Staples Sustainable Earth Sugarcane-Based Notebook

September 15, 2015

A Quick & Dirty Report

Dropped into a Staples today to pickup a few of the Made in Bazil composition notebooks, but none left. Last year I bought a stack of them, and I only needed a couple more. Guess the students got them all. There was a pitiful excuse for a composition notebook (one) with a plastic cover, cleverly designed to slip and slide on whatever surface you choose to write upon - and made in Egypt.

I looked at everything on the shelves and picked up a Staples Sustainable Earth Sugarcane-based Notebook (wire-bound). The small size - 9 1/2 X 6 inches. What attracted me to them is that they have HARD thick covers and an insert with a pocket on each side. I can write on this in uncomfortable positions sitting in a meeting with no table, standing. Much stiffer cover than the composition notebooks. And equally sturdy wire binding. The printed material does not even mention it, but the pages have fine perforations - also sturdy, so they do not tear unless you tell them to tear. And the paper worked well with PR Midnight Blues in a TWSB Eco (f): no feathering, spread or bleeding. Show through? Yes, but not so much that I expect it to prevent me from using both sides.

Negatives? Cost - $3.95 US. Wire binding makes it not as easy to put side by side on a shelf, if that is important to you. Eco-y kraft paper-looking cover, if that would bother you. I think it will grow on me.

Anyone else have these notebooks in this or the larger size? How do you like them after using them for a while?

September 16, 2015

Staples also use to carry Sustainable Earth Composition Books. I liked those much better than the spiral bound ones, but I haven't been able to find them for a long time. I've used mine some. I have the size you have, and it's okay, but I don't like that there aren't a lot of pages. The paper is fine for FPs, but you do have some show through issues, depending on the ink.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

September 16, 2015

A Quick & Dirty Report

Dropped into a Staples today to pickup a few of the Made in Bazil composition notebooks, but none left. Last year I bought a stack of them, and I only needed a couple more. Guess the students got them all. There was a pitiful excuse for a composition notebook (one) with a plastic cover, cleverly designed to slip and slide on whatever surface you choose to write upon - and made in Egypt.

I looked at everything on the shelves and picked up a Staples Sustainable Earth Sugarcane-based Notebook (wire-bound). The small size - 9 1/2 X 6 inches. What attracted me to them is that they have HARD thick covers and an insert with a pocket on each side. I can write on this in uncomfortable positions sitting in a meeting with no table, standing. Much stiffer cover than the composition notebooks. And equally sturdy wire binding. The printed material does not even mention it, but the pages have fine perforations - also sturdy, so they do not tear unless you tell them to tear. And the paper worked well with PR Midnight Blues in a TWSB Eco (f): no feathering, spread or bleeding. Show through? Yes, but not so much that I expect it to prevent me from using both sides.

Negatives? Cost - $3.95 US. Wire binding makes it not as easy to put side by side on a shelf, if that is important to you. Eco-y kraft paper-looking cover, if that would bother you. I think it will grow on me.

Anyone else have these notebooks in this or the larger size? How do you like them after using them for a while?

Staples Bagasse is my go-to paper, for two reasons: one, LOVE the tan lines, and two, it's a good medium between ultra-slick Rhodia/Claire/TR and soft India-made paper.

September 17, 2015

Staples also use to carry Sustainable Earth Composition Books. I liked those much better than the spiral bound ones, but I haven't been able to find them for a long time. I've used mine some. I have the size you have, and it's okay, but I don't like that there aren't a lot of pages. The paper is fine for FPs, but you do have some show through issues, depending on the ink.
Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Yes, I would like this paper in a composition book, too. The spiral bound, however, is better for me when making notes in awkward positions when I have no hard surface on which to write. The thingy with the sheet count is gone now, but if I recall correctly the sheet count was 100, which serves my purposes.

September 17, 2015

They used to have packages of top-bound pads, too.

