge, or the LAMY Z28 converterSource: LAMY Z28 converter (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
| Body | ABS plastic with a molded triangular grip sectionSource: LAMY Safari, Fine (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
What it does well
- Swappable nib units mean one pen can change its line width
- A dedicated left-handed nib grade exists, which is rare
- Nearly indestructible plastic body
What it does not
- The triangular grip is not optional and does not suit every hand
- LAMY cartridges are proprietary — the Z28 converter is a separate buy
- German Fine is wider than a Japanese Fine, which surprises people
Skip this if you hold a pen unconventionally, or if your handwriting is small enough that a German Fine will fill in your loops.
2. Bottled ink in a Safari, AL-star or Vista
LAMY Z28 converter
The piston converter that turns any modern LAMY cartridge pen into a bottled-ink pen.
#ad No live price right now. How this is funded
Buying a Safari without a converter is the most common first-order mistake in this hobby. The pen ships with one cartridge and no way to use bottled ink.
The Z28 is a twist piston: put the nib in the bottle up to the section, twist, and it draws ink. There is no trick to it.
Check the number. The Z24 looks nearly identical and fits a different set of pens.
| Fits | LAMY ABC, AL-star, joy, Lx, nexx, nexx M, safari and vistaSource: LAMY Z28 converter (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
|---|---|
| Type | Piston converterSource: LAMY Z28 converter (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
| Capacity | Not published |
| Not to be confused with | The Z24, which fits older LAMY modelsSource: LAMY Z24 converter (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
What it does well
- Fits the whole current LAMY range
- Simple twist piston with nothing to break
- Turns a cartridge pen into a bottle pen for a few dollars
What it does not
- Holds less ink than a T10 cartridge in practice
- Easy to confuse with the Z24
- LAMY-only
Skip this if you only ever use cartridges — it is a part you will never fit.
3. Refilling a Safari, AL-star or Vista
LAMY T10 cartridges, black
The proprietary cartridge every LAMY fountain pen takes, and the only cartridge they take.
#ad No live price right now. How this is funded
The T10 is a proprietary size. An international standard cartridge will not fit a LAMY, and this is the single most common ordering mistake new Safari owners make.
At 1.25 ml each it holds more than a short international cartridge, which is a small consolation for the lock-in.
If you would rather use bottled ink, the LAMY Z28 converter fits the same barrel.
| Format | 5 cartridges per pack, 1.25 ml eachSource: LAMY T10 cartridges (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
|---|---|
| Fits | All LAMY fountain pen modelsSource: LAMY T10 cartridges (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
| Published drying time | Not published |
| Published water resistance | Not published |
What it does well
- Larger capacity than a short international cartridge
- Fits every LAMY fountain pen
- Nothing to measure or spill
What it does not
- Proprietary — no other brand's cartridges fit
- Costs more per milliliter than bottled ink
- Color choice is limited to LAMY's own range
Skip this if you own a Z28 converter and a bottle — cartridges cost several times as much per fill.
Safari, Vista or AL-star?
| Model | Body | Buy it if |
|---|---|---|
| Safari | ABS plastic, colored | You want the cheapest way to find out whether the grip suits you. |
| Vista | Clear plastic | You want to watch the converter fill and see the ink level. |
| AL-star | Anodized aluminum | You already know the grip works and want it in metal. |
All three take the same nib units, the same T10 cartridges and the same Z28 converter. The writing experience is identical; only the body changes.
Questions people actually ask
Is the LAMY Safari good for beginners?
It is, provided the grip suits you. The triangular section teaches a correct hold, which is genuinely useful for anyone converting from a ballpoint. If your natural grip is unusual, the pen will fight you and a Pilot Metropolitan is the safer choice.
Does the LAMY Safari come with a converter?
No. It ships with one T10 cartridge. To use bottled ink you need a LAMY Z28 converter, which is sold separately and fits the Safari, AL-star, Vista, joy, Lx, nexx and ABC.
Can I change the nib on a LAMY Safari?
Yes, and easily. The steel nib is a friction-fit unit that pulls off and pushes on by hand, so changing from Fine to Medium is an inexpensive part rather than a new pen. LAMY also makes a dedicated left-handed grade.
What ink cartridges fit a LAMY Safari?
Only LAMY T10 cartridges. International standard cartridges do not fit any LAMY fountain pen, which is one of the most common ordering mistakes new owners make.
Is the LAMY Safari nib fine or medium for small handwriting?
Fine, and possibly Extra Fine. LAMY grades to German conventions, so its Fine is wider than a Japanese Fine of the same letter — see the nib size guide for the comparison.