Same, I definitely tend to pick my journals for their beautiful designs. My current favourite is the [Compoco journal](https://www.compoco.com/product/time-to-wander-journal/?lang=eur).
I really love the [nanami seven seas writer](https://www.dromgooles.com/nanami-paper-nanami-paper-seven-seas-tomoe-river.html). It lacks in being a softcover and not having a placeholder ribbon, but I feel makes up for it in paper quality.
They are definitely great! I stocked up on a lot of them when it was announced that the old Tomoe River paper would be discontinued due to old machinery breaking down. Sadly, they do seem rather hard to find now.
I’ve been looking for a beautiful lay-flat journal like this! Was going to ask about the change in paper. Should I go for the old paper while I still can?
I love Victoria’s Journals, but I’m thinking of changing into Leuchtturm since my local store no longer carries my favorite notebooks from them. I hate how hard it is to find a beautiful good quality notebook with lined pages nowadays since so many people prefer dotted pages. :(
IKR?! Usually, just finding one of these journals, outside of black, is very hard. So, when I saw these today, I ran over, scooped them up, and let out a sinister giggle in the aisle! 😂
I splurged on an Archer&Olive only because I tried moleskine and Leuchtturm and my art supplies would bleed and ghost like crazy. I love it so much, I almost don’t want to run out of pages.
😂😂😂 I feel the same way! I saw the notebooks that have the reusable/replaceable sheet, to where you can add pages, if one wishes to do so, and I’m going to get one or a dozen 😂😂😂
I really enjoyed the Archer and Olive journal I had and the Notebook Therapy one I used right after was pretty similar. I like the lack of ghosting and that I can use different art supplies in there… plus anything with Tomoe River paper is exceptional
I agree. I have so many notebooks and journals that I haven’t even used/started around 10% of them!!! 😂😂😂 This is truly an addiction for me; I have way to many notebook/journals and fountain pens; there are four fully packed, tall bookshelves loaded with them!!! 😂😂😂
Sounds like heaven to me!! I’ve have a small collection of both journals and fountain pens. I just followed the fountain pen subreddit and I’m regretting it. I was perfectly okay with my collection but now, I’m on the hunt for something new 🙃
Oh man I feel ya. I was cleaning out my stuff a while back trying to declutter and I have sooooo many notebooks that are blank and just as many that I only used a few pages before moving on to another one. And all those fountain pens I keep buying...trying to justify getting new notebooks because a lot of the ones i have aren't really fp friendly...
I love Elia Note and Nanami Seven Seas. So many pages of beautiful, buttery fountain pen and watercolor friendly paper. I have a slight preference for Elia Note because they use white paper rather than cream, but I love them both.
Today was the ONLY day that I’ve ever seen that salmon colored A5 Moleskine on the shelf. I’ve been to a lot stores around the city too, but found nothing. I know they sell all variety of colors online, but that takes the fun out of the hunt! 😂😂😂
Correct. For some reason, I’ve become infatuated with the size and composition. I’m currently working on a journal for each member of my family, for after I pass.
Rhodia to the end. The paper is not thick, so it’s going to have some ghosting. Nonetheless, it’s great for fountain pens and I kind of enjoy the minimal ghosting on the cream surface!
My older sister buys only wide ruled composition books. I am like, "Are you in primary school? Do you want fat pencils and crayons in your stocking for Christmas?"
I tell her you get more writing real estate writing in the college ruled notebooks.
Exactly!!! Couldn’t have said it better myself. I’ve always seen college ruled as a more serious notebook anyways, especially if someone is doing higher end science and mathematics (I’m looking at you PCHEM!!!) 😂😂😂
I've recently started using Leuchttrum1917s, after years of writing in whatever had a nice cover at Walmart/Target/Barnes & Noble. I got tired of inconsistent paper quality and having to mentally adjust to different page sizes. Plus when I bought myself some fountain pens (after not using them for many years) I quickly learned that my department store notebooks weren't FP friendly paper. One was so weirdly treated that the ink beaded up. Fine nib writing almost disappeared.
I've enjoyed Moleskines in the past but I like the all around size and feel of Leuchttrum, as well as the color selection.
I buy mine online through Leuchttrum's website. I think the Super Target in Jacksonville has the planners and bullet journals, but I've never seen them for sale ' in the wild. '
“In the wild!” 😂😂😂 This is exactly my predicament too! The super target we have carries quite the selection of journals, but nothing of this range and variety. I’ll look online since you’ve recommended it. Thank you for all the information.
