Journals

[Mycon]

...Of all the things I never expected to want. I fought like a badger in a hay bale against any teacher that suggested I keep one. I forbade family and friends from ever buying me one because I thought it was dumb. I have a blog and I never write in it.

And yet, with the arrival of a simple fountain pen which I mainly expected to use at work, this all changes. When testing it out in an unused section of my psychology notebook, I tapped into some hitherto unknown (and gigantic) well of stuff that I want to write by hand. The FP is just so nice to write with!

So what would you journal-writing gents suggest for a nice, but affordable journal? I am really strapped for cash due to Christmas and the seasonal increase in utilities. Maybe ~$20 or so?

[Torcams]

If you're looking for something inexpensive, I've heard good things about Apica notebooks which can be found on eBay. I'm also looking for something to suck up some ink from my new fountain pen.

[chainfire]

I'd check out Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=handmade&search_query=journal) - there are tons of cool handmade journals of every size and style.

[mparker762]

Moleskine's are pretty popular, and are available at all Barnes & Noble stores and their website. The lined moleskines will bleed with most fountain pens (so you can really only write on one side), but the unlined notebooks seem to have thicker paper that allows two-sided writing with a wider variety of pens and inks. Moleskine also makes a sketchbook with very thick paper that should tolerate even the wettest pen.

Rhodia is a better FP journal, but less widely available than moleskines. They use the really excellent Clairefontaine paper which is a great paper for use with fountain pens.

There's a blog (http://blackcover.net/) that covers quite a few of the alternatives out there. The author doesn't use a FP but many of his commenters do.

[WhosYerBob]

Apica & Rhodia have excellent paper for fountain pen use, with no bleeding or feathering of any kind. Moleskine paper is nice to write on, but bleeds and feathers something awful.

[ethant]

I will chat with you more about it tonight but for your price range I would be inclined to recommend a Rhodia WebNotebook (link (http://www.amazon.com/Rhodia-Webnotebook-Black-cover-8-25x5-5/dp/B002TEADOS/ref=pd_sbs_op_3)), or possibly a Quo Vadis Habana (link (http://quovadisplanners.com/notebooks/habana)). I use Rhodia pads for work and general note taking and they are excellent. The WebNotebook is a little more of a journal style. The Habana's use Clairefontaine paper as well and have a different cover style.

Moleskines would certainly be easier to find, but you may have the aforementioned issues. I have an older Moleskine, before they were really mass produced, that doesn't feather or bleed at all with Mont Blanc blue-black, but did a little with Waterman Florida Blue and I understand the newer ones are worse.

[Sullybob]

I'd check out Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=handmade&search_query=journal) - there are tons of cool handmade journals of every size and style.

Wow, great post. I found these guys

http://www.etsy.com/shop/GILDBookbinders

Most of them are more then $20 but they are great looking.

[SCWilson]

Check at your nearest Target or Wal-Mart. I've had very good luck with Markings brand and Mead knock-offs of Moleskines. They are the same size and appearance but use better paper. Sure you will be able to see some of the ink from the other side of the page, but it isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination. Just for reference, I use a wet writing cursive italic Delta Planet and Noodler's ink to write in these, so if it holds up to wet writing with saturated ink, you should be fine.

[Shane27]

I use an Exacompta Basics Sketch Book because I don't like writing on lines and I draw in mine...the paper is very fountain pen friendly and it opens up to lie very flat. I don't like the gilded edges but what can you do :)

Link to one for you...

http://www.shopwritersbloc.com/exacompta-basics-silver-edged-sketch-book.html

[winkydink]

Apica & Rhodia have excellent paper for fountain pen use, with no bleeding or feathering of any kind. Moleskine paper is nice to write on, but bleeds and feathers something awful.

+1 on Rhodia. And they sell it at Target now! I used to have to buy it on the net.

[Luc]

I was thinking of Doogie Howser and you could use your computer, do search on entries... Have a blue/white screen...

Good advices up here!

[Mycon]

Thanks to everyone for the replies!
I am going to check a couple of local places, but it looks like the Rhodia is the top contender.

[Sullybob]

+1 on Rhodia. And they sell it at Target now! I used to have to buy it on the net.

Thanks, I didn't know that. Where are they located in Target? I'll be heading there soon.

[Ruvane]

I think Moleskine might have improved their paper. I bought a pocket size, ruled, hardcover Moleskine book less than a month ago, and noticed the paper seemed to be better. It's a little thicker, a little smoother, and have not seen any bleeding. I use a Lamy Safari, F nib, with Noodler's black ink.

The bad thing about Moleskine, however, is their inconsistency among each model they have. Before the last one I just discussed, I got their softcover version instead, hoping it would work better for my pocket. I really didn't like it... Lines were bolder (distracting), margins were skewed and didn't match the adjacent page.

