REVIEW: LAMY SAFARI SAVANNAH & TERRACOTTA SPECIAL EDITIONS (2021)

In the almost 8 years of existence of this website, I seem to have succeeded at - subconsciously - ignoring one of the most ubiquitous and widespread 'beginner' fountain pens on the planet: the Lamy Safari. 

Ok, I have done 'quick look' posts on some of the previous special editions throughout the years, but I've never actually made a complete and in-depth review about it. Despite that, the Lamy Safari has played an immense role in my pen journey throughout the years (and still does so today, as my father and I share a mutual hobby of collecting old special edition Safaris!), and it embodies a lot of what I seek in a true 'workhorse' pen. I guess, because it's so ubiquitous, the Safari is just a pen I've always taken for granted.

So today, while we take a look at 2021's Terracotta and Savannah special edition Lamy Safaris - two colors that immediately got me very excited! - I'll go a bit more in-depth on why I like this pen so much. Before we dive deeper into some of the details of the new Safari special editions, I'd like to thank sponsor of the blog, Penworld, for providing these pens for review!

Unfortunately, EU customers don't get the same pretty packaging as the American and Asian regions (Why Lamy?), so enjoy this gratuitous detail shot of the cap finials instead!

Let's start at the beginning: the Safari is a textbook example of a love-it-or-hate-it design, but that's also what makes it so interesting. The Safari goes at the Bauhaus design with an extra dose of brutalism and modernism (strong Oscar Niemeyer vibes) added to the mix: pronounced flats and angles, exaggerated proportions,...

... absurdly large 'paperclip' clip,

... and in-your-face branding on the back of the barrel. And yet, somehow, there's something strangely attractive about it.

The Safari has of course seen every single color of the rainbow over the years, but only two are true grail pens for the wintered Safari collector. Like so many Lamy Safari aficionados, my dad and I never found the two OG Lamy Safari colorways, Savannah and Terracotta (the two original colors released in 1980). To be honest, they may be a bit too grail-like, as prices for the original Savannah and Terracotta go insane on the second-hand market. That is, if you'd even find one for sale! Against all odds, Lamy seems to have actually listened to what the pen community wanted to see, so I'm VERY excited to see a re-release of the Savannah and Terracotta. Heck, for once they might really be listening, as we even saw rumors of a new colored 2000 (though I'll refrain from getting too excited about that just yet... they can still botch it like they did with the Bauhaus release!).

The argument you can hear left and right that this re-release will have a negative impact on the collectibility of the highly sought-after originals? I don't think so. True collectors will know how to spot the differences ('Germany' marking on the bottom, slightly different finial, etc), and the originals are so hard to find, I think this will just create even more awareness and demand to track those down...

In terms of how close the colors actually are to the originals? Well, I - unfortunately - don't own any of the originals, but from the few comparisons online, it seems that the Terracotta is quite spot-on, while the Savannah looks to be a touch less olive-green than the original (though in real life, it certainly looks olive-green to my eye). 

The Safari is a medium-sized pen, fitting in perfectly with some of my other favorite starter pens, like the Pilot Metro, and TWSBI Eco. The Safari measures just shy of 14 cm/ 5.5" capped, and retains a comfortable size of 12.9 cm/ 5.1" when uncapped. It weighs just 17 grams in total, thanks to the all-plastic (ABS), injection-molded construction. The cap posts securely and rather deep (it covers the entire 'LAMY' logo), which - together with the light weight - makes this one of the more comfy pens to use posted.

The section is nice and long, and transitions seamlessly (well, not seamless, but without a step... You get what I mean!) into the barrel. The diameter of the section is a bit tricky to translate into numbers, but it roughly tapers from 12 to 10 mm towards the nib. Talking about the section: just like the general design of the Safari, the section is quite controversial.

The pronounced triangular profile definitely favors a more 'traditional' tripod grip, so that's certainly something to keep in mind if you tend to hold your pen in a funky way. With my - fairly standard - grip, the Safari has always clicked very well. Even though shaped grips are typically regarded as a beginner feature, I still enjoy the controlled and precise grip it provides.

The firm - but fairly quiet - snap cap, as well as the ink window through the barrel, are both useful features to have on a workhorse 'EDC' pen. Additionally, I find the Safari beats the AL-star (another controversial debate!) due to its sturdy and durable injection-molded ABS construction. Especially the matte finish on the Savannah and Terracotta (and many other Safari colorways), is particularly good at hiding signs of wear and tear, though they do become shinier over time! In contrast, I'm always a bit nervous about putting a dent or scratch in the thin aluminum construction of the AL-Star.

Lamy nibs are well-known to provide a subtle amount of pencil-like feedback while you write, which I actually enjoy. They are very responsive, reliable nibs with a well-balanced ink flow. I especially enjoy the fine nibs, which lay down a nice medium-fine, crisp line of ink. In the grand scheme of things, Lamy's nibs aren't exceptional in any way, but they do what they have to do without hesitation, and they're easy and cheap to swap out, too. Certainly another reason why the Safari makes for a reliable workhorse pen!

