My everyday notebooks and pads

[AndyHayes]

I'm not sure I should confess this, but mostly what I use are all those return envelopes sent out with begging letters.

 

Too funny, I save all business reply/postage-paid envelopes from junk mail and let my neighbors' kids (don't have any of my own) draw pictures and send jokes in them. We figure their employees can use a laugh once in awhile.

 

:ltcapd: If they send me junk mail I send them my old telephone directories packaged up with their pre-paid envelope stuck on the package, but back to the subject in hand.

 

I use the following: -

 

Daily journal - Notables (moleskine ripoff - but just as good)

Holiday journals - large moleskine lined

Immediate notes - 5x3 index cards carried in a Levenger briefcase

Notes - moleskine reporters lined notebook indexed with Post-It tags

Reference notes - large moleskine reporters grid

Letters - Rhodia No15 pads (300 page A5) or Pukka Pad (A4 vellum 80 gsm sheets)

 

I also have stocks of Rhodia Webnotebooks, Ciak journals, almost every flavour of moleskine hardbacks and some other odds and ends.

[Bill]

Like Andy, I have blank Moleskines, clones, Rhodias, etc. that get ignored as I seek better tools.

 

For true pocket-sized field notetaking I generally use those goofy little "mini-composition" books found in any Staples, drug stores, etc. or sometimes Moleskine cahiers (yeah, I admit it).

 

For general portable notetaking in meetings or classes I like the A5 sizes and have just discovered the Ampad 5x8 top small spiral bound, micro-perforated with, get this...Ampad's GOLD FIBRE paper! I found it at a Staples. Much cheaper than the Black n'Reds.

 

Any more I only use the high-end legal pads (in leather portfolios, or course) for those "Montblanc meetings" with the monster conference tables.

 

BTW, I finally bought one of those bonded leather Paperblanks notebooks. Much classier than a Moleskine so I had high hopes, but, alas, the paper is no better. When my stock of the discontinued Barnes & Noble 'skine clones are gone I will be so sad.

 

Of course, all this will change next week.

 

Bill

[aunt rebecca]

rhodia stapled pads--all sizes.

fpn pads.

clairefontaine lined pads.

richard binder's pads.

[ASR]

Everyday notetaking at work - Black N Red. They are readily available at office supply stores and have minimal bleed-through or feathering. I have a Clairefontaine wirebound for my journaling -- Like ice-skating after the Zamboni....I also have a couple of Apica's and find that their larger size has better quality paper than the pocket size. Same as the Moleskines. I have way too many notebooks, but I am still searching for the perfect leather bound journal with great paper. I have a Quo Vadis Habana on order......

 

Alan

[jgrosch]

At work I use an A4 sized Black n' Red notebook. I've been using these for a number of years and I have never had any trouble with any ink I have used on the paper. For my personal journal I use an unlined sketchbook made by Cachet (http://www.dickblick.com/zz103/02/). They have 160 pages of beautiful art paper which is meant to take ink drawings. I get these an art supply store and they cost about $6.00 for an 8.25 X 5.25 book. For a cover I have a leather slip on cover I got from Oberon Design in Santa Rosa, CA. (http://oberondesign.com)

[lovemy51]

right now i'm happy with Office Depot 28lb white laser paper cut to fit circa jr notebooks and i got the circa hole puch!!!

[Chris]

I hope this thread is not too old to add to it.

 

Apart from the lovely Allan journals that I recently bought and a Ryman soft cover A6 "Moleskinesque" that I bought this lunchtime but have yet to try, I too have been a fan of Clairefontaine, particularly as I bought a pile of A4 notebooks at £1.99 each plus buy one, get another one free - wow, bargain at £1 each!! But, I have now come to the end of those. If only that offer was to be repeated...

 

So, for a good quality notebook for office/meeting notes, I have found (in WH Smith) the Oxford notebooks called "office book". Wire bound with a silver wipe-clean semi-stiff plastic cover and a handy ruler/bookmark inside and nice, rounded corners; they are 90g/m2 paper (Optik paper, it says on the back cover), 1/4" (6.3mm) ruling and a margin and perfectly FP-friendly. I am on my second A5 size and have yet to find an ink or pen that has any trouble at all.

 

I believe they are available in A4 and A5 sizes and are a little less expensive than the equivalent Black and Red books. I prefer the Oxford.

 

WH Smith don't always seem to have them in stock; be careful not to get the ones that look like them but are not of the same quality.

