What's the best fountain pen for a beginner?

Across specialist-community consensus, the Lamy Safari and the Pilot Varsity dominate beginner recommendations. The Safari is the durable, refillable starter most r/fountainpens threads default to, while the Varsity is the no-commitment disposable that lets newcomers try a fountain pen without buying ink or a converter. The Hongdian Black Forest is the most-cited budget metal alternative if you want something heftier than the Safari.