Cvs Caliber - Levenger Circa - Staples Arc

[betsypreston]

Today I was at CVS looking for some sugarcane/bamboo paper, and I found a refillable notebook ala Levenger Circa and Staples Arc. I bought one to test it out. I couldn't find any mention of these on FPN when I googled it. Are they new? Under the radar?

 

I've only recently gotten the Circa and Arc notebooks, so I don't have a lot of experience with them yet. But I did do test pages with a bunch of different inks and pens. So far, the paper all seems to be roughly equal. All three had some showthru with J Herbin Rose Cyclamen from a Sheaffer Imperial with a web medium nib. That is my "killer" paper test - few survive. It was enough that I would avoid that pen/ink combo with Levenger Circa and Staples Arc, but might try it with the CVS caliber paper.

 

All three papers fared well with other various nibs and inks.

 

Including: Noodler's Army, Noodler's Ottoman Azure, Sailor Epinard, BIC disposable pen in red, Pilot Varsity Pink, Diamine Meadow, Irosh M. Shikibu, Akkerman Shocking Blue, Noodler's Saguaro Wine (typically a killer, but "less worse" with a not-too-wet Sheaffer Intrigue medium nib), Noodler's Violet, Itoya Blade in black, PR Avacado, Diamine Deep Magenta, Levengers Empyrean (impressive test because this dark blue ink was laid down with a wet Sheaffer Imperial broad nib), PR Spearmint, and Noodler's Polar Blue (not a tough one cuz the Platinum Preppy nib puts down very little ink).

 

PR Invincible had some very minor showthru on all three, but to be fair I used a Twsbi 1.5mm stub, so there was a good bit on ink.

 

The Staples Arc paper had more showthru than the other two. Enough that I would test each pen and ink on it before committing to write on both sides of the page, but a small enough problem that there would be few combinations bad enough to ban from this paper.

 

Results for the CVS paper seemed in line with the other two. Better, if anything. The ONLY showthru was very very minor for the J Herbin Rose Cyclamen from the wet Imperial medium nib and a hint with the PR Invincible from the 1.5mm stub.

 

Prices for a notebook with 11 rings and plastic covers, with 60 pages of 11" x 8.5":

CVS caliber: $7.99

Staples Arc: $9.99

Levenger Circa: $24 (!!!!)

 

Prices for a pack of 50 pages of refill paper:

CVS caliber: $3.99

Staples Arc: $3.99

Levenger Circa: 300 sheets for $39 => $6.50/50

 

The Levenger prices do NOT include shipping, which I have found to be rather significant. I can go to Staples or CVS and pick them up myself, so this does matter. For the price and convenience, I will definitely be sticking to the Staples Arc and CVS Caliber. I did buy an Arc punch, so I'm committed. And since Staples carries several sizes and types of covers, plus rulers and tabs and pockets, and rings, and several paper styles and sizes, that's probably going to be my default. CVS ONLY had 8.5" x 11" lined paper - no variety in paper style or size.

 

[mm1624124]

Thanks! Good to know. I prefer to punch my own paper since both Levenger Circa and Staples M paper have too much bleed-through for the inks I use. With the exception of Rhodia Circa, Levenger's offers are generally poor performers. While Stapes has been better I have had variable experiences depending on paper size ( ). I have a couple of cases of Double A paper and am currently trying the 22# HP paper. Double A will also bleed under certain circumstances but still is an improvement over both Levenger and Staples, so I'm still looking for that "in between" paper for when Double A is no longer in my stable. Weight matters to me, so I'd rather not go to the 32# HP paper.

 

I kinda get bent out of shape when I pull out an old cheapo notebook, the kind that I could afford as a college student---very, very cheap, that has been hanging around a few decades and can write with ANY pen OR ink with much ado about nothing. No whatever-is-wrong-with-paper-today-for-fps. Comp books, spiral notebooks, steno pads, etc., all are GOOD! And it didn't matter what office supply store they came from.

[warblerick]

It's been my experience that Levenger is overpriced on most of what they sell.

[Gloucesterman]

A heads-up note, Staples occasionally has 15/20/25/ 40% discount sales on the ARC paper and other supplies. (Not sure on the punch though).

 

The ARC vs Circa comparison has been done a number of times here on FPN. Our search engine leaves something to be desired in its ability to narrow down a search (or maybe I just don't know how to use it well).

 

Meanwhile you might want to do some more searching to find good in-depth information.

