Comparison of 12 journal papers in UK

[ImolaS3]

Hi

 

I thought I'd compile a review of as many journal paper types as I could get my hands on in the UK (midlands).

 

Hope this is useful and stops people buying inappropriate paper.

 

All tested with Faber Castell Porsche P'3110 using Diamine (spelling incorrect on some pages ) Imperial Blue ink.

 

To avoid reading all - the best as far as I am concerned is the Paperchase Noto pad as it has no bleed through, almost no echo and the journal is a good size, well made and the same price as a Rhodia Webnotebook (80g) which has much more echo a quite a bit of bleed through. Rhodia 90gsm papaer is nearly as good as the Noto although the 90gsm Webnotebook is not yet available (I am assured that thewritingdesk.co.uk will be stocking them soon though).

 

Interestingly, one of the worst is a 100gsm paper and one of the best measures half the thickness of most others!! Paper weight is not everything.

 

The absolute worst? Small Moleskine and the Pantone book which took the prize for being absolutely appalling!

 

 

So, here are the results

 

Filofax White Qudrille and Cotton Cream Illustrated Ruled

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/7254/631052_l.jpg

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/7254/631051_l.jpg

 

Moleskine 2010 diary - loads of echo and bleed!

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/7254/631064_l.jpg

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/7254/631057_l.jpg

 

Pantone book - don't waste your money of you use a fountain pen

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3395/631070_l.jpg

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/7254/631065_l.jpg

 

Paperchase 100gsm linen notebook - disappointing bleed

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3395/631076_l.jpg

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3395/631072_l.jpg

 

Paperchase 200 page journal (I think 70g paper) - pretty good

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3395/631083_l.jpg

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3395/631079_l.jpg

 

Paperchase ringbound A5 notepad - not bad, been using these for years and years and.....

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3395/631088_l.jpg

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3395/631084_l.jpg

 

Papercahse Noto Journal - the best by a fair bit

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3954/631097_l.jpg

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3395/631089_l.jpg

 

Rhodia 90gsm notepad

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3954/631106_l.jpg

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3954/631104_l.jpg

 

Moleskine softback notepads - I always carry one of these in my back pocket - not for fountain pens! (not sure why the photos are different colours)

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3954/631114_l.jpg

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/7691/3954/631113_l.jpg

 

 

Rhodia Webnotebook - 80gsm paper - very good, but wait for the 90gsm version!

Edited April 9, 2010 by ImolaS3

[Ed Ronax]

Took ages, wow not surprised. What a good piece of work. Dont you find Diamine inks a bit hard on notebooks, I found them to be very wet compared to other inks.

[Dr Lopez]

very useful review!

[AndyHayes]

Excellent review, and from a fellow Brit. At least I can read a review of notebooks that I can easily get, rather than be envious of what the Americans can get and we can't!

 

It looks as though the Paperchase Noto journal is a rebranded Ciak, which I happen to have 4 of laying around untested.

 

I also bought some Pantone notebooks recently in the large size. The red one is pleasing to look at, but I haven't used it yet, and from your review probably won't bother! However the colour combinations that they have used in the Process Blue and Process yellow (cover, band and pages) are completely hideous.

 

The best bit of the review for me was the news that The Writing Desk will be stocking 90gsm Webnotebooks. I will have to contact them.

[ImolaS3]

Andy

 

I'd be interested to see how you get on with the Patone books - mine is the green one and looks really nice but with my fountain pens......

 

I think I prefer the Noto to the Webnotebook as the line spacing is nice and tight and the feel of the paper suggests a higher quality, although I have 2 80g Webbies still to use and will definitely try the 90g version when it is in stock.

 

Ed

 

To be honest, Diamine are the only inks I have other than a bottle of MB ink. A friend put me on to them as they were all she used and I have been very happy with them since. I sort of like it that they are made in the UK by an old established firm too

The pen I used for the tests was chosen specifically because it is one of the wetter pens I own.

 

Oops, edited for appalling spelling!!

Edited April 11, 2010 by ImolaS3

[ImolaS3]

I sort of hoped people might comment, share their experiences......

[bphollin]

Excellent work. I'm hoarding a few Moleskines that I bought mid-decade when the paper quality was still quite good. Rhodia is a fine choice these days, in my opinion.

[Sarah M]

Didn't see this review until today but I don't see any images. Is it just me or are they gone? I would love to see the photos as I am very interested in a comparison of these journals.

 

 

Sarah

[ImolaS3]

Didn't see this review until today but I don't see any images. Is it just me or are they gone? I would love to see the photos as I am very interested in a comparison of these journals.

 

 

Sarah

 

 

Photos are still there for me, maybe a glitch at your end?

[Emma]

I'd also love to see the images. This is a really fabulous post and especially from a UK-er (from the Midlands too! Hooray). I've searched and searched for my ultimate notebook, but I find some ink-friendly paper offputtingly smooth and shiny, which is why I still prefer Moleskines, despite the problems. I recently bought a Moleskine Folio which is taking my preferred inks (J. Herbin and Mont Blanc) very well.

 

Emma

[Emma]

Photos have appeared!

[Sarah M]

Photos have appeared!

 

How strange, I can see them now too! Don't know what happened.

 

Anyway, thanks for the comparison. I have been using a Moleskine large ruled notebook as my journal for the last few months and although there is a little show-through (echo) and occasionally some bleedthrough, it is not enough to bother me for the purposes of the journal. There's no feathering with the Moleskine.

 

I have bought a Rhodia WebNotebook for my next journal and am looking forward to trying it out. I'll have a look for those Paperchase Noto journals as well, they look very good. Do they open flat?

 

Sarah

[ImolaS3]

 

 

I have bought a Rhodia WebNotebook for my next journal and am looking forward to trying it out. I'll have a look for those Paperchase Noto journals as well, they look very good. Do they open flat?

