Papernotes with packaging

Papernotes Notebook Review and Giveaway

29 January 2015 By ian

Papernotes notebook back pocket

Papernotes 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.

Papernotes notebook inside front cover

The covers aren’t firm like a Webnotebook but they are firmer than just cardboard. They have a sort of crocodile skin embossed effect on them and look pretty good.

Papernotes notebook closed

The notebooks come with all the usual extras: pen loop, card back pocket, elastic band to hold it shut and a ribbon bookmark. The pen loop will hold a slim pen, the elastic band is just right and the ribbon bookmark is very long. They’re all colour co-ordinated with the cover.

Papernotes notebook pen loop

The sheets are 100gsm wood-free paper. According to Papernotes, wood-free paper has been chemically processed to remove most of the wood components which means it lasts longer and is less likely to discolour. It isn’t very green but to be honest I don’t know how it compares to normal paper.

Papernotes notebook inside pages

What I do know, though, is that the paper is really very good. There’s pretty much no feathering or bleedthrough or ghosting. At this point, I feel I should mention the price again. This is a $5.50 notebook and it has paper that couldn’t be more friendly to fountain pens.

Papernotes notebook ink tests front

Papernotes notebook ink tests back

This Papernotes notebook does look and feel cheaper than the gold standard Rhodia Webnotebook. But it costs less than a fifth as much and it does everything it should do to a very high standard. It’s sturdy, it’s highly functional and it has fantastic paper.

Papernotes is a young company and I really hope they do well. I was sent two notebooks to review but these are absolutely my own honest opinions. They do very reasonable international shipping and I highly recommend you try one out. (You have to order through their Facebook page.)

Papernotes with packaging

Giveaway

I used the orange notebook from cover to cover but I have a brand new unopened white one to giveaway. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning it is tell me, in the comments, about a little company you know about that you think deserves a mention. It doesn’t have to be pen or paper related. The closing date is 9am GMT Sunday 8 February. The winner will be picked at random using random.org. I’ll post it anywhere in the world but won’t be held liable for charges or if it gets lost.