The Top Favorite Journal These Days?

[JefferyS]

I'm always suggesting bullet journals for organizing and record keeping, and I have sampled a variety that I've found to be good and "best buys". I've been away from FPN for a while due to work duties, but am interested in your opinions. My recommendations to faculty last year were (1) Leuchtturm1917 for overall quality, (2) Clever Fox as a less expensive choice, and (3) Artfan for those on a budget.

 

Has anything come out that would merit consideration? Looking forward to your recs.

Jeffery

[penzel_washinkton]

For the expensive side of journaling, I don't understand why Hobonichi is often overlooked by the fountain pen communities (at least from what I've seen on the recent threads). Has a ton of features, TR paper and lays quite flat when open.

[Karmachanic]

Now that Nanami no longer has stock, I'm using Taroko and Stalogy. I also have a Midori MD A5 that I have yet to use.

[penzel_washinkton]

Now that Nanami no longer has stock, I'm using Taroko and Stalogy. I also have a Midori MD A5 that I have yet to use.

 

How is the Stalogy paper compared to a TR notebook? Wondering why the Stalogy isn't mentioned often here.

[DrDebG]

I have been using the Bond Journal Notebooks (now Lochby), which are 68 gsm Tomoe River paper with dot grid, numbered pages and elastic band. The problem is that they don't make the Bond notebook anymore. Lochby makes a notebook with has less pages, similar to the Taroko Design notebook. It works nicely in their new notebook cover, but not for me.

 

Prior to the Bond Journal, I was using a Nanami Paper Standard notebook which is 52 gsm Tomoe River - which I much prefer. Once I finish the Bond Journal (likely the end of this month), I will go back to the Nanami Standard.

 

The Nanami Standard has blank pages, which is really nice for any building any kind of bullet format that I want. I also like to doodle. When I have lines and dots on a page, I feel constrained, but with a blank page, I feel I can do anything.

 

Prior to using Tomoe River paper, I really liked using the Midori MD A5 journals. They are fountain pen friendly, priced well, and lightweight which is quite nice.

[katerchen]

Now that Nanami no longer has stock.

 

 

Wait, what?

 

I still don't understand why he had to to redo the Crossfield over and over again. The first one with the unintrusive crosses and no imposed headers was the best.

 

-k

[Karmachanic]

 

How is the Stalogy paper compared to a TR notebook? Wondering why the Stalogy isn't mentioned often here.

 

Thank you for asking. Up to now I've not seriously compared them.

 

Did a brief scribble with two pens with differing inks. My conclusion is that Stalogy is slightly less absorbent, and renders colour with a touch more saturation and brightness. Judging by thickness I'd say the weight of the paper is much closer to 52gsm

 

I've been using the Taroko regularly, and the Stalogy for a different purpose occasionally. I have a long term project coming up. I think I'll use Stalogy A5s for that, and gain more familiarity in doing so.

[penzel_washinkton]

 

Thank you for asking. Up to now I've not seriously compared them.

 

Did a brief scribble with two pens with differing inks. My conclusion is that Stalogy is slightly less absorbent, and renders colour with a touch more saturation and brightness. Judging by thickness I'd say the weight of the paper is much closer to 52gsm

 

I've been using the Taroko regularly, and the Stalogy for a different purpose occasionally. I have a long term project coming up. I think I'll use Stalogy A5s for that, and gain more familiarity in doing so.

 

Thanks for the comparison, does it crease as easily as a TR?

I am really interested in the Stalogy since they provide their 365s in a rather rare B6 size.

[Karmachanic]

 

Thanks for the comparison, does it crease as easily as a TR?

I am really interested in the Stalogy since they provide their 365s in a rather rare B6 size.

 

Don't understand the creasing thing. All I do is write on it.

Cost, to me, seems quite reasonable. Go for it!

[Mongoosey]

+1 for Nanami if the notebook you want is in stock.

 

I just finished a Writer and have moved onto my 2nd Standard, which I love just as much. I love the white paper because it's not vivid, but still white, yet soft at just the right hue.

 

 

 

Wait, what?

 

I still don't understand why he had to to redo the Crossfield over and over again. The first one with the unintrusive crosses and no imposed headers was the best.

 

-k

 

Nanami frustrates me as well.

 

Their judgement seems a little off at times,

 

I don't get why they went with the Micro-Dot when the Crossfield was so beloved,

 

or why not just go with a regular dot grid, especially when their notebooks are selling like hotcakes.