 

Sarah

 

Hi Sarah

 

Yes, the Noto does open quite flat, more so than the Webnotebook. The reason seems to be that the Noto has more leather on the spine which curves out slightly whist the Webnotebook has the leather quite close (tight) to the spine which cause the pages to form a slight lump in the middle when opened out. On the Noto the leather at the spine folds away to the side, allowing the book to sit quite flat.

 

 

 

Picture worth a thousand words (Noto on right)......

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/6922/3299/636038_l.jpg

 

 

Webnotebook

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/6922/1469/636040_l.jpg

 

 

Paperchase Noto

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1000/6922/1469/636039_l.jpg

[Sarah M]

 

 

I have bought a Rhodia WebNotebook for my next journal and am looking forward to trying it out. I'll have a look for those Paperchase Noto journals as well, they look very good. Do they open flat?

 

Sarah

 

Hi Sarah

 

Yes, the Noto does open quite flat, more so than the Webnotebook. The reason seems to be that the Noto has more leather on the spine which curves out slightly whist the Webnotebook has the leather quite close (tight) to the spine which cause the pages to form a slight lump in the middle when opened out. On the Noto the leather at the spine folds away to the side, allowing the book to sit quite flat.

 

Picture worth a thousand words (Noto on right)......

 

 

Oh, that's brilliant. Thank you so much for the additional photos as well. A notebook that opens flat (and isn't a spiral notebook) is about the most important feature to me. Thanks again, definitely one to put on my wish list!

 

Sarah

[Iranna]

One of the pictures shows Miquelrius paper, but there's no mention of it in the text?

[tawanda]

I noticed this, too. what Imola refers to as the Paperchase spiral bound which she has been using for ages, is in fact made by Miquel Rius' company, and sold by Paperchase. You can see the logo in the inner margins. Mguelrius paper is fantastic for FPs. The best I've known. I just wish they wouldn't edge their paper in colours.

 

But, that said, what a great and comprehensive review! Well done; great info for all us Brits.

 

Just to add my penny worth: I've just tried the Whitelines range (from Amazon.uk) which looks very similar to your pic of the Pantone paper. Its truly dreadful. The bleedthrough and shadowing on the reverse makes two sided writing impossible and it looks ugly. I wrote one letter to a fellow FPNer, and decided to throw it as it was too horrid to send! I know many on here diss Moleskine but they hold a special place in my heart, and always will. I love so much about the overall design I can forgive its little imperfections. And the paper performs far better than the Whitelines, any day.

[ImolaS3]

I noticed this, too. what Imola refers to as the Paperchase spiral bound which she has been using for ages, is in fact made by Miquel Rius' company, and sold by Paperchase. You can see the logo in the inner margins. Mguelrius paper is fantastic for FPs. The best I've known. I just wish they wouldn't edge their paper in colours.

 

 

Interesting, didn't know that and never heard of Mguelrius.

 

Err, he

[Iranna]

I noticed this, too. what Imola refers to as the Paperchase spiral bound which she has been using for ages, is in fact made by Miquel Rius' company, and sold by Paperchase. You can see the logo in the inner margins. Mguelrius paper is fantastic for FPs. The best I've known. I just wish they wouldn't edge their paper in colours.

 

 

Interesting, didn't know that and never heard of Mguelrius.

 

Err, he

 

You can read the logo at the side of the paper. It's good that they print the logo on their paper, that way you can tell it's *probably* ink friendly (some Miquelrius paper is great, others horrible for fountain pen ink. Paper quality can vary even within one notebook so that some colours are good, others not).

[robeck]

On the advice of this topic I ordered a large Noto and can confirm that this is one of the best, if not the best commercial notebook that I've tried. The construction is top notch and looks very classy. There is even an embossed fleur de lys on the spine - very subtle but pleasing. The paper is a rich warm cream that feels very substantial and has absolutely no bleedthrough, show through or feathering. The paper is smooth and yet doesn't have the slickness that some smooth papers like Clairefontaine Triomphe do. The paper, though smooth, gives a hint of feedback too which makes for a great writing experience.

 

My only problem with this notebook is the ruling - it is too narrow for my handwriting. I would much prefer an unlined version of this notebook and then my quest to find the perfect notebook would be over. Does anyone know if Ciak make these with the same paper but no lined rulings?

 

regards,

Dean

[ImolaS3]

On the advice of this topic I ordered a large Noto and can confirm that this is one of the best, if not the best commercial notebook that I've tried. The construction is top notch and looks very classy. There is even an embossed fleur de lys on the spine - very subtle but pleasing. The paper is a rich warm cream that feels very substantial and has absolutely no bleedthrough, show through or feathering. The paper is smooth and yet doesn't have the slickness that some smooth papers like Clairefontaine Triomphe do. The paper, though smooth, gives a hint of feedback too which makes for a great writing experience.

 

My only problem with this notebook is the ruling - it is too narrow for my handwriting. I would much prefer an unlined version of this notebook and then my quest to find the perfect notebook would be over. Does anyone know if Ciak make these with the same paper but no lined rulings?

 

regards,

Dean

 

Great, glad the post helped you find a good book I find the ruling is great for me with 4-5mm high handwriting, in fact one of the must-have features for me. The 90gsm Webnotebook is going to have to be something quiet extraordinary to move me from these Notos.

 

Paperchase do advertise a 90gsm plain notepad but I have not tried one yet, details (from Paperchase customer service) are:

Black Iguana Notebook

- Cover - paper laminate

- Paper weight - 90gsm

- Plain paper - no rulings

- Paper colour - White paper

- Page count - 90 sheets/ 180 pages

Link to the book

 

Enjoy

Edited April 15, 2010 by ImolaS3