godbole gear A Review of the Godbole FlatLay A5 Notebook Cover

[sannidh]

PRELUDE

In search of a suitable notebook cover

 

My fondness for smooth, writing-friendly paper predates my understanding of what paper quality even meant. Back then, there were notebooks capable of robbing a ballpoint pen’s tungsten-carbide ball of its spherical structure - let alone being safe for fountain pens. During my school years, there existed a premium category of Oxford Exercise Notebooks (from a Kolkata-based company), ruled with blurple lines - ink that promises blue but renders purple. These days, blurples are exactly the kind of inks I avoid.

 

                 Later came the acquired appreciation for fountain pen friendly paper, along with the fascination of seeing ink reveal its inherent shading and character. Like many others, I settled on the A5 format as the ideal everyday-carry notebook size, though I still prefer the broader B5 dimensions for desk writing.

 

Years ago, I used to get MD notebooks from Japan - back when the prices were still sane. Both the MD and Life notebooks fit nicely inside Midori’s A5 transparent plastic cover. But over time, I wanted something more permanent for softcover notebooks, which inevitably led me toward that well-known island of infinite craving: the internet, now fortified with AI-powered searches that seem to understand my purchasing habits better than I do.

 

I had three conditions:

1. I wanted something durable. Full-grain leather was preferable, though I wouldn’t object to good top-grain leather either. Personally, I feel PU “vegan” leather is among the worst things to happen in the name of sustainability - an endless cycle of replacement disguised as an environmental virtue.
2. The cover needed to lie flat on a desk and comfortably accommodate a 100 sheet notebook.
3. I did not want excessive pockets, organizers, or pen loops. Too many compartments defeat the purpose of a minimalist notebook cover. I can already carry my phone and pen in my pockets; I don’t need my notebook cover moonlighting as a wallet.

 

Here were some of the expensive, occasionally absurd options I considered:

• Galen A5 Leather Cover - $54 + shipping
• MD A5 Goat Leather Cover - $128 + shipping (at that price you could probably buy an entire goat here)
• Superior Labor A5 Leather Notebook Cover - $170 + shipping (absolutely not)
• Lapis Bard A5 Leather Jacket - Cognac - $49 (actually very reasonable for the quality)

 

At the time I was in the US, so naturally my search results leaned toward the most expensive possibilities available. Eventually I refined my search to products available locally in India, and that is how I came across a company called Godbole Gear. 

 

            For those wondering, Godbole is a Marathi surname. From their website I learned that Juhi Salinkar and Gaurav Godbole - both engineers by education and previous profession - decided to pursue leathercraft full-time after relocating back to India. Kudos to them. Someday, perhaps. Among their offerings were the A5 and A6 FlatLay notebook covers under the Special Edition section.

 

If you like a pictorial blogger view, here is the link:

Godbole FlatLay A5 Notebook Cover Review

 

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

The myriad permutations of leather-craft

 

Godbole Gear emphasizes the use of saddle stitching: famously associated with Hermès, where every stitch is locked independently using two needles. The advantage is simple: even if one stitch fails, the rest do not unravel. What interested me more, however, was Gaurav’s story behind designing the FlatLay cover. It echoed exactly the sort of frustrations I had with most notebook covers and aligned closely with what I had been searching for.

 

The company also highlights its use of full-grain leather across its products. If you’ve never ventured into the intricate world of leather grades and finishes, here's the condensed version:

1. Full Grain: The highest quality. A cut of leather consisting of the outer layer of hide, left unsanded and unbuffed to retain its natural imperfections. It has a strong and durable surface.
2. Top Grain: The top layer is sanded to remove imperfections, which reduces some of the strength and water-repellent qualities of full grain leather. It is commonly used in handbags, wallets, and shoes.
3. Corrected: A broader term often referred to as genuine leather. It can be any layer of hide that has been treated to create a uniform surface. Commonly used in belts, wallets, bags, gloves, and shoes.
4. Split Grain: A layer cut from the lower levels of top grain leather. It is not as dense, tight, or durable as full grain or top grain leather.
5. Reconstituted & Recycled: Leather scraps are bonded together using polyurethane or latex. 

 

Here are a list of leather finishes:

1. Aniline: Dyes allow natural surface of leather to show through. 
2. Semi-Aniline: Similar to aniline but with added pigments.
3. Faux: Also known as PU, Vegan or Vinyl leather. Is made of polyurethane and made to mimic real leather.

There are many more types (12+), but they may not be relevant to our search for pen cases and sleeves.

Leather tanning is the process of treating hides to clean them of dirt, blood, and hair. This process alters the protein structure of the hide to make the leather durable and less susceptible to decomposition. 

1. Vegetable tanning: This method uses natural materials or tannins derived from plants and bark, which are astringents. It’s an ancient, environmentally friendly process.
2. Chromium tanning: Chromium sulfate is used for a faster and cheaper tanning process, offering more color options than vegetable tanning. The hair and flesh are removed before the tanning process.