[Holon]

My favorites are Midori MD Notebooks with their paper cover. Very well made, great paper, not super smooth but with a nice feedback, and it opens flat. The paper cover is aging in a unique way and feels unique too.

[penzel_washinkton]

 

Don't understand the creasing thing. All I do is write on it.

Cost, to me, seems quite reasonable. Go for it!

 

TR paper is easier to crease based on my experience even if it is folded lightly, unlike thicker papers.

I would have loved to pull the trigger on the Stalogy if it wasn't for the Hobonichi

[Karmachanic]

 

TR paper is easier to crease based on my experience even if it is folded lightly, unlike thicker papers.

I would have loved to pull the trigger on the Stalogy if it wasn't for the Hobonichi

 

Neither the small grid, or over-organization of a Hobonichi work for me. Perhaps one day Dave at Nanami will produce another Crossfield. Until then I'll stick with Stalogy/Taroko.

[katerchen]

 

Taroko.

 

 

How much do you pay for shipping? I understand that from Taiwan it's not cheap, but when ordering multiple, I was hoping for the per-item cost to go down a little.

 

For instance: shipping for a single notebook is $10, each additional one is a flat $8. Kinda kills it for me :/

 

With Nanami at least the shipping would spread out after a while (I used to order those in batches of 5)

 

-k

[Bookman]

I wish I had a favorite, one that was truly worthy of the title. I bought dozens of journals in the past ten years, The Years of the Fountain Pen. I have had periods when I really liked Life Noble notebooks (not "journals" per se, but I've written in three of them) and Apica Premium CD (four volumes). I've gotten frustrated by them before I completely filled them: the flexible covers and the secure stitched bindings made them inconvenient for writing on the go, and I do a lot of writing on the go, I want the unrestricted freedom to write on the go. A hardcover double wirebound format best suits me. But I don't like A4 (too big) and I don't like A5 (too small). All I want is a hardcover double wirebound B5/semi-B5 notebook with ruled fountain pen friendly paper that allows me to write on both sides.

 

I found one recently, a Hamelin "8 x 10" one subject notebook. (I put 8 x 10 in quotation marks because it's actually 7.75" x 9.75".) I'm only seven sheets into it, but so far it's exactly what I've been looking for. I write on both sides without hesitation. No feathering whatsoever.

[Karmachanic]

 

 

How much do you pay for shipping? I understand that from Taiwan it's not cheap, but when ordering multiple, I was hoping for the per-item cost to go down a little.

 

For instance: shipping for a single notebook is $10, each additional one is a flat $8. Kinda kills it for me :/

 

With Nanami at least the shipping would spread out after a while (I used to order those in batches of 5)

 

-k

 

I have the good fortune of friends in various far away places, that come my way once, or twice a year. Taiwan, US, Japan and so on. So no shipping charges.

Edited November 7, 2019 by Karmachanic

[penzel_washinkton]

 

Neither the small grid, or over-organization of a Hobonichi work for me. Perhaps one day Dave at Nanami will produce another Crossfield. Until then I'll stick with Stalogy/Taroko.

 

In all honesty, I think the very organized oriented Hobonichi might be a turn off for myself but what turned me is actually their newest release which is the Hobonichi Day Free. It does not have a 1 page per day like the standard but instead it has blank grid papers.

[Tasmith]

 

In all honesty, I think the very organized oriented Hobonichi might be a turn off for myself but what turned me is actually their newest release which is the Hobonichi Day Free. It does not have a 1 page per day like the standard but instead it has blank grid papers.

I agree that Hobonichi is a bit too over organized and I find myself not using half of the features. What I need is a planner / notebook that has a 12 month calendar and one page per day of the year would be perfect for me. Anything out there like that? I do like A5 size or maybe a bit larger.

[Karmachanic]

 

In all honesty, I think the very organized oriented Hobonichi might be a turn off for myself but what turned me is actually their newest release which is the Hobonichi Day Free. It does not have a 1 page per day like the standard but instead it has blank grid papers.

 

Only 170p, small grid, and too much distracting scribble, taking up too much space, at the bottom of the page. I pass.

https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/magazine/2020/dayfree/

[penzel_washinkton]

 

Only 170p, small grid, and too much distracting scribble, taking up too much space, at the bottom of the page. I pass.

https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/magazine/2020/dayfree/

 

I have to give you that, the daily quotes and scribble are not everyone's cup of tea.