Lamy Safari vs Lamy AL-Star
Same nib, same feed, same cap — the Safari and AL-Star are one pen in two bodies. Scored side by side so you can see exactly what the ~$10 aluminum upgrade buys you.
Lamy
Lamy Safari
Lamy
Lamy AL-Star
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The short answer.
Across the eight dimensions we score, the Lamy Safari takes 1 and the Lamy AL-Star takes 3, with 4 effectively level — an overall 80 to 82. They share the nib unit, the feed, the cap, and the grip — so most dimensions tie. The entire decision is body material and price: plastic at ~$30 versus anodized aluminum at ~$40.
Buy the Lamy Safari if…
- You want the lower price — the identical nib system for about $10 less.
- Your pen takes knocks in a bag — painted plastic hides daily wear better than anodized aluminum, which scratches visibly.
- It's your first fountain pen and the body upgrade isn't worth a third more to you.
Buy the Lamy AL-Star if…
- You want the nicer object in hand — the aluminum barrel reads as more substantial for only about 5 g more.
- You'll keep this pen for years — swappable EF/F/M/B nibs plus a 1.1 mm stub let one barrel do many jobs.
- The metal-over-plastic premium simply feels worth it to you — owners genuinely split on this call.
Every dimension, side by side.
Scores aggregate owner reports and expert reviews across eight weighted dimensions — the same rubric for every pen. How we score.
What each pen does best.
Lamy Safari
- Class-leading cap action — firm snap, secure post, dry-out resistant
- Swappable nib units across the Safari, Al-Star, and Vista lines
- Exceptional value at sub-$30 with a 40+ year reliability record
- Distinctive design that wears in rather than out
- Triangular grip section forces a fixed tripod hold — uncomfortable for non-standard grips
- Proprietary T10 cartridges — no standard international cartridge fit
- Steel nib runs slightly toothy out of the box compared to Japanese competitors
Lamy AL-Star
- Anodized aluminum body reads as noticeably more substantial than the Safari's plastic for only about 5g more weight
- Zero-tool nib swaps across EF/F/M/B and a 1.1mm stub — one barrel serves many writing tasks for years
- Firm, secure snap cap that posts decisively and resists dry-out, confirmed reliable in long-term daily carry
- 4.5-star owner consensus across Goulet and Amazon variants; anodizing keeps its color where the Safari's paint can chip
- The anodized finish scratches easily — owners report pens looking beat up within weeks of normal carry
- Proprietary Lamy T10 cartridges and Z28 converter only; no standard international cartridge fit
- The triangular grip polarizes writers with non-standard holds or very long unbroken sessions