Cf Life.unplugged. Review

[GouletPens]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAe3sE796OI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/fdYb3RoV6Sk/s400/IMG_1648.jpg

 

New for 2010, Clairefontaine has come out with a new collection of notebooks called Life.Unplugged. They are a series of notebooks covered in a rugged material, available in 4 different colors: black, red, green, and tan. For anyone familiar with the Clairefontaine Basic Clothbounds (which were around before the 'Life.Unplugged' brand), the notebooks have this same rugged cover material.

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAe2oRUPTWI/AAAAAAAAAUA/xy-yjpyICtk/s400/Basic_Cloth_Group_Vertical.sized.jpg

 

There are 3 different types of notebooks in the Life. Unplugged. family. There are the Clothbound Basic notebooks that you may be familiar with already. They are available in 2 sizes: A4 and A5.

 

The A4 Clothbound Basic is 8.25" x 11.75" with 96 sheets of 90g smoooooth Clairefontaine white, 8mm ruled paper (list price is $12.00). The A5 Clothbound Basic is 6" x 8.25" with 96 sheets of the same 90g Clairefontaine paper (list price is $9.00). Both notebooks have high-quality stitched and glued bindings.

 

But these clothbounds were already available before! They are now a part of the 'Life.Unplugged.' family, but they were not a new release in 2010. The one change that is coming on these new clothbounds is that they will come with elastic bands (to keep it closed). They are coming slowly but surely, being sold under the same product code as the ones without the bands. It will take some time for them to cycle through retailers' old stock, but I can say that I have received the large red clothbound basic with the elastic band a few months ago, and I'm starting to get more of them like in black. If you REALLLY want one with a strap, ask your retailer of choice when you make your purchase if they are willing to do that for you (I am!).

 

The new 2010 products are the Life.Unplugged. Staplebound Duos, and the Roadbook. The staplebound duos are very similar to the staplebound Clairefontaine classic staplebounds, but with the more rugged cover material. There are two different sizes of duos, an A5 size and A6+ size. The A5 size (list price $9.00) is 5.75" x 8.25" with 48 sheets of 90g Clairefontaine 8mm lined paper.

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAkYzAhaRmI/AAAAAAAAAVY/IY9w1Pz0oys/s400/IMG_1652.jpg

 

The smaller A6+ size (about half way between an A6 and A7 size, list price $7.00) is 3.5" x 5.5" with 48 sheets of 90g Clairefontaine 7mm lined paper. I'll point out in case you didn't catch it, the large staplebound duo has 8mm ruling, the small one has 7mm ruling!

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAnJqIuXjYI/AAAAAAAAAVg/OR_mGSuWoO8/s400/IMG_1640.jpg

 

The Staplebound Duos are offered in two different products: a two-pack of red and green, and a two-pack of black and tan.

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAkXg5hpCUI/AAAAAAAAAUw/TQhlCoZJ4lU/s400/IMG_1651.jpg

 

This is the same for the larger and smaller sizes. I wanted to test the durability of the Life.Unplugged rugged construction, so I carried one of these around in my back pocket for about 2 months.

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAkXvNacuiI/AAAAAAAAAU4/casSdfvdRL4/s400/IMG_1669.jpg

 

I figured my back pocket would really test it, since my large 250lb butt would be sitting on it every day and stress it to the max! I have to say, it held up surprisingly well! It's no wonder these little notebooks are getting such rave reviews!

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAkX7Cq0vsI/AAAAAAAAAVA/G6vjj3ihp-Y/s400/IMG_1647.jpg

 

Another new notebook is called the Roadbook. The Roadbook (list price $7.00) is the exact same size as the smaller Staplebound Duo (3.5" x 5.5"), but has some significant differences that set it apart.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAkXISYoK8I/AAAAAAAAAUg/dWC1TSnV_L4/s400/IMG_1659.jpg

 

First, the Roadbook is sold as individual books, not in a duo set. The sheet count is higher (64) vs the duo's 48 sheets. The same high quality, 90g paper is used in the Roadbook as in all other Clairefontaine notebooks like the Staplebound Duos. The ruling is the same 7mm, but the binding is better. The Roadbook has the same stitched and glued binding as the clothbound basics, which is a step up from the staplebounds (even though the staplebounds are pretty darn rugged as they are!).

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAkXUQB7LqI/AAAAAAAAAUo/FOHtvsehwm8/s400/IMG_1654.jpg

 

Here's the front and back of the Roadbook:

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAkYeHMNBtI/AAAAAAAAAVI/Cmaei1W9qkI/s400/IMG_1655.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAkYjveizhI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/6ORIFl9_S7Q/s400/IMG_1656.jpg

 

Lastly, the Roadbook has an elastic band. It comes in all four colors, but are sold to retailers in a mixed-pack set, so I doubt you'll find a retailer who sells them by color (though you can certainly request a color preference).

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAe_bG2sHgI/AAAAAAAAAUY/njErgRgKy5Y/s400/IMG_1661.jpg

 

The paper is the same smooth Clairefontaine 90g paper in all the notebooks. It takes fountain pen ink extremely well and resists feathering and bleedthrough. Here is Pelikan Blue-Black in a medium Pelikano.

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAnKv4CPoOI/AAAAAAAAAVo/kMsbgmZqIzo/s400/IMG_1667.jpg

 

And with J. Herbin Poussière de Lune in a 1.5mm Pelikan Script.

