After 3 years, will THESE replace my Lamy Safari pens?

Welcome to Twsbi-verse. I would say the Twsbi Eco is a closer comparison to the Lamy Safari. I have Twsbi minis (one piston and one vacuum) that I use for travel. The huge ink capacity ensures that I will have more than enough for full week of writing from a single pen. The seals on the Twsbi are fantastic and there is very little evaporation from a pen that sits unused for weeks and even months, but also no leaks with pressure changes during flights or tossing about in a bag. TWSBI’s customer service is also very good. Because they encourage you to tinker with your pens it also means parts can be easily replace if damaged. I paid $5 shipping to replace the threaded section that had cracked. They responded same day. I’ve found the Twsbi nibs to be more consistent and compatible with a wider variety of inks than my Lamy’s (Al Stars for me). Both of these brands of pens are so affordable that you can buy several with multiple nib sizes. You can’t go wrong with either pen brand.

Oh, and try turning your nib parallel with the paper. It will smooth out. Their nibs are fantastic.

My Twsbis cracked after a few months. My Lamys still going stong years later with no problems.

Having used TWSBI for about five years now, I experienced cracking on my pen, especially at the cap where the screw thread is. While I am very careful with my pens and I never dropped them, the only possible reason for the crack is perhaps when I screw the cap back on the pen. Still, reasonably, I don't screw them down hard. Just normal force and I stop when it doesn't go any further. So yeah, this is the first thing that I am frustrating about. Another thing that frustrates me is the maintenance. I like to clean the pen thoroughly every time I finish the ink in it. When I have to take them apart, putting them back is the biggest pain in the ass, especially when you have to screw back the piston and the metal part doesn't aligned with the plastic body that well. I have to slowly find the beginning of the thread and screw it down. Any mistake will result in the metal thread damaging the thread on the plastic body. Very annoying. I think this is something to think about too. On the plus side, I do enjoy the large ink capacity which I can use it for a long time and reduce the frequency of refilling. However, I believe maintenance is still a very important part of owning a fountain pen. Therefore, I don't think I will be buying anymore TWSBI fountain pens until they have some improvements to address the problems that I faced with the pen.

I love how you go over all aspects of items you review & give respectful feedback. I can see the value in both items & I like that even though you prefer your original pens more, you found a way to use the new pens so you don’t waste money. Very smart!

I LOVE my TWSBIs. I also love my Safaris! I was glad to hear your solution for using both in different situations. Safaris are less precious, less of an ouch if they are damaged or lost during travel.

One of the best pen reviews I have seem in some time!

Fountain pen afficionado here. I own both kinds of pens. The TWSBI nibs are superior to the Safari’s but the TWSBI barrels are also very brittle and easily crack when they fall. Considering how rigorous your travels and usage are, the TWSBI 580’s won’t serve your needs adequately

Welcome to TWSBI world. You gave a clear, concise evaluation. Well done. The TWSBI mini was my first because that was what one of my students was using and he directed me to where he purchased it. I have Safaris, Ecos and 580s and enjoy them all. The 580s are worth the extra cost over the Ecos because of their ease of cleaning and nicer look. I use the Safaris frequently too.

glad to see you using TWSBI now!! one of my favorite brands!

I love how much ink the TWSBI pens store in the barrel AND how they just fit and work with their ink bottles. Cleaning and swapping out inks is super easy. Give it a moment on the nibs to soften up a little.

Love the TWSBIs but ever. Single. One. Has cracked on me. 540, 580, and 3 ecos. And I’m VERY careful with mine and they are always in a case. Oh. And my ink wells leak too.

Thank you for showing us how to use the syringe to clean out a pen. I have been using LAMYs for decades, but I'm inclined to add more TWSBIs to my collection. I only have four so far!

I was so excited to watch this! You had something to do with my fountain pen journey 😉 My first ones were a TWSBI Diamond Mini and a Kaweco Sport. I still don’t own a Lamy Safari though! I have quite a collection of TWSBIs now and I am a huge fan. The Diamond 580 is one of my favourites ❤

Just ordered a TWSBI 580ALR in a 1.1 stub to accompany my two Lamy Safaris. This channel is a bad influence haha

Great video, I’ve been using both the Lamy Safari and the Twsbi Eco for over 5 years. They are both great fountain pens with their own merits.

Excellent presentation. I agree with “yes and no” enjoying both pen types. Thanks.

Those new pens are indeed lovely, but...the Lamys are superb with your TN, and did actually encourage me to get my own two aswell :)

Good choice on the ALRs! The TWSBI Diamond ALR and Safari are also my early go-to FPs for those no non-sense travels and client meetings. While the TWSBI Eco’s prone to cracking, the ALR holds up pretty well, esp paired with the ink well. I suggest to not leave ink in the inkwell as the metal rod can oxidize (my own experience) and become harder to clean after.

I don’t mean to be cynical and love both pens. I’ll just say I still have every Lamy safari I’ve ever purchased, however, every Twsbi I’ve ever purchased has cracked in less than 2 years. Don’t toss you Lamy because that Twsbi will crack lol.