What is so special about moleskine?

[ANM]

No really, this is not a flame thread. i really would like to know. I had never heard of it before I joined FPN in Jan. Today I was in the University bookstore in the next town over and saw some. i got a three pack of notebooks. i read the history. The paper looks and feels exactly like some three ring binder paper I used to write my recipes before computers came along. I liked it because it was non glare, somewhat archival and had copper reinforced holes. I wonder if it was the same stuff as moleskine?

 

So what can anyone add. Aside from the fact that a lot of dead artists and writers apparently liked this paper when it was made by a now defunct French stationer, what makes it so special that it still holds (or again attracts) so many dedicated users?

 

As a retired art teacher, I have to add that this would not have been a consideration for me to carry around as a sketch pad.

[BBailey]

No really, this is not a flame thread. i really would like to know. I had never heard of it before I joined FPN in Jan. Today I was in the University bookstore in the next town over and saw some. i got a three pack of notebooks. i read the history. The paper looks and feels exactly like some three ring binder paper I used to write my recipes before computers came along. I liked it because it was non glare, somewhat archival and had copper reinforced holes. I wonder if it was the same stuff as moleskine?

 

So what can anyone add. Aside from the fact that a lot of dead artists and writers apparently liked this paper when it was made by a now defunct French stationer, what makes it so special that it still holds (or again attracts) so many dedicated users?

 

As a retired art teacher, I have to add that this would not have been a consideration for me to carry around as a sketch pad.

Personally, I like Moleskin journals and diaries (planners) because they are relatively cheap (not just inexpensive) and not in quality. They are well made, but simple and straight forward. The elastic band keeps things in place; the paper is great for writing; the ribbon holds a place; they're easy to carry.

Some blogs and web sites have lengthy articles on how to modify the journals and some newer editions go too far in my estimation at dressing up Moleskines which completely obliterates the concept.

 

[J English Smith]

Summarizing past discussion:

 

1. Fairly durable covers

2. Fairly good paper

3. Nice paper color (eggshell)

4. The pocket in the back - handy

5. The ribbon closure (not on cahiers)

5. Overall - just a nice package - a journal one can connect with

 

Anyone else have anything to add?

 

[nolagraph]

For me, the appeal mainly comes from the construction. I have no interest in the "image" projected by a Moleskine user or what have you, but I appreciate the fact that the journals are well made. Even though it's not always of the best quality, the paper is a lovely color and the lines are well-spaced and light enough not to draw attention away from the written word. The size is quite convenient, and the binding is sturdy enough that I can drag it around until every last page is full of my scrifflings without worrying about it falling apart on me. The simple design is a nice touch and the fact that they are readily available satisfies my slightly obsessive side - I can rest assured that my journals will be exactly the same for quite some time. I don't have to worry about such dreadful things as having journals of different sizes or - good heavens - different colors. Quite reassuring.

[AlphAlphA]

No really, this is not a flame thread. i really would like to know. I had never heard of it before I joined FPN in Jan. Today I was in the University bookstore in the next town over and saw some. i got a three pack of notebooks. i read the history. The paper looks and feels exactly like some three ring binder paper I used to write my recipes before computers came along. I liked it because it was non glare, somewhat archival and had copper reinforced holes. I wonder if it was the same stuff as moleskine?

 

So what can anyone add. Aside from the fact that a lot of dead artists and writers apparently liked this paper when it was made by a now defunct French stationer, what makes it so special that it still holds (or again attracts) so many dedicated users?

 

As a retired art teacher, I have to add that this would not have been a consideration for me to carry around as a sketch pad.

In my humble opinion Moleskins are dreadful, overpriced hype. I tried several, including a full-size year journal. The paper bleeds. As sketchbooks, I agree they are wanting; they have no tooth. By comparison, Nikon makes a pocket yearly diary that is far superior. The paper doesn't bleed and there are enough pages to cover a year and twice as many more for notes. Writing with a fountain pen in a moleskin is trying to make a silk purse out of a mole's ear.

[tfwall]

No really, this is not a flame thread. i really would like to know. I had never heard of it before I joined FPN in Jan. Today I was in the University bookstore in the next town over and saw some. i got a three pack of notebooks. i read the history. The paper looks and feels exactly like some three ring binder paper I used to write my recipes before computers came along. I liked it because it was non glare, somewhat archival and had copper reinforced holes. I wonder if it was the same stuff as moleskine?

 

So what can anyone add. Aside from the fact that a lot of dead artists and writers apparently liked this paper when it was made by a now defunct French stationer, what makes it so special that it still holds (or again attracts) so many dedicated users?

