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Apica Notebooks review!


all my hues

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Here's the short version, which I posted on JetPens in the "reviews" section. For the longer version with (LOTS of) photos, check out my blog.

 

 

APICA NOTEBOOKS (SHORTENED REVIEW):

Apica has (currently) got to be, hands down, my favorite notebook brand. Super affordable, lightweight, excellent smooth paper....what's not to like?

Well...the floppiness of Apicas may detract a few. These things are meant to be rolled up and stuffed into your back pocket as you run to class. However, that's not to say it's not durable. The Apica is far more durable than it seems, assuming that you aren't playing floor hockey with it. It will certainly stand up to daily use.

 

Apica paper is not only wonderfully smooth, but the soft off-white color and subtle gray lines are not as harsh on the eyes as pure white and blue, something else that I like. The pages are not as thin are regular notebook paper. Though not as thick as, say, Red n Black or Clairefontaine notebooks, they are substantial and great for fountain pens and regular pens alike! No bleeding, and minimum shading.

 

Now, some might be wary of the fact that Apicas are thinner and smaller than a lot of other notebooks. However, Apica's got some great things going for it to make up for that. Not only are the lines on Apica spaced very closely together (they are slightly thinner than American college-ruled), but Apicas don't have a side margin American notebooks have. This frees up a lot more room to write in. It may not seem like a lot of extra space, but you'd be surprised at how much extra you can fit on a page. In addition, the header margin is a great deal thinner.

 

Given the much narrower rulings and header (not to mention, complete lack of side margin), I'd say that Apicas can fit just as much information as regular American notebooks, in less space...if not more!

 

Is it possible to streamline a notebook? Because if so, the Japanese have managed to streamline a notebook. Highly recommended.

Edited by all my hues

the blog:

{<a href="http://all-my-hues.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">All My Hues: Artistic Inklinations from a Creative Mind</a>}

 

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Wow, your "doodles" surpass anything I have ever tried to pass off as visual art. Great review as well.

"In this world... you must be oh, so smart, or oh, so pleasant. Well for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant."

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An informative and concise review, thanks. It's interesting how the lack of margins opens up the page more, isn't it?

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Thank you for the great review(s). The Apica 6A10, along with the CD-15, are my favorite notebooks. I favor the CD-15 because of the paper smoothness, but the 6A10 is a little sturdier.

 

Again thanks.

 

Dave

 

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

http://www.the-highw..._questions.html

 

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Dadgummit, Hues! You just enticed me into spending 50 bucks I can ill afford for a sampler pack of Apica notebooks on eBay!!! :yikes:

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Dadgummit, Hues! You just enticed me into spending 50 bucks I can ill afford for a sampler pack of Apica notebooks on eBay!!! :yikes:

 

 

:blink:

Well....you only live once!! :roflmho:

the blog:

{<a href="http://all-my-hues.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">All My Hues: Artistic Inklinations from a Creative Mind</a>}

 

<img src="http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/606/letterji9.png" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" />

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Dadgummit, Hues! You just enticed me into spending 50 bucks I can ill afford for a sampler pack of Apica notebooks on eBay!!! :yikes:

 

 

That sampler pack is a great deal. And, it can help you decide if you like one type of pad more than another for future orders.

 

Dave

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

http://www.the-highw..._questions.html

 

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii208/blopplop/fpn-verm.jpg

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  • 1 month later...

Thanks for the review...I'm not very familiar with the Apica line...can anyone tell me how these are bound?

 

 

 

Wassup wid that, homes? Looks like you're WANT to feel the hurt. -ethernautrix

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I was searching a good review of Apica and I have found it.

Thanks for your excellent work.

 

I usually write on blank notebooks because I haven't found a ruled notebook with closer lines for my small letters yet.

Maybe I have found a good notebook for me.

 

I always prefer hardcover but it could be cool to use Apicas and put someones together into hardcovers when they are finished.

 

What do you think about Quo Vadis Habana?

2nd-second

blog: Latitud desconocida

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What do you think about Quo Vadis Habana?

 

To me they are the perfect notebook if you like Clairefontaine paper. I love them!

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/7260/postminipo0.png
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What do you think about Quo Vadis Habana?

 

To me they are the perfect notebook if you like Clairefontaine paper. I love them!

 

Inkpete, do you prefer Habanas from Apicas?

Could you please explain us the reassons?

 

Thanks.

2nd-second

blog: Latitud desconocida

flickr Dualitea

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  • 2 months later...

Thank you for the great review(s). The Apica 6A10, along with the CD-15, are my favorite notebooks. I favor the CD-15 because of the paper smoothness, but the 6A10 is a little sturdier.

 

Again thanks.

 

Dave

 

I agree with you about the 6A10,unfortunately I have not try the CD series,except for the small one,I think is the CD-5..the paper is really smooth and woks well with my safaris... ;)

CPSC

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  • 2 years later...

I purchased a few of these notebooks recently, due to the positive reviews I've read here on FPN. I tried my first Apica last night, a CD-15, and have to say that I'm disappointed at the terrible bleeding and feathering I experienced. It was so excessive to the point that if I held the nib to the paper for more than a second, the ink would just pour onto the paper. The bleeding and feathering continued with all of the pens that I had inked. I don't use excessively wet writing pens. I will admit that I was using wetter writers, but probably no wetter than a 6 on the wetness scale; the nibs are size medium. I was also using pretty well behaved inks. Even more strange, the page seemed to absorb a lot of ink, but if I turned the page over it didn't show through to the other side. That's something I'm having a hard time understanding. With the amount of ink it was absorbing, I thought for sure the reverse side would be a complete mess. I finally found that the feathering and bleeding stopped after I switched to fine nib pens with dryer writing inks, or distinctly dry writing mediums.

 

These are nice notebooks indeed, and ones that I would like to continue to use, however I will be very conscious about my pen + ink combinations that I use in the future.

 

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt. - Mark Twain

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thanks for the great review..and also the interesting comments..its definately one i am going to try but i think i will keep to my less wet pens and quink washable blue

Mk1 Parker Duofold Centennial in Blue Marble + GT, Medium arrow nib + broad italic aces nib.Owned since new.Parker Victory Black + GT, wet medium.Conway Stewart #388 Stub.

Mabie Todd Blackbird,semi Flex Nib.Aurora optima green auroloid Stub.Visconti voyger emerald green Broad. Waterman 92 Fine flex

www.hmshood.com The Official website of the late great HMS Hood

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Nice review, Apicas are my favorite notebooks and I always carry a few. I have never had anything but great behavior with all sorts of nibs and inks, and the notebooks are very, very sturdy. All of the styles they come in appeal to me as well, simple and elegant.

 

This one just celebrated its fourth birthday with only a small bit of stretching on the very last stitch at the bottom of the spine, but is nowhere near done. It is carried daily and used almost daily.

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/willsw/note_4.jpg

 

These two were pocket carries, I currently have another like the one on with the blue spine in my pocket.

 

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/willsw/api.jpghttp://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/willsw/api_1.jpg

Edited by WillSW
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Thanks for the review. I have 30 of these & filled them all up. The paper is inferior to Rhodia or Quo Vadis but not bad. Some pens & inks work well, some don't. Some feather & bleed so much the ink goes onto the page underneath. Fine nib Pelikan with Pelikan royal blue ink worked very well. I ordered 3 times from taylors in the rockies & was disappointed twice. Will not order from them again. Unreliable in my experience.

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Must say I still am a fan too - excellent value notebooks. For the Aussies here you will usually find a small range at a great price at Kinokinuya in Sydney.

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/7260/postminipo0.png
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