Moleskine Notebook Vs Cheap Look-A-Like

[Morbus Curiositas]

Dear FPN Members

 

As Fountain Pen and Ink lovers you know that paperquality massively influences the writing quality. The same ink may look totally differently on different papers. On one paper it feathers on the other paper it doesn't This is the same with Show-/Bleedthrough...

 

You all know that there are several paper brands on the market. Some of these papers behave very well with your beloved Fountain Pen inks other do not behave well at all.

 

One of the most known manufactures of notebooks is Moleskine. There ris a lot of discussion on paper quality here. Some people say that it is not really suited for Fountain Pen inks... to put it mildly...

 

In this case I compare a Moleskine notebook with a cheap Look-alike my girlfriend once brought me.... Some say always go with the original, this is the best...

 

But is this the case with these two notebooks????

 

"Moleskine" vs. "Office" notebook

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Moleskine%20vs%20Office%20Notebook/20140730_090012_resized_zps9885a933.jpg

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Moleskine%20vs%20Office%20Notebook/20140730_090206_resized_zps7a986c98.jpg

 

The look etc...

 

The two notebooks look very much a like.

• Rubberband
• Imitation leather cover
• Ribbon
• Both have a small pocket in the back cover.

 

There is a major difference though

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Moleskine%20vs%20Office%20Notebook/20140730_090248_resized_zpsff8d421e.jpg

Left is the moleskine right is the Office

 

The paper in the Office notebook is much thicker. I haven't measured it but it seems to be double as thick!

 

Paperquality and Ink behaviour

 

As mentioned before the paper in the Office notebook is much thicker, giving it a much more quality feel.

 

Well just have a look at what this means on Ink behaviour

 

To show the differences and make this comparison as obective as possible I have used severalinks and Fountain Pens

 

Pens

Waterman Carène M nib (this is a quite broad nib

Lamy Joy 1,5 Italic nib: This combination is the super soaker of Fountain Pens (it will even make desert sand wet

Online Best Writer 1.4 Italic Though Italic quite a dry nib

Kaweco Sport BB nib

Pelikan M800 M nib This nib is quite dry with the Herbin Poussière de Lune ink used in the header of the photos

 

Inks

De Atramentis Merlot wet ink

J. Herbin Terre de Feu dry Ink

Kaweco Black medium wet ink

J. Herbin Poussière the Lune dry ink

Amberleas unknown powdered ink Blue Amber very wet ink

 

Please do not judge the colours I have not processed them here to be colour true.... I have, more or less reviewed all these inks before... So please look there if you want to judge the colours.

 

Note Moleskine lined paper

Office squared paper

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Moleskine%20vs%20Office%20Notebook/20140730_090623_resized_zpsa1963f2d.jpg

 

Please notice the horrible feathering of the blue amber in the Moleskine (photo down below)

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Moleskine%20vs%20Office%20Notebook/20140730_090634_resized_zpsa5a610a4.jpg

 

Okay it is a very wet ink in comparison to the others but.... It doen't feather on the office notebook paper !

 

Showthrough / Bleedthrough

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Moleskine%20vs%20Office%20Notebook/20140730_090623_resized_zpsa1963f2d.jpg

Front (written) side Squared is Office, Lined is Moleskine

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Moleskine%20vs%20Office%20Notebook/20140730_090721_resized_zpse3e33d5a.jpg

Oops quite a difference

 

Some More examples

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Moleskine%20vs%20Office%20Notebook/20140730_090738_resized_zps1fffadcc.jpg

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Moleskine%20vs%20Office%20Notebook/20140730_090811_resized_zps053bdee1.jpg

Wow those are quite some differences. but I will post one photo more

 

Warning/ Parental advice followin pichure can be schocking, not suited for children

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Moleskine%20vs%20Office%20Notebook/20140730_090728_resized_zps9ee00da0.jpg

That is pure Bleeding Horror.

 

My Findings

 

WellI simply look at the photos. The Office notebook behaves MUCH BETTER than the paper in the Moleskine

 

The paper in the Office notebook is thicker and in my opinion of better quality. All Inks behave superbly on this paper.

 

Moleskine.

What a horror. All inks in all Fountain Pens bleed like a torn artery. One ink (Blue Amber) horribly feathers on this paper....