There are, of course, many more variations, though those are less relevant to notebook covers and pen accessories.

 

I’ve also had good experiences with top-grain leather products from Khyati’s company, The Black Canvas, based in Mumbai. Good top-grain leather, when properly cared for, ages remarkably well too. Some of my luggage tags from The Black Canvas have survived years of long-haul flight abuse without complaint.

Although the fit and finish of Godbole Gear can surpass many established brands.

 

DESIGN

Minimalistically simple

 

The FlatLay cover is available in four primary colours - Mahogany, Chestnut, Black, and Racing Green; along with several thread options including red, white, black, chestnut, and dark brown. All of them look subtly stunning.

 

I ordered the Racing Green A5 version with red stitching and monogramming simply because it looked different with a sense of subtlety. After placing the order, I received a confirmation email along with an estimated wait time of roughly 3-4 weeks. By the time I had recovered from jet lag, the cover had arrived.

The packaging was minimal: a simple craft-paper sleeve accompanied by a handwritten note from Juhi and Gaurav. It was thoughtfully done, although I sincerely hope one of them eventually falls into the fountain pen universe. If you’re making objects this beautiful for writers, you deserve equally good writing instruments.

The first thing I noticed upon unwrapping the cover was the stitching. The seams are elegant, precise, and remarkable. My monogram, blurred in the photographs was subtly embossed in a nice typeface.

Two external pen loops help secure the notebook closed. They comfortably accommodate slimmer pens up to roughly the diameter of a Lamy 2000 multipen (~12.6 mm). A standard Lamy 2000 fountain pen is too thick, while a Parker 51 fits comfortably.

 

               Personally, I would rather subject a Rotring 800 or Rapid Pro to the tension of holding the flaps shut than risk stressing one of my fountain pens, but that decision ultimately depends on your tolerance for mechanical anxiety.

As you open the cover, you will notice that the beautiful stitching runs consistently across both the front and back. True to its branding, the cover lays perfectly flat on a table. There are two large slip pockets designed to hold a notebook, along with cards and other small items. The bottom of the right slip pocket carries the subtle “Godbole Handmade Leather Gear, Estd. 2014” imprint. You can use the right pocket to secure your notebook, while the left pocket is ideal for storing thin journalling essentials such as stickers, cards or bookmarks.

 

MATERIAL

 

The cover uses full-grain, vegetable-tanned aniline buffalo calf leather with a thickness ranging from roughly 1.2 mm internally to 2.4 mm externally, as per the website. This gives the cover structure and rigidity without resorting to cardboard fillers. It certainly appears durable, though only long-term use can validate that claim. Based on my experience with Midori leather covers and other full-grain leather accessories, however, I have little doubt about its durability.

 

           Truthfully, even a good top-grain leather product can last decades with occasional maintenance - with beeswax and exposure to sun rather than being kept inside dark drawers. Like all natural leather products, mold can become an issue if stored in dark and humid environments. However it’s easy to clean and moisturise them with a little beeswax.

 

FIT & FEEL

 

The leather retains visible grain patterns and feels smooth without becoming slippery. There is a certain warmth and familiarity to leather that synthetic materials still struggle to replicate. The cover is approximately 10% larger than a standard A5 notebook and comfortably accommodates notebooks up to roughly 18 mm thick. I currently use it with a thick Muji A5 ruled notebook swollen with photographs and paper cut-outs carrying some emotional value.

The A5 notebook fits snugly into the right slip pocket. Dimensionally, the cover measures around 165 mm × 230 mm and works well with standard A5 notebooks (150 mm × 210 mm). However, wider notebooks like Clairefontaine’s French-ruled notebooks (165mm x 210 mm) do not fit.

Here is the cover compared alongside my 10-year old Midori Traveler’s Notebook in passport size.

Here is the cover compared alongside my 11-year old Midori Traveler’s Notebook in standard size (130mm x 210mm).

 

FINAL COMMENTS

 

After several years of using notebook systems ranging from Midori Traveler’s Notebooks to simple plastic covers, I have realised that sometimes we need a touch of luxury to appreciate the emotional value that these notebooks carry for us.

 

         I prefer notebook covers that disappear into use rather than constantly demanding attention through excessive organization features or over-designed interiors. The FlatLay succeeds precisely because it isn’t over-designed It keeps the notebook flat, feels reassuringly comfortable to use and is beautifully handcrafted. The cover never tries to appear luxurious, it simply is. If I were to suggest a single change, I would love to see an option without the external pen loops, perhaps paired with a different closure system.

 

You can find my other pen and paraphernalia reviews here. 

  

REFERENCES

 

• Godbole FlatLay Cover Launch
• Leather grade and finishes
• A bookish review of Midori Traveler’s Notebook
• Midori Traveler’s Notebook (Passport) Review
• A utilitarian review of a few pen cases

 

[inkypete]

Thank you for the fantastic review. The covers look so good. Would love one but the pricing into Australia not so good. Enjoy the cover.