My interest in fountain pens began in the spring of 2020. At the time, I had been bullet journaling for a couple of years, but the pens I used were fairly standard and, honestly, uninspiring. What bothered me most was the constant clicking of the refill against the barrel every time I wrote. Once I noticed it, I couldn’t ignore it. The sound became unbearable, so I started searching for a pen that wouldn’t make that noise.
One evening, I opened my browser and searched for “the best pens for journaling.” As I worked my way through the results, I came across an article about fountain pens. Up until then, I hadn’t really considered fountain pens as something people still used, let alone collected. Still, something about them immediately caught my attention, and my curiosity took over.
One pen mentioned repeatedly was the Lamy Safari. The article praised its durability, modern design, and relatively affordable price. At the time, spending $28 on a pen felt extravagant, but after a few days of thinking about it, I ordered an Umbra Safari with a medium nib. The matte black body paired with the black nib was hard for me to resist.
When the pen arrived, I quickly figured out how to install the ink cartridge, and within minutes I was scribbling across the page. Even now, I can’t fully explain what hooked me so instantly. Maybe it was the tactile experience of assembling the pen, or the simple satisfaction of finally writing without hearing a refill rattle inside the barrel. Maybe it was the smoothness of the nib, the steady flow of ink, or even the soft sound the nib made gliding across the paper of my Rhodia Webbook. Whatever it was, I was completely hooked.
The Safari turned out to be an incredible everyday pen. It’s lightweight, durable, and nearly indestructible. The interchangeable nibs make it easy to experiment with different writing experiences, and the endless variety of colors made it fun.
Of course, that’s when I fell down the rabbit hole.
Before long, I ordered a second Safari—this time in yellow with a fine nib. Then a third. Then I discovered there was an aluminum version. It didn’t take long before I had built up a small collection of Lamy pens, and my interest in the hobby continued to grow.
Looking back now, that all feels like a lifetime ago. My collection has evolved quite a bit since then, but I still keep a few Safaris on my desk for daily journaling or for those times when I need a pen I won’t worry about getting scratched or banged around.
Like many fountain pen enthusiasts, I’ve also kept my very first pen. It may not get as much use as it once did, but every time I clean it, fill it with ink, and put it to paper, I’m reminded why I fell in love with fountain pens in the first place. Even after all these years, it’s still a great writer.
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