 

I find this quite a dissapointment for Moleskine... Especially considering the price one has to pay for the Notebook

 

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a617/Morbus_Curiositas/Moleskine%20vs%20Office%20Notebook/20140730_090827_resized_zps85be040d.jpg

 

At that price difference I demand the Moleskine to be superb.... Well I leave the judgement up to you

 

It seems that Moleskine recently introduced new Paper in their notebooks. Urban Sketcher artist and blogger Liz Steel has compared the new and the old Moleskine paper... You can find the comparison here

 

http://www.lizsteel.com/2014/06/review-of-new-paper-in-moleskine.html

 

It doesn't seem that the quality has improved...

 

Availability

 

Here comes the bad news...

 

I bought this at the Müller Drug Store in Innsbruck Austria (they carry stationery). I don't know where else it is available.

 

What I will do is following.

 

I will give a Office notebook to both La Couronne du Comte and Goulet Pen... Both these lovely shops are very passionate and always open for new Ideas... Both these shops always tend to offer the best service possible to theis clients.... maybe they can do so here

 

Conclusion

 

There is a in the Ink Review forum that prohibits ink bashing. I beleive this is fine rule. I will therefore not give any judgment here, I will leave you to do so.

 

But personally...

 

For me Moleskine can gently put their notebook in a place where the sun doesn't shine and the Mistral-winds blow regularly.

 

I go for the Office notebook in the future....

 

Especially as Müller also offers a A4 Office notebook for only €6,99 (about $ 8,50)

 

Regards

 

Peter

[canibanoglu]

 

 

For me Moleskine can gently put their notebook in a place where the sun doesn't shine and the Mistral-winds blow regularly.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for that, sir, you made my day. That's exactly what I think about Moleskine, they are pricey and they don't even come close to being usable. I'm surprised about your view of the Blue Amber being too wet of an ink, I thought it was just right and it definitely didn't do that much feathering on cheap copy paper. Perhaps some water evaporated while it was in transit (it took around 3 weeks to get to me).

 

In any case, thanks a lot for the review and putting the new product on my radar. Even though I started binding my own notebooks, at that price I don't mind buying a few if I can get my hands on 'em.

[Morbus Curiositas]

 

Thank you for that, sir, you made my day. That's exactly what I think about Moleskine, they are pricey and they don't even come close to being usable. I'm surprised about your view of the Blue Amber being too wet of an ink, I thought it was just right and it definitely didn't do that much feathering on cheap copy paper. Perhaps some water evaporated while it was in transit (it took around 3 weeks to get to me).

 

In any case, thanks a lot for the review and putting the new product on my radar. Even though I started binding my own notebooks, at that price I don't mind buying a few if I can get my hands on 'em.

you're welcome

 

Well the Blue Amber seems to be very wet to me. I have to test it some more in the Lamy Vista....

 

On availability...

 

I will have to search where else it is availabe.... Since you seem to live in Turkey it is not easy to come by and buy an Office notebook...

 

If it helps you I can send them to you

 

Regards

 

Peter

[visvamitra]

Great comparison. I always knew Moleskine sucks

[Morbus Curiositas]

Great comparison. I always knew Moleskine sucks

sorry this may be taken as a judgment but...

 

Moleskine literally sucks... all the ink iight through the paper

[The Blue Knight]

An excellent comparison.borrowing a sentences or two from a review I wrote on amazon for a Moleskine diary which sum up my opinion of there products. .

 

"Overall the diary is really well laid out well and is very well designed. However the quality of the paper just isn't what it should be at this price point."

[Morbus Curiositas]

An excellent comparison.borrowing a sentences or two from a review I wrote on amazon for a Moleskine diary which sum up my opinion of there products. .

 

"Overall the diary is really well laid out well and is very well designed. However the quality of the paper just isn't what it should be at this price point."[/size]

Well I must definately figure a way out to make these Office Notebooks available for all my FPN friends here :-)

[Morbus Curiositas]

Will post a photo of the A4 notebook soon

[WateryFlow]

The notebook I have is cheap 80gsm paper from either Wilkinsons(or maybe Poundland) for £1(about $1.7) per 200 sheets of A5, and it's the best paper I've got for fountain pens. No matter what the ink used, there's no bleedthrough, no feathering, and shows off all the wonderful shading characteristics.

