hello, i am about to buy a diary 2008. well i guess i will need to get it from internet or ebay as it is running low. i got a problem i thought it was a good paper quality given the price tag but i found out that you can not really write with fountain pens. it is really a pity cos... my question is is moleskine a waste of money and should i go for rodhia or clairefontaine. or any other. what about ordning and read the swedish paper company.... need to make my mind but i am afraid moleskine is not going to win....

Moleskine paper quality is inconsistent - this is an advertised fact. Some people like other features of them so much that they are happy to overlook the paper issue. Other people are not, so they choose something else.

If you can overlook the paper quality, get one, if you cannot, get something else.

You can use a FP with Moleskine as long as ink flow is well restrained. I have two pens that i use exclusively with Moleskine: an Aurora Ipsilon with M nib (dry writer), and a Sailor Sapporo with F nib (not a dry writer but the F nib keeps ink flow to a minimum). Diamine and Waterman inks seem to work well for me, no bleed through and no feathering. All my other pens are too wet for my Moleskine and the back page becomes useless for writing.

I agree that the Aurora Ipsilon works great with my Molskines. I also have a M NIB. I have a Parker 88 that works nicely as well.

hmm i have several form factors of their products, and the standard 3.5 x 5.5 ruled notebook does fine with my FPs. there can be a bit of bleeding sometimes, but mostly it is not very noticeable. not ideal, because the paper isn't excellent, but for me it works just fine. i use lake placid blue and "avacado". i don't see any of the feathering people talk about, and it takes about 12-15 seconds to dry fully most of the time. it dries a lot quicker on other papers though. for me the purchase of the notebook had nothing to do with their marketing or "pedigree" (because they honestly don't have one, heh...) but almost entirely with the notebook's ability to lay flat and have a decently strong backing. the form factor is also just perfect, so that is why i see myself being a customer of theirs for the foreseeable future, unless i get a rash of poor paper notebooks...

Also, certain inks work much better than others. For example, Aurora Blue works well, at least on the Moleskines I've used. There have been many threads on this topic on FPN, so a search can give you good suggestions.

Any Fine/XF nib will go a little way to avoid feathering and bleed through. For the rest, it's a matter of ink. Noodlers bullet proof black has little or no feathering in my experience, and Lamy Blue has been good. Montblanc Royal Blue or Cross feather badly. I expect that the Noodler's X-feather will work OK, but I have not seen it.

YMMV as the paper is inconsistent.

ON the other hand, my experience with clairefontaine has been marvellous. Their 90gsm veloute paper is a delight to write on, and can take most inks without trouble.

Over a dozen pens (almost all medium nib), close to half-a-dozen brands of ink -- no feathering or bleed through....... yet.

Look at my review of Notables here: -

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=48718

EDIT - To make some sense! I write the date at the top of each right hand page and use the notebook as a Journal. On the left hand page I write in appointments and some other details that I like to track. I don't need to look months ahead normally hence why it is OK for me to fill a journal in a 3-month period. I think that the journal and appointment diary combined concept is a worthwhile one.

I'm using the large 2008 Moleskine planner and it has worked will with my pens.

me again. i finally got a moleskine. well there is a slightly feathering not too showy. i think i got the feeling the paper changes depending on the country or even i daresay county. apparently in the states the paper is better than in uk. i have to say i will probably get another brand next year cos. considering the price. quality should be perfect. (got it half price) that is why i got it.

it's a personal decision. many people do use FPs on 'skines. i do not.
it's a pity because they are ideal in terms of format, size and binding. but the paper is for me too dark, too thin and too absorbent. i consider them useful only for ballpoint or gel pens. but i write with FP or pencil.
i have also been unhappy with a paperblanks old leather back pocket notebook. it makes my FP writing look like a big fat felt-tip pen.

Haven't had any problems with FPs on Moleskines, but I don't expect perfection.

I got my moleskine (the large notebook) a couple of days ago. It is working fine with my Parker 45, medium nib & Pelikan brown ink. No leaks. If anything, the paper surface is a bit too smooth for my taste, but not really a problem. And, I must say I like the whole look and feel of the moleskine, it does have a certain element of class, and I enjoy writing in it.

Black N' Red #1

My local outlet store had an obscure Italian brand of bound journal book - Eccolo. Having tried one, I promptly went back and bought all I could get my hands on. Some of my wetter B nibs bleed through, but on the whole, the binding and paper quality are prime.

I have just picked up the last of the A4 notebooks I bought a few years go for meetings and I find they are indeed Clairefontain Veloute 90g/m2. It had a price sticker on the front: £1.99 - buy one and get one free! Less than a pound each and perfect paper.

Oh, why did I only get half a dozen?

Chris

We swear by our Clairfontaine Trinote weekly diaries in my house. thedailyplanner.com is my source.

I have a Moleskine Weekly Planner both the pocket size and larger size. Use my Nakaya Piccolo with Fine nib and it writes just fine with no bleed or feather.

I'm already using my Moleskine 2008 planner. It performs great, just like all my other Moleskine notebooks. I haven't found any irregularities or inconsistencies on the paper.

I typically use Excacompta lined journals (never had a problem with bleeding, feathering), but on a whim I purchased my first Moleskine journal this week. I've written a page, with a fine nib, and so far, so good. The Moleskine paper feels "softer" as I write on it (compared to Exacompta).