While I'm still a bit ashamed that it took me this long to do a full review of the Lamy Safari, I'm fairly confident that my general sentiment on them hasn't really changed in all those years. Ok, I may have found the last two years of the Safari special editions (the Pastel and Candy trio's) a bit lackluster, but the re-release of the iconic Terracotta and Savannah are a perfect way to reaffirm my love for the bold and playful - perhaps a bit fugly - workhorse of a pen that is the Lamy Safari. Yes, I think it still absolutely deserves its status as one of the best affordable fountain pens on the market.

The Safari Savannah and Terracotta comes in a choice of fountain pen, roller, and ballpoint, but not the mechanical pencil. In Europe, the special edition fountain pens retail for 20.9€ (at Site Sponsor Penworld, use discount code 'pencilcase' for 10% off!), which is about one euro more than the standard colorways. Overseas, the US price seems to be the same regardless of the color you choose, although you do pay more across the board, just under 30$.

Note: Penworld is a sponsor of this site. I received a discount on this purchase, which enabled me to write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affiliate links.

[CLOSED!] GIVEAWAY: LAMY SAFARI ALL BLACK + AL-STAR VIBRANT PINK!

[GIVEAWAY CLOSED] The 5 year anniversary of The Pencilcase Blog obviously can't go by without a giveaway, so in the next few weeks you'll be able to win a ton of cool prizes from my five amazing sponsors.

Starting today with Penworld, who has the Lamy Safari All Black and Al-Star Vibrant Pink up for grabs! Want to win one of these two great special editions? Get in on the giveaway by entering below. Act fast because this giveaway will only run for 3 days, after which the winners are chosen!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RULES: Open worldwide! Giveaway ends 6/29/ 2018. Winner will be chosen via random.org, and announced in a separate post. The winner will be contacted directly via email, if he/she fails to reply within one week, a new winner will be picked. Only entries with valid email address are eligible to win. Invalid entries are denied.

Want to stay up-to-date on current giveaways? Follow The Pencilcase Blog on INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, GOOGLE+, or subscribe to the NEWSLETTER!

QUICK LOOK: LAMY SAFARI ALL BLACK & AL-STAR VIBRANT PINK SPECIAL EDITIONS!

Some may disagree with me, but I think Lamy has been on a great run in the past couple years with their annual Safari and Al-star releases. The last three special editions have been rather consistent in terms of what we could expect: a bright and colorful new Al-star color, and a contrasting dark and subtle Safari.

Yet this year I think they outdid themselves on the combination of the two! The All Black met some criticism that it's not different enough from the standard 'Umbra' Safari (judge for yourself from the picture below), but I love how it came out. Over the years I've come to enjoy more colorful materials and finishes (If you've been following this blog since the beginning, you'll know that I used to be quite exclusively into monotone pens!), but I will still grab for the subtle and subdued colorways when I can. 

The All Black is indeed very similar to the Umbra, but especially side by side there's a difference to be noticed. The Umbra isn't really grey either, it's more like a really dark brown. I tried my best to show the very nuanced difference in the picture below. In any case, both are simple and office-appropriate, colors. Whether you choose the Umbra or All Black, both are sleek pens suited for everyday use, without drawing too much attention to your pen.

Umbra (used, so the finish has become glossier over time) on the left, All Black on the right.

As much as I like the subtlety of the All Black, the Vibrant Pink also grew on me in the past weeks! Pink and black match exceptionally well, so I think they did a great job putting these two colors together. Yes, the pink may be a slightly girly pen, and it may turn heads in the meeting room. But heck, why not! Want a pink pen, just go for it! For what it's worth, I think they went with a classy shade of pink, more like magenta, not Barbie-like hot pink.

As I said, Lamy has been pretty consistent over the past three years, there's quite a noticeable trend when you put the most recent Safaris and Al-stars next to each other! Continuing the trend, the All Black received the same matte finish as its direct predecessors, and the Vibrant pink is again a very vibrant (well, duh!) and fresh color, ideal for spring!

Put them side by side, and you'll realise just how much Lamy loves red and pink!

Of course along with the new special edition pens, come new special edition inks. Well almost... Remember last year's debacle with the Pacific blue 'special edition' ink that was just Lamy Turquoise in a slightly different packaging? Well they haven't learned from their mistakes over in Heidelberg, because this year they tried the same trick with the All Black ink! It's just the regular black ink, again in an ever-so-slightly different cardboard box. Not cool Lamy! 

Fortunately the Vibrant Pink ink IS a new color, and it's a strong release too if you ask me! Just like the Dark Lilac ink -that I obsessively hoarded as much as I could- Vibrant pink is a nice shade that is plenty saturated and quite legible. The saturation gives this ink a fantastic green-gold sheen, just like Dark Lilac... I'm smitten! 

