What are your top 5 notebooks?

[WinBagel]

1, Maruman "Libretto" and "Boston Note". These notebooks are 8.3" x 11.7" and they use fine vellum (I think) paper (ruled both narrow and regular). The bad news is they are made in Japan and the only place I've been able to find them is in a wonderful stationery store in Japantown in San Francisco (where I live). I've seen, but not used, the Moleskin products, but my problem is that I am a writer (as in novels, nonfiction, poetry books) and I need the most bang for my buck space-wise and a notebook that lies flat. If anyone knows where to get them on line PLEASE email me. I can find them on Japanese sites by Googling Maruman, but I haven't found any way to order them.

 

2. Kokuyo. Another Japanese product with more great ruled paper inside, although not as quite as fine as the Maruman. I've searched for these elsewhere as well also but without luck. The ones I use are only slightly smaller than the Maruman ones.

 

 

Both brands are available at jetpens.com. Although not their entire lines. However, Jetpens is quite good with requests for specific products. I haven't requested anything but I've seen people do it and they often get what they ask for. As per their website:

 

 

Hey, Guys and Gals,

 

Need to request that JetPens carry a specific stationary product, your favorite pen or pencil perhaps? Maybe that cool notebook you've been wanting? Well then go here: https://www.jetpens.com/product_request.php and and either log in or register to get to the product request page let your requests be known!

[farseer911]

Right now...

 

Webbies Large Dot

 

No 16 & No 19 Dot Pads for everyday use and notes

 

Clairefontaine Grafit pads for casual letter writing

[Chrontius]

Moleskine - either some of you are incredibly picky, incredibly unlucky, or something. It's not great stuff, but never once has it been a problem. The copy paper I have taken tests on, that's caused me to put away a pen before and pull out a fine nib or a ballpoint at least thrice, but moleskine paper has never actually hindered my writing before. Their wide choice of form factors, easy availability, and attractive product earns them a spot on this list. Their Folio paper is downright nice, too.

 

Rhodia. You already know why.

 

Ecosystem, by Sterling Publishing. Better paper than moleskine, worse than Rhodia. More durable covers than either, and the planner has a better layout than Moleskine. Available at Barnes & Noble cheaply, especially on their 50% off calendar sales. Has most of the features of a Molesine notebook, if not all, and all their books are serialized and can be tracked online… or, I believe, reported lost.

 

Ampad Gold Fiber. I feel guilty using this stuff, since I don't know where we (my family) got it, nor how much it cost, and some of its features would benefit a ballpoint user (heavy backing, unusually tough binding). But the stuff just feels good to write on, and I like the off-white.

 

Staples Sustainable Earth. The cheesiest-feeling "nice" paper I've ever used but for all that it has the look and feel of generic house-brand stuff, I can't say a single bad thing about the paper itself.

 

 

I know this doesn't count but an honorable mention goes to Ecopapers' Banana Paper. I really want to like it, and I have a 4x6 notebook, a mousepad, and three to five binders of filler paper, but I really don't want to use it. Part of that is because I like it enough that I don't want to use it up, but I know that way lies madness. Also, their elastic-closure journals don't anchor the elastic to the cardboard of the cover well enough, and I've had to patch that with Gorilla Tape (presumably it will never need to be fixed again, but…). They're close, really close, to excellence but I'm not big on the form factors they've chosen to package their paper in. Not even 3-ring binders really float my boat any more, sadly.

[dapv]

Chrontius: Really like your review. Thank you.

[aget19]

Anybody have experience with the Quo Vadis Habana's?

[framos917]

My current top 5 the list changes often due to all the great suggestion in this forum.

 

1. Sustainable Earth bagasse paper. - Especially the 6 by 9 inch spiral notebook. The hard cover and interior pocket makes it very functional for me. Love the thin yet sturdy paper. Using a Hero Pen with a fine nib and PR Orange Crush ink allows me to write on both sides.

 

2. Rhodia Pads. No. 11 and 13 pads

 

3. Moleskine Cahiers - The soft 5 by 8 ¼ size with graph lines. One for each project I have. The graph format helps me layout my own calendars, timelines, and sketches pertinent to my projects.

 

4. Ampad Gold Fibre Writing Pads - Both the top spiral bound 5 by 8 and 8 ½ by 11 ¾ size. Love the brown marble hard cover and cream paper. The larger pad has wide ruled on front and graph ruled on back. High functionality for me.

 

5. Corner Office by Wal-green, 6 by 9 writing tablets - Only the Made in Brazil Reminds me of the writing pads my Dad and Granddad always had around the home.

Edited June 10, 2011 by framos917

[Marek Li]

Paperblanks: I at first didn't like the way they tried to fake a leather cover or the pretty yet-it-still-is-cardboard covers they have. Then I read that they reformulated the paper they use to be specifically fountain pen friendly. I tried it and it really is fountain pen superfriendly. For me it is even better than clairefontaine... but the binding isn't flexible enough for me. I need to be able to pull pages out, or move pages, or discard or archive entire sections. For a journal it would be great though. I currently keep one as a semi-journal.

I very very like this hand stitched notebooks. Some of them are really beautifull. The paper is perfect for me and my pens. The idea of hand stitching is interesting - when I use this notebook, I have no problems with writing in the part of page which is near central part of notebook.

