Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Lamy AL-Star v. Pilot Metropolitan first pen?

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    Nebraska
    Posts
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Lamy AL-Star v. Pilot Metropolitan first pen?

    I've only just gotten into fountain pens. I use a cheapo from Walgreens and it makes me want to get a "real" fountain pen. I've done a ton of research and I keep hearing both the Metropolitan and the Safari. I found the AL-Star was a metal version of the Safari, and I think I would prefer that. This being said, what would you suggest? I've seen this discussed all over the place but y'all seem to know what you're talking about. I want your opinion! Thanks!!

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    640
    Thanks
    237
    Thanked 312 Times in 163 Posts
    Rep Power
    11

    Default Re: Lamy AL-Star v. Pilot Metropolitan first pen?

    I'd throw an Eco into the mix. I've had Safari's and Alstar but no Metro. I bought Eco that was going cheap on Ebay and think it's better then the two Lamys. No reason why you go for one as a first pen.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Sailor Kenshin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Where pigs run free!
    Posts
    4,003
    Thanks
    6,231
    Thanked 3,427 Times in 1,716 Posts
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: Lamy AL-Star v. Pilot Metropolitan first pen?

    Those are all good writers, the Met being the least $. It may come down to whether you want a piston filler, and what your section preference is...shaped grip or no?

    Good luck.
    My other pen is a Montblanc.

    And my other blog is a tumblr!


    And my latest ebook, for spooky wintery reading:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CM2NGSSD

  4. #4
    Senior Member azkid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Colorado, USA
    Posts
    2,016
    Thanks
    3,725
    Thanked 1,703 Times in 822 Posts
    Rep Power
    9

    Default Re: Lamy AL-Star v. Pilot Metropolitan first pen?

    You probably won't know what you prefer u til you try it. Fortunately you can't go wrong with either pen.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    US
    Posts
    6,793
    Thanks
    642
    Thanked 898 Times in 690 Posts
    Rep Power
    11

    Default Re: Lamy AL-Star v. Pilot Metropolitan first pen?

    After considering both brands, I opted for the Lamy Al Star. I like the atypical shape and the ability to change out nibs like my vintage Esterbrook restorations.

  6. #6
    Senior Member guyy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Brooklyn NY
    Posts
    775
    Thanks
    381
    Thanked 618 Times in 344 Posts
    Rep Power
    8

    Default Re: Lamy AL-Star v. Pilot Metropolitan first pen?

    It’s funny, i’ve had a couple Safaris and never took to them. On the other hand, i like the Al-Star and use one pretty much every day.

    Meanwhile my metro gathers dust because i dislike the weight & section step of the Metro.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to guyy For This Useful Post:

    Kaputnik (October 12th, 2019)

  8. #7
    Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    East Tennessee
    Posts
    82
    Thanks
    14
    Thanked 43 Times in 28 Posts
    Rep Power
    7

    Default Re: Lamy AL-Star v. Pilot Metropolitan first pen?

    +1 for the TWSBI Eco. But, honestly, you can't go wrong with the Metro or the Safari either. Solid pens all. Amongst the Safaris, I prefer the ones with the matte finish. The shiny ones seem more like school pens to me...

    Cheers!

  9. #8
    Senior Member Kaputnik's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    By the long tidal river.
    Posts
    1,043
    Thanks
    2,713
    Thanked 2,570 Times in 695 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Re: Lamy AL-Star v. Pilot Metropolitan first pen?

    Quote Originally Posted by guyy View Post
    It’s funny, i’ve had a couple Safaris and never took to them. On the other hand, i like the Al-Star and use one pretty much every day.

    Meanwhile my metro gathers dust because i dislike the weight & section step of the Metro.
    Me too, at least on the Metro. That abrupt change in diameter right around where I hold the pen makes it uncomfortable for me. For the sake of recommending inexpensive fountain pens to new users, it's a shame that the Pilot FP 78G is no longer made. But the Pilot Prera doesn't cost that much more, and it's relatively small and light, which I like. I could recommend that one.

    I haven't used my Safari or the AL Star for a while, and am no longer confident in my memories of either, but I wouldn't recommend against them. Some people might also recommend the less expensive plastic versions of the Kaweco Sport. I never took to mine that much, but they aren't bad pens for the price. You have to order the pocket clip as an optional accessory.
    Last edited by Kaputnik; October 12th, 2019 at 05:01 AM.
    "If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly."
    G.K. Chesterton

  10. #9
    Member GreyFool's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    Belgium
    Posts
    41
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 17 Times in 8 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Lamy AL-Star v. Pilot Metropolitan first pen?

    They're both good and reliable writers. I personally prefer the Pilot, because I never really liked the Safari's design (that's just personal taste). That said, in the US, they both take proprietary cartridges and converters (the European version of the Metropolitan - the Pilot MR - takes standard international) and therefore I'd encourage you to look at the entry-level pens by Diplomat and Faber-Castell, because they are very good writers too and you can pop in any standard international cartridges and converters you might have lying around. I think both brands are severely underrated in that market segment.

  11. #10
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Posts
    47
    Thanks
    19
    Thanked 34 Times in 16 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Lamy AL-Star v. Pilot Metropolitan first pen?

    Pilots Metros have a very classy look, but unfortunately I agree they aren't particularly ergonomic. Never got to try a Lamy, but it seems the more ergonomic of the two. Despite the ergonomics of them, I used them all the time for a year and fell in love with them to the point that I thought I had to buy two or three spares. Thus the insanity of fountain pens began. They are at least tolerable, but the main problem is the plastic section doesn't counterbalance the weight of the metal back. So you want to hold it further back, but then there's that step.

    If I had to do it over, maybe I'd go with Lamy, but then I'd have bought Lamy converters and I wouldn't have stepped up to the gold nib Pilots which are so, so good. I'd have ended up with a Lamy 2k like every other person in the world.

  12. #11
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    62
    Thanks
    50
    Thanked 28 Times in 16 Posts
    Rep Power
    9

    Default Re: Lamy AL-Star v. Pilot Metropolitan first pen?

    I had both. Sold the Pilots and kept the Lamy Al-Star. Then I bought the Pilot again a few years later. It's only $15. The Al-Star is about the same at Barnes and Noble clearance at the moment.

    As you can imagine, the correct answer is "both".

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •