Larger Notebook Reviews: Student's Perspective

[tjt7a]

Hello everyone,

 

I'm a grad student and exclusively use fountain pens in class to take notes. I've been experimenting with cheap notebooks that work with fountain pens, and wanted to give a very simple review of three notebooks that I purchased before the semester started. Two are great for notetaking, the third is not. They're all perforated, which is great if you need a sheet of paper in class to turn in or give to a classmate.

 

Here is a photo of the three notebooks next to each other:

 

The first notebook is a cheap Norcom notebook that you'll find in any bookstore or Walmart. You can get it for a $1.50 or maybe $2.00. It's not worth it though; It's garbage. The cover is made of cheap cardboard that bends. The perforations hardly work, and getting a piece of paper out is a chore. Stay clear of this notebook.

 

The second notebook is a notebook that I bought in a set of 3 from Costco for a GREAT price. It's called Top Wired. I see them individually on Amazon for about $10, which might not be worth it. They are 3-subject notebooks and have plenty of paper. They're also nicely made and the paper does surprisingly well with fountain pens. There's show through, but very little to no permeation of ink.

 

The final notebook is the 11 and 3/4 by 8 and 1/4 Black 'n Red notebook. This one has a flexible covering and an elastic strap to keep the notebook together. It's wonderful! You can find one on amazon for about $8 for 70 sheets.

 

Tom

[da vinci]

Nice review Tom thanks, always useful to see pictures in particular

[doggonecarl]

I've grabbed a couple of the Norcom notebooks. I have to agree. Not the most FP friendly notebook. If I have anything good to say about them, it is that bad as they are, Top Flight are worse.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Nice review! What is the country of origin for each?

[Otter1]

The Black 'n Red notebook is also available at Staples in the US in various sizes and bindings--it's a great notebook and very FP friendly. As to origin, that brand is listed on the back as made in Germany and is registered as being part of Hamelin paperbrands from the UK.

www.blacknred.com for more info...

 

-Otter1

[tjt7a]

Doggonecarl: I find the wired topflight to be usable.

 

I believe topflight and Norcom are American. Black n red, like Otter says, is from Germany.

 

Tom

[herbsttag]

Great review. I'm a student as well, so this is quite helpful. One question: how were the average drying times for the notebooks?

[tjt7a]

I can get back to you on this one with some empirical data, but the two cheap notebooks absorbed ink fairly quickly, and had very short dry times. Black n Red has slightly longer dry times (if I recall correctly) because of the coating they put on the paper.

 

Based on my experience though, the Black n Red dried faster than some of my Clairefontaine and Rhodia samples. I'll verify that later this week.

 

Tom

[migo984]

Black n Red and Oxford (Office range) notebooks use Optik paper. The 90gsm Optik is up there with the best notepad/book paper for FP use; even better than some Rhodia and Clairefontaine papers IMO. But it isn't for everyone as it is a very bright white and has a "satin smooth" coated surface, so drying times are extended when using wet nibs. But I've yet to experience any feathering or bleed through with this paper.

[doggonecarl]

Doggonecarl: I find the wired topflight to be usable.

 

I think we are talking about different "versions" of the Top Flight notebook. I'm talking about their single-subject, 70 sheet, wire bound notebook--on par or slightly below Norcom. But hey, these are dollar, two dollar notebooks...good for drafting more formal writing.

[Moshe ben David]

I have been using the Cambridge Limited notebooks for note taking in client meetings, etc. There are different versions; but the one I like best is the Action Planner layout; sort of like the Cornell method but not quite. Listed here at the Staples website:

 

http://www.staples.com/Mead-Cambridge-Limited-Action-Planner-8-1-2-inch-x-11-inch/product_487568

 

These list at Staples for $8.99 for 80 sheets.

 

There is a similar notebook I just noticed from Ampad in the Gold Fibre. I've used Gold Fibre legal pads and small notebooks with good results for FP; this notebook is cheaper than the Cambridge Limited (at $6.49 for 84 sheets) so may bear looking at:

 

http://www.staples.com/Ampad-Gold-Fibre-Executive-Series-Project-Planner-Project-Ruled-Green-9-1/product_397233?externalize=certona

[herbsttag]

Based on this thread I purchased a Black n Red notebook and it's fantastic with fountain pens! No bleedthrough or feathering, very little ghosting. Slightly less smooth and slightly more ghosting than Clairefontaine, but the relatively cheaper price makes up for that in my opinion.