 

My A6 moleskine notebook which cost about 5 times that bleeds through horribly.

Edited July 30, 2014 by WateryFlow

[napalm]

I'm still wondering why you did buy that thing in the first place. Just to put it to shame?

[Morbus Curiositas]

An excellent comparison.borrowing a sentences or two from a review I wrote on amazon for a Moleskine diary which sum up my opinion of there products. .

 

"Overall the diary is really well laid out well and is very well designed. However the quality of the paper just isn't what it should be at this price point."[/size]

In this Office notebook building qulity is the same and the appearance is ver appealing... Just the paperquality is better thn Moleskine's

[Morbus Curiositas]

The notebook I have is cheap 80gsm paper from either Wilkinsons(or maybe Poundland) for £1(about $1.7) per 200 sheets of A5, and it's the best paper I've got for fountain pens. No matter what the ink used, there's no bleedthrough, no feathering, and shows off all the wonderful shading characteristics.

 

My A6 moleskine notebook which cost about 5 times that bleeds through horribly.

Very nice to hear about hte quality of the cheap paper you use. I buy my paper at Müller, a drugstore with a little stationery department.

 

It Is cheap 100 sheets A4 only about € 2,50 (2 Pounds). It is 80 grams paper and it behaves very well wiht most Fountain Pen inks... I always use this paper for my ink reviews... I know there is Rhodia, Clairefontaine and even more expensive paper. But I like to use my Fountain Pens as often as possible. I guess ost FP fans do.... So therefore I test the behvior on cheap paper....

 

Müller also sells 100 and 160 grams paper with the (lalo) vergures in it at only 25 cent per paper COOOLLLL!!!!

 

I will look into that Wilkinson paper sounds interesting

[Morbus Curiositas]

I'm still wondering why you did buy that thing in the first place. Just to put it to shame?

Hi Napalm it is not about putting it to shame. I am more like the type who likes to share my enthusiasm on products with other people.

 

The Moleskine.

 

I have a soft spot for products and firms with a long tradition, no matter what product it is. Wines, companies and Fountain Pens of course.

 

I stumbled over moleskine on Internet. I liked the history behind it and Ithought.... must get one of those. I bought a Notebook and a Diary... How little did I know about the paperquality and how Ink behaves on this. Maybe the thin paper should have warned me, but the paper I use for my Ink reviews is cheap and behaves well.

 

When I first wrote on the paper with a Fountain Pen I was horrified by the Show- /Bleed through. As I mentioned in my topic my girlfriend bought me the Office note book at only a forth of the price of a Moleskine...

 

I was stunned by the quality difference, especially since the Office notebook was so much cheaper. Well I had to share this with FPN. Merely to share my enthusiasm for Office notebooks.

 

There is an interesting topic going on right now in the members helping mebers forum. It is titled:

 

"Are honest opinions allowed on FPN"

 

It seems that most member agree that this is allowed.

 

Since I had these two Notebooks and Maybe Moleskine is the benchmark, or at least the a well known brand for notebooks with that typical look, I compared them. I just wrote down my honest findings..... Nothing wrong with that I suppose.

 

Of course one could say that the Office notebook is a cheap rip off copy. But I believe more notenooks looked this way in the past.

 

So again I do like sharing my enthusiasm on the things I like/love more that more than being negative about things. I am a jolly happy optimistic creature :-) :-)

 

I always try to be as honest as possible in my reviews therefore even inks I like, get lesser points in areas they do not perform as well as i hoped for... and on the other side I rate the areas where the ink performs well higher...

 

So definately it is not to bash Moleskine. I just do not buy Moleskine any more because I found a better cheaper alternative for the notebooks called Office. I also found a better alternative for the diaries called Leuchtturm at the same price of a Moleskine...

 

I hope this explains my acting in this topic

 

Regards,

 

Peter

[WateryFlow]

 

I will look into that Wilkinson paper sounds interesting

Oh just to be clear, Wilkinsons is the name of the shop. I don't think they exist outside of the UK

[bogiesan]

Expressing our disgust for Moleskine is sport around here.