 

As a retired art teacher, I have to add that this would not have been a consideration for me to carry around as a sketch pad.

 

They have a hipster following because, to many people, they are the nicest notebook they will ever come across. If you are not all that knowledgeable or interested in stationery, Moleskins are a step up from anything you are likely to ever use. They also have excellent market penetration in book stores, greeting card stores and the like. Many also like the plain black covers and eat up the "historical" connotations listed in the history pamphlet.

 

I think you'll find a lot of people here disdain them in favour of nicer products from traditional stationers. Come on over to to the Paper and Pen Paraphernalia and reviews sub-forums and judge for yourself.

[Zoe]

As a paper, sketchbook, journal junkie of the 1st magnitude, I'd rank Moleskines at the top of the heap for those points mentioned, and add that it is far more durable in toto than most of the others I've owned in a long life of collecting paper products. Before Moleskines I generally used the traditional black sketchbooks from the art shop, and still have a few that are in use. In comparing those and the black sketchbook made by the Moles, you can see immediately the solid construction.

 

My black sketchbook is tattered and torn on its spine edges; my Moleskine sketchbook, same length of use, is in pristine condition and unless you open it, you'd think it was new.

 

Mind, I won't say that Moleskines are the best because there are probably still paper products (journals, etc) I haven't tried.

 

Summarizing past discussion:

 

1. Fairly durable covers

2. Fairly good paper

3. Nice paper color (eggshell)

4. The pocket in the back - handy

5. The ribbon closure (not on cahiers)

5. Overall - just a nice package - a journal one can connect with

 

Anyone else have anything to add?

 

[jmkeuning]

Summarizing past discussion:

 

1. Fairly durable covers

2. Fairly good paper

3. Nice paper color (eggshell)

4. The pocket in the back - handy

5. The ribbon closure (not on cahiers)

5. Overall - just a nice package - a journal one can connect with

 

Anyone else have anything to add?

 

They work really well with ballpoint pens.

[lefty928]

Summarizing past discussion:

 

1. Fairly durable covers

2. Fairly good paper

3. Nice paper color (eggshell)

4. The pocket in the back - handy

5. The ribbon closure (not on cahiers)

5. Overall - just a nice package - a journal one can connect with

 

Anyone else have anything to add?

1. lies flat

2. lies flat

3. lies flat

4. hard covers for those times a desk or table is not available

5. not too pretty and fussy looking, workmanlike

6. unruled pages and graph pages available

7. discount coupons at Borders helpful -- I still remember when only one or two speciality stores carried them, so appreciate that they are so available now.

8.almost reaches but doesn't go over the "too thick" standard (I find it hard to write in fat books.)

9. as mentioned, nice size (the pocket notebooks) to carry around

 

The cahiers (those three to a pack ones ANM speaks of) seem to be much more variable in paper quality, with the back (sometimes the front) or verso page very rough, and I don't like the perfed pages (or at least, there are far too many of them). P.S. Disregard the whole marketing story; it brilliantly uses references in writers' works that actually exist but that do not actually refer to this specific product. Paper with copper-reinforced holes sounds interesting. I would've liked to have seen that.

 

Before Moleskines, I used to carry around saddle-stitched pocket-sized blank books -- not so easy to find in the olden days; gift shops and museum stores were helpful, I recall. Now they are all over and occasionally I'll go back to them (less heavy to carry in a purse) but I've gotten spoiled by the Moleskine's durability and that built-in hard writing surface). There's far worse paper out there, although I've gotten the occasional notebook that feathers recently.

[Writer44]

Left above has it all correct.

 

However, there's nothing fantastic about them. They work and what works should not be fixed without serious consideration.

 

44

[limesally]

I wouldn't say they're special, but they certainly have physical attributes that makes them more usable for certain purposes. Others have already made good lists, so I'll say the most important ones to me are the ability to lie flat and the hard cover/elastic combination that makes it durable and easy to carry. I prefer it as my all purpose carry-around notebook, but I prefer other notebooks for any other purpose (personal journal, actual school work, etc). I'm far from being "all moleskine, all the time".

 

So, not *special*, necessarily, but certainly able to certain jobs better for me than other books.

[ANM]

Old paper that looks like moleskine (to me) with copper reinforced holes. I wish i could still get it.