Paperblanks looks good, some of them looks classically, allways very strong. On a scale of one to ten ...10:)

[RPB]

1) Rhodia Webnotebook sat in my fantastic inkleafleather cover

2) Design.Y 216

3) Allan's Journal in Caramel Tan

4) BUT number 1) at work, I am currently using CTF's excellent Hitlist notebook and 'roadtesting' it thoroughly in my trouser pocket so it gets some hammer.

5) Lechtturm 1917 A4 Master size book

[Kaptenmork]

I'm a bit curious why so many still like Moleskin's when its obvious that they are not very fp-friendly? Do you have old stock with different paper? Or have found a good combination of ink/pen that writes 'dry"?

[framos917]

I'm a bit curious why so many still like Moleskin's when its obvious that they are not very fp-friendly? Do you have old stock with different paper? Or have found a good combination of ink/pen that writes 'dry"?

I now mostly use moleskin cahiers as their soft cover and different form factors are very funtional and task specific for me. I do use mostly BP's and MP's with them. However, when I do want to use a FP in them I use some Hero fine nibs with private reserve ink. The Orange Crush and Purple Mojo work very well. My first pens were MB and Lamy with medium nibs and they were too wet to use on the moleskin for me.

[Chris H]

I'm a bit curious why so many still like Moleskin's when its obvious that they are not very fp-friendly? Do you have old stock with different paper? Or have found a good combination of ink/pen that writes 'dry"?

 

I like Moleskine Cahiers because of the paper color and the design. Sailor Kiwaguro ink works wonderfully on the paper and the ink itself is absolutely fantastic.

 

As for my top 5:

 

Our own TM Lee's bound books. Absolutely beautiful

Rhodia

Staples Sustainable Earth

Moleskine Cahiers

A no name comp book picked up at a local grocery store, which they no longer carry.

 

Chris

[mirosc]

- Gmund Softcover Notizbuch (German)

- Exacompta Registre (French)

- Moleskine weekly diary (Chinese/pseudo-Italian)

[jamesliu2006]

RHODIA

MOLESKINE

NORCOM

RAYMAY

MARUMAN-GOOD FOR CHINESE CHARACTERS

[fourseamer]

1. n/a

2. Rhodia Webnotebook

3. Rhodia Webnotebook

4. Rhodia Webnotebook

5. Rhodia Webnotebook

 

Obviously, I love me my Rhodia Webbies. I only wish they came in A4 or letter sized notebooks. That's why #1 for me is a "n/a." I'm on the lookout for a lay-flat, blank, A4 or letter sized notebook or journal that I can really spread out and write comfortably in. Sadly, that puts me in a small market that nobody wants to fill. The 6x9 journals are barely large enough for me, and I'm about to give up on the 3x5s. For anything I'd put in a pocket notebook, I'd just as soon punch into my smartphone using Evernote or the like.

[Socratessa]

In the UK there is a notebook maker called Paperchase and I have been obsessed with their notebooks for at least 5 years. I particularly like the A4 spiral bound polypropylene covered squared paper version.

[The Good Captain]

I'm using Moleskine pocket lined at the moment, with a larger one for a different project. Also a Ciak A5 which has disappointing paper and not at all like the sample I was sent. I've posted another comment about Ciak elsewhere on FPN.

I've e-mailed the supplier of the Guardian Pocket notebook here in the UK asking for a paper sample if they have one. It looks like a very acceptable alternative to Moleskine and at a rrp of about half that of Moleskine, a good bargain; about the same as the Amazon prices.

[Kaweco Liliput]

1) Leuchtturm, soft-cover pocket size, dot paper.

 

2) Ryman Soft Touch (not perfect but great value for money).

 

3) Rhodia pads.

 

4) Monsieur Notebook (some very wet inks feather a little, but I love the smell of the leather :embarrassed_smile: ).

 

5) Script (Aldi's own brand, 3 for 99p, 60grm paper and they love fountain pens! Surprising stuff ).

[JimB]

<!--quoteo(post=515428:date=Feb 15 2008, 04:09 PM:name=CharlieB)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CharlieB @ Feb 15 2008, 04:09 PM) 515428[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->A lot of folk are citing a brand called Apica. I had never heard of this brand until reading this thread. Can anyone tell us more about it? For example, is it an American, European, or Asian product? What size books does it come in? How are they bound? Where are they sold?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

 

Like you, this discussion was the first I heard of Apica. I ordered several from this eBay store (http://stores.ebay.com/Take-Note-Writing-Gear). There are several sizes and different bindings. The paper is every bit as good as the claims here. After trying out one test book I immediately ordered several more.

 

Thanks to all for recommending Apica brand to me, and especially for the link to the ebay seller. Great prices compared to other places, so I ordered 2 notebooks. Looking forward to them.

 

Previously I'd been scribbling in "Professional Performance Evidence" Steno pads by Ampad. Surprisingly good, with little bleed through using a medium point and "Night Sapphire" Chesterfield Ink Cartridges. (I'm guessing my cartridge use nails me as a noobie?)

[GutSchrift]

1. Design.Y 336

2. Midori MD notebook, medium size (Same "MD" paper as the refills for the Traveller's Notebook, but in a beautiful white notebook that lays perfectly flat and has a colored ribbon marker.)

3. Noble Note A4 by Life! Co. (Another fantastic Japanese notebook)

4. Rhodia Webbie Large (Have the lined version now and can't wait until I get the unlined)

5. n/a

[RPB]

My new number 1 is the Design.Y Model range. I am using a Model 216 now which is better than the Rhodia imho. On the way to me are two Model 288 books. The paper is superbly thin and although there is some show through they are awesome to write in. When new, even better with that new leather smell! LOL.