A Tale Of 3 A5-sized Notebooks

[DKbRS]

I was in the market for a new A5 size notebook so I tested out two lesser know products in which I was interested: Canteo and Mnemosyne, and compared them with a Moleskine notebook. And for the record, all 3 products were purchased in Canada.

 

These are the notebooks (the red one is the Moleskine):

 

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/IMG_5349.jpg http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/IMG_5347.jpg http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/IMG_5348.jpg

 

I used the pens that I had inked at the time, and in terms of feathering and bleed-through, the pictures tell the story:

 

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/IMG_5345-1.jpg http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/IMG_5343-1.jpg http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/IMG_5341-1.jpg

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/IMG_5346-1.jpg http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/IMG_5344-1.jpg http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/IMG_5342-1.jpg

 

Feathering was pretty even across the board, but with regard to bleed-through, the Canteo just beat out the Mnemosyne, with Moleskine bringing up the rear. In terms of individual inks, MB Racing Green, MB Toffee Brown and Aurora Black faired the worst, which is unfortunate because these are my favorite green, brown and black inks.

 

Other observations:

 

Paper feel: The Mnemosyne has the smoothest feeling paper, and therefore for me, the least enjoyable to write on. Both the Moleskine and the Canteo have a pleasant, mildly textured feel to the paper which I enjoyed writing on.

 

Paper color: Both the Canteo and the Moleskine have cream colored paper, while the Mnemosyne is whiter.

 

Line spacing: Moleskine has the narrower line spacing of the three.

 

Other: All three have a quality feel to them, the Canteo probably feeling the best. The Canteo and Moleskine come with ribbons and have pockets in the rear cover. The Canteo also comes with a pencil and a set of index clips. The Moleskine and Canteo lie flat when opened.

[dematante]

I was in the market for a new A5 size notebook so I tested out two lesser know products in which I was interested: Canteo and Mnemosyne, and compared them with a Moleskine notebook. And for the record, all 3 products were purchased in Canada.

 

 

 

Thank you for your review: I've tried all the papers you mention with similar results.

 

I just wondered if in your search you had come across the A5 Bindewerk--available from Papeterie Nota Bene in Montreal. 288 pages, elastic closure, metal edging on the covers. It's the best book I've found for my journal and I just might have tried them all.

 

I just re-read your post and see that you're looking for a notebook. Well, the Bindewerk A5 isn't a notebook; it's a bound book, with a spine and all. But it still might be worth a look. And Russell at Nota Bene provides great service.

[DKbRS]

Thank you for your review: I've tried all the papers you mention with similar results.

 

I just wondered if in your search you had come across the A5 Bindewerk--available from Papeterie Nota Bene in Montreal. 288 pages, elastic closure, metal edging on the covers. It's the best book I've found for my journal and I just might have tried them all.

 

I just re-read your post and see that you're looking for a notebook. Well, the Bindewerk A5 isn't a notebook; it's a bound book, with a spine and all. But it still might be worth a look. And Russell at Nota Bene provides great service.

Thanks for this; I am familiar with Russell and Nota Bene, but not with that product. I'll check it out!