I have been using 5 1/2 X 8" 18lb 80 page spiral bound (bound on long edge) notebooks from one of the office store chains. I like them as they fit nicely into a pocket that's in my handbag and they lie flat when I use them.

Although I have always found them to be a little more absorbent than I like for a fountain pen the last batch I bought seems even more absorbent.

Does any one have suggestions for a nice notebook that comes in that size that will lie flat to use?

I like the Clairefontaine paper but do not see one that comes in that size / format.


Thanks in advance

Danielle

A5 is a bit larger than you are talking about, but you can get Rhodia A5 notebooks with the spiral on top. Or their "reverse book" is 8.25X8.25, grid ruled, so you can use it either way.

My favorite 5x8 spiral bound notebooks are Ampad's Gold Fibre Retro notebooks. They have an ivory 20lb paper, they are extremely FP friendly, as they honestly represent the line of nib being used. All the inks I have used have never feathered on them (Pelikan Brilliant Black, Waterman Black, Diamine Golden Brown, Woodland Green, Violet, Monaco Red). The spiral binding is on the top of the notebook and not on the side, but they definitely lay flat. Perusing Pendemonium's site, I did see a few 5.75x8.25 spiral bound Clairefontaine notebooks, though they look like they are bound on the 5.75 side which sounds like the top. Hope this helps!!

I use the 80 sheet, Foray brand, 5 1/2 x 8 spiral bound notebook from Office Depot. It lies flat and is very FP friendly. Item #766-169.

That size is very close to European A5 size. I recommend Black'N'Red spiral notebooks. The paper is very FP friendly. Staples, OfficeMax, Office Depot all carry them. Rite Aid has started carrying them with VERY attractive prices. I usually prefer the larger A4 size, but I have one A5 size and the paper is the same.

I have been using these. My perception was that the last batch I bought was more absorbent than what I had found in the past.

Danielle

I did do some searching this morning. I found the Black n' Red D66369 interesting, but could not find it stocked at any USA retailers. http://www.blacknred.com/pagetemplate.php?pid=17 It seems they have a separate USA list.

Danielle

Danielle: Don't buy the Ampad, Foray, or the Black N Red. The paper in these brands is not at all comparable to Clairfontaine. I think Clairfontaine does, in fact, have notebooks in the size you are seeking. They may have sewn bindings instead of spiral bindings, however. Check Swisher Pens' website and Pendemonium's website. They are both excellent online sources for Clairfontaine products.

The Rhodia books mentioned above are made by the same company as makes Clairfontaine, but the paper is slightly different. Make sure you try one to see if you like it before ordering a bunch.

Charlie


I did find some Clairefontaine A5 size with spiral binding on long edge on "The Ink Flow" web site. I have not used this retailer before. It's difficult to find history on them because searching for the name brings up a lot of information other than their history. The Clairefontaine number is C8546. I have some Clairefontaine notebooks in other sizes. I am familiar with the paper and do like it.

I found it difficult to find and compare prices on Clairefontaine. It seems most of the USA dealers only carry a small portion of the line.


Danielle

They have many more offerings in the UK; that doesn't seem to be offered in US. Here is a link to the "American range" http://www.blacknred.com/pagetemplate.php?pid=38

Not even all of that is stocked by "big box stores" but some of the more popular ones are. You might try the A5 size in polypro cover, C67009. I have that and the A4 in the same series and like them. After comparing some samples in store (in whatever size they had), I decided I preferred the polypro to the case-bound (which doesn't open entirely flat) and the hard cover spiral (cover is glossy paper over cardboard, I thought the cover looked cheap and would be less resistant to minor rain, and water splashes), but that's just me. I would strongly recommend seeing some physical sample of each cover style before ordering a lot online; be sure you like it (I had expected I would like polypro the least of the three styles). The paper descriptions (ruled or grid, perf'd or not, margin, etc) are more than adequate.

I have not used Clairfontaine, it may be better paper. However, I find Black'N'Red works well with my pens, more economical, and easier to find. They are not the most stylish. The company has launched a Pink'N'Black version, marketed to women, with some proceeds donated to breast cancer. I'm not sure if that is available in US. If you find regular B'n'R "ugly," that might be an option.
(there is a thread on it here somewhere)

The best source for Clairefontaine that I've found is:

The Daily Planner - Clairefontaine


No affiliation other than I've been a satisfied customer of theirs for years.