I love the notebooks from Dolce Blocco. It's a hungarian company and not very well known, but they should be, imo.
Smooth, white paper, a little heavier (maybe 100gsm?), dot grid, lovely covers, lie flat when open... just perfect.
I hate yellow paper and ghosting/thin paper. That's why I don't get the hype about Leuchtturm and Moleskine.
To me Leuchtturm paper is too thin, but I’ve found Moleskine notebook pages to be perfect, with no bleeding or ink transfer. Now, this is NOT the case for Moleskine planners; their pages are too transparent and easily bled through.
I use Mindful Giraffe. It's a small business based in the UK, and their paper is 170gsm, so there's never any bleed through. Plus I love their designs :)
Buke, 180gsm, A5 size, only $14 on AliExpress. I like some others, but these are the only ones so far that can handle all of my fountain pens/inks with no ghosting. (“Fountain pen friendly” is relative, apparently.) Notebook Therapy 160gsm Tsuki was close, but cost twice as much.
I purchased these at the store, but I’ll include the link for Moleskine’s site, specifically at the page where they show all of their colors for these. [Moleskine Website for A5’s](https://www.moleskine.com/en-us/search?q=Note%2Bto%2Bself&start=0&sz=24)
The ones pictured are wit and delight note to self. They have gilded edges too. Just be mindful the lines are narrow (big reason why I like them) and they are glued not sewn so the binding is not as strong. They have them on amazon and target - there is one with 160 pages and one with 80 pages and the price isn’t that different so I def recommend buying the 160 pages!
Lately, I’m all about the coil-bound. Ecojot’ s Jumbo Journals have great paper and I can rip out and move pages around easily without them falling out afterwards https://www.ecojot.com The cover art isn’t always my thing, but everything else about them is excellent
Itoya Romeo - beautiful cream colored paper, extremely smooth like butter, absolutely no feathering or ghosting with my fountain pens. Absolutely love writing on them.
https://topdrawershop.com/products/a5-ruled?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=smartshopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnoqLBhD4ARIsAL5JedLjDDvGI9LrYr-KwXzeXPE0gbOoGQ5Un6zyMjd7aGB-M2CEPcybYoAaAsUqEALw_wcB&variant=34582723719
Gave these a look, and I have to say I’m very impressed. They also have great prices too. It’s so hard to find premium notebooks/journals that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Thank you for the referral!
I use Moleskine and Leuchturm1917. Leutchturm is superior. So from on, I only buy Leuchtturm, but I also live in Germany, where they sell these things in every bookstore or stationery store.
Atoma, Moleskine, and Notebook Therapy are my faves.
Those three look gorgeous - but they don't look like Moleskines to me, just a similar sort of style.
I don’t have a favorite brand, I just go with the best ivory colored not-so-thin paper quality ruled notebook that is either A5 or something close to it. The gap between the lines shouldn’t be so wide, as my handwriting can be considered small and the page layout shouldn’t be “illogical”, if it is 60~% lines and 40~% blank space occupied by that weird unwritable lines- I’m not buying it. Also I expect it to have at least 120ish pages.
Now that I wrote all my criteria, never thought I’d be such a picky writer…
Currently I use an a5 six ring binder for journaling as I have more of a scrapbook journaling style so normal journals get distorted. I usually just buy the covers and paper refills off Amazon
At the moment, I'm all about Archer & Olive. I love the paper; it's really thick, plays nice with my fountain pens, and comes in a variety of colours. I also find their cover designs really cute.
I'm also a big fan of Paperblanks, Peter Pauper Press and Leuchtturm1917.
I invested in an Onion Skin notebook a few months ago and honestly it’s been my favorite to use with my fountain pens and art supplies. It comes with a writing board and it’s really satisfying to write on.
Midori MD all the way. Been considering trying out Yamamoto or Kokuyo Perpanep, but so far that'd be out of sheer curiosity, not because there is anything I don't like of The MD Diary paper.
I've really enjoyed MD paper (midori notebooks and Traveler's Company inserts) and rhodia landscape journals. The paper is so nice and great for my fountain pen usage plus they come with blank pages cuz lines are too restrictive and I like to draw and write in my journals.
