Black n' Red writing pads

[cat6669449]

I agree that the Black 'n Red paper is great for FP, but the elastic loop thing fastened to the back cover of the plastic cover-spiral bound notebooks drive me crazy! Its nice when you are not writing, but when you open the notebook on the desk the rivits holding the elastic band onto the back cover make irritating lumps under the paper. The only solution is to fold the back cover under the front so you have only paper laying on the desk, and that just don't seem right!

 

John

 

 

Try the pads we've been talking about here. no elastic band... (but not a notebook).

[cat6669449]

Has anyone been able to find these pads locally in the L.A. area? I had to order mine online, but would love to save shipping cost. I searched a few Rite Aid, Staples, and Office Depot stores to no avail.

 

I use these for work and have had some comments from co-workers about them--it's hard to find something that holds up and looks good.

 

I got my most recent B&R at OfficeMax in Pasadena (on Colorado next to Vroman's Bookstore/Writing Instrument store, which is worth a trip in itself). Don't know if they still have them in stock (probably) or if other OfficeMax stores in greater LA have them (have no clue).

 

 

Thanks for the tip. Officemax is the only chain I have not tried yet. If the one in West LA doesn't have it, I'll check the Pasadena one. I'd really prefer not to have to pay for shipping paper. It's heavy! (and it seems silly to buy $50-$100 worth of office supplies I don't need just to get free shipping from an internet vendor!)

 

If I have time I'll swing by in the next day or two and see if they still have them--might save you a trip.

 

 

That's what I call service!

[cfclark]

Has anyone been able to find these pads locally in the L.A. area? I had to order mine online, but would love to save shipping cost. I searched a few Rite Aid, Staples, and Office Depot stores to no avail.

 

I use these for work and have had some comments from co-workers about them--it's hard to find something that holds up and looks good.

 

I got my most recent B&R at OfficeMax in Pasadena (on Colorado next to Vroman's Bookstore/Writing Instrument store, which is worth a trip in itself). Don't know if they still have them in stock (probably) or if other OfficeMax stores in greater LA have them (have no clue).

 

 

Thanks for the tip. Officemax is the only chain I have not tried yet. If the one in West LA doesn't have it, I'll check the Pasadena one. I'd really prefer not to have to pay for shipping paper. It's heavy! (and it seems silly to buy $50-$100 worth of office supplies I don't need just to get free shipping from an internet vendor!)

 

If I have time I'll swing by in the next day or two and see if they still have them--might save you a trip.

 

 

That's what I call service!

 

Well, I do have an ulterior motive or two...

 

[Inkstain]

I saw Red & Black notebooks at Target (spiral and bound) yesterday. This is a Denver, Colorado store.

 

BTW, they also had Miquelruis spiral bound notebooks. Not the cool black ones, but school-type notebooks.

[cat6669449]

Has anyone been able to find these pads locally in the L.A. area? I had to order mine online, but would love to save shipping cost. I searched a few Rite Aid, Staples, and Office Depot stores to no avail.

 

I use these for work and have had some comments from co-workers about them--it's hard to find something that holds up and looks good.

 

I got my most recent B&R at OfficeMax in Pasadena (on Colorado next to Vroman's Bookstore/Writing Instrument store, which is worth a trip in itself). Don't know if they still have them in stock (probably) or if other OfficeMax stores in greater LA have them (have no clue).

 

 

Thanks for the tip. Officemax is the only chain I have not tried yet. If the one in West LA doesn't have it, I'll check the Pasadena one. I'd really prefer not to have to pay for shipping paper. It's heavy! (and it seems silly to buy $50-$100 worth of office supplies I don't need just to get free shipping from an internet vendor!)

 

If I have time I'll swing by in the next day or two and see if they still have them--might save you a trip.

 

 

That's what I call service!

 

Well, I do have an ulterior motive or two...

 

 

I checked the West LA Officemax and they told me they don't even carry the writing pads, just the notebooks (hard bound and spiral bound). How frustrating!

[cat6669449]

I saw Red & Black notebooks at Target (spiral and bound) yesterday. This is a Denver, Colorado store.

 

BTW, they also had Miquelruis spiral bound notebooks. Not the cool black ones, but school-type notebooks.

