Moleskine, Asda, Sainsburys Notebooks

[tawanda]

Hi All

 

Thanks to a good Samaritan I finally got my hands on an ASDA Mollie clone and, already having tried the real thing and the Sainsbury's clone, I thought I'd give you my impressions. I apologise in advance for the dreadful photography. Its not my camera and I have no idea of its finer qualities, so I've just pointed and clicked.

 

 

 

LOOKS/PRICE -

 

 

 

Firstly the prices. Moles of the size I am reviewing can be had for around £9.00 on Amazon.co.uk The A5 Sainsburys notebook is £3.99 and the Asda one costs just £3.00. All three have the same black faux leather cover, elastic closure and back inside pocket. The Sains and Asda are A5 sized and the Mole is 14x21 cm, slightly smaller. The cover on the Sains and Mole is virtually identical. Moleskine and Sainsburys have 96 pages, ASDA has 80, but as you can see in the photo, it is quite a bit thicker than the other two.

 

The Asda cover is much softer, slightly padded, which makes it much more tactile, but it marks very easily. I caught it ever so slightly with my thumb nail whilst taking off the cellophane and it brought a tiny flap of the cover up, I was surprised. Can't see it looking pristine for long. A nice touch with the Asda pocket, though, there are actually two pockets, one in front of the other, great for organising scraps.

 

 

 

PAPER -

 

The Mole paper quality is very variable, a universal complaint among FP users. And as it tends to be so well known I will not rehash what has gone before. But I like the ivory colour, the feint narrow ruling and the smooth texture of this paper. I just wish they'd sort out the quality issues.

 

The Sainsburys paper is greyer, ruling slightly wider, and the first and last lines are printed darker. I found this slightly off-putting. Neither the Mole nor the Asda pads advertised the gsm of the paper used, Saisburys did: 80gsm recycled paper.

 

The Asda notebooks are in my favourite rule: quad. The squares are slightly larger than Mole quad ruling and are quite bold, whereas Moleskine quad ruling is quite feint. The boldness is rather distracting, and makes both reading and writing a tad unpleasant. When using a fine or x/f nib the ruling was ofter bolder than the text written. Not great.

 

WRITING EXPERINCE -

 

Moleskine: we all know that it can be a blessing or a malediction using a Moleskine. Quality can even vary between pages within the same book. You can play it safe by finding an ink/pen combo that works and stick to it, but variety is the spice of my writing life, and I want a notebook that can handle all nib widths and ink varieties. Sadly, in this respect Moleskine fails, badly. In the test page pictured there was a little feathering, but the bleedthrough with all except the Cross CII pens, was so bad you could clearly read it from the other side.

 

Sainburys: It is very rare I am amazed when writing on new paper, but this notebook surprised me no end. I could not make it feather or bleed no matter what I did! It is smooth, but not so glassy that it takes an age for the ink to dry. I honestly can't find anything bad to say about it as far as writing is concerned.

 

Asda: I really hoped that this little gem would usurp the quad ruled Moles' place in my heart. Alas it was not to be. The paper is thick, by far the thickest of the three, and fairly smooth. There was not even a hint of showthrough or blood spotting on the reverse but...it feathered, quite badly with broader or wetter nibs. And I loathe feathering, much more than any amount of bleedthrough. Like with Moleskines you could find a pen/ink combo that works - and a few did - but its not as versatile as the Sainsburys paper, nowhere near.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION -

 

Well, it would appear I still haven't found a perfect replacement for the quad ruled Moleskines I use, but considering the Asda notebook paper quality is certainly no worse, and yet one third the price of a Moleskine, I may use these for the bulk of my every day notes, and suffer the feathering. I do worry how easily the cover marks/scratches, though.

 

The Sainsburys notebooks are, by far, superior in paper quality to both the Asda and Moleskine, and if I was a devotee of the ruled notebook my store cupboard would be full of these. As it is I will certainly grab a few more next time I drop by, as they really are a joy to use. If only they did quad ruled, they would have attained paper perfection, in my book, at least :roflmho:

[Mockingbird]

Great review, thanks!

 

Please try the Asda plain books if you get the chance. I've found that they make great sketch-books because of the thickness you mention.

 

I still carry a Moleskine diary planner, but the asda/sainsbury knock-offs have replaced my moles in terms of plain, ruled and quad ruled note-books.

 

[bydandie]

A very nice review, and one that makes me think about the Sainsbury pads in more details! 8)

[oldstoat]

I use a Sainsbury's A6 pad as a pocket notebook- unobtrusive and wonderful with everything except my broadest wettest nibs. It also has perforations toallow one to tear individual shets off.

[Beechwood]

Great review.

 

I have used Moleys, ASDA and Sainsbugs books, I like the ASDA papers most of all but the books are the worst made of the three, I have had a couple of the larger books where the spine has come away from the paper.

 

The Sainsburys books are versatile and are available in a number of different shapes but just the one paper.

 

They would get my vote.

Edited October 12, 2010 by Arthur

[vans4444]

Thanks for a great review, I will pop down to my local Sainsburys and buy a few of their notebooks.

[tawanda]

I agree Arthur, the Asda books are cheap to buy because they are made cheap. I would have happily paid £1 more (as in the Sainsburys price) for better quailty.

 

I've found that extra fine and fine nibbed pens do OK as long as they are teamed up with the less saturated, well known inks such as Pelikan, Waterman and Quink. The American, more saturated, inks feather like crazy.

 

The Sainsburys are definitely the best by far, but I do love quad ruled, so I can't quite let go of my Moles...

[matt611]

Thanks for the great review. Nice to finally see all three togther after reading about them for so long. I will definately be paying Sainsburys a visit in the near future.