I still recommend Moleskine, though. If you go for their more popular products, they're likely to be of better quality, I think. I think you won't have any problems with the normal, hardcover notebooks. I'm not sure if the page style will make a difference.

I just got their squared cahiers. I haven't really tried their paper, yet.

Good luck! Don't get sucked into notebook obsession like I did... I spent hours researching until I finally settled to stick with Moleskine (for now) because they're easily attainable.

[Sullybob]

I think Moleskine might have improved their paper. I bought a pocket size, ruled, hardcover Moleskine book less than a month ago, and noticed the paper seemed to be better. It's a little thicker, a little smoother, and have not seen any bleeding. I use a Lamy Safari, F nib, with Noodler's black ink.

The bad thing about Moleskine, however, is their inconsistency among each model they have. Before the last one I just discussed, I got their softcover version instead, hoping it would work better for my pocket. I really didn't like it... Lines were bolder (distracting), margins were skewed and didn't match the adjacent page.

I still recommend Moleskine, though. If you go for their more popular products, they're likely to be of better quality, I think. I think you won't have any problems with the normal, hardcover notebooks. I'm not sure if the page style will make a difference.

I just got their squared cahiers. I haven't really tried their paper, yet.

Good luck! Don't get sucked into notebook obsession like I did... I spent hours researching until I finally settled to stick with Moleskine (for now) because they're easily attainable.

I just read (today) on The Fountain Pen Network that Moleskin has changed its paper on some models. But as you noted, their is a problem with inconsistancy within the Moleskin line.

[winkydink]

Thanks, I didn't know that. Where are they located in Target? I'll be heading there soon.

They've got a small Papyrus section in the cards/stationery. The distinct orange covers were hard to miss! (They had black spirals too).

[Sullybob]

They've got a small Papyrus section in the cards/stationery. The distinct orange covers were hard to miss! (They had black spirals too).

I really like the sprials. Thanks, I'll check them out.

[Cheech]

Personally, I prefer Ciak! journals. They can be a bit harder to find in B&M stores, but you can find them pretty easily on the internet. They've worked really well for me in the past. Of course, buying paper sight unseen can be a little troubling.

Second, Rhodia. Moleskins are pretty good, affordable, and (for me) only bleed a little. I haven't had any real problems using both sides. Of course, I haven't gotten any new Moleskins in some time.

[mparker762]

Second the complaint about inconsistency in the Moleskine line. The lined Moleskine Cahiers doesn't bleed or feather on me. Their lined pocket hardcover book bleeds and feathers quite badly, while the unlined version bleeds but has only moderate feathering.

The problem I have with the Cahiers is the bog-standard TOPS or MEAD composition notebook (the ones with the speckled black/white cover) is a better book in nearly all respects - more pages, better paper, better stitching and binding, thicker cover stock, and much cheaper - only $1 at any office supply store.

[Bill Smith]

For those who like the Moleskine look without the bad paper issues may I suggest Lechtturm1917 http://www.leuchtturm1917.com/buero-schreibwaren/agenda/index.html

I have picked up two notebooks in the popular Moleskine sizes, they are better made with high quality paper and the big kicker, cheaper.

[UptonBeat]

Hey guys, I'm in the same situation as OP, but I'm a guy who is prone to losing things and wants to use one or two journals for the rest of his life. The problem is that I'm eighteen, so that's about thirty years per journal so, instead of making a new thread altogether, I thought I might ask you all: Does anyone know where one could find a hardcover bound journal (preferably leatherbound, but I'm not about to get picky) with an ungodly number of pages? http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22017343 seemss pretty close to what I'm shooting for, and might be what I end up getting, but I'm not really feeling the design, so I thought I might ask in case anyone knew of anything better?

[Sullybob]

Hey guys, I'm in the same situation as OP, but I'm a guy who is prone to losing things and wants to use one or two journals for the rest of his life. The problem is that I'm eighteen, so that's about thirty years per journal so, instead of making a new thread altogether, I thought I might ask you all: Does anyone know where one could find a hardcover bound journal (preferably leatherbound, but I'm not about to get picky) with an ungodly number of pages? http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22017343 seemss pretty close to what I'm shooting for, and might be what I end up getting, but I'm not really feeling the design, so I thought I might ask in case anyone knew of anything better?

If you're prone to losing things why would you want such an expensive journal?

I looked at that very same journal. I have one of their smaller journals coming, once it gets here I'll let you know how it work for me and my pens. One concern that I have is that the paper is unlined. I don't have the greatest penmanship to start with, take away the lines and it doesn't get any better. I figure that with the smaller paper it won't be as much of an issue as it would or could be with a larger journal.

