Psst, Buddy... Looking For A Good, Cheap Pocket Notebook

[ParkerDuofold]

Hi all,

 

I wasn't really sure where to post this... and I hope to add a pic or two tomorrow, but I discovered these pocket notebooks at Wal-Mart and I'm enjoying them... so I wanted to let you guys in on it.

 

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Paper-Craft-6-Pack-Small-Journals-To-Write-In-Lined-3-5-x-5-5-Mini-Notebook-Bulk-With-Pocket-Stitched-Writing-Journals-Memo-Pad/159558375

 

 

IMHO, the paper is fp-friendly and feels like it may be lightly coated... it's nice and smooth to write on. There is very little feathering... even with wet inks and medium/broad nibs... my preferred mediums... yes,... the pun was intended.

 

They have double layered cardboard covers with a pocket on the inside back cover and have stitched, (NOT glued), construction.

 

I should note I just started using these, so my experience with them is hardly exhaustive... but I've been pleased with I've experienced so far.

 

If your local Wal-Mart doesn't stock them, you can also procure get them by free, 2-day express mail order, (with a $35 order), via the Wal-Mart website.

 

If you have any questions... or if you're more experienced with these than I am... or if you have a simple, 2-cent opinion about the price of rice in China,... please feel free to chime in.

 

Be well.

 

 

- Anthony

 

 

EDITED to add text.

Edited December 1, 2018 by ParkerDuofold

[jimhughes]

What Nib wdths do you use and do you have Wet ink/Dry Inks or Wet writing pens. I just ordered a bunch(4 x 6 pack), can always make them RB/Gel Ink notebooks, but just wondering about your FP Success. Have a blessed Day, Jim

[LukeBoyd]

I'm not familiar with those notebooks but I'll have to look into them. They remind me of the Field Notes notebooks but for what seems like half the price. I can't say I'm qualified to compare them having tried neither one. I've considered Field Notes notebooks but this may be a suitable alternative.

 

I've also used a Walmart brand notebook called Casemate which are decent, fairly fp friendly, vinyl covered, 3.5x5.5 inches, has a bookmark, a strap to keep it closed, and 192 ruled white pages. It doesn't look like they stock them anymore but I've since been using a brand called C.R. Gibson that I've also discovered from Walmart. It's cheaper to purchase several from their website though. It's practically identical in comparison to the former I've mentioned except the pages are light ivory and leather covered instead with the addition of a side pocket inside the back cover which is much nicer than the vinyl IMO. All around a lovely option that I'd definitely recommend. I've used pilot metros (ef/f) and a TWSBI (ef) in it with no problems using an assortment of inks. It has a similar appearance to a Moleskine, not that I've used one before either, but for half the price.

 

https://www.crgibson.com/journals/bound-journals/small-ruled-journal-black-bonded-leather.html#.XARegGmIY0M

 

It's hardly a similar notebook in comparison to what you've mentioned but that would be my 2¢ with regards to fp friendly pocket notebooks.

 

Thanks for sharing, Anthony.

 

Best,

 

Luke

Edited December 2, 2018 by LukeBoyd

[ParkerDuofold]

What Nib wdths do you use and do you have Wet ink/Dry Inks or Wet writing pens. I just ordered a bunch(4 x 6 pack), can always make them RB/Gel Ink notebooks, but just wondering about your FP Success. Have a blessed Day, Jim

Thank you, Jim.

 

I prefer wet writing medium (and broad nibs myself)... which is another great feature of these notebooks... there's next to no shadow or bleedthrough. The writing sample from the Konrad is on the flipside of the Studio sample.

 

 

- Anthony

 

P.S.: Sorry for the cockeyed pics... using FPN's system... no time now to go through Imgur.

[ParkerDuofold]

I'm not familiar with those notebooks but I'll have to look into them. They remind me of the Field Notes notebooks but for what seems like half the price. I can't say I'm qualified to compare them having tried neither one. I've considered Field Notes notebooks but this may be a suitable alternative.