 

 

the notebooks are easy to find, just for some reason, nobody carries the writing pads, except for internet resellers I guess.

[patfia]

Don't know whether they'd have the specific product you're looking for but I just picked up a BlacknRed spiral bound notebook at my local Rite Aid. Tigard, Oregon.

[PacificCoastPen]

As I go along searching for papers, I've discovered that it's the feel and touch that makes me pick up a sample. Smoothness and weight. I've found some Barnes and Noble notebooks (haven't bought any yet) that have the heft and the smoothness we're looking for. Those notebooks are their featured back to school brand that is made for them. They're on the big tables next to the check out line (smart) and stacked on tables for back to school displays. As with anything else, you will pay more for brand name things, but there are cubic zirconia of papers out there that won't bankrupt your wallet and perform as well as Rhodia and Clairefontaine and outperform Crane any day.

 

I stroke alot of pages when I window shop.

 

Wanda

[cfclark]

Has anyone been able to find these pads locally in the L.A. area? I had to order mine online, but would love to save shipping cost. I searched a few Rite Aid, Staples, and Office Depot stores to no avail.

 

I use these for work and have had some comments from co-workers about them--it's hard to find something that holds up and looks good.

 

I got my most recent B&R at OfficeMax in Pasadena (on Colorado next to Vroman's Bookstore/Writing Instrument store, which is worth a trip in itself). Don't know if they still have them in stock (probably) or if other OfficeMax stores in greater LA have them (have no clue).

 

 

Thanks for the tip. Officemax is the only chain I have not tried yet. If the one in West LA doesn't have it, I'll check the Pasadena one. I'd really prefer not to have to pay for shipping paper. It's heavy! (and it seems silly to buy $50-$100 worth of office supplies I don't need just to get free shipping from an internet vendor!)

 

If I have time I'll swing by in the next day or two and see if they still have them--might save you a trip.

 

 

That's what I call service!

 

Well, I do have an ulterior motive or two...

 

 

I checked the West LA Officemax and they told me they don't even carry the writing pads, just the notebooks (hard bound and spiral bound). How frustrating!

 

No R&B pads in Pasadena, just the notebooks now. Which is OK for me, but not what you were looking for, I realize.

[white_feather]

I journal using one small black n red hardbound notebook each month or so. I also use the bigger 8X10 spiral as well. I was given one of the smaller spirals by a local FPN'er at a meeting and I love it. I want to get more when I can find them.

[cat6669449]

Has anyone been able to find these pads locally in the L.A. area? I had to order mine online, but would love to save shipping cost. I searched a few Rite Aid, Staples, and Office Depot stores to no avail.

 

I use these for work and have had some comments from co-workers about them--it's hard to find something that holds up and looks good.

 

I got my most recent B&R at OfficeMax in Pasadena (on Colorado next to Vroman's Bookstore/Writing Instrument store, which is worth a trip in itself). Don't know if they still have them in stock (probably) or if other OfficeMax stores in greater LA have them (have no clue).

 

 

Thanks for the tip. Officemax is the only chain I have not tried yet. If the one in West LA doesn't have it, I'll check the Pasadena one. I'd really prefer not to have to pay for shipping paper. It's heavy! (and it seems silly to buy $50-$100 worth of office supplies I don't need just to get free shipping from an internet vendor!)

 

If I have time I'll swing by in the next day or two and see if they still have them--might save you a trip.

 

 

That's what I call service!

 

Well, I do have an ulterior motive or two...

 

 

I checked the West LA Officemax and they told me they don't even carry the writing pads, just the notebooks (hard bound and spiral bound). How frustrating!

 

No R&B pads in Pasadena, just the notebooks now. Which is OK for me, but not what you were looking for, I realize.

 

 

thanks for checking. I've resigned myself to ordering them off the net. *sigh*

[ducatisteve]

I did want to point out my experiences with the Black N' Red writing pads and notebooks.

 

I use their A5 spiral notebooks as my everyday journal. I really wanted to get the bound notebooks but the paper is totally different between the two and I prefer what comes in the spirals. I also like paper that sits flat, which the bound notebooks do not offer. The paper in the spiral notebooks is very slick (almost Clairefontaine smooth), thick, and produces a much tighter and thinner line compared to what I get from my Moleskine notebooks. What really attracts me to this line of notebooks outside of its performance is its price and availability. They are quite a bit cheaper than Clairfontaine, Rhodia, or Moleskine, and I can easily find them in a few different stores in town.