[mparker762]

Hey guys, I'm in the same situation as OP, but I'm a guy who is prone to losing things and wants to use one or two journals for the rest of his life. The problem is that I'm eighteen, so that's about thirty years per journal so, instead of making a new thread altogether, I thought I might ask you all: Does anyone know where one could find a hardcover bound journal (preferably leatherbound, but I'm not about to get picky) with an ungodly number of pages? http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22017343 seemss pretty close to what I'm shooting for, and might be what I end up getting, but I'm not really feeling the design, so I thought I might ask in case anyone knew of anything better?

I'll second Sully's question as to why you want a long-lasting journal if you're just gonna lose it.

But if you manage to avoid losing it, then using a journal for such a long time will reveal that most journals simply aren't bound very well (moleskines are particularly bad (http://blackcover.net/?p=5) about this). They may be section-sewn, but these sections are merely glued together and will split between sections.

If you want a binding that will actually hold up to serious use then you want a fully stitched binding, where the sections are sewn together and sewn to a fabric spine, so there's no glue to crack (or at least the integrity of the binding isn't compromised if the glue fails). This is the sort of binding that is nowadays really only found on things like high-end Bibles, where there is a realistic expectation of heavy, long-term use.

One journal that I know of that has a large number of pages, and has this type of fully-sewn binding, is called "Allan's Journal" (http://www.bibles-direct.co.uk/products/?c=34). Imagine a blank Bible and you've got the general idea.

Edit: Just checked, and it has 256 pages. Not sure if they're counting each side as a page.

[StylinLA]

A nice fountain pen does lend itself to being used for sure.

Since I tend to write a bit each day, I've gravitated towards pretty reasonably priced journals- appx 5x8. I usually pick them up in Barnes and Noble. Not glamorous, but I write a lot.

If you're very discerning about when you write, perhaps one of the leather bound journals could be in order. But they're usually pretty thin and if you fill ten a year it gets pricey.

[Johnny_Z]

Go to Barnes & Noble, they have an entire section for journals.

[mparker762]

Go to Barnes & Noble, they have an entire section for journals.

Their journal section is heavily dominated by Moleskines which have a litany of problems as documented earlier in this thread.

[Sullybob]

mparker,
Do you know if the Allan's Journal is suitable for fountain pen use? Reading the description it says that the paper is lightweight.

Thanks.

[UptonBeat]

I'll second Sully's question as to why you want a long-lasting journal if you're just gonna lose it.

Well, I meant to say that I'm bad at keeping sets of things together and in order. One book is simple enough. More than that and it gets exponentially harder. That journal looks pretty neat, but yeah, I'll have to figure out whether 256 pages is each leaf or each side. Now I know what I'm asking for for a graduation present, haha.

[mark the shoeshine boy]

here is a great review of the Allan's Journal (http://blackcover.net/?p=31)....

hope this helps....it sounds great even with a fountain pen.

[Torcams]

Well today I went to our local Target in search of a nice notebook in which to store some of the ink from my new Pelikan M215.

Not only did I find Rhodia, but they also had MiquelRius spiral bound notebooks which are also highly regarded for FPs.

[Sullybob]

Well today I went to our local Target in search of a nice notebook in which to store some of the ink from my new Pelikan M215.

Not only did I find Rhodia, but they also had MiquelRius spiral bound notebooks which are also highly regarded for FPs.

I found Rhodia's at Target as well. I didn't look for any other note books. I'll have to look for the Miquel Ruis brand the next time I am there.

[Mycon]

The only Rhodia my local Target has is the grid paper...

[Torcams]

The only Rhodia my local Target has is the grid paper...

Mine too.

[Sullybob]

The only Rhodia my local Target has is the grid paper...


Mine too.

Same here. I don't care, I use graph paper all the time. For journaling I prefer regular lined paper though. I may have to go to a different Target today and see if they have the MiquelRius note books.

[Johnny_Z]

Their journal section is heavily dominated by Moleskines which have a litany of problems as documented earlier in this thread.

The ones I've seen have had a good mix of styles. If Moleskine isn't what he wants there are others there. Heavily dominated or not, B&N is still a good place to at least get an idea for what he's looking for, or not looking for. I've bought several journals there not all of them Moleskine.

[Rick Sparks]

For those who like the Moleskine look without the bad paper issues may I suggest Lechtturm1917 http://www.leuchtturm1917.com/buero-schreibwaren/agenda/index.html

I have picked up two notebooks in the popular Moleskine sizes, they are better made with high quality paper and the big kicker, cheaper.

I went to this site. It's in German.

[D/ELong Handle]

Levenger has nice leather journals. Myself, I prefer to use there Circa System so I can transfer information or ideas to other notebooks or my planner/calendar.