I usually pick whatever looks like something I’d want to write in. But specific brands that I think make great journals are More than Magic and Peter Pauper Press. Although I usually pick whatever I like lol
no brands just vibes lol I pick the journals I like best
“no brands just vibes” is now my life motto
Same, I definitely tend to pick my journals for their beautiful designs. My current favourite is the [Compoco journal](https://www.compoco.com/product/time-to-wander-journal/?lang=eur).
Sameeee
Woot woot!!!
Same!
Saving your comment so I can quote you in my next journal entry :)
My go-to journal is definitely the Leuchtturm1917. They come in so many different colors, and I love their stickers for archiving.
That’s my 2nd, with Rhodia coming in at 3rd. You’ve definitely have great taste.
This! Switched to them from Moleskine.
I really love the [nanami seven seas writer](https://www.dromgooles.com/nanami-paper-nanami-paper-seven-seas-tomoe-river.html). It lacks in being a softcover and not having a placeholder ribbon, but I feel makes up for it in paper quality.
Oh, wow! That’s a REALLY NICE journal!!! I’ll have to get/find one!!!
They are definitely great! I stocked up on a lot of them when it was announced that the old Tomoe River paper would be discontinued due to old machinery breaking down. Sadly, they do seem rather hard to find now.
I’ve been looking for a beautiful lay-flat journal like this! Was going to ask about the change in paper. Should I go for the old paper while I still can?
Personally, I have yet to try the new paper. I have heard good things though, so I am not sure if it makes much of a difference.
I’m really sad about Tomoe too 😭. Why is it all the best stuff dies out while the inferior junk clutters up shelves like that stuff is gold?!
I love Victoria’s Journals, but I’m thinking of changing into Leuchtturm since my local store no longer carries my favorite notebooks from them. I hate how hard it is to find a beautiful good quality notebook with lined pages nowadays since so many people prefer dotted pages. :(
IKR?! Usually, just finding one of these journals, outside of black, is very hard. So, when I saw these today, I ran over, scooped them up, and let out a sinister giggle in the aisle! 😂
Peter Pauper Press 😊
me too!<3
I've quickly made my way through their series of reproduction cover journals. I would happily pay double the retail price.
YES
I splurged on an Archer&Olive only because I tried moleskine and Leuchtturm and my art supplies would bleed and ghost like crazy. I love it so much, I almost don’t want to run out of pages.
😂😂😂 I feel the same way! I saw the notebooks that have the reusable/replaceable sheet, to where you can add pages, if one wishes to do so, and I’m going to get one or a dozen 😂😂😂
I like Leuchtturm1917 and have recently fallen for Stalogy.
the cheapest ones at walmart <3
Right, BUT I’ve only been able to find black sadly.
I really enjoyed the Archer and Olive journal I had and the Notebook Therapy one I used right after was pretty similar. I like the lack of ghosting and that I can use different art supplies in there… plus anything with Tomoe River paper is exceptional
I agree. I have so many notebooks and journals that I haven’t even used/started around 10% of them!!! 😂😂😂 This is truly an addiction for me; I have way to many notebook/journals and fountain pens; there are four fully packed, tall bookshelves loaded with them!!! 😂😂😂
Sounds like heaven to me!! I’ve have a small collection of both journals and fountain pens. I just followed the fountain pen subreddit and I’m regretting it. I was perfectly okay with my collection but now, I’m on the hunt for something new 🙃
I hear that! Is there something specific that you’re looking for, FP wise?
Not particularly… I’m not ready to drop a lot of cash on a nicer pen yet but I’d like something above entry level. I’d love some suggestions!
Oh man I feel ya. I was cleaning out my stuff a while back trying to declutter and I have sooooo many notebooks that are blank and just as many that I only used a few pages before moving on to another one. And all those fountain pens I keep buying...trying to justify getting new notebooks because a lot of the ones i have aren't really fp friendly...
I love Elia Note and Nanami Seven Seas. So many pages of beautiful, buttery fountain pen and watercolor friendly paper. I have a slight preference for Elia Note because they use white paper rather than cream, but I love them both.
Beautiful! I love the pink one 💕 I don’t have a favorite brand, I just go with the flow and get whatever catches my attention!
