kiki

Hello #fountainpen community and #QueerInkSquad ! I'm looking for a new notebook to replace a Leuchtturm and while I really like the Leuchtturm, I want to broaden my horizon and try something new. Please give me recommendations for a paper notebook:

- A5 sized
- dotted grid
- fountain pen friendly paper
- available in the EU
- (semi) hard cover
- bonus: bookmark ribbon
- bonus: small scrap pouch in the back

Mar 17 at 9:52amWeb
Show threadPrimoMar 17
@Kiki you probably have seen them before, but I find Paperblanks books absolutely gorgeous (their a bit pricey though).
Show threadLe Papier BlancMar 17

@Kiki I really like Flex Book.

https://flexbook.gr/en/notebooks/113-adventure-notebook-dotted-medium-off-black-5204902982197.html

Although I don’t see dotted A5 in their shop.

But Paperblanks has that for sure.

Adventure Notebook Dotted Medium Off-Black

Flexbook Shop
Show threadcatshipMar 17

@lepapierblanc @Kiki this is the Flexbook I'm currently using, it's dotted and slightly narrower than A5. (Enough that "keeping a folded A4 page in it to protect it" doesn't really work, but other than that it's ok for me.) https://www.twf.gr/en/flexbook-products/adventure-dotted

I had pretty much the same reasoning for getting it, and I like it about the same as Leuchtturm, maybe a little more, mainly for the haptics of the cover.

Edit: ah sorry, not a hard cover. I'm not sure if it counts as semi hard though, it's not super bendy.

ADVENTURE Dotted - The Writing Fields

FEATURES › Flexbook with elastic band closure › Cover with fine textured leatherette › 192 dotted pages › Fabriano ivory paper 85 gsm › Inner paper pocket › Thermal embossing › Rounded corners › FLEXme bookmarker › Includes 10-fold brochure with Flexbook history in 6 languages     All genuine Flexbook binding products have the holographic […]

The Writing Fields
Show threadAnkeMar 17
@Kiki I bought a notebook by Stationery Island, specifically a 360 page one with 100g/sqm paper, and was pleasantly surprised by the paper quality. I'll try to remember scanning or photographing in the evening. (I also have a thinner notebook from the same company and 120g paper which is much worse because it's more absorbent.)
Show threadTinaMar 17
@Kiki I'm a Leuchtturm fan and mostly buy their products but I have a few Paperblank notebooks. I find them not as nice as Leuchtturm for fountain pens but they are still pretty good. Moleskine also has nice paper. But I have only used their Cahier notebooks.
Show threadParker51Mar 17
@spinni81 @Kiki Moleskin is very hit or miss. You won't find many people happy with moleskin for fountain pens
Show threadThéotimeMar 17
@Kiki We're currently using a Rhodia Webnotebook. The advntage it has over the Leuchtturm1917 is that it ghosts less (to be fair, you'd go from 80 gsm to 90 gsm if you had the regular Leuchtturm, so you may have a similar result with a 120 gsm Leuchtturm)

(Can I ask what QueerInkSquad is exactly?)
Show threadkikiMar 17

@Theotime812 ah yes, I have a rhodia composition book for something else.

That tag is just a little thing by/for some (gender)queers who like (fountain pen) inks. Feel free to chime in/adapt it if you feel like it!

Show threadraphaelMar 18

@Theotime812 @Kiki +1 to rhodia – i like their paper a lot.

while i managed to avoid the big paper quality problems some fountain pen folks have reported with leuchtturm, i do remain a bit miffed that once you have even middlingly specific demands, there’s often only one product. (case in point: rhodia doesn’t have something to compete with leuchtturm’s softcover b6-ish notebooks, that fits one of my use cases perfectly) i.e., if one manufacturer drops quality, you’re out of luck.

Show threadBennysLittleThingsMar 17
@Kiki Can you get Maruman in the EU? If so, they have a hardcover, dot grid notebook, and the paper is very nice for fountain pens. Maruman Mnemosyne Journal - 239 pages
Show threadTomaszMar 18
@Kiki Try Nuuna, a German brand. I still prefer Leuchtturm, but Nuuna notebooks are nice too. They are dotted, A5-ish (a little broader), work very well with fountain pens. Not hard cover, but sturdy enough. Sadly, no ribbon or pouch.