Notebooks, Notebook Covers, and Paper
30 July 2016Resources
A quite comprehensive introduction to what to consider with notebooks can be found at the Fast Company.
Covers and systems
Recommended
- An Introduction to the Midori Traveler’s Notebook (part one)The Midori Traveler’s Notebook is legendary but, to me at least, quite intimidating. It’s quite pricy to get into and there is an overwhelming number of options. I’ve spent quite a long time looking at it all from afar, not quite knowing where to begin. Then a month or so ago the rather wonderful Journal ...
- An Introduction to the Midori Traveler’s Notebook Part Two: Paper RefillsIn this second part of my introduction to the Midori Traveler’s Notebook I’ll be looking at paper refills. In this, the standard sized Midori, refills are 11cm x 22cm. I shall be concentrating on refills made by Midori. Other companies make compatible refills and it’s perfectly possible to make your own: I’ll touch on that ...
- Davis Leatherworks Notebook CoversIt’s possible to spend a lot of money on a leather notebook cover but why do that when you can get a beautiful cover from Davis Leatherworks for less than the price of a fancy bottle of ink? You won’t find any covers more beautiful than these no matter how much you spend. The covers are ...
- Galen Leather Notebook Cover and Wallet Review and GiveawayGalen Leather produce a couple of versions of their wallet/pocket notebook combination. They sent me the one with two horizontal credit card slots and I’ve been using it since it arrived (about three months now). I liked it and so as I’m no longer keeping products that have been sent to me I bought one ...
- Midori Traveler’s Notebook Part Three: Making It Your Own (and a Giveaway)That the Midori Traveler’s Notebook has such a loyal following is due to: high quality products; clever branding; and the infinite variety of ways to make it your own. In fact the notebook becomes uniquely yours very quickly as the cover picks up scuffs and scratches and rapidly develops personality. I can only think the cover’s ...
- Paper Republic Grand Voyageur Notebook ReviewPaper Republic’s Grand Voyageur is a notebook system consisting of a leather cover and a range of refills. Available direct from Paper Republic, the smaller version I’m reviewing here costs €40 for a cover and plain refill, with free embossing of your initials should you so wish. Mine is the cognac version – covers are ...
- Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Organiser and Notebook Cover ReviewThe Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter is a notebook cover/organiser on steroids. It costs anything from €69 to the equivalent of a small house, depending on your configuration (more on that later). The one I’m reviewing here cost €109. The Taschenbegleiter has a huge number of options. So many, in fact, that Roterfaden provide a TASCHENBEGLEITER KONFIGURATOR. The Konfigurator is ...
- Start Bay Notebook Cover Review and GiveawayStart Bay is a little bay on the south Devon coast here in England. It’s also home to Start Bay Notebooks, makers of these simple leather notebook covers. Thank you to Start Bay Notebooks for sending me these covers to review (and to give away, see below). These are my own honest opinions. These are available in ...
Others
Hardcover Notebooks
Most notebooks are available in a range of sizes so that isn’t specified here. Most are available with a variety of ruling types, too.
Recommended
- Paper-Oh Notebooks ReviewI first discovered Paper-Oh notebooks when a couple were included in a Spotlight Stationery box that I received via their sponsorship of Pens! Paper! Pencils! I liked them a lot and so bought three more. Size: A5 (also available in A7, A6 and A4) Price: £6 Pages: 112 Cover: hard card with a dot pattern and magnetic closure Paper: not ...
- Rhodia Webnotebook (A5, lined) notebook reviewRhodia paper (made by Clairefontaine, if we’re being particular) is the paper by which I judge all others. It is lovely to use with fountain pens. It’s very hard to get pens to bleed or feather or even show through. Inks shine. It’s the paper that makes the Rhodia Webnotebook wonderful. Webnotebooks (silly name), also known ...
- Studio Tartuensis Classic Notebook Review and GiveawayStudio Tartuensis are, in their own words, A museum and studio for letterpress and intaglio techniques, a hotbed of new ideas for old crafts, a center for print-related education, research and art. They’re based in Estonia and they have a cat called Johannes Gutenberg. If you’re not already falling for them, you have no soul. Studio ...
Others
Softcover Notebooks
Most notebooks are available in a range of sizes so that isn’t specified here. Most are available with a variety of ruling types, too.
Recommended
- Back Pocket Guitar Notebook ReviewBack Pocket are a UK-based company that produces an ever increasing range of pocket notebooks, all of which are printed in England. This notebook was sent to me by Nero’s Notes for the purposes of this review. These are my own opinions based on having used the notebook over a period of several weeks. (Which is ...
- Back Pocket SpaceX Notebook ReviewIt seems these days that a new notebook’s been released before you can finish half of the one you last started, so it takes something special for one to stand out. The Back Pocket SpaceX notebooks certainly look striking but do they hold up in use? Size: 14cm by 9cm (A6ish) Price: £12 for a pack of ...
- Calepino Large Notebooks review and giveawayI am, it is safe to say, a huge fan of Calepino notebooks. They look great, the small sized ones are a good price, they’re durable and the paper is fantastic. I use them all time: for work, for a pocket book, to write down three-plus-one good things each day, to plan out my days ...