Trish

Thanks for the suggestion. I see a few items at that dealer I could also try. (Rhodia and Apica)

Danielle

I use Clairefontaine and Rhodia, and yes they have awesome paper that I enjoy using, but I feel making huge generalizations about a whole line of a brand is not a fair comparison. The specific notebooks I was talking about within the Ampad gold fibre line are quite unique to the line and brand, and I find to be just as comparable to the smoothness, absorption, and appearance that I find on Clairefontaine, and Rhodia. The big difference is that they are ivory paper.

But as I said previously, you can find the 5x8 size in Clairefontaine, so if that is the paper you are interested in go for it!!

Well after spending most of the day looking at sites, I finally made a decision and placed an order for (4) Cairfontaine note books, (4) Rhodia note pads and (4) Apica notebooks. Of course I am sitting here wondering if I am just wee bit crazy after spending so much time just to order a few note books. C'est la vie.


Danielle

Thanks, Tricia! I just ordered an Orange Rhodia notebook and a couple of pads. Nice website!

[quote name='CharlieB' date='Jul 4 2008, 02:17 PM' post='659990']
Danielle: Don't buy the Ampad, Foray, or the Black N Red. The paper in these brands is not at all comparable to Clairfontaine.

CharlieB, I find Blak 'n Red to be excellent notebooks in the size 5.5" x 8.5". I find them at Staples in the wire bound and hard bound styles. The cover to either notebook is heavy and faily stylish. The paper is 90 gsm and takes fountain pen ink very well; no bleed thorugh, no feathering. Both lie flat but I prefer the hard bound notebook. The price for each is less than $6.00.

I have several Clairefountaine notebooks and while the paper is quite good, a few of my pens (MB 146 and Visconti Van Gogh for instance) do not like it at all. They skip as though writing on wax paper. No such problem with Black 'n Red.

Aldo

Black 'N' Red is available in the US, I believe exclusively, at Staples.

Staples has them, but not exclusively. OfficeMax also carries them. As I don't have an Office Depot near me, I am not sure about them, but I think they showed in their online catalog. If you have a Rite-Aid drugstore near you, they carry some, and prices are better than OfficeMax or Staples.

All of the above only carry part of the "American range" of products in store. Some models, if you really want them, have to be ordered online, and many more, available in the UK, are not available in the US. But I think they have GREAT paper, and at Rite-Aid price, a GREAT price too.
(No affiliation with any of above except as happy customer)

I REALLY like Clairefontaine paper & notebooks and use them as journals.

For single sheets of paper, HP 32# laser is outstanding.

That said, for everyday use, at work, for utilitarian purposes, I've found that the Ampad Project Planner (9½ x 7¼) is fountain pen friendly and is laid out in a format that I like using. At less than $4.00 from Staples, it's an economical alternative.

I've scanned a sample page with samples written with pens & inks that in my experience bleed through most papers; there is minimal bleed through using the paper in the Ampad notebook.

Check it out HEREClick to view attachment
(The attachment is reduced in size from the original and scanned at a low resolution to create a smaller file)

I was wrong. I just found them at Office Max.

Some have mixed reviews of them, but for me I like Moleskine pocket and the 5x81/4 hard bound note books. You can also get them on soft cover. I've seen no problem with the paper quality for me.

I received my order of note books.

I received the Rhodia 16501 notepads, the Clairefontaine 8546 notebooks and the Apica CD-11 notebooks. They all tended to be wider ruled than the college rule I am used to.

I was very pleased with the way the ink goes down on the Apica notebooks. For reasons not clear to me on the Rhodia and Clairefontaine the lines look a little jagged under close inspection.

I did my little tests with Pelikan 4001 brilliant black ink with Pelikan M214 and M400 medium nib pens.

I have to wonder if there is an ink that is a works better with the Clairefontaine than the Pelikan ink.

I did not see any noticeable difference between the Clairefontaine and the Rhodia.


Danielle