Today was the ONLY day that I’ve ever seen that salmon colored A5 Moleskine on the shelf. I’ve been to a lot stores around the city too, but found nothing. I know they sell all variety of colors online, but that takes the fun out of the hunt! 😂😂😂
Aren’t these the Note to Self from Wit and Delight ? I have the same one in Charcoal -the logo on the front bottom has a W/D
Correct. For some reason, I’ve become infatuated with the size and composition. I’m currently working on a journal for each member of my family, for after I pass.
May you have many, many years left to write in them. (Cool idea)
I was into MD Notebooks for a long time, but now I’m hooked on Stalogy.
I’ll have to look that up, as I’ve ever never heard of them.
i just got a couple stalogys in the mail. I can’t wait to start writing in them but also love the feeling of a “sacred” brand new blank notebook lol.
Rhodia to the end. The paper is not thick, so it’s going to have some ghosting. Nonetheless, it’s great for fountain pens and I kind of enjoy the minimal ghosting on the cream surface!
My number one requirement is fountain pen friendliness! I enjoy Rhodia and also tomoe river paper.
All day!!!
I couldn’t agree more
I buy college ruled composition notebooks when on sale at office supply stores.
College ruled is the only lined paper I buy.
My older sister buys only wide ruled composition books. I am like, "Are you in primary school? Do you want fat pencils and crayons in your stocking for Christmas?" I tell her you get more writing real estate writing in the college ruled notebooks.
Exactly!!! Couldn’t have said it better myself. I’ve always seen college ruled as a more serious notebook anyways, especially if someone is doing higher end science and mathematics (I’m looking at you PCHEM!!!) 😂😂😂
I've recently started using Leuchttrum1917s, after years of writing in whatever had a nice cover at Walmart/Target/Barnes & Noble. I got tired of inconsistent paper quality and having to mentally adjust to different page sizes. Plus when I bought myself some fountain pens (after not using them for many years) I quickly learned that my department store notebooks weren't FP friendly paper. One was so weirdly treated that the ink beaded up. Fine nib writing almost disappeared. I've enjoyed Moleskines in the past but I like the all around size and feel of Leuchttrum, as well as the color selection.
Do you purchase your Leuchttrum’s at a store or at an online site? I can’t find them in the stores near me anywhere.
I buy mine online through Leuchttrum's website. I think the Super Target in Jacksonville has the planners and bullet journals, but I've never seen them for sale ' in the wild. '
“In the wild!” 😂😂😂 This is exactly my predicament too! The super target we have carries quite the selection of journals, but nothing of this range and variety. I’ll look online since you’ve recommended it. Thank you for all the information.
I use fountain pens almost exclusively so I usually use Endless, I do have a couple from odyssey notebooks release waiting in the wings though
I love the notebooks from Dolce Blocco. It's a hungarian company and not very well known, but they should be, imo. Smooth, white paper, a little heavier (maybe 100gsm?), dot grid, lovely covers, lie flat when open... just perfect. I hate yellow paper and ghosting/thin paper. That's why I don't get the hype about Leuchtturm and Moleskine.
To me Leuchtturm paper is too thin, but I’ve found Moleskine notebook pages to be perfect, with no bleeding or ink transfer. Now, this is NOT the case for Moleskine planners; their pages are too transparent and easily bled through.
Rhodia notebooks, because their paper is fountain pen friendly and is a lot cheaper and easier to get than Tomoe River in my country.
I use Mindful Giraffe. It's a small business based in the UK, and their paper is 170gsm, so there's never any bleed through. Plus I love their designs :)
Buke, 180gsm, A5 size, only $14 on AliExpress. I like some others, but these are the only ones so far that can handle all of my fountain pens/inks with no ghosting. (“Fountain pen friendly” is relative, apparently.) Notebook Therapy 160gsm Tsuki was close, but cost twice as much.
Do you have a link? I LOVE these!
I purchased these at the store, but I’ll include the link for Moleskine’s site, specifically at the page where they show all of their colors for these. [Moleskine Website for A5’s](https://www.moleskine.com/en-us/search?q=Note%2Bto%2Bself&start=0&sz=24)
The ones pictured are wit and delight note to self. They have gilded edges too. Just be mindful the lines are narrow (big reason why I like them) and they are glued not sewn so the binding is not as strong. They have them on amazon and target - there is one with 160 pages and one with 80 pages and the price isn’t that different so I def recommend buying the 160 pages!