 

Anyway, being totally in love with their notebooks, I decided that I should also write on equally nice paper when I'm at work and ordered 6 legal pads from Amazon.com. I believe they were $3.98 per 2-pack, so the price really isn't bad at all (there is shipping though, so I had to buy a few packs and books to justify the price, haha).

 

The pads arrived and I brought them to work the next day. Each pad comes with 50 sheets of 24 lb yellow paper, light blue college rule lines, and a red margin (three thin lines). Upon first impression, I was....well, not very impressed. The paper really did not feel any smoother than the generic Office Depot pads than I had been using, but they were much thicker and heavier. I worried about too much toothiness and feathering. While using them over the past few weeks I have come to appreciate these pads, though. While they're not as effortless to write on as the notebooks, the end result is to my satisfaction. The lines are tighter than I was getting with the cheap pads, and there is no bleed through. I also like the fact that the thicker paper does not curl up on the bottom as easily, so as I use up a page it stays flat and nice looking.

 

One thing I did notice is that ink takes a little longer to dry on this paper than on other pads I have used. This is a characteristic I've noticed in the Black N' Red notebooks as well. I have smudged a couple letters, but I don't really worry about it because I use these for notes and scratch work.

 

Here are some final thoughts on the subject. These are a big step up from the generic el-cheapo pads that I was using previously. Maybe the white paper pads they offer would perform a bit more like the the spiral notebook paper I was used to, but they weren't available where I was looking. This is just speculation, perhaps one day I will buy the white pads and try them out. I think that folks who have used Black N' Red bound notebooks and like them will really enjoy these pads, as the paper feels more like the type that comes in the bound notebooks versus the spiral. And finally, in regards to whether or not I will be purchasing these again....I'm not sure. I like the pads, but I'm pretty sure I can get the same performance by going towards one of the higher end Docket pads that I can find on sale locally.

 

Here are some pictures comparing the spiral notebook and legal pad. They are just a quick note followed by a picture of the back of the sheet, to illustrate bleed through. I don't have a scanner here at work, so I just used my cheap Panasonic DMC-LC80 on my work desk under a fluorescent light and the flash from the camera. The yellow paper is the legal pad and the white paper is the notebook. Thank you for reading, this post turned out to be a lot longer than I originally expected! Time to go back to work, haha.

 

 

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh211/SuncoastSteve/Misc/P1020200.jpg

 

 

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh211/SuncoastSteve/Misc/P1020205.jpg

 

 

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh211/SuncoastSteve/Misc/P1020210.jpg

 

 

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh211/SuncoastSteve/Misc/P1020209.jpg

[cat6669449]

I have the white legal pads and have to say the paper is slicker than the spiral notebook paper and VERY different from the generic Office Depot pads. Much thicker, less feathering and NO bleed through. I found them fairly inexpensive at Shoplet.com. But, as you said, there's always that pesky shipping charge! (and paper is heavy to ship!)

Catherine

 

I did want to point out my experiences with the Black N' Red writing pads and notebooks.

 

I use their A5 spiral notebooks as my everyday journal. I really wanted to get the bound notebooks but the paper is totally different between the two and I prefer what comes in the spirals. I also like paper that sits flat, which the bound notebooks do not offer. The paper in the spiral notebooks is very slick (almost Clairefontaine smooth), thick, and produces a much tighter and thinner line compared to what I get from my Moleskine notebooks. What really attracts me to this line of notebooks outside of its performance is its price and availability. They are quite a bit cheaper than Clairfontaine, Rhodia, or Moleskine, and I can easily find them in a few different stores in town.

 

Anyway, being totally in love with their notebooks, I decided that I should also write on equally nice paper when I'm at work and ordered 6 legal pads from Amazon.com. I believe they were $3.98 per 2-pack, so the price really isn't bad at all (there is shipping though, so I had to buy a few packs and books to justify the price, haha).

