Fountain Pens · owner-verdict comparison

Lamy 2000 vs Lamy Safari: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 67% of 379 Lamy 2000 owners recommend it, vs 69% of 386 for the Lamy Safari.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Lamy 2000

67%of 379 owners recommend

67% recommend · 17% neutral · 16% don't

Owners praise

Smooth, wet nib that owners rank among the best writers they own
Long-lived for the owners it suits, with eight, ten and fifteen years of use reported
Understated Bauhaus design owners choose over flashier pens, including ones that cost more

Owners complain about

Tapered brushed-steel section is slippery enough that owners' fingers slide toward the nib, and some could not write with the pen at all
Narrow sweet spot on the nib: held off that angle, owners report the line thinning, skipping or stopping outright
Nibs run a width or two wider and wetter than marked, so fine and extra-fine buyers often end up with a medium line

Full owner report →

Lamy Safari

69%of 386 owners recommend

69% recommend · 10% neutral · 21% don't

Owners praise

Excellent value, quality writer for the price
Smooth, reliable nib that rarely skips
Durable, near-indestructible workhorse that lasts decades

Owners complain about

Nib quality is inconsistent, dry or scratchy
Triangular grip section uncomfortable for many

Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Lamy 2000 if

✓Someone who wants one pen inked and in hand every day instead of a rotation
✓Office notes, meetings and lecture writing, where owners want a pen that vanishes into the background
✓Writers who like a smooth, wet, generous line and medium or broader widths
✓Buyers who want restrained industrial design rather than a pen that draws comment

Skip it if

Anyone who needs a true fine or extra-fine line for small handwriting
Low grippers, and anyone who holds a pen firmly down near the nib, where the tapered steel section works against them

Get the Lamy Safari if

✓Beginners buying their first fountain pen
✓Daily writers and journalers wanting a reliable workhorse
✓Pocket-carry and rough-use owners needing near-indestructible durability
✓Tinkerers who like quick, easy nib swapping

Skip it if

Writers who dislike the molded triangular grip
People wanting large ink capacity between refills

What Lamy 2000 owners say

“Lamy 2k I got in oblique double broad so I definitely don’t find it dry. I thought it might be too broad for me and considered sending it to a grinder but I’ve been loving it lately.”
— karunamoon on Reddit

“The Lamy 2000 was something I considered a number of times in the past even though I wasn't exactly a fan of the modernist design. That's changed since and I'm very happy with it.”
— draconicpenguin10 on Reddit

“So although my personal opinion is pass, you may actually love this pen.”
— Tarentum566 on Reddit

What Lamy Safari owners say

“Nothing has changed which speaks for its quality.”
— @SaraX2024 on YouTube

“I think the thing is built like a tank.”
— @AndreasPinkert on YouTube

“they would always bust ink everywhere in my pockets or worse your school bag”
— @philipwillingham5950 on YouTube

Lamy 2000 vs Lamy Safari: frequently asked questions

Is the Lamy 2000 or the Lamy Safari better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 67% of 379 Lamy 2000 owners recommend it, vs 69% of 386 for the Lamy Safari.

Who should get the Lamy 2000?

Owners point the Lamy 2000 at someone who wants one pen inked and in hand every day instead of a rotation, and office notes, meetings and lecture writing, where owners want a pen that vanishes into the background.

Who should get the Lamy Safari?

Owners point the Lamy Safari at beginners buying their first fountain pen, and daily writers and journalers wanting a reliable workhorse.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Lamy 2000 is tapered brushed-steel section is slippery enough that owners' fingers slide toward the nib, and some could not write with the pen at all. For the Lamy Safari, it's nib quality is inconsistent, dry or scratchy.