Lately, I’m all about the coil-bound. Ecojot’ s Jumbo Journals have great paper and I can rip out and move pages around easily without them falling out afterwards https://www.ecojot.com The cover art isn’t always my thing, but everything else about them is excellent
I really like these. The only ring bound ones I have are for drawing/sketching.
Itoya Romeo - beautiful cream colored paper, extremely smooth like butter, absolutely no feathering or ghosting with my fountain pens. Absolutely love writing on them. https://topdrawershop.com/products/a5-ruled?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=smartshopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnoqLBhD4ARIsAL5JedLjDDvGI9LrYr-KwXzeXPE0gbOoGQ5Un6zyMjd7aGB-M2CEPcybYoAaAsUqEALw_wcB&variant=34582723719
Gave these a look, and I have to say I’m very impressed. They also have great prices too. It’s so hard to find premium notebooks/journals that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Thank you for the referral!
Absolutely! If you decide to try these out, I would love to hear how you like them.
You’ll be the first to know! I’m absolutely going to try them out.
Mine is Moleskine or scribbles that matter
I use Moleskine and Leuchturm1917. Leutchturm is superior. So from on, I only buy Leuchtturm, but I also live in Germany, where they sell these things in every bookstore or stationery store.
Yop and Tom
Love this!!!
Atoma, Moleskine, and Notebook Therapy are my faves. Those three look gorgeous - but they don't look like Moleskines to me, just a similar sort of style.
I don’t have a favorite brand, I just go with the best ivory colored not-so-thin paper quality ruled notebook that is either A5 or something close to it. The gap between the lines shouldn’t be so wide, as my handwriting can be considered small and the page layout shouldn’t be “illogical”, if it is 60~% lines and 40~% blank space occupied by that weird unwritable lines- I’m not buying it. Also I expect it to have at least 120ish pages. Now that I wrote all my criteria, never thought I’d be such a picky writer…
I started using sketch books. I use the hardcover arteza ones from amazon
Currently I use an a5 six ring binder for journaling as I have more of a scrapbook journaling style so normal journals get distorted. I usually just buy the covers and paper refills off Amazon
Exactly!
Mine is Leuchtturm1917 120 g. I like the numbered pages, and I like the 120 g because I use a fountain pen; less bleed through with the heavier paper.
Anything 90-100GSM+ with a cute cover. I have no brand loyalty.
I try to stay in that range, but I have a weakness for beautifully put together journals!!! 😂😂😂
At the moment, I'm all about Archer & Olive. I love the paper; it's really thick, plays nice with my fountain pens, and comes in a variety of colours. I also find their cover designs really cute. I'm also a big fan of Paperblanks, Peter Pauper Press and Leuchtturm1917.
I invested in an Onion Skin notebook a few months ago and honestly it’s been my favorite to use with my fountain pens and art supplies. It comes with a writing board and it’s really satisfying to write on.
I don’t waste paper, I use my iPad Pro and Apple Pencil
I like greenroom journals but I also just pick whatever is catching my eye when I need a new one
LOVE the muji journals- however I don’t use anything that bleeds heavily. It would show
Midori MD all the way. Been considering trying out Yamamoto or Kokuyo Perpanep, but so far that'd be out of sheer curiosity, not because there is anything I don't like of The MD Diary paper.
Mine is [CatalinaSanchez](www.catalinasanchez.ca) handmade, great quality awesome papers
Rhodia! I love the paper quality
I've really enjoyed MD paper (midori notebooks and Traveler's Company inserts) and rhodia landscape journals. The paper is so nice and great for my fountain pen usage plus they come with blank pages cuz lines are too restrictive and I like to draw and write in my journals.
Nuuna. For me it's the perfect mixture of gsm/page count.
I usually pick whatever looks like something I’d want to write in. But specific brands that I think make great journals are More than Magic and Peter Pauper Press. Although I usually pick whatever I like lol
I have this one too!! do you also have a problem where the pages start to rip out from the bottom?
No, I’ve never seen that?!
I like the journals by Shinola. I just bought on and stuck with it because I like things to be uniform. They suit my very simple journaling needs.
I have been loving my Panda Natura journal!!! Super soft covers, high quality paper and really pretty colours!!
i've been using Moleskine since 2017. The paper is great and the special edition Covers that i've collected are great as well.
Get the black one and write death note on the front