 

I invested in the ARC punch and been very happy with it. Using it, I re-use 3- hole dividers (paper, vinyl and plastic) as well as any kind of paper I want.

 

As I prefer fine and extra-fine nibs, bleed through tends not to be a problem.

 

Recently I found the smaller size ARC paper on sale (clearance) for $1.00/package. Bought the remaining two packages and use them as inserted memo sheets within my large notebook.

 

Am very happy with the ARC, especially with it's ability to lay flat when writing.

 

No affiliation btw.

[betsypreston]

I've seen the Lev vs Staples comparisons, but I've never seen the CVS equivalent notebook until yesterday. But, as I said, only one size and one type of paper so it's gonna be Staples for me. I agree that Levenger's stuff is overpriced, IMHO.

[flatline]

The arc graph paper (junior sized) is my favorite fountain pen paper thus far. I have not had any significant bleedthrough or ghosting issues and the surface lets all my pens write smoothly.

 

It can be tricky to find it in stock locally, however.

 

--flatline

[mm1624124]

I generally prefer xf-m nibs, but I'm also extremely reactive to any type of bleeding, feathering, or spreading. Bleed through is just unacceptable and inexcusable.

 

Levenger = expensive, unfriendly paper for fountain pens. I've invested way too much in trying out Levenger's journals, notebooks, circa, etc. to be convinced otherwise.

[flatline]

I generally prefer xf-m nibs, but I'm also extremely reactive to any type of bleeding, feathering, or spreading. Bleed through is just unacceptable and inexcusable.

 

Levenger = expensive, unfriendly paper for fountain pens. I've invested way too much in trying out Levenger's journals, notebooks, circa, etc. to be convinced otherwise.

 

My Levenger paper is pretty unfriendly for fountain pens, but the arc graph paper plays extremely nice with my fountain pens. If only I could get one of the local Staples to stock the graph paper in Junior size. I love that stuff.

 

--flatline

[betsypreston]

 

My Levenger paper is pretty unfriendly for fountain pens, but the arc graph paper plays extremely nice with my fountain pens. If only I could get one of the local Staples to stock the graph paper in Junior size. I love that stuff.

 

--flatline

Can you order it online with free in-store pickup?

[mm1624124]

Staples M Arc paper definitely behaves better than Levenger's Circa stuff. I've just had haphazard peformance in both the letter and junior size paper--maybe it's a batch, manufacturer thing? Overall, the junior paper has performed better than the letter sized paper, but have still experienced some slight feathering and bleed through. Not bad enough to cause nightmares, but I limit myself to EF and F nibs on the dry side because of it.

[flatline]

Can you order it online with free in-store pickup?

 

Yes, I could do that. Heck, last weekend they offered free delivery without requiring in-store pickup. I just didn't get it together to make an order.

 

Both of the local stores have it some of the time, but more often than not it's sold out. I just wish they'd do a better job keeping up with demand for it.

 

--flatline

[WirsPlm]

How easy is it to remove and replace the pages, in any or all of these systems? I'm interested in using this for a planner / address book, but if swapping pages around takes more than a few seconds it won't work very well for what I want. And can pages be swapped multiple times and still be sturdy, or do they wear out?

[flatline]

How easy is it to remove and replace the pages, in any or all of these systems? I'm interested in using this for a planner / address book, but if swapping pages around takes more than a few seconds it won't work very well for what I want. And can pages be swapped multiple times and still be sturdy, or do they wear out?

 

If you're careful, you can remove the same page a dozen times before the edges start to lose their shape, even with cheap paper. However, if you add/remove multiple sheets at a time, you're more likely to do damage sooner. If you're transferring lots of pages, it can be extremely tedious to do them 2 or 3 at a time and you're probably better off using punched paper in the binder of your choice.

 

--flatline

[WirsPlm]

Ah, thanks. Not going to work for what I really want then.

[lovemy51]

 

If you're careful, you can remove the same page a dozen times before the edges start to lose their shape, even with cheap paper. However, if you add/remove multiple sheets at a time, you're more likely to do damage sooner. If you're transferring lots of pages, it can be extremely tedious to do them 2 or 3 at a time and you're probably better off using punched paper in the binder of your choice.

 

--flatline

so true! tho' I own many color, styles and sizes of the old Rollabind and Arch system notebooks -plus I own the circa hole puncher, I still prefer my Franklin Covey 7 ring binders!!