But we're not their marketing demographic; they don't care about fountain pens. I find their range of products interesting, if neither useful nor particularly attractive, and their marketing savvy is beyond competent--they completely own several market niches.

Overpriced and snobby? Sure. So are Starbucks, Apple, Levi's and Mont Blanc.

 

But Apple products are worth it!

[Morbus Curiositas]

Expressing our disgust for Moleskine is sport around here.

But we're not their marketing demographic; they don't care about fountain pens. I find their range of products interesting, if neither useful nor particularly attractive, and their marketing savvy is beyond competent--they completely own several market niches.

Overpriced and snobby? Sure. So are Starbucks, Apple, Levi's and Mont Blanc.

But Apple products are worth it!

Dear Bogesian

 

This topic is not meant to express my digust for Moleskine, I explained that in my extensive answer to the reply of Napalm.

 

It is merely showing a alternative that is better suited for Fountain Pens. Well this is a fountain pen Forum and Not a Biro/ or Pencil forum.

 

Of course there is the free market which is a good thing. History has learned us that a non free market is nor good for developement and satisfaction of the people. On the other hand a free market can greatly boost general weel being and welfare as the USA has prooved since WW2.... Economic growthe and more money and chances for all Americans.

 

Of course Apple and Starbucks are great succes stories. Briliant marketing induced a need for their products.

 

But free market ir brilliant marketing doesn't neccesarily mean that we get the best products atthe best prices.

A fine example of this is the videorecorder. Technically Betamax and Video 2000 were the better systems. But brilliant marketiing made VHS the winner and sole surviver in those days.

 

Well i believe anyone should buy the products/brands he or she likes....

 

If that is Starbucks well enjoy your Starbucks Coffee than. But everyone has the choice to drink a better true Italina espresso at a better price... Though it may not fancy looking.

 

That is the same with notebooks... or for example Mont Blanc pen if one thinks it is worth the money, he shoud buy it.... Free market :-)

 

But just like Mont Blanc is a good but not neccesarly the best Fountain Pen, Moleskine is maybe not the best notebook for our fountain pen lovers here....

 

This topic just shows a fine alternative for those Fountain Pen lovers. Which notebook or paper the buy is their choice...

 

Fortunately....

 

Regards

 

Peter

[The Blue Knight]

The one item I like the Volant pocket books. I know the paper isn't great however there aren't really any alternatives that look nice and are thin enough to slip in a back pocket and not add bulk. I know there is field Notes and probably some random rhodia product however non of these you can pick up off the high street.

[KBeezie]

Moleskine doesn't care much for Fountain pens anyways.

 

After a few months they did finally get back to me about my first experience with their Cahier paper and how most of my fountain pens have a odd feathering with it. While the finer/dryer nibs do help (only my Montblanc 225 with black eel seems to have next to no feathering), it still wasn't acceptable for how expensive they are, especially seeing as Rhodia isn't that much different in price and does much better minus drying times. Where as I can get some decent Mead 5-star and it'll seem more consistent and durable than Moleskine.

 

Dear Mr Blessing,

We have received your claim and sorry for the inconvenience occurred and also for the delay in answering you back.

Moleskine notebooks are not especially designed for fountain pens. We are considering the idea of producing specific notebooks for fountain pen lovers, but we are not planning to do so in the near future. However good results can be achieved on existing Moleskine paper with a fine, dry fountain pen. The finer and drier, the better. The best inks are the traditional, quick drying ones. A good ink from a fine fountain pen doesn't spread and bleed in an indiscriminate manner, nor turn a fine line into a medium. Instead, the ink dyes select paper fibres and colour radiates from each letter and bleeds through only with the wettest of pens. We are researching more into this direction with a new line of roller pens whose gel ink is specifically designed for Moleskine paper.

We will send you a new product as replacement.

Thanks for your feedback and kind regards

agnese caccianiga

customer care

 

 

(My claim was around late february, though I had the notebooks stashed away since the 1st semester of the previous fall, the response was on June 20th, and haven't received a replacement... though why would I want a replacement if it's just going to behave the same... if I ever do receive it I'll probably either use it for scraps or PIF it).

