The Perfect Notebook

[Mari1013]

Rhodia is hard to beat in its array of sizes, configurations (lined, graph; side- or top-stapled) and great prices. My favorites are No. 11 (3x4"), which I carry in purse or pocket for quick notes, and No. 16 (6x8.75") for more extensive note-taking.

[HollyGolightly]

For work I use Red 'n Black notebooks. I haven't had any bleedthrough despite doing ink swatches, and general craziness in these notebooks. I have had bleed through with a flex nib but... that's a flex nib- and it was a touch scratchy so I think it really says less about the paper and more about that one pen.

 

They're available in soft or hardcover- very affordable and easy to find. The ones with rings would lie flat on a desk (mine is hard cover and does not do this). Mine measures 8 1/4 inches by 5 7/8 inches. This works well for me without being too large, think I got it from amazon with free shipping which helped, too.

 

I save my nicer journals for other things but I've been content with my purchase. I filled one of these up and promptly bought a second.

Edited May 30, 2016 by Christina

[Motorrader]

I love the Nock Co spiral bound, wonderful fountain pen friendly paper, perforated.

[Bklyn]

I love the Nock Co spiral bound, wonderful fountain pen friendly paper, perforated.

 

I must look at this one. I have just run out of paper!

[Bklyn]

Hi all:

 

My job is often filled with details I can't remember so I want to get a notebook I can write things down in and hopefully, remember them.

 

I have read good things about the Leuchtturm 1917 in the that is about 5 x 8.

 

I saw them in a store tonight but they are in plastic so I was unable to feel the paper.

 

Any thoughts on this brand of notebook? I tend to write with broad nibs and use Noodlers ink. I do not mind a touch of bleed through but I am hoping it is held to a minimum. Any opinions on this for a notebook to use to jot down ideas and things to get done?

 

If you do not like this one, I would love to hear what you do like in a similar size. Only other things I want in this grail notebook is that it folds flat when I write and it is a soft cover type.

 

Also, as aside, it seem a bit strange to me to write on both sides of the paper. Do most people use both sides?

 

Any help really appreciated.

 

Best to all!

 

I am so sorry to have not responded to those who replied to my question. Truth be told, my wife of 35 years, passed away about 5 weeks after my post and I was simply overwhelmed with loss and grief. (See "Fountain Pens and Cancer" this forum for the conversation.) My thanks to you all.

[Bklyn]

Like most people here, I have used and continue to use a wide variety of notebooks and brands, including some that fit within your strictures. I think the best of these is the A5 Apica Premium CD notebook. It has a cardstock cover, reinforced stitched binding, and luxuriously smooth off-ivory paper that almost never bleeds through. It comes in ruled, blank, and grid versions. At $17, it isn't priced for everyday notetaking. I use a B5 ruled version for my journal.

 

Of course, unlike sewn-binding notebooks or staplebound or glued, wirebound notebooks don't need to fold to become flat; and if you include wirebound notebooks in your search you'll really open up your choices. Or perhaps I read your perameters too narrowly. Anyway, for everyday notetaking, the A5 Clairefontaine and A5 Rhodia Dotpad are hard to beat. I'm going through a phase in which one Rhodia Dotpad or another (they come in a variety of sizes) is my notepad of choice. I also like the A5 Fabriano Ecoqua notebook, which comes in blank, lined, and grid versions, although it's easier to find the grid version than the others. I believe this version to be casebound and stitched. But I wouldn't swear to it. Good luck, and good hunting.

 

This is just GREAT!

[mmg122]

Howard...did you ever try the Nock Co spiral notebooks that Motorrader recommended. I'm also a huge fan of those notebooks. Most fountain pen friendly paper on the market, IMO. If you're interested in trying, I could send you one. I always have a healthy supply on hand. Just let me know.

 

Mary

[ac12]

Try Curnow

https://www.facebook.com/CurnowBookNLeather/

He makes his own notebooks, and they are NICE.

[Mister5]

Another thing to consider is whether you need something with a sturdy cover or not. For work I've used a Franklin Christoph Firma Flex A5. It has a nice sturdy faux leather cover​ and is FP Friendly. I ram the notebook in my bag with all the other miserablecordia I put in there (laptop, other notebooks, laptop power supply) for over a year and it's none the worse for wear. If you're gentle or just keeping it on your desk you might be a-ok with something with a less sturdy cover. There are Apica or Life notebooks that you can get comparatively inexpensively... my experience is with B5 but you should be able to find them in A5 as well.

I use both sides of the paper on my notebooks, but for the ad hoc notes I make at work where I'm only referring to them at the moment, I just use the steno pads provided at work and one side of the page (not sure what brand it is but they haven't bled through to the next page)

[Bklyn]

Howard...did you ever try the Nock Co spiral notebooks that Motorrader recommended. I'm also a huge fan of those notebooks. Most fountain pen friendly paper on the market, IMO. If you're interested in trying, I could send you one. I always have a healthy supply on hand. Just let me know.

 

Mary

 

Mary, thanks a s always. You are a wonderful friend.

[Bklyn]

Try Curnow

https://www.facebook.com/CurnowBookNLeather/

He makes his own notebooks, and they are NICE.

This looks interesting. Thanks so much.

[Bklyn]

Another thing to consider is whether you need something with a sturdy cover or not. For work I've used a Franklin Christoph Firma Flex A5. It has a nice sturdy faux leather cover​ and is FP Friendly. I ram the notebook in my bag with all the other miserablecordia I put in there (laptop, other notebooks, laptop power supply) for over a year and it's none the worse for wear. If you're gentle or just keeping it on your desk you might be a-ok with something with a less sturdy cover. There are Apica or Life notebooks that you can get comparatively inexpensively... my experience is with B5 but you should be able to find them in A5 as well.

I use both sides of the paper on my notebooks, but for the ad hoc notes I make at work where I'm only referring to them at the moment, I just use the steno pads provided at work and one side of the page (not sure what brand it is but they haven't bled through to the next page)

Thanks so much for the insights! There are so many choices.

[Mercian]

Thanks so much for the insights! There are so many choices.

There are indeed :-)

 

I advise you to look on the Paper &Pen Paraphernalia board for reviews of any notebooks that you are thinking of buying.

 

FWIW, my own experience of Leuchtturms is mixed - in 2013 I bought myself a dot-grid one and a lined one.

Positives: I love their page-numbering, and their sturdy construction, and I also appreciate the label/stickers that came with them.

 

Less-positives: I never saw any bleedthrough or show through (unless I hold a page up in front of a light-source), but then I only use Fine and Medium nibs.

I did find that some inks were a bit 'smeary' on the paper in them, or became more-sensitive-than-on-other-papers to the skin oils left on the page by my hand.

One can easily avoid the latter problem by resting one's hand on a single piece of blotting paper as one writes.

 

HTH,

M.