 

M

[ImolaS3]

Thanks for that, didn't realise Sainsbury did these books.

 

Might be tempted to try one, although I make my own now as detailed here and prefer having the control over paper and ruling.

 

Just making one for my wife with squared, lined, plain and dot grid pages - she wants them all!! (thins one will have Rhodia 90gsm paper as it's for her)

[ImolaS3]

I grabbed a Sainbury's notebook today and am extremely disappointed in it. The paper is typical of recycled paper in that it has that off-white grainy look, not the creamy colour of say a Webbie.

 

The paper is lovely to write on but the bleed through is the worst I have ever seen in a notebook and I have tried rather a lot (and reviewed 12 here)

 

The journal itself is Ok construction wise, but I will not be buying any more nor using this one with a fountain pen.

 

Tawanda in the initial review said it was as good as his Moleskine. Well the one I have isn't even close to a Moleskine which are not even close to Rhodia or the Paperchase Nova.

So, baring in mind the different experience Tawanda and I have had, I would suspect that the quality of the Sainsbury journal may not be consistent.

 

My conclusion on the Sainsbury Journal I have:

7/10 for build and feel

4/10 for paper (amongst the worst bleed and echo i have seen in a journal)

 

EDIT to add that the original review said the paper was smooth but not glassy. Mine has rough paper and the ink soaks in instantly. Once again an indication of a lack of quality/consistency?

 

Photo of my first test with the Sainsbury:

 

http://www.acdseeonline.com/1001/9913/6161/1503952_l.jpg

Edited October 15, 2010 by ImolaS3

[matt611]

I have also just purchased a notebook from Sainsbury's; an A6 ruled. Similarly to Imola the paper does seem to bleed (although it doesn't show very well on the iphone photo). The paper is nice to write on and whilst there is no feathering, the ink does look somewhat strange. Blotchy, as if it was about to feather.

 

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss109/mjd487/photo-17.jpg

 

What a shame that the quality can vary so much. Oh well, the quest continues.

 

M

[vans4444]

I think my experience of the A5 Sainsburys notebook is closer to tawanda than to others.

 

I bought the Sainsburys A5 today and here is a quick comparison with the Paperchase Noto. Sorry about the poor pictures (the Noto is the smaller of the two notebooks, it is not A5).

 

 

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww3/vans4444/Pens/SainsburysA5inktest1.jpg

 

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww3/vans4444/Pens/SainsburysA5Inktest2.jpg

 

On the page there is no noticeable difference between either of the two notebooks. There is very slightly more bleed with the Sainsburys than the Noto, but not much.

 

The paper in the Sainsburys A5 notebook feel smooth. I can only assume that as has already been stated, that the quality must be variable.

[Will]

Interesting to see such different experiences. I have to say that although I get a little bleed through I think that its a great little book. The colours of ink also seem to be preserved more than some other paper (such as canteo). Not sure why such differences

[tawanda]

My bleedthrough experience is very similar to vans' and will's. I've used my wettest, broadest nib in my Sains book and it was hardly noticeable on the reverse. I can honestly say in my experience the paper quality is way better than Moleskine, and I'm a die-hard Mole fan, so that's no easy for me to say!

 

I know that Sainsburys seemed to have no stock a few weeks ago, and then a re-stock appeared shortly after. I wonder now if they have switched manufacturers in the meantime?

[ImolaS3]

My bleedthrough experience is very similar to vans' and will's. I've used my wettest, broadest nib in my Sains book and it was hardly noticeable on the reverse. I can honestly say in my experience the paper quality is way better than Moleskine, and I'm a die-hard Mole fan, so that's no easy for me to say!

 

I know that Sainsburys seemed to have no stock a few weeks ago, and then a re-stock appeared shortly after. I wonder now if they have switched manufacturers in the meantime?

 

That could easily explain the different experiences and paper quality

[ImolaS3]

Odd turn of events.

 

I purchased 2 Sainsbury journals when i went ot the shop because a) they are very cheap and Sainsbury is 15 miles away.

 

Tried the second tonight and no bleed through at all and the paaper feels smoother and looks better quality - almost Rhodia!!

 

Find a good one and you'll be smiling

[English John]

I am using one at the moment - and it is very good - I bought 4 more as a result !!

No feathering or bleed through at all on any pen/ink combination

I hope the extra ones I got were good ones as well!

It is a bit sad that there could be quality issues, because I thought I had found the best one yet.

 

All I can say it try one if you can.

 

John

[tawanda]

I have a few, bought at the same time, now I'm worried about diffs in quality between them!

[Beechwood]

"The Sainsburys notebooks are, by far, superior in paper quality to both the Asda and Moleskine, and if I was a devotee of the ruled notebook my store cupboard would be full of these. As it is I will certainly grab a few more next time I drop by, as they really are a joy to use. If only they did quad ruled, they would have attained paper perfection, in my book, at least"

 

The quality gap may have increased still further, ASDA have new stocks with much worse paper and bindings that feel flimsy straight off the shelf.

 

Cheap though at £2.20 for A4 100ish pages, but pay the extra.

[Beechwood]

"The Sainsburys notebooks are, by far, superior in paper quality to both the Asda and Moleskine, and if I was a devotee of the ruled notebook my store cupboard would be full of these. As it is I will certainly grab a few more next time I drop by, as they really are a joy to use. If only they did quad ruled, they would have attained paper perfection, in my book, at least"

 

The quality gap may have increased still further, ASDA have new stocks with much worse paper and bindings that feel flimsy straight off the shelf.

 

Cheap though at £2.20 for A4 100ish pages, but pay the extra.

 

ASDA dont seem to be restocking these items, possibly temporary in favour of Rudolf related tat, the stock at Sainsburys doesnt seem to be what it used to be either.