Dat sheen tho!

Overall, I'm quite pleased with what Lamy came up with this year. The Safari and Al-star special editions continue to grab my attention each year, and both the pens are affordable enough to continue buying them. The price point they are at makes them excellent collectibles, and on top of that they are also just really good pens for everyday use.

Yes, the All Black ink was a bit of a dissapointment. I secretly expected a grey ink to accompany it, which oviously didn't happen. But perhaps this means we can hope for a re-release of the awesome Griso Grey as next year's special edition (still my all-time favourite color!) with a Griso Grey ink? At this point all we can do is guess, but it would be pretty awesome!

The Safari All Black retails for around 20 EUR (30 USD), and the Al-star goes for 27 EUR (37 USD). The ink is 2 EUR for five proprietary Lamy cartridges, or 11 EUR (12 USD) for a 50ml bottle. Both the pens and inks are decently priced, but especially the Vibrant Pink ink is hard not to recommend at this price point. The All Black ink can be ignored, save your 12$ for next year's release...

La Couronne Du Comte and Penworld are sponsors of this blog. I received a discount on the purchase of these products, so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, nor was I otherwise compensated monetarily. The opinions shared in this review are completely my own. This post does not contain affilate links.

Bonus picture, just look at that magnificent green-gold sheen!

LAMY SAFARI DARK LILAC SPECIAL EDITION REVIEW

The Lamy Safari is an extremely popular fountain pen. People rave about them, especially when we're talking about the special editions! Over the years we've pretty much seen every color or combination imaginable, except for one: purple. Especially during the last year or so, people were practically begging Lamy to do a purple safari, and the result is finally here...

To be honest, none of the previous special editions really spoke to me. Up until a week or two ago I only had one Safari FP, and I wasn't really planning on getting more. But oh boy, did things turn quickly! As soon as I saw leaked images of the rumoured 'next special edition', I decided that it was time to get another safari; the Dark Lilac.

To put it in the -slightly adapted- words of Leonardo DiCaprio in Django Unchained (One of my favourite movies btw):

"Lamy, you had my curiosity, but now you have my attention!"

Two things stand out with the Dark Lilac special edition: it has a matte finish, and black trims. The past couple of years, neither of those two things happened. The trend seemed to be making the LE's as bright and flashy as possible, which didn't really speak to me.

Where there's -as I mentioned- people that rave about the Safari, there's no denying that Lamy Safaris aren't exactly the pinnacle of design, some might even call them ugly. That being said, I really think the new color scheme helps in making it a more 'stylish pen'. The black accents on the dark purple body (dark 'lilac', I personally think it's more of a purple) make for a subdued, sleek pen. It's nothing like the 'girly' pen I expected when they first rumoured a purple safari.

I've recently read up on some posts and comments about how the Safari feels tacky. Well yes, it's a plastic pen, but all things considered, and given the entry-level price, I think it's a fairly solid choice in the 20-ish dollar price range. The matte finish on the Dark lilac does help in giving it a slightly more 'premium' look and feel -quite similar to how the 2000 feels in the hand (yet maybe not quite as substantial).

The Safari is a decent sized pen (14cm/ 5.5In closed), and due to the light plastic construction it's quite a comfortable fit. The shaped grip is not for everyone, which is why other starter pens, like the Metropolitan started to gain attention as 'best starter pen' recently. Wether the grip is good or bad I'll leave in the middle, but other than that it's still an excellent choice for everyday use.

As it goes with Lamy nibs, it lays down a nice and wet line, somewhat on the wider side (mine's a medium). The coated black nib writes smooth out of the box, it has that typical 'lamy feedback', just the right amount to let you know you're putting pen to paper. I've never had issues with Lamy nibs (and I've probably had over two dozen different Lamy's in my hands at this point), consistent flow, no stuttering or hard starts to speak of. The only gripe I can possibly find is that it tends to dry out quite fast when the cap is left off, something I've found on most Lamy pens.

The accompanying Dark Lilac ink is probably equally, if not more awesome than the pen itself. It's a really nice, dark shade of purple, with strong shading and a punchy base color. I wish I had a bottle of this stuff, but apparently Lamy doesn't like to provide bottles of their special edition inks in European countries (shame on you Lamy!).

If you ask me, Lamy clearly hit a homerun with this year's special edition Safari! It's a great color, but it remains subtle enough to not blind everyone around you when using it (I'm looking at you, Safari Neon pens!). As usual, these special editions tend to be quite -very- popular. Not surprising at all, because they offer a great way to get a 'limited edition' pen without breaking the bank. Prices range from 18.5 EUR here in the EU, to 29.5 USD in the US. Of course you can get a 10% discount when buying from La Couronne Du Comte, or any other sponsor of this blog!

Note: This product was provided free of charge by La Couronne Du Comte, so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared here are completely my own! This review does not contain any affilate links.