 

[zquilts]

The biggest reason that I use these journals is that I like the size. Most comparable journals are a bit larger or smaller. I also like the format...I love Clairefontaine paper but don't like either the spiral edge or having a notebook that opens from the top. The back pocket , ribbon place marker & banded closure are also small plus' on the Moleskeine journals - but it's mostly the size that keeps my buying more. The paper is not that great IMHO - wish they would do a bit better in that area & it would be the perfect journal for me!

[dogpoet]

The one moleskine I've encountered (a page a day diary), I rather like. Chemyst and AlphAlphA are probably right about it being a decent but not unduly so brand that's been aggressively marketed over a tenuous connection with Hemmingway, but it's still a nicely packaged item and a better page a day diary than those A5 Letts things, though perhaps not quite better enough to justify the price difference between the two. Still, if they have to play on that to get the things distributed, why not?

[lucentstreak]

For me, the appeal mainly comes from the construction. I have no interest in the "image" projected by a Moleskine user or what have you, but I appreciate the fact that the journals are well made. Even though it's not always of the best quality, the paper is a lovely color and the lines are well-spaced and light enough not to draw attention away from the written word. The size is quite convenient, and the binding is sturdy enough that I can drag it around until every last page is full of my scrifflings without worrying about it falling apart on me.

 

I think I have to agree with nolagraph with regards to it being well made. There's purportedly a theory to how the moleskine is made to the golden ratio but I'm not sure I care. The journals themselves are lasting and to me, they are one of the few people who make good plain journals. Can't say much for the paper - doesn't take too much ink or shows too much. Absolutely deplore the sketchbook - very un-fp friendly.

 

I use a pocket plain for my daily work and all - the back pocket really helps me to store things I often forget - namecards, receipts and all.

 

Other than that, I will have to find something that suits those points before I jump over. Haven't tried Miquelrius yet

[BBailey]

No really, this is not a flame thread. i really would like to know. I had never heard of it before I joined FPN in Jan. Today I was in the University bookstore in the next town over and saw some. i got a three pack of notebooks. i read the history. The paper looks and feels exactly like some three ring binder paper I used to write my recipes before computers came along. I liked it because it was non glare, somewhat archival and had copper reinforced holes. I wonder if it was the same stuff as moleskine?

 

So what can anyone add. Aside from the fact that a lot of dead artists and writers apparently liked this paper when it was made by a now defunct French stationer, what makes it so special that it still holds (or again attracts) so many dedicated users?

 

As a retired art teacher, I have to add that this would not have been a consideration for me to carry around as a sketch pad.

In my humble opinion Moleskins are dreadful, overpriced hype. I tried several, including a full-size year journal. The paper bleeds. As sketchbooks, I agree they are wanting; they have no tooth. By comparison, Nikon makes a pocket yearly diary that is far superior. The paper doesn't bleed and there are enough pages to cover a year and twice as many more for notes. Writing with a fountain pen in a moleskin is trying to make a silk purse out of a mole's ear.

Hi, Alphalpha; couldn't disagree with you more. I use a fp on Moleskines everyday, no problem!

[Philip1209]

1. Availability- I can get them at two or three local book stores, while Rhodia paper requires an hour-long trip

2. Design- The durable cover, lie-flat design, bookmark, elastic and pocket make it a great notebook. The paper isn't the best, but it is by no means unusable.

3. Professionalism- Moleskines just look plain good in public. The lack of a spiral binding sets it apart from most other notebooks, and the neat, clean and non-ostentatious design just make it stand out as different.

[Rique]

I diasagree about #1 above - they are not that easy to find here in the UK. Also, the price is simply ridiculous : the small size costs £10, which is about 20 usd. For a notebook??

Edited August 25, 2008 by Rique

[lefty928]

Old paper that looks like moleskine (to me) with copper reinforced holes. I wish i could still get it.

Thanks for the image. I'd never seen notebook filler paper like this before.

[Zeroblade]

Indeed these things are mighty expensive - over 20 dollars, actually, for a small plain notebook. However, marketing hype aside (which is mostly an exaggeration, actually), these things are nice to have because the paper's nice and smooth - a cream off-white - the little back pocket is handy, and the design is just a very simple, classic black. It's also awfully tough, the elastic band is unbelievably helpful in keeping it nice and neatly shut, and the thing feels weighty, unlike most other notebooks of its size.

Of course, it has its flaws. Mainly, the paper's too thin for proper fountain penning, and the price is less than reasonable.

 

Would I get one? Well, I technically already did, though I would be a bit more conservative with the pages than most other notebooks. It's a good choice, but definitely not the best. In my opinion though, of all the "luxury" notebooks I've seen, this has, hands-down, the best design.