Leuchtturm 1917 Medium Softcover Review

[daTomoT]

Now, where's my Rhodia Webbie with the list of good/bads.. Ah. Here we go.

 

This review is for the Leuchtturm 1917 Medium Softcover notebook, which I purchased from Cultpens for £10. Suffice to say I won't be buying again, but read the review and form your own opinions.

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Lets be optimistic and start with the Good:

 

Contents Page: There is a contents page - three, actually - with space for 78 entries. This is obviously good for those who like to be organised in their writing/journalling. The third page, however, I would deem unusable by the amount the first writing page shows through it, unfortunately.

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Numbered Pages: To go with the contents, each page is numbered for easy 'finding' of things. To be honest, the contents page wouldn't work without it.

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Title/Date Space: At the top of each page is a space for title and date. Again, good for those who like to be organised. Also helps reference with the contents page.

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Back Pocket: Has a back pocket for you to put loose sheets 'n stuff in. Pretty standard in a notebook, but you'd miss it if it wasn't there! Annoyingly, the archiving sheet that comes with it doesn't fit in this pocket.

 

Lies Flat: It beats the Webbie in this respect! It lies flat easily, so it would be easy to write on both sides. Then again, the paper quality makes this null and void.

 

Tense Elastic Strap: The closing strap hold it tightly closed, so you won't have any issues there. Well, you will actually, but wait for the negatives.

 

Comes With Stickers: Yes, the archival sheet of stickers so you can put a titling sticker on your notebook, and a long sticker for the spine. There are several of each, non lined, line and etc.

 

Very Organised: This all adds up to the notebook being very tidy and organised. You won't lose any of your writings in this if you care to use the contents page. It does make me want my webbie to have an inbuilt contents section and numbered pages.

 

Now for the Negatives. There are fewer, but they're the important things.

 

Paper Quality: Ah, shucks. The first thing we look for in a notebook - paper quality - is sub-par. Inks are prone to feathering on this paper, as the ink follows fibrous paths in the page, giving a spiderweb appearance. The paper is a nice off-white creamy colour, but I don't enjoy writing on it. Some inks are safe of course. It's 80GSM by the way. Also, ink bleeds though a little, and shows through heavily. I just can't use the reserve of the pages. It just ain't good enough, Leuchtturm.

 

Tense Elastic Strap. That bittersweet thing. It holds it closed well, but also imprints on the cover. It was already imprinted when I received it sealed. The worst thing is that the imprints aren't straight - my OCD conflicts over whether to have a straight strap (imprints show) or cover the imprints (wonky strap).

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Bad Quality Cover: Ties in with the imprint issue. The softcover version cover is weak. It feels flimsy, not just in softcover manner, but it feel cheap. Too thin. Also, the back pocket shows through the back cover, which is unpleasant for me. You can see the line above the logo.

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Overall, I'm just going to say I won't be buying this notebook again. It isn't awful, but you can get good notebooks for the same price, and great notebooks for just a little more (Rhodia Webbie £12). It's been confined for use as my poetry notebook. A shame, as being organised it had great potential for journalling. It does highlight a few things my Webbie is missing; page numbers and contents for example. I am disappointed really. As in the first sentence, I still rely on my Webbie. Has anybody had a better experience?

Edited January 5, 2013 by daTomoT

[TSherbs]

Isn't the L1917 about 2/3 the price of the Rhodia? I would expect paper performance to lag about the same (the other stuff is just trimming). Perhaps try a narrower nib? Or less-saturated ink?

[daTomoT]

Webbie was £12.42, L1917 was £10.00. I'd say that's comparable.

 

Besides, I get by with my Lamy + Diamine, and my X-Feather

[The Good Captain]

I've only used the hard-backed books in this size and am full of admiration for the paper, I have to say. Perhaps it's just luck with the inks I've been using up to now. However, I've the soft-cover pocket version which although with fewer pages than its hard cover counterpart, has been OK in terms of the paper too. I like the contents and pager numbering and it's a pity that the other can't follow suit. I do see you point about everything though and am sorry that you've had the bad experiences.

[kp288908]

I have been faithfully using the hard cover version, as well. I don't have any issues with the paper at all. I think it's the best value out there, really. I do see *a tiny bit* of feathering with very wet writing pens, but I'm completely fine with that. With most pens, there is no issue at all.

 

Sorry to hear that the softcover was a disappointment for you.

 

If you enjoy softcover notebooks, try Apica 6A10. I have had great luck with it.

[reprieve]

Thanks for this review.

 

I'm going to pick up a Leuchtturm or two in my next order with the Goulets. I've had some issues with rather substantial feathering in my current Rhodia dot webbie. I've been disappointed with the Webnotebook. The first one I had refused to lie flat. The second one has very disappointing paper quality. Leuchtturm seems like a nice alternative with its table of contents and numbered pages and nice binding and much cheaper price tag.

[daTomoT]

Thanks for replying. In balance, I'm glad the rest of you have had better experiences with the same notebook. We all stick to what we're happy with. For me, I'll probably stick with my Webbies, as I have really enjoyed using them. However, they are not perfect and I do still search for the journal that really hits the spot. I'll end up creating my own, of course.

[mikehodgman]

nice review. I just got a hard cover that I really enjoy. I cannot use it with broad nibs though. Since I prefer finer nibs it is perfect!