FP on 'skines !? No, of course. Moleskines is just propaganda, i think...paper sheet of 90 grs for FP?! Too thin...at least 100 grs or better 120 grs. And for the same features such as 90 grms and black cover you could find the same article at half price such Solveig or Herlitz. Moleskine is overrated, but someone has to pay the propaganda costs and other Van Gogh's Chatwin' s diaries misinformation

I still haven't had Moleskine issues. The only time I did was when I coverted some Sheaffer Catridge Pens to eyedroppers and those wrote REALLY wet with Waterman inks and were too wet for the Moleskines.

But 95% of my collection writes just fine on my Moleskine journals and cahiers. Moleskines work with my lifestyle. I can toss them in my messenger bag or put the pocket ones in a coat pocket and I'm good to go. It's also the easiest way to get bound graph paper, which is what I prefer to do my writing on.

I have the pocket planner, which takes MOST anything. I can use a fine fountain pen in it so far. The large desk planner is another story. No FP's here. Pencil or BP only.

The last batch of MS notebooks I got so I could experience Moleskines for myself were very inconsistant page to page. You can actually see the printed lines on the page have bleed in some instances which indicates I'll have issues with that page. And since the pages are sewed and folded, I pretty much loose 4 writing surfaces and have to resort to a pencil.

I wish I could hit into that motherlode of perfect Moleskines a lot of you talk about.

I have a blank pocket moleskine that I use for journaling, note taking, and drawing. It takes my Pelikin 400 fine w/Noodlers bulletproof ok. There is no bleed through, minimal see through, very minimal feathering, and the paper is smooth enough to make fountainpen writing very enjoyable. Unfortunately, I don't use a fountain pen very often with this notebook. I am normally out somewhere when I use my moleskine and I normally use my Foray Multi Pen (red bp, black bp, and .5mm pencil) that I keep in my wallet. I know that this is sac-religious to FPN, but I have stained too many clothes carrying my fountain pens other than in my briefcase. I plan on purchasing either the Cross or Parker multi pen in the near future just for this purpose.

To sum up, I will happily replace my current moleskine with another. Also, I will probably replace my office notebook (meeting notes, miscellaneous jotting, etc.) with a large moleskine when the time comes - this one would be almost exclusively used with a fountain pen.

My experience with Moleskines are that they are fine for fountain pens as long as you are not very particular and you use a fine nib. Of course, the concept of a moleskine is that of for your eyes only since the pages are not perforated.

If having a black cover were the only feature of a Moleskine, I might agree with you. I do agree that the paper is too thin and too inconsistent but if you are talking features, look elsewhere in this and other threads. The closure elastic, the pocket in the back, the bookmarks, the color of the paper itself as well as the rules, the spacing of the rules, and the cover material all matter in the eyes of at least some of us.

I can take the plain cardboard covers of disposable notebooks like Mead and Clairefontaine, but two things I hate are cheap-feeling durable covers. I like the paper of the Miqelrius notebooks just fine, and the closure band is good, but every time I pick it up it feels like dining with plastic forks. I'm sure it's durable, but that vinyl is a real turn-off. Likewise, the plethora of "premium" notebooks with hardcover bindings that look and feel like a child's textbook? Ugh. Despite the paper's shortcomings, a Moleskine is one of the few notebooks I don't mind carrying with me. maybe it is just that I'm a snob, but I carry a black leather wallet, not a pink vinyl one. I carry a black leather pen case, not a blue cardboard one.

Please forgive me, but I take offense at being called a sucker for caring about these things. I'm not a victim of propaganda; I spend around fifty dollars every month on notebooks other than Moleskines trying to find one that I'll like better than a Moleskine, because I despise the idea of sending my money to Moda & Moda. I don't pretend that Chatwin used the same notebook that I do. I'd never even heard of Chatwin until I saw his name on the Moleskine propaganda, so really, I don't give a flying monkey's butt.

I'll tell you what, though: as frustrating as it is to me that Moda & Moda won't offer us a version of the Moleskine with somewhat heavier and more feather-resistant paper (not as heavy as the sketchbook, just give us something a little heavier than what goes into 'em now) it is equally boggling that no other notebook maker has decided to offer the same (or better) featureset with their papers inside. And here's what is truly perplexing: why is it so hard to find paper other than Moleskine ruled with 5mm spacing? I love the Clairefontaine paper, but the lines in the notebooks are so far apart it feels like I'm back in first grade learning to draw letter shapes an inch and a half tall! Give me a break.

I see...well, splicer, sometimes it happens: we find the right product who matchs exactly our personality...who suits us like tailor made...and in that case why to change??If it fits perfectly and cover all your needs...I was myself, once, a fierce defensor of Moleskine brand and buyed them in tons...But one day i noticed the up and downs of the quality paper, some references were missing 2, 3 even 4 months a year and the prices rising and rising for the same (or worsening) quality in each delivery...Enough is enough!! I' m tired...I just quit...Let's try other brands:Paperblanks, Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Solveig and other not so known European brands, not to speak my local artisan who makes custom notebooks by hand and you just have to choose the paper and cover...But it' s just me... i'm not loyal to one brand in particular, as a rule of life... same quality, better price, let's try it.

Oh no! Disinformation!

Try some Japanese brands - Kokuyo have a notebook with 60gsm paper which kicks serious butt.

Cam'on mate...60 grs!? To this day i've never seen 60 grs doing a great job with FP's...but maybe an EEF nib can manage it...one of these days i will try...maybe it's could be done and i'm wrong...