Plain Moleskine Cahier replacement

[Mille]

I am trying to find something else that the plain Moleskine Cahiers. I really like the format of the notebook, but I cannot stand the yellowish colour and the see through paper.

 

Does anyone know something like the Moleskins with plain white pages and good paper quality?

[Ghost Plane]

Get a small Quo Vadis Habana from Goulet Pens

[DavidR2]

Rhodia makes one: http://www.vickerey.com/rhodia-side-staple.html

[Mille]

So Rhodia does plain as well! Thank you. Very good to know. Now I just need to find a shop a little closer so I do not have to pay customs.

 

Edit: Hmmmm. I cannot find the plain.

Edited December 14, 2009 by Mille

[dapv]

Try "Field Notes". I think that's the way I'm gonna go.

[Pippin60]

Try "Field Notes". I think that's the way I'm gonna go.

 

The field notes paper is great but the covers don't hold up, they eventually fall apart. In my opinion its the staple vs. the sewn binding. I have yet to find a suitable replacement. Maybe one will be recommended on this post.

Edited December 14, 2009 by Pippin60

[DAYoung]

Here's my review of the Quo Vadis Habana: http://damon-young.blogspot.com/2009/11/our-man-in-habana.html

 

Summary: like Moleskines, only with beautiful paper.

[kiavonne]

Try "Field Notes". I think that's the way I'm gonna go.

 

The field notes paper is great but the covers don't hold up, they eventually fall apart. In my opinion its the staple vs. the sewn binding. I have yet to find a suitable replacement. Maybe one will be recommended on this post.

 

 

Renaissance Art makes a cover for Field Notes (listed under Moleskin, but originally with Field Notes in mind). Also see OcalaFlGuy's review of the cover.

[reprieve]

I like the staplebound Clairefontaine notebooks. Bright white paper, opens flat, comes in pretty colors. Unfortunately, they don't offer a plain version--just ruled and French ruled. But the clothbound notebooks come in a plain version. They are slightly thicker, but are still a nice portable size.

[Mille]

I like the staplebound Clairefontaine notebooks. Bright white paper, opens flat, comes in pretty colors. Unfortunately, they don't offer a plain version--just ruled and French ruled. But the clothbound notebooks come in a plain version. They are slightly thicker, but are still a nice portable size.

 

Yes, that is very unfortunate. The Moleskines are so unassuming. I like slimness of the Moleskines and I really do not like lined pages, but unfortunately cannot stand the paper quality. Still hunting for the perfect notebook.

[txinsk]

What size are you looking for? If it is the small cahier good looseleaf, a cover, needle & thread are all you need. The sewing is very simple, just find some heavy kraft paper for the cover. The hardest part is insuring everything lines up. Just look at the binding on the cahier.

[Mille]

I like the size of the Moleskine. I find the A5 not wide enough but a full A4 takes up to much space. Important is also that they are thin which makes them less noticeable.

 

Reqs:

1. Plain

2. Dimensions like the cahier Moleskine, wider than A5 but the same height.

3. White pages

4. Soft cover in dull colours.

5. Very good quality paper.

4. Thin. The 40-60 pages are perfect.

 

Interesting it s

[NateB]

What size are you looking for? If it is the small cahier good looseleaf, a cover, needle & thread are all you need. The sewing is very simple, just find some heavy kraft paper for the cover. The hardest part is insuring everything lines up. Just look at the binding on the cahier.

 

I've also seen the sewing done on a sewing machine

[markc]

Try "Field Notes". I think that's the way I'm gonna go.

 

The field notes paper is great but the covers don't hold up, they eventually fall apart. In my opinion its the staple vs. the sewn binding. I have yet to find a suitable replacement. Maybe one will be recommended on this post.

 

 

Renaissance Art makes a cover for Field Notes (listed under Moleskin, but originally with Field Notes in mind). Also see OcalaFlGuy's review of the cover.

 

 

I've recently switched from Moleskine to Field Notes. Basically my reasons were the following.

 

1. The Moleskine paper is utter trash. Every fountain pen I use on it has feathering and bleeding. (Noodlers inks, Private Reserve and Visconti all exhibit this behavior)

2. The Moleskine Cahier is a temporary notebook and not intended to "hold up" just like the Field Notes. If you read their description on their site, you will see that they state that the notebooks aren't intended to "last"

3. The Field Notes notebooks are a little cheaper in my area, I don't require the fold in the back for storage, and they have really nice coloring. I find that any black, brown, blue-black or green ink looks good on them. I don't find this in the Clairfontaine or Rhodia paper which to my eye is cold toned.

 

Finally, I think that Moleskine isn't all that its cracked up to be, for example, I've had more moleskines break at the binding than the fieldnotes, the glue binding isn't very well done. To me, all Moleskine is now really is advertising.. They don't seem to put the quality in their books anymore.

 

/Mark

[Mille]

I do think the quality (on this side of the Ocean), is as bad as many (there) experience. It could be that they are trying to push the brand into the market, (at least here in Sweden), as you can find it everywhere, and therefore allow a better quality. My cahiers do not feel "temporary", and work quite well besides too much see through (not bleeding really) and the sickly yellowy paper.

 

But maybe I should make my own. Some copy paper, cover and heavy duty stables.

[Bill Smith]

Have you looked at Leuchtturm1917?

[GouletPens]

 

 

I've recently switched from Moleskine to Field Notes. Basically my reasons were the following.

 

1. The Moleskine paper is utter trash. Every fountain pen I use on it has feathering and bleeding. (Noodlers inks, Private Reserve and Visconti all exhibit this behavior)

2. The Moleskine Cahier is a temporary notebook and not intended to "hold up" just like the Field Notes. If you read their description on their site, you will see that they state that the notebooks aren't intended to "last"

3. The Field Notes notebooks are a little cheaper in my area, I don't require the fold in the back for storage, and they have really nice coloring. I find that any black, brown, blue-black or green ink looks good on them. I don't find this in the Clairfontaine or Rhodia paper which to my eye is cold toned.

 

Finally, I think that Moleskine isn't all that its cracked up to be, for example, I've had more moleskines break at the binding than the fieldnotes, the glue binding isn't very well done. To me, all Moleskine is now really is advertising.. They don't seem to put the quality in their books anymore.

 

/Mark

Bingo. You hit the nail on the head here. I have mad props for their successful marketing campaign, but not much else. I personally am proud to stand behind a product (Clairefontaine) that is known at the grassroots level for its outstanding quality for 150 years. Not only that, but they've been responsive to the demands of their customers as well, such as the 90g paper conversion of the US Webbies. The Habana is really a great journal, it'll be tough to find anything FP friendlier. The only complaints I ever hear from any CF products is a matter of preferences...some don't like white paper or certain lines, or what have you. Quality is just a standard with these products. It seems that every thread I see with the M-word always seems to have disappointing things to say about them. I'm as biased as you can get b/c I sell CF, but I use the opinions of my customers and FPN members to influence the decisions of what products I carry. Good luck in your search!

[Bill]

The new ecosystem line has a cahier that looks just like the Moleskine (sans pocket) but the paper is white and FP friendly. Black or orange covers.

The cahier was the last 'skine form factor I could not find in a better clone until now. I've been buying these at Barnes & Noble. Their A5 hardcovers are pretty nice, too.

Bill