[mikehodgman]

nice review. I just got a hard cover that I really enjoy. I cannot use it with broad nibs though. Since I prefer finer nibs it is perfect!

[bogiesan]

daT-T, thanks for the review. I'll be posting a similar package describing my experience with the 2012 agenda.

[Mags]

Thanks for the review. I use the hard cover version and prefer it to the glossy paper alternatives. It beats a Moleskine I think we can all agree to that.

[Salerno_AFG]

Great review. My experience with the Leuchtturm 1917 was identical and place it in the same category as the Moleskine especially when compareing it to the Rhodia Webby and Quo Vadis Habana. I use a TWSBI 540 w/ a fine nib and bleed through renders the backsides unusable w/ the Leuchtturm and Moleskine using Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black. The only issue I have with the Rhodia is I must blot prior to turning the page.

[daTomoT]

You see, I seem to be one of the few who doesn't prefer fine nibs. I tend to write with medium. I find fine makes my writing spider-like. I haven't tried a broad nib yet, though I'd like to! I'm looking forward to reading any other reviews of this notebook, those of you who are buying it.

[Pterodactylus]

My 2 cents:

A couple of months ago I tried a Leuchtturm Master A4 (dotted) hardcover and had also the full spectrum of issues, bleed through, show through, massive feathering color change,.... no matter which ink I tried nor which pen.

After 2 pages I've thrown it away, 20€ for an unusable notepad which is advertised in Germany/Austria as ink proof.

Beside the paper quality with respect to ink usage it is a nice pad with a lot of nice features.

So if you are using it with a ball pen it is a good choice.

For fountainpen usage I consider it as unusable.

Since the 1980ies with the first "Umweltschutzpapier" (environmental saving recycling paper) I've not often see a worser paper for fountainpen usage.

[Nibwitz]

Time to add my experience: Leuchtturm1917 A5 hardcover

 

I like these notebooks. The paper is less yellow than a Rhodia Webby or Quo Vadis Habana. These have better quality paper though. Nevertheless the Leuchtturm paper is far from bad; when looking closely you can see a tiny bit of feathering,

but not a lot. (I write with a wet Pelikan M200 F with Pelikan 4001 ink).

The pages are thin, nonetheless there isn't any bleedthrough with my pen/ink combo. Compared to the Rhodia Webby you get about a cm more space to write (width).

 

The archiving sheet does fit in the back pocket, just. The last 8 pages are removable (perforated), that's handy too.

These Leuchtturms come in a wide array of nice colors, that's very nice I think.

 

Conclusion: not the Rhodia paper quality, but also not too far from it, and with a lot of other strongpoints.

 

Rhodia and Leuchtturm are therefore my two favorites.

[Newjelan]

1358717795[/url]' post='2571402']

Time to add my experience: Leuchtturm1917 A5 hardcover

 

I like these notebooks. The paper is less yellow than a Rhodia Webby or Quo Vadis Habana. These have better quality paper though. Nevertheless the Leuchtturm paper is far from bad; when looking closely you can see a tiny bit of feathering,

but not a lot. (I write with a wet Pelikan M200 F with Pelikan 4001 ink).

The pages are thin, nonetheless there isn't any bleedthrough with my pen/ink combo. Compared to the Rhodia Webby you get about a cm more space to write (width).

 

The archiving sheet does fit in the back pocket, just. The last 8 pages are removable (perforated), that's handy too.

These Leuchtturms come in a wide array of nice colors, that's very nice I think.

 

Conclusion: not the Rhodia paper quality, but also not too far from it, and with a lot of other strongpoints.

 

Rhodia and Leuchtturm are therefore my two favorites.

 

Couldn't agree more!

[Inkysloth]

I've just come to this topic to see if other people had noticed feathering with Leuchtturm paper - and it seems they have.

 

I'm quite disappointed, as £12.00 is, for me, a lot of money to be spending on a notebook. The paper claims to be "Ink proof" yet shows significant feathering - and that's with a fine nibbed Vacumatic, not a dribbly wet writer. When I use a wetter pen with a broader nib (A TWSBI mini with 1.1mm nib) there's proper bleedthrough.

This isn't "ink proof" paper at all, and I don't think it should be marketing itself as such.

[inkypete]

Inconsistency strikes again. This notebook has a great layout and I love the little extras. But the paper varies too much. If they could get the paper right and consistent quality I would gladly use this notebook.

[Inkysloth]

Quick update: I emailed Leuchtturm with my comments & they're posting me out a Master Notebook as a replacement. The woman who repled to me also gave me the names of some inks she's been told work well with their books.

 

I may be disappointed with the paper, but that's very good service.

[tawanda]

I, too, was disappointed with the Leuchtturm paper, so much so that I wrote Brian at Goulet when they were first considering stocking the whole range.

 

I got a hardback a5 dot book to try because I thought the funky orange colour was awesome. What a let down.

 

I shall be reviewing it in opposition to the NuCo Elite range of notebooks soon. I found these a while back in my local Tesco. They are incredible in terms of carrying the ink. They do not have the 'organising' thing that Leuchtturm does, but what is the point in that if you can use the book? I am bowled over by NuCo products and would urge anyone, In the UK or overseas, to get one to try. (No affil)