Hp Laser Vs. Staples 25% Cotton - Recommendations?

November 22, 2011

Well, given the lack of input and the potential for a slightly different format, I've decided to go with letter size instead of legal for my DIY planner. I've read pretty high praise on the forums here for HP's 32lb. laser printer paper, and after searching the forums for Staples' 25% Cotton Laser paper (32lb) I saw that at least a few people have used it with good results.

Given that the HP paper is less expensive than the 25% cotton (~$17/500 sheets vs ~$18/300 sheets), I'm initially inclined to go for the HP, but the curious part of me wonders... I now see just how little I understand about paper, and I don't have the slightest idea how much (or what kind of) difference cotton will make under my pens. My questions are thus:

If you were to choose between these papers, which would you choose and why? and more generally, what kind of difference does cotton make in the properties of a paper, anyway? Keep in mind this will be for a planner that will incur regular use, on both sides of each sheet.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

November 28, 2011

Good luck on you question about cotton in paper. I hope you'll add a note here if you ever experiment. It seems like it might wick the ink but I really do not know.

I just ordered this and am hoping that laser paper = no bleeding ink.

Hammermill® Laser Paper, 8 1/2" x 14", 24 Lb, Pack Of 500 Sheets

I could not find the equivalent HP paper in legal size, and I'm writing on a folded sheet. Your 32 lb paper should be very durable.

Good luck.

November 28, 2011

I'm no paper expert, but I think one difference is the long fiber cotton makes the paper more robust, more durable than short wood fiber. US money is closer to cotton cloth, than paper.

I'm using the Staples ivory 25% cotton for my journals. It also has random specs and fibers that you can see. Some people might like that visual nostalgia.

When the ream is done, I'm gonna look for lighter paper, maybe 24lb. 32lb is just too thick and heavy to carry around.

December 1, 2011

I haven't seen either of those papers. I have worked with a lot of paper at the copy shop I used to work at though and to me when I hear laser paper I think it will be very smooth, slick so that the laser printer can lay down a photo really nicely. When I hear cotton I think of a soft, almost textured paper, it almost has a fabric feel to it. To know for sure you'd have to talk to someone who had felt those papers though.

December 1, 2011

The HP 32lb paper is wonderful to write on. It's smooth like Rhodia/Clairfontaine paper, and extremely bright white if you like that. And with such thick and heavy paper bleed through and show through are a non-issue. However, I think 32lb paper is too heavy for a planner or notebook and that you should look for a good 24lb paper and HP laser paper and staples 25% cotton would both be good candidates. Though haven't tried it myself, others on this forum seem to like HP's 24lb paper. The 25% cotton paper I ordered from Staples Canada turned out to be Neenah paper (made by the same mill that makes the Crane papers). Nice paper, unfortunately only linen textured paper was available when I ordered and it turns out I don't really like writing on the texture.

December 1, 2011

Probably the biggest difference between cotton and wood pulp paper is that cotton will last far longer (although I think the milling techniques and additives used can lengthen, or shorten, the lifetime of either). In my experience, the writing experience with either fiber varies tremendously, depending on the surface treatment and sizing content. So if you're not archiving your planners, I'd say go for a standard wood pulp paper with a feel and price that you like.

December 1, 2011

I have both in my desk right now and agree with raging dragon. The HP is to thick for a planner, unless you don't care how thick it ends up.

They are both good paper. The laser seems much more slick, while the cotton has a little more tooth and texture. I personally prefer the cotton, and actually prefer that it is thinner, but they both perform well.

December 1, 2011

I am still trying to find good legal size (14 inch) paper. I got this Hammermill® Laser Paper, 8 1/2" x 14", 24 Lb, Pack Of 500 Sheets that I don't like at all.

It is smooth but the surface feels very strange, gives resistance to the nib, and does strange things with the ink flow. It does not bleed but somehow draws ink out of the nib in an unwieldy way.

I'm not finding retailers who specify cotton in legal size, but I'd like to try it.

The Xerox paper that I bought in 1999 was different than what I'm finding now - it was nothing special in the specs but it was smooth enough and the surface was somehow harder that this Hammermill Laser paper which feels like writing on plastic.

December 6, 2011

I am still trying to find good legal size (14 inch) paper. I got this Hammermill® Laser Paper, 8 1/2" x 14", 24 Lb, Pack Of 500 Sheets that I don't like at all.
It is smooth but the surface feels very strange, gives resistance to the nib, and does strange things with the ink flow. It does not bleed but somehow draws ink out of the nib in an unwieldy way.
I'm not finding retailers who specify cotton in legal size, but I'd like to try it.
The Xerox paper that I bought in 1999 was different than what I'm finding now - it was nothing special in the specs but it was smooth enough and the surface was somehow harder that this Hammermill Laser paper which feels like writing on plastic.

PS: I pretty much gave up on getting legal size paper that can take two-sided writing but found Strathmore Writing Natural White Wove 24# at my local Kelly Paper store for $30, 8.5 x 11, 25% cotton, and though I've given it only a cursory ink testing it seems very nice to me. The regular white absorbs ink badly, but the natural just takes it on the surface. Nice. I recommend it. I prefer the nature white over 92 brightness white and by far over anything brighter.