 

Chris

[Wildoaklane]

After all the hullabaloo about Moleskins I became curious. So, today I bought my first one...a pocket squared notebook, hardcover. I used Noodler's Luxury Blue ink with a fine nib and there was no feathering and the ink dried quickly. I'm not sure I'll be able to write on both sides of the pages and be able to read what is written. Meanwhile, I'll keep experimenting with different inks and pens before deciding if it's the right (writing) thing for me.

[Gawain]

After all the hullabaloo about Moleskins I became curious. So, today I bought my first one...a pocket squared notebook, hardcover. I used Noodler's Luxury Blue ink with a fine nib and there was no feathering and the ink dried quickly. I'm not sure I'll be able to write on both sides of the pages and be able to read what is written. Meanwhile, I'll keep experimenting with different inks and pens before deciding if it's the right (writing) thing for me.

 

I love my moleskin! I bought it at BAM (Books A Million), its the "squared" book, 8.25" X 5.25". Someone who knows how should set up a pol, who enjoys there moleskin product and what product do you enjoy vs who will never buy a moleskin product again.

 

 

 

-Gawain

 

[inkypete]

After all the hullabaloo about Moleskins I became curious. So, today I bought my first one...a pocket squared notebook, hardcover. I used Noodler's Luxury Blue ink with a fine nib and there was no feathering and the ink dried quickly. I'm not sure I'll be able to write on both sides of the pages and be able to read what is written. Meanwhile, I'll keep experimenting with different inks and pens before deciding if it's the right (writing) thing for me.

 

I love my moleskin! I bought it at BAM (Books A Million), its the "squared" book, 8.25" X 5.25". Someone who knows how should set up a pol, who enjoys there moleskin product and what product do you enjoy vs who will never buy a moleskin product again.

 

 

 

-Gawain

 

 

Moleskins - overpriced with poor quality paper that changes everytime you buy them. Quality control and consistency really lets them down.

Love the style and concept that is Moleskin - if they would just sort out the paper quality I would be a happy user. But until then I won't buy one again.

[Strang]

I just started using Clairefontaine Basics with the sewn binding in the 8 1/4 X 11 3/4 size. Huge beautiful notebooks. I love them so much I may never buy any other kind.

[tankahn]

I am recycling using the blank sides of photocopied papers. A quick fold and snip pocketmod style turns each sheet into a eight page booklet.

 

[Gawain]

Come on Inkypete, don't hold back, why not tell us how you really feel.....

 

Moleskins - overpriced with poor quality paper that changes everytime you buy them. Quality control and consistency really lets them down.

Love the style and concept that is Moleskin - if they would just sort out the paper quality I would be a happy user. But until then I won't buy one again.

 

[Bill]

I love my moleskin! I bought it at BAM (Books A Million)...

 

If you are lucky enough to be near a BAM, you can dump the overpriced Moleskines and get the Readables Naturals. Same thing, 2/3rds the cost (not including your 10% Millionaire's Club discount), and nice colors if you don't want the black cover.

 

Bill

[gigipurple]

I'm experimenting with different kinds of notebooks, including Rhodia, Black n' Red, Levenger's circa, and Moleskine.

My new favorite for journaling is the Moleskine reporter style. Love the format, the hardcover, the elastic band that keeps all together, and the creme colored paper. I tried different inks and pens on it and none of them bled or feathered. However, the other side of the paper does show a shadow. But I don't mind since I'm only writing on one side of the paper anyway.

For anything else Rhodia tablets are my favorite. Love the smoothness of the paper and how it feels against my hand when I'm writing. So there it is. Gigi

[PhillipG]

For note taking I use Moleskine cahiers and notebooks as I seem to have been luckier than most and found their paper okay, so far. I use Crown Mill for writing letters but it is hard to find unless you want to travel.

[edbollix]

I have discovered that Staples 3X5 cards with the grid pattern are surprisingly good, I use a Hipster PDA or my Pocket Jotter that I also putchased at Staples for about $10.00 US. I review the 3X5 cards and either write the info in my Franklin planner or smply file the used cards in a 3X5 card box with date tabs. I can usually fine everything and I don't have notebooks all over the place. Thiss works for me.

[inkypete]

Since I started this thread I have fallen in love with Habanas. They are great, albeit a little on the expensive side. Apica is still the best value allrounder. Field notes are handy and reasonably FP friendly.

[tawanda]

Moleskine moleskine moleskine - everyday, for everything! And yes, I know all the issues, but I don't care. I love em for so many reasons the cons are all cancelled out...

 

[Coyotebd]

Blueline 9 1/4 x 7 1/4 notebook. It feathers a little, bleeds a little. I doesn't lie flat, but I don't start a new notebook until the old one is finished.