September 17, 2015

Sailor Kenshin - yes, the tan lines are appealing. And I like the college rule. Not trying to write between very narrow lines while standing or whatever makes for another plus.

October 15, 2015

Anyone else have these notebooks in this or the larger size? How do you like them after using them for a while?

I'm a couple of pages away from finishing up one of these, and am faced with if I'll get another or try something else. It has lasted well, held together really well (while still looking nice and worn, you know) and the cover is unbent, unbruised and still hard as can be.

As I said in another post, to me the selling point is decent enough paper with a really hard cover that works well in note-taking situations where there's no desk or firm surface to write on. It's great for that. I use F/XF nibs generally so I may have a better impression of the paper than some, but still I find it is more a serviceable than a delightful paper to write on.

Bleedthrough was never too bothersome. Great no-desk note-taking sollution. Will I buy another? Right now I'm looking at getting another but also looking at other hardshell wirebounds. Will probably get both, then just sweat over what to use which for.

October 15, 2015

What's the alternative yiu are considering?

October 16, 2015

What's the alternative yiu are considering?

Glad you asked. It made me think about it a little harder and I remembered I actually bought a Write Notebook & Co. spiral notebook quite a while back that I never used. So it is certainly up. I think I will realy like it but they are expensive at $15+. More paper than the Sustainables and closer to my prefered, slightly smaller A5 size, but really, that's a lot even though you get a swell rubberband with it. It may convince me otherwise with use but it will be a hard sell again at that price.

As I guess you know, good spiral FP freindly notebooks aren't the easiest to find with hard covers, but this is my ongoing short list:

The Write Notepad & Co. traditional brass ruled (pricey, but they say good paper)

Black n' Red Business Notebook (good but slick paper, not sure I'd like it for lots of quick notetaking)

Tops Sophisticated Business Notebook (I use some other Tops products and like the paper)

National Brand Brown Board (this I'm not too sure about the paper being FP useable)

I''ve beem meaning to look around to see if there's a suitable Miquel Rius notebook (but I haven't)

Those plus I always think about just going with a Kokuyo Systemic Refillable notebook cover and using nice Asian refills for notetaking.

Edited October 16, 2015 by mwpannell

October 16, 2015

I really like the Miquel Rius notebooks. Currently, I have a 'thing' for their graph paper offerings.

October 16, 2015

I also love graph paper. I lean toward graph paper in composition books and notebooks when available. One of the main things I like about my 2015 Hobonichi Cousin is the graph paper. (Other things I do and don't like about it).

Have you found a Miquel Riusu spiral/hard cover you like or are you talking about their popular soft, 300 sheet notebook? I haven't tried it but want to. I know they have spiral books but most I've seen seem to have poly covers or "card stock," which doesn't sound great.

October 16, 2015

I also love graph paper. I lean toward graph paper in composition books and notebooks when available. One of the main things I like about my 2015 Hobonichi Cousin is the graph paper. (Other things I do and don't like about it).

Have you found a Miquel Riusu spiral/hard cover you like or are you talking about their popular soft, 300 sheet notebook? I haven't tried it but want to. I know they have spiral books but most I've seen seem to have poly covers or "card stock," which doesn't sound great.

The spiral-bound books with color-coded sections. I guess the covers are poly. Like these:

Which are pretty good!

October 16, 2015

Thanks Sailor Kenshin. I finally went to their site over lunch (duh!) and was really impressed. If the paper is as good as everyone (and you) says, and holds across the product line, it's a really impressive selection. Still cost more than the Staples Sustainable but not too bad. Unless they kill you with shipping, their online prices at shopmiquelrius.com are competitive.

While there, I looked at their messenger bags/bags/backpacks. Too bad I'm not an adolescent girl, I might be really impressed. As is, not so much.

October 16, 2015

You are wlecome. I think Barnes & Noble also has some Miquel Rius notebooks in their stores, so you can see them. And hold them. Which has always been dangerous for me.