Lamy Tipo Roller Ball Pen Review

I can spot a Lamy a mile away. Maybe it is because I am looking at them all the time in person or online but there is no doubting that their designs are distinctive. Many of their most popular pens are built around the Safari model, and of course there are higher end designs like the Studio and the Dialog 3 (swoon). You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a great pen though, and the Lamy Tipo is the embodiment of that.

I haven’t personally used some of the higher end Lamy models but I think they really thrive in the entry level market. Where else can you get a uniquely designed, distinctive pen with a high quality roller ball ink cartridge for about $10? The Tipo, while not perfect, pushes a lot of my buttons and I am really enjoying it.

The ink cartridge was a surprise for me. The ink doesn’t bleed near as much as I anticipated it would and is comparable to the Schmidt refill used in the Retro 51. One thing that may throw people off is how the knock is integrated into the clip. For me, I think it looks cool, works great, and acts as a safety if you like to clip the pen to your shirt pocket.

If there is any downside to the pen it is that the grip is somewhat slick. The ridges help out but I wouldn’t mind a little more tackiness in that area.

Overall, using the Tipo has been a great experience and I plan on picking up another one - most likely the orange barrel like Brian recently reviewed.

Lamy Joy Calligraphy Fountain Pen 1.1mm Nib Review

(This is a guest review by Bryan Gushikawa)

Ah, Lamy. The German company that stands for rugged, tank-like pens with fat nibs! They really know what their customers want and the Lamy Joy Calligraphy Fountain Pen is proof. The angled, super-wide nib makes for fun writing and can really make calligraphy pop on the page. Unlike the louder colors of the Safari and Al-Star lines, though, this one comes in a classy black with red accent plastic body, but has the same tough metal clip and triangle grip of those lines.

The body is long, almost 3/4ths of a cap length longer than the Safaris. The heavy plastic body feels rugged and is big enough to be comfortable to hold for long periods of time. The triangle grip is smooth plastic and it seems to be a love or hate thing among fountain pen users. The trademark ink window is present and this pen IS compatible with all Lamy cartridges and the converter, too. I like the black color a lot because it’s not a super fingerprint magnet, but it looks pretty stylish, especially with the red accents.

The nib is classic Lamy: built like a tank, but smooth with good flow. The angle imparts a nice flavor to the nib, even though the line is really wide, and calligraphy with this pen will be wonderful. The nibs are most likely interchangeable between other Lamy pens (not verified), so if you have another Lamy pen, this one is still a good one to get. I couldn’t find any flaws with this pen and the quality is very high for such a low price point!

It’s well known that Lamy=quality and this pen is NO exception. Classic German sensibility, design and performance. You can’t go wrong with a Lamy!!!

Lamy Nexx Fountain Pen F Nib Review

(This is a guest post by Bryan Gushikawa.)

Lamy pens are most well-known for the affordable battle-ready Safari and Al-Star lines, but Lamy is one of the few companies out there that is willing to break the mold and experiment with radical new designs (their Dialog 3 is a beauty!) and ideas … but you don’t always need to spend $400 to get a hip, new design! The proof is in the Lamy Nexx.

The lightweight aluminum body is a rounded, triangular shape that makes for easy holding, with a tacky grip area that is also triangle-molded elastomer. The best part about the grip is that it is soft enough to cushion without being squishy and also a dust magnet. The pen body itself is supremely well machined and will be quite durable. The cap is heavy plastic with an aluminum clip that is secure, sturdy and features a lanyard hole. Although the cap looks bulky, it’s needed to balance the lightweight body of the pen when writing and you’ll notice that there’s very little weight in the hand and strain in the wrist when writing. Combine that with the standard Lamy steel nib (which is legendary for smoothness) and you’ve got a pen that you can write ALL DAY with. No joke! I’ve sat in seminars and written for a solid hour with this pen and had no cramps to speak of. The fatter barrel really does help in reducing hand fatigue and also allows people with larger hands to really feel comfortable.

The only real downside for me is that a Lamy F is like a Japanese B nib, but that’s true for most Western vs. Eastern pens. I like to print graph paper from Incompetech.com or use graph notebooks with bigger squares and use this pen for seminar notes or brainstorming. The ink flow is so smooth and consistent that the pen doesn’t stop until you do. When you pair Lamy’s legendary ruggedness with a smooth nib and a VERY ergonomic body, you get a real innovation in the way that people write and Lamy has really outdone themselves with this pen. I’d recommend trying it out just to see for yourself how it feels to be able to write with no pressure or hand strain. This would also be excellent for people with tendonitis or wrist problems.