- Calepino notebooks reviewIt’s hard to deny that Calepino notebooks are rather similar to Field Notes notebooks. They are the same size, have almost identical cardboard covers and even claim an ‘authentically inspired by artisans’ kind of origin story. Field Notes came first. Feel free to draw your own conclusions. Whatever your feelings about that in the end these ...
- Esmie Paperback Notebook ReviewEsmie is a UK company making a range of beautiful looking pocket-ish sized notebooks. This notebook was sent to me by Nero’s Notes for the purposes of this review. These are my own thoughts, having used it for a couple of weeks. Size: 10cm by 14cm Price: £5 each Pages: 28 Cover: screen printed card Paper: 120gsm Ruling: blank Binding: stitched This notebook looks ...
- Field Notes Notebook ReviewField Notes are most famous these days for their ‘Colors’ editions, released every three months and very much sought after. I’ve tried to avoid getting sucked into that rabbit hole because the completist in me would want them all but the curmudgeon in me would never pay some of the outrageous prices the rarest editions ...
- Hobonichi Techo (2016 Edition) ReviewA lot has been written about the Hobonichi Techo. It has almost cult status. Here are some more words about it, based on how I’ve used mine for eight months. Of course one of the difficulties of reviewing planners when you try not to review anything without using it for a while is that the ...
- Manuscript Notebook ReviewManuscript are an American notebook company. They sent me a set of their notebooks to review. These are my honest opinions based on using one of each size for several weeks. Pocket notebooks Size: 5.5″ x 3.5″ Price: $11 for three Pages: 64 Cover: textured cardboard Paper: off-white Ruling: blank Binding: sewn/thread Large notebooks Size: 8.3″ x 5.5″ (A5) Price: $11 for one Pages: 86 Cover: textured cardboard Paper: ...
- Maruman Mnemosyne Inspiration Pad reviewThe Maruman Mnemosyne Inspiration Pad has 70 sheets of bright white paper. It’s available plain or with a dot grid and in sizes from A7 up to A4. This is the A5 version. The pad is meant to be used in landscape format but there’s no reason you have to, of course. There is a margin ...
- Papernotes Notebook Review and GiveawayPapernotes is a small Filipino company. They make just one kind of notebook (but have plans for more), which is available in a variety of colours (white, black, grey, blue, orange and red). The notebooks are A5 with 160 lined pages of paper and cost $5.50. The covers aren’t firm like a Webnotebook but they are ...
- Personalised Stationery NotebookPersonalised Stationery is a UK-based company that, although fairly young, has already firmly established itself in the UK stationery world. I was sent a notebook to try by an United Inkdom colleague. I promptly spilled coffee over it. I’d used it enough to know I wanted to find out more and so bought myself a ...
- Rhodia Rhodiarama Softcover NotebookRhodia’s Webnotebook has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the best fountain pen-friendly notebooks there is. It was my number one choice until I started using covers, when the thick cover, usually such an advantage, became a bit awkward. I tried many different softcover notebooks, some good, some bad, but what I really wanted ...
- Silvine Exercise Notebook ReviewSilvine is a ubiquitous brand in the UK and has been for years. I remember having stacks of red Silvine notebooks as a kid. More recently than that ancient past, Silvine have brought out a series of high quality notebooks that pay homage to what turns out to be six generations of notebook making. The ...
- Story Supply Co Pocket Staple Notebook ReviewStory Supply is an American company with a wonderful ethic. In their own words, they partner “with organizations who provide free tutoring, writing, and arts instruction to kids in under-served communities” by setting aside a Supply Kit with every purchase: Story Supply Kits will include notebooks and writing tools or other items that will ...
- Whitelines Pocket Notebook Mini-ReviewWhitelines is a Swedish company making a range of paper products featuring white lines on a grey background. This is a mini-review of their pocket notebook. Size: 9cm by 14cm (3.5″ by 5.5″) Price: £7.95 (UK) for three Pages: 48 Cover: thick card (not sure of the weight, sorry) Paper: 80gsm Ruling: 5mm squares, white on grey (also available lined) The ...
- Word Notebooks ReviewThe Word notebook is a 48 page pocket notebook (3.5″ by 5.5”) available with a range of different colours in packs of three. This one was sent to me by Pocket Notebooks. Pocket Notebooks is a new company selling a good range of notebooks that also offers a subscription based notebook service in the UK. The ...
Others
- Analog LatLon notebook review
- Chroma Nebraska Notebook Review
- Clairefontaine Age Bag Notebook Review
- Clairefontaine Europa Notemaker notebook review
- Clairefontaine GraF it 90g sketchbook review
- Craft Design Technology Item 35 Notebook Review
- Doane Paper Grid+Lines notebook review
- Dotgrid Co A5 notebook review
- Field Notes Cherry Graph Notebook Mini-Review
- Forest Choice Medium Flex Notebook Review
- Nib London A6 notebook and card review (and special offer)
- Papio Press Pocket Notebook Review
- Petit Punnet Notebook Review
- Rhodia No. 16 Block Notepad review
- SlimNote pocket notebook review
- TADA Handcrafted Letterpress Notebook review
- TM Inspiration Pad notebook review