Lamy Safari Vs. Lumos Pro
Dear Wonderful, Creative You:
Because I host a live slow drawing and slow painting workshop every week, one of the questions students ask most frequently is – What pen are you using?
While the pen doesn’t make me draw better or worse, when you draw a lot of fine line work, you’ll find that you go through disposable pens at a startling pace. I wanted a way to draw without creating a lot of landfill, so I set out in search of my favorite fountain pen.
I’ve narrowed it down to two choices that I’m excited to share with you in this video. Let’s look at the Lamy Safari vs. the Lumos Pro. While Tom’s Studio sent me the Lumos, these are my true opinions after more than a year of use:
Update: I now only use the Platinum Carbon Ink in the Lumos Pro. Over time, I found that the De Atramentis dried out the tip, while the Platinum Carbon Ink never did.
Looking for these pens and supplies?
Here’s an affiliate link to the Lumos Pro, and if you use code: MINDFULARTSTUDIO with that link you can save 10%.
Here’s an affiliate link to the Lamy Safari pen, the converter you fill with ink, and the DeAtramentis document ink.
You’ll find my video on How to Refill Your Lamy Safari pen here.
Share Your Comments and Questions About Waterproof Drawing Pens
I’d love to hear about your experience with waterproof fountain pens. Do you prefer the Lamy or the Lumos? Or do you have a favorite I didn’t mention? Or perhaps you haven’t ventured into fountain pens yet. Tell us about it in the comments.
Creatively Yours,
Amy
- Tom’s Studio kindly sent me the Lumos Pro pen many moons ago on my request. I was hopeful that it would be the answer to my refillable pen wishes. For the most part it is, though I still love my Lamy too. I’ve waited to do this review with the affiliate link because I wanted to be sure that the pen worked well with waterproof ink over months and months of use. The Platinum Carbon ink is wonderful in the Lumos. If you decide to purchase the pen with the affiliate code and my MINDFULARTSTUDIO code, you’ll save 10% and I will get a small commission.
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Hi Amy. Super helpful video. I heard a Gathering member say that she has the Lumos Mini, which I’m curious about simply because it’s a more affordable option. I believe it also comes with the full set of tips. Can you comment on the Mini?
Hi Doe:
So happy to see you here. So I haven’t used the mini – have you asked the Gathering member about her experience? I’m curious how it balances in the hand if it’s smaller. Sorry I can’t really help. I know Google would likely have some answers too. Cheers.
I have 3 minis and 3 original Lumos. Love both. I have different ink colors in them with different tips. I also keep filled cartridges in vials for quick and easy changes.
Although I still have several Lamy pens, I rarely use them, find them really difficult to fill and even the EF nib is not very fine.
Hi Jeanne: Oh that’s very interesting feedback. Do you use them with watercolor also? So happy to hear your experience with the Lumos! xo
Thank you Amy and Jeanne – Very sorry I didn’t see this (much) earlier. Ok. I’ll spring for a Lumos one way or another. The yen to get those really fine lines is really strong.
I have just recently starting looking around for a decent but affordable fountain pen, for writing and for drawing in watercolor work, both ink-then-watercolor and watercolor-then-ink.
The Lumos Pro is enticing but too expensive for me to buy on a whim, but the Lamy Safari interests me. I did see one review that said the user could not get the pen to write on watercolor paper – I think they said cold press, which is mypreferred paper. Could you comment on the pens’ performance with different papers?
Hi Sue:
I’m so glad you are interested in a fountain pen! I have used both pens on Arches cold press and Strathmore 300 and 400 cold press and it works great. I hope this helps. Happy drawing!
Eek! I did it. After all the hemming and hawing, I finally ordered a Lumos Pro Single Tip pen. After a year of making art, and almost seven months in the Gathering, I think I’m serious enough about, and committed enough to drawing that I can invest in a quality piece of equipment. I’ve been using a Lamy for quite a while, and am so happy to have pens that won’t be a burden on the environment. So excited. Can’t wait for it to get here. Thanks very much for the discount code- it made a significant difference.
OOH Doe – how exciting!! You are going to LOVE those fine fine lines. What fun!
Thank you Amy. I just refilled my Lamy Safari after watching your video. I do not have a Lumos but have a question about the cotton wick. Does that have to be replaced with each refill? Sharon
HI Sharon: YAY I’m so glad that helped! And thank goodness, no the cotton wick is very reusable. I am not sure how long they last, but I know I’ve had mine many months for the current one and use the Carbon ink. I believe you can rinse and reuse too. Thanks
Thank you!
Hi Sharon! The wick and nib can be washed out with water, if you’d like to use another color ink. They just say to allow each to dry at least 24 hours before putting new ink in the cartridge. (It’s actually fun to watch. The nib is put into the cartridge and the cartridge put in the ink. When the nib turns the color of the ink, then you know the cartridge is full.) I made the rookie mistake of not drying my cartridge fully on its second use so that when I drew, the ink was really watered down. Won’t make that mistake again!
Have you used DeAtrament waterproof inks in the Lumos pen and what is your experience with that? Thanks.
Hi KathyAnne – I have tried DeAtramentis in the Lumos, but I found it dried out the tip. The Carbon is the only waterproof ink that I’ve found truly works in the Lumos. With that combo, I’ve been stoked. Thanks for reading and watching!
I’ve just bought the Lumos pen and the carbon ink but haven’t used them yet! Does the pen need to be used every day to prevent it from dryingout, or can you use it a few times a week?
HI Sharon – oh what fun! I definitely do not use it daily, but numerous times a week. I think the key is topping it every time you stop drawing. If you are pausing to consider, that’s fine, but any time you are taking a break, or stopping for an extended period, cap your pen tightly. And of course you will need to refill ink from time to time too. I hope this helps!
I love my Lumos Pro! I really appreciate the suggestion for a waterproof ink, because I realized too late that the black ink that comes with the Lumos pro isn’t waterproof!
Yay to loving your Lumos Pro Suzy! We’re so glad that the waterproof ink suggestion helped as well!
What are the tips made of? Do they last a long time and can they be replaced if they wear out?
Yes they can be replaced once they wear out (which depends on use!) The Lamy tips are made from steel and the Lumos tips say that they are “crafted in Japan with exceptional quality”. You may want to reach out to them to see which material they use! Amy has used both for over a year and really enjoys them!
I was just looking at your video and was wondering if you know why the drawings with the Lumus pen come out gray instead of black even though you are using black ink?
Hey Michelle, I’m not entirely sure why that happens, but I agree it’s not black black black. For me, this is the best fine liner reusable tip I’ve ever found, so I’m fine with the dark gray, but I know that not everyone would feel that way. You could always write to Tom’s studio. All the best.
I splurged and got the Tom’s duo and was really obsessed with finding waterproof ink. . to work with it. They did not recommend platinum carbon black, but I have used it and like you it works great. I was looking also for a green or a brown, I never found a good green that was permanent that would work in the duo, so I have a Noodlers water soluble green (in a lamy safari pen) which I like just fine. I did use the platinum brown ink in my duo and that works just great and I’m pleased that I have both brown and black ink now in the duo. $100 well spent! Plus the Ink of course
YAY! It’s so great that you love your Lumos Pro too! It sounds like you have a great setup with both pens 🙂 Thanks for sharing this with us❤️