 

The pads arrived and I brought them to work the next day. Each pad comes with 50 sheets of 24 lb yellow paper, light blue college rule lines, and a red margin (three thin lines). Upon first impression, I was....well, not very impressed. The paper really did not feel any smoother than the generic Office Depot pads than I had been using, but they were much thicker and heavier. I worried about too much toothiness and feathering. While using them over the past few weeks I have come to appreciate these pads, though. While they're not as effortless to write on as the notebooks, the end result is to my satisfaction. The lines are tighter than I was getting with the cheap pads, and there is no bleed through. I also like the fact that the thicker paper does not curl up on the bottom as easily, so as I use up a page it stays flat and nice looking.

 

One thing I did notice is that ink takes a little longer to dry on this paper than on other pads I have used. This is a characteristic I've noticed in the Black N' Red notebooks as well. I have smudged a couple letters, but I don't really worry about it because I use these for notes and scratch work.

 

Here are some final thoughts on the subject. These are a big step up from the generic el-cheapo pads that I was using previously. Maybe the white paper pads they offer would perform a bit more like the the spiral notebook paper I was used to, but they weren't available where I was looking. This is just speculation, perhaps one day I will buy the white pads and try them out. I think that folks who have used Black N' Red bound notebooks and like them will really enjoy these pads, as the paper feels more like the type that comes in the bound notebooks versus the spiral. And finally, in regards to whether or not I will be purchasing these again....I'm not sure. I like the pads, but I'm pretty sure I can get the same performance by going towards one of the higher end Docket pads that I can find on sale locally.

 

Here are some pictures comparing the spiral notebook and legal pad. They are just a quick note followed by a picture of the back of the sheet, to illustrate bleed through. I don't have a scanner here at work, so I just used my cheap Panasonic DMC-LC80 on my work desk under a fluorescent light and the flash from the camera. The yellow paper is the legal pad and the white paper is the notebook. Thank you for reading, this post turned out to be a lot longer than I originally expected! Time to go back to work, haha.

 

 

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh211/SuncoastSteve/Misc/P1020200.jpg

 

 

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh211/SuncoastSteve/Misc/P1020205.jpg

 

 

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh211/SuncoastSteve/Misc/P1020210.jpg

 

 

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh211/SuncoastSteve/Misc/P1020209.jpg

 

[ducatisteve]

Catherine,

 

Thanks! I'll be sure to check out shoplet.com and get some white pads on their way to me!

 

Ohh, are they the ones with the top spiral, or are there traditional legal pads that I'm not seeing on the site?

 

Blacknred Headbound twinwire notebook

 

-Steve

Edited September 18, 2008 by ducatisteve

[cat6669449]

I'm talking about these:

 

http://www.shoplet.com/office/db/JDKB66650.html

 

they show the yellow and the white ones in the picture, but the item refers to the white pad. no top spiral. just regular legal pad.

 

 

 

Catherine,

 

Thanks! I'll be sure to check out shoplet.com and get some white pads on their way to me!

 

Ohh, are they the ones with the top spiral, or are there traditional legal pads that I'm not seeing on the site?

 

Blacknred Headbound twinwire notebook

 

-Steve

 

[lovemy51]

How much are you guys paying for these? At my local Staples the spirals are $9 and the pads are $7.

 

i think staples is a bit more pricey than o-max and o-depot in northern Cal!!! i found the RnB at office max for $4.99 for the 5x8'. staple had them for $6.99

[lovemy51]

I'm talking about these:

 

http://www.shoplet.com/office/db/JDKB66650.html

 

they show the yellow and the white ones in the picture, but the item refers to the white pad. no top spiral. just regular legal pad.

 

this is nice!! i hadn't seen these before. thanx

 

[cat6669449]

you're very welcome!

 

aren't they great?

 

 

I'm talking about these:

 

http://www.shoplet.com/office/db/JDKB66650.html

 

they show the yellow and the white ones in the picture, but the item refers to the white pad. no top spiral. just regular legal pad.

 

this is nice!! i hadn't seen these before. thanx

 

[Blades]

Nice to know these can be found at "Rite Aid" & "Target". Time to look around .

Thanks for the info.

[Aysedasi]

I'm currently using a full A4 sized spiral-bound B&R, mainly because I just can't quite get on with A5 size - same goes for diaries - I use an A4 diary. I'm very pleased with my B&R - lovely to write on, no feathering, reasonably quick drying, even with a wet Sapporo with Electric DC Blue.