 

I've also used a Walmart brand notebook called Casemate which are decent, fairly fp friendly, vinyl covered, 3.5x5.5 inches, has a bookmark, a strap to keep it closed, and 192 ruled white pages. It doesn't look like they stock them anymore but I've since been using a brand called C.R. Gibson that I've also discovered from Walmart. It's cheaper to purchase several from their website though. It's practically identical in comparison to the former I've mentioned except the pages are light ivory and leather covered instead with the addition of a side pocket inside the back cover which is much nicer than the vinyl IMO. All around a lovely option that I'd definitely recommend. I've used pilot metros (ef/f) and a TWSBI (ef) in it with no problems using an assortment of inks. It has a similar appearance to a Moleskine, not that I've used one before either, but for half the price.

 

https://www.crgibson.com/journals/bound-journals/small-ruled-journal-black-bonded-leather.html#.XARegGmIY0M

 

It's hardly a similar notebook in comparison to what you've mentioned but that would be my 2¢ with regards to fp friendly pocket notebooks.

 

Thanks for sharing, Anthony.

 

Best,

 

Luke

Hi Luke,

 

Thank you, too, for sharing your info... that Gibson brand you mention do sound nice.

 

Be well.

 

 

- Anthony

 

 

EDITED to clarify text.

Edited December 3, 2018 by ParkerDuofold

[ParkerDuofold]

Deleted by author, posted in error.

Edited December 3, 2018 by ParkerDuofold

[pen2paper]

quietly zips in to remind others about fountain pen friendly, two-side use, quality paper manufactured in Pennsylvania... Roaring Springs who took SE's WL's product line & made it even better...

should be available in college book stores too...RS's focal market.

[bogiesan]

quietly zips in to remind others about fountain pen friendly, two-side use, quality paper manufactured in Pennsylvania... Roaring Springs who took SE's WL's product line & made it even better...

should be available in college book stores too...RS's focal market.

This might help:

 

https://rspaperproducts.com

[Mechayoshi]

As far as local Walmart stuff goes, the Pen + Gear nylon covered note books and th mini composition Boo,s (made in Vietnam and India respectively) are literally 80 cent to a dollar and fifty and handle fountain pens great, evem up to a wet writing medium in my personal experience.

 

Meads nylon cover composition books in collage rule are excellent and too at all kinds of inks thrown At it. They run but about three dollars.

[inkstainedruth]

This might help:

 

https://rspaperproducts.com

 

Anyone know what companies sell these retail? Or do they have to be ordered directly from Roaring Springs? I ask because I looked at the link and saw that they seem to be (or were) a distributor for Miquelrius (although no actual products are listed).

In the meantime, I've had reasonable luck with really cheap mini-composition books that were sold at Dollar Tree (in 3 packs for a buck). I think they were made in either India or Vietnam, and while they're not Rhodia, they are decent paper.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[pen2paper]

FPN's DaveT of Adpenworx carries Whitelines.

Also think RS, more commonly known as supplier to school bookstores may have them in hs/uni's.

At least at first, don't think they RS realized it's unique qualities, ink friendly, and that They'd improved both smoothness & two side use. Better than SE (sshhh).

It was my favorite since it wasn't false slick. It's smooth, but pleasant grip, still non- feather, at least with ink I've used. Including a metallic gold wide sharpie.

[Runnin_Ute]

The Apica CD5N notebooks that Goulet sells is pretty high quality and pretty inexpensive (2.83 x 4.02) & $1.80 each. Great shirt pocket size. I have been using them for four or five years now, and have another I will start around January 1.

 

The CD10 (4.13 x 5.83) is $2.80 each. I imagine it is the same quality paper. It isn't a fancy cover, but so what?

 

At the Pelikan Hub this year one of the freebies was something called a FIELD BOOK (Elan Publishing) in 3.5 x 5.5 size. I have been using one as a ink journal type thing. Takes ink well. With nib sizes from .5 mm italic grind to B/OB, 1.1 stub.