Looking For Good A5 Notepad

[Mafia Geek]

Hi FPN,

 

I recently got myself a good A5 Filofax for work but the paper is really not very good in it. At the moment I'm using an A5 Triomphe pad in it, which is quite good. The problem is that I prefer grid or dot grid if I can get it and the Triomphe paper is a little smaller than A5 once torn off.

 

I've had a look for some other notepads but haven't come up with much. I really want the paper to be A5 when removed from the pad, so most Rhodia and Clairefontaine are ruled out because they are A5 before being removed and the paper once removed is quite a bit smaller.

 

I did look at Maruman Mnemosyne Staple Bound Notepad which looks quite promising, but it's not cheap.

 

Does anyone else have any good suggestions for a notepad that can handle fountian pen ink (though I am willing to switch to an Iron Gall ink or Waterman Serenity Blue if needed) that is A5 size when removed?

 

I'm located in the UK, so ideally something that can be sources either in UK or EU so save on shipping cost/time.

[Inkysloth]

Clairfontaine Graf It pads are good for FP ink & are A5 after removal. I can send you a sample if you'd like?

 

Edited to add:

 

I take it back. I've measured and they're slightly smaller than A5, sorry.

Edited August 15, 2013 by Inkysloth

[TMac]

Fabriano notepads are pretty good if you can find them. I've used them in Filofax and Staples Arc.

[chiaroscuro]

The Mnemosyne staplebound is indeed excellent. The sheets are exactly 212mm long when torn, with about 18mm for the Date/Title section (they're blank on the reverse). The paper is fantastic and there's plenty of it. Worth the price, IMO

Edited August 15, 2013 by chiaroscuro

[Mafia Geek]

Thanks for the tips. I'll use up the two pads of Triomphe that I have for the time, that should last a little while at least.

 

After that I might go either for the Midori pad or a Maruman one, not sure yet which. I know the Midori one is glued on two sides so I'd need to removing the backing along the side to use it, but the fact that the paper would hold itself together kind of appeals.

 

Who knows, one day soon I'm going to finally give Waterman Serenity Blue a try (no I've never tried it, yes I know it's an ink that EVERY fountain pen use MUST try) and it might work great on the W H Smith refills, in which case I'll just go that route.

 

I might do a review of the paper if I do go that route to inform the masses.

[Cyclopentadiene]

I've recently been experimenting with smaller notebooks. For those on the small size, (although I'm not sure of exact sizes) Calepino notebooks are O.K for fountain pens as long as your nib isn't Niagara wetness. I'd reccomend going for the plain though as the colouration of the green grid styles tends to merge with the writting... could just be my dyslexia though.

I picked up a 100 sheet pad of whsmith duke sized writting paper which is surprisingly good with all of my pens, especially as I've heard the stuff they advertise for fountain pens to be shockingly bad. It's bloomin' cheap from what I remember but it comes in the rather flimsy fold over paper cover.

 

Hope this helps,

Badger

[Runnin_Ute]

Black n Red A5 notebooks have great paper, are 210 mm tall and 137 mm wide from the perforations.

[Renfield]

Does Rhodia Not offer A5+ pads? (The + means when torn out the page is A5 in size)

 

check out http://www.bureaudirect.co.uk/rhodia/b5

 

I know they have A4+ and A6+, so no doubt have A5+ as well.

[gmax]

Succes A5 organiser paper will fit your Filofax, and generally seems better quality than Filofax brand paper.

 

www.succes.com

 

If you're in London, they seem to still have an agent in Crawford Street...

 

www.success-of-london.co.uk/

 

Gillio organisers are generally well reviewed, but I've not tried their paper.

 

www.gillio.be

 

Mulberry paper is lovely, but quite expensive, and the hole punching is incompatible.

 

Smythson paper is just shockingly expensive.

 

Hope this helps!

[Paul80]

Hi

 

If you are in the UK have a look in your local Tesco for the NU: Elite range of A5 note pads and folio's, they are very FP friendly.

 

Paul