 

For comparative purposes to add onto your review, I tore out a sheet in the last Cahier journal I have sitting around and wrote up with my current pens. Click the image for a 1200 DPI version of the scan (be forewarned it's around 5~7 MB in size).

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/moleskine/cahier_aug2014_front.jpg

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/moleskine/cahier_aug2014_back.jpg

 

Compared to Mead 5-Star Loose Leaf (600DPI linked)

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/mead5star/07272014_front_smaller.jpg

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/mead5star/07272014_back_smaller.jpg

 

 

versus Meijer's reinforced filler paper made in Argentina, it's really smooth with all my pens apparently, does feather but at least it's radial instead of spikes. ($1.99 for pack of 100, linked to 600dpi)

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/meijer_argentina_filler/front_smaller.jpg

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/meijer_argentina_filler/back_smaller.jpg

 

So $13 for a 3-pack of small journals, or less than 3$ for one of the above?

 

The one item I like the Volant pocket books. I know the paper isn't great however there aren't really any alternatives that look nice and are thin enough to slip in a back pocket and not add bulk. I know there is field Notes and probably some random rhodia product however non of these you can pick up off the high street.

 

BanditApple Peewee (3.5x5.5in) or Handy (4.33x8.25in) in lined, blank, or planner style, has a similar feel to Moleskine, but feathering and bleed is much better than Moleskine, and it's priced better.

Edited August 1, 2014 by KBeezie

[Morbus Curiositas]

Quote

Dear Mr Blessing,

We have received your claim and sorry for the inconvenience occurred and also for the delay in answering you back.

Moleskine notebooks are not especially designed for fountain pens. We are considering the idea of producing specific notebooks for fountain pen lovers, but we are not planning to do so in the near future. However good results can be achieved on existing Moleskine paper with a fine, dry fountain pen. The finer and drier, the better. The best inks are the traditional, quick drying ones. A good ink from a fine fountain pen doesn't spread and bleed in an indiscriminate manner, nor turn a fine line into a medium. Instead, the ink dyes select paper fibres and colour radiates from each letter and bleeds through only with the wettest of pens. We are researching more into this direction with a new line of roller pens whose gel ink is specifically designed for Moleskine paper.

We will send you a new product as replacement.

Thanks for your feedback and kind regards

agnese caccianiga

customer care

 

 

 

Moleskine doesn't care much for Fountain pens anyways.

 

After a few months they did finally get back to me about my first experience with their Cahier paper and how most of my fountain pens have a odd feathering with it. While the finer/dryer nibs do help (only my Montblanc 225 with black eel seems to have next to no feathering), it still wasn't acceptable for how expensive they are, especially seeing as Rhodia isn't that much different in price and does much better minus drying times. Where as I can get some decent Mead 5-star and it'll seem more consistent and durable than Moleskine.

 

 

(My claim was around late february, though I had the notebooks stashed away since the 1st semester of the previous fall, the response was on June 20th, and haven't received a replacement... though why would I want a replacement if it's just going to behave the same... if I ever do receive it I'll probably either use it for scraps or PIF it).

 

For comparative purposes to add onto your review, I tore out a sheet in the last Cahier journal I have sitting around and wrote up with my current pens. Click the image for a 1200 DPI version of the scan (be forewarned it's around 5~7 MB in size).

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/moleskine/cahier_aug2014_front.jpg

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/moleskine/cahier_aug2014_back.jpg

 

Compared to Mead 5-Star Loose Leaf (600DPI linked)

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/mead5star/07272014_front_smaller.jpg

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/mead5star/07272014_back_smaller.jpg

 

 

versus Meijer's reinforced filler paper made in Argentina, it's really smooth with all my pens apparently, does feather but at least it's radial instead of spikes. ($1.99 for pack of 100, linked to 600dpi)

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/meijer_argentina_filler/front_smaller.jpg

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/meijer_argentina_filler/back_smaller.jpg

 

So $13 for a 3-pack of small journals, or less than 3$ for one of the above?

 

 

BanditApple Peewee (3.5x5.5in) or Handy (4.33x8.25in) in lined, blank, or planner style, has a similar feel to Moleskine, but feathering and bleed is much better than Moleskine, and it's priced better.