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qVJOiluU9_4/TAnK--BUEZI/AAAAAAAAAVw/1TYIxCOLp6I/s400/IMG_1665.jpg

 

All in all, the new Life.Unplugged. series is quite impressive. It's a premium grade product with a fairly premium price, but it's a good value if you are looking for a rugged notebook that has quality paper.

 

This review was taken from my blog, Ink Nouveau.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_3mtvTA7IY

[jimhughes]

Brian:

Your usual great review. I concur 100%, after a month trial. Got an exotic Leather cover coming from heirphoto for these 3 x 5, apx, Staplebound books. I'll be Beta testing it before he goes into full production. I think this will give the Life Unplugged series an even classier look and functionality than the have now. More on the cover later. Jim

[Paperpensmacs]

The A5 size are my new addictions. I write in my notebook daily, and have already filled 3. I like the simplicity and flexibility - it does not distract, or intrude, in my daily writing. I like the bright white color of Clairefontaine paper because I love using different colored inks. The inks show up beautifully on the page when flipping through a completed journal having used multiple inks.

 

Brian, I can't wait to break in the Clothbound basics I just purchased.

 

Jim, if you don't mind, could you possibly post a photo with the leather covering. It might be something I'd consider with the thicker Clothbound I just purchased.

Edited June 16, 2010 by Paperpensmacs

[jimhughes]

The A5 size are my new addictions. I write in my notebook daily, and have already filled 3. I like the simplicity and flexibility - it does not distract, or intrude, in my daily writing. I like the bright white color of Clairefontaine paper because I love using different colored inks. The inks show up beautifully on the page when flipping through a completed journal having used multiple inks.

 

Brian, I can't wait to break in the Clothbound basics I just purchased.

 

Jim, if you don't mind, could you possibly post a photo with the leather covering. It might be something I'd consider with the thicker Clothbound I just purchased.

My photo skills are a bit weak, but I'll see what I can do or get you an address to view it in the flesh. Jim

[inkypete]

Brian:

Your usual great review. I concur 100%, after a month trial. Got an exotic Leather cover coming from heirphoto for these 3 x 5, apx, Staplebound books. I'll be Beta testing it before he goes into full production. I think this will give the Life Unplugged series an even classier look and functionality than the have now. More on the cover later. Jim

 

 

Hi Jim - any news on the cover????

[Ghost Plane]

Excellent review and answered a question I had about the Road Books as well. Thanks!

[Heirphoto]

Brian:

Your usual great review. I concur 100%, after a month trial. Got an exotic Leather cover coming from heirphoto for these 3 x 5, apx, Staplebound books. I'll be Beta testing it before he goes into full production. I think this will give the Life Unplugged series an even classier look and functionality than the have now. More on the cover later. Jim

 

 

Hi Jim - any news on the cover????

 

The covers will fit any of the staple-bound notebooks in the usual "pocket" 3 x 5ish and "large" 5 x 8ish sizes. I have a preview of them at The Heirloom Razor Strop Co. and am looking at a early to mid July release. They will hold multiple journals and they easily interchange, much like a Midori or Life Tracker. I like their designs but felt they could be rigged a little better to hold multiple inserts and wanted more leather variety and sizes.

 

I like the look of the Life Unplugged journals. Nice to have choices as I use this type of journal daily for work and personal notes, projects, etc....

 

Jim, keep me posted on how it is working for you and if changes/improvements are needed I can work on this.

 

Tony

Edited June 17, 2010 by Heirphoto

[jimhughes]

Tony:

Thanks for the link. You were on my pocket book list for today. The inhouse photographer is away swimming currently, so I'd not done that yet.

So far, the notebook is working fine for me. You didn't mention it's inherent safety features. Dog requires sprints up and down the side of the local arroyos. These are covered with basketball to exercise ball sized lava rocks, aka boulders to prevent erosion in flash floods. Today, I took a nasty spill on my right hip, when I dislodged a BBall sized one. It left a nice character mark on my cover, no bruise on my hip. I'm thinking another month of this and I'll have the Ernest Hemingway look of Stevlights Sketchbook cover. Anyway back OT, Everyone , Tony is the source for the covers. Check his site out. I'm field testing a pair now. No changes requsted. They are workinh great for me. Jim

[monjaraz85]

Excellent product. Great paper. I must warn future buyers about the only thing that I have had bad luck with. So I left my pocket book in my car one day in the hot Texas sun (about 98 F). After this I notice a stain in the first page. The glue that binds the paper melted a bit!!! The notebook is still intact and is still in perfect condition to be used. I guess this is my fault..but if you are going to be hiking in the Sahara this summer or in Death Valley California watch out!!!

[GouletPens]

Excellent product. Great paper. I must warn future buyers about the only thing that I have had bad luck with. So I left my pocket book in my car one day in the hot Texas sun (about 98 F). After this I notice a stain in the first page. The glue that binds the paper melted a bit!!! The notebook is still intact and is still in perfect condition to be used. I guess this is my fault..but if you are going to be hiking in the Sahara this summer or in Death Valley California watch out!!!

Was this a Roadbook you had troubles with?

[monjaraz85]

Excellent product. Great paper. I must warn future buyers about the only thing that I have had bad luck with. So I left my pocket book in my car one day in the hot Texas sun (about 98 F). After this I notice a stain in the first page. The glue that binds the paper melted a bit!!! The notebook is still intact and is still in perfect condition to be used. I guess this is my fault..but if you are going to be hiking in the Sahara this summer or in Death Valley California watch out!!!

Was this a Roadbook you had troubles with?

 

 

Yup.