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I always go for a Moleskine. Buying any other kind of journal just doesn't make sense.
The paper is rather good quality and the overall look of it is rather professional.All and all I'd suggest going to staples and buying a nice notebook there. The bindings were damaged on the notebook (pressed in and wrinkled). That way you can feel the paper and see the overall quality of the notebook. When I purchased the notebook I was expecting a regular sized notebook, one a bit smaller than a five star 1 subject notebook. Instead it is rather small and not worth the 12$ I paid for it.
the elastic band. I've heard it varies from one batch to the next, and it sure seems like I got one of the bad ones. They cost a bit more, but I figure this type of notebook is a premium product to begin with. There's a lot of good to be said about the notebook, and Moleskine deserve credit for reviving this design which had nearly disappeared. In the future I'll give Moleskine a miss and spend a little more for a better notebook. It's good with a EF nib pen, and it fits a few more lines on each page, but it's a wee bit cramped compared with my normal handwriting.What really ruins it for me is the paper quality. (Being able to write with confidence on both sides of the page means I could actually come out ahead on cost too).
the ivory paper. Indeed, I would be willing to take this extra effort to adapt to this notebook's quirks if there were no better alternatives out there.Recently, though, other companies such as Quo Vadis and Rhodia have come up with their own moleskine-style notebooks featuring high-quality paper. TO BE FAIR, I found I could tame it by choosing the right ink (Noodlers Black) and using a not-too-wet fountain pen. the rounded corners. With many of them it's impractical to write on both sides of the sheet, which basically cuts the notebook in half from what it should be.
The hard cover. I found many combinations of fountain pens and ink are prone to ugly feathering and bleeding in it. I might quibble that the ruled lines are spaced a bit narrowly for my handwriting. the cloth bookmark. It's all good.
The built in back pocket is handy for receipts and business cards, and the built in elastic to keep the cover closed is pure genius. Because I write more legibly with the Pelikan, that's the pen of choice for this notebook. As for the notebook itself, it's large enough to be practical, small enough to be ultra-portable, and sturdy enough with the hard cover for daily use and being dragged around. I bought one of these a few weeks ago. Moleskine - were have you been all my life. So I performed an experiment: I wrote in the last three pages of the book with a variety of pens: Pilot Precise V7 Rolling Ball, Liquid Espresso, and a Pelikan medium nib fountain pen using good old Parker blue "Quink" ink -- all pens I use regularly. I was concerned that the folks who are knocking the paper quality of this notebook were right. In no case did the ink bleed through to the next page, smear, or create any kind of problem at all when applied to paper.
My Moleskine is slim, the hardcover is plenty strong, the inside pocket is great for saving receipts and little papers I've collected over time, and the elastic is easy to slip on and off. I've used leather bound journals that have wrap around tie straps and other kinds, but they're all bulky and heavy. What more could you ask for. I've been writing in Moleskines for about 6 years. I journal just about everyday and these rugged little books can't be beat.
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