 

 

Quote

Dear Mr Blessing,

We have received your claim and sorry for the inconvenience occurred and also for the delay in answering you back.

Moleskine notebooks are not especially designed for fountain pens. We are considering the idea of producing specific notebooks for fountain pen lovers, but we are not planning to do so in the near future. However good results can be achieved on existing Moleskine paper with a fine, dry fountain pen. The finer and drier, the better. The best inks are the traditional, quick drying ones. A good ink from a fine fountain pen doesn't spread and bleed in an indiscriminate manner, nor turn a fine line into a medium. Instead, the ink dyes select paper fibres and colour radiates from each letter and bleeds through only with the wettest of pens. We are researching more into this direction with a new line of roller pens whose gel ink is specifically designed for Moleskine paper.

We will send you a new product as replacement.

Thanks for your feedback and kind regards

agnese caccianiga

customer care

 

 

 

What a Rubbish answer.

 

They are not going todo anything about it.

 

According to Liz Steel (see link in my original article) the new paper seems to be even worth....

 

Why do they sell such thin paper as their competition sells better quality for the same price or less... Marketing I guess...

 

You are absolutely wright KBeezie not wanting a replace... What for... Chaning a car without a car for an other car without an Engine, is of the same silliness.

 

Must have a look for that bandit apple you mentioned though... Thanks

 

Peter

[Morbus Curiositas]

Quote

Dear Mr Blessing,

We have received your claim and sorry for the inconvenience occurred and also for the delay in answering you back.

Moleskine notebooks are not especially designed for fountain pens. We are considering the idea of producing specific notebooks for fountain pen lovers, but we are not planning to do so in the near future. However good results can be achieved on existing Moleskine paper with a fine, dry fountain pen. The finer and drier, the better. The best inks are the traditional, quick drying ones. A good ink from a fine fountain pen doesn't spread and bleed in an indiscriminate manner, nor turn a fine line into a medium. Instead, the ink dyes select paper fibres and colour radiates from each letter and bleeds through only with the wettest of pens. We are researching more into this direction with a new line of roller pens whose gel ink is specifically designed for Moleskine paper.

We will send you a new product as replacement.

Thanks for your feedback and kind regards

agnese caccianiga

customer care

 

 

Moleskine doesn't care much for Fountain pens anyways.

 

After a few months they did finally get back to me about my first experience with their Cahier paper and how most of my fountain pens have a odd feathering with it. While the finer/dryer nibs do help (only my Montblanc 225 with black eel seems to have next to no feathering), it still wasn't acceptable for how expensive they are, especially seeing as Rhodia isn't that much different in price and does much better minus drying times. Where as I can get some decent Mead 5-star and it'll seem more consistent and durable than Moleskine.

 

 

(My claim was around late february, though I had the notebooks stashed away since the 1st semester of the previous fall, the response was on June 20th, and haven't received a replacement... though why would I want a replacement if it's just going to behave the same... if I ever do receive it I'll probably either use it for scraps or PIF it).

 

For comparative purposes to add onto your review, I tore out a sheet in the last Cahier journal I have sitting around and wrote up with my current pens. Click the image for a 1200 DPI version of the scan (be forewarned it's around 5~7 MB in size).

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/moleskine/cahier_aug2014_front.jpg

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/moleskine/cahier_aug2014_back.jpg

 

Compared to Mead 5-Star Loose Leaf (600DPI linked)

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/mead5star/07272014_front_smaller.jpg

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/mead5star/07272014_back_smaller.jpg

 

 

versus Meijer's reinforced filler paper made in Argentina, it's really smooth with all my pens apparently, does feather but at least it's radial instead of spikes. ($1.99 for pack of 100, linked to 600dpi)

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/meijer_argentina_filler/front_smaller.jpg

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/paper/meijer_argentina_filler/back_smaller.jpg

 

So $13 for a 3-pack of small journals, or less than 3$ for one of the above?

 

 

BanditApple Peewee (3.5x5.5in) or Handy (4.33x8.25in) in lined, blank, or planner style, has a similar feel to Moleskine, but feathering and bleed is much better than Moleskine, and it's priced better.

 

Sorry for the silly joke

 

But I guess getting aan equal replacement is not a BLESSING