Posts filed under Notebook Reviews

Lamy Softcover A5 Booklet Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Ever wonder how many people discover the stationery world because of their exposure to a Moleskine notebook? Moleskine notebooks are available in lots of everyday stores, they're affordable, and they come in lots of fun colors. The downside? Well, the paper is pretty shabby. Once you have the stationery bug, Moleskine paper probably won't fit your needs. That's why I'm always happy to see stationery goods that mimic Moleskine's products but provide an exceptional user experience.

One of my favorite everyday notebooks is a simple A5 softcover notebook. That's something that Moleskine offers as part of their standard lineup at any physical store, but it's also something that more and more stationery manufacturers are producing as well. Lamy is a prime example of this, and I've been really enjoying the Lamy Softcover A5 Booklets recently. I've even reviewed these in the past, but it's amazing how a little time can make something seem new (or maybe it's just my memory starting to decline?).

The Lamy softcover notebooks only come in one color — Lamy gray — but at least they chose a nice color for the cover. The cover is made of a flexible cardstock and has a linen texture that is nice to handle and touch. It also does well in terms of durability and wear. I've noticed that the cover picks up oils, but it adds a nice patina to the cover. There's no branding anywhere on these notebooks except for a small Lamy logo debossed on the back exterior cover.

Aside from the gray cover and ivory paper inside, the only pop of color comes from the orange stitching that holds the notebooks together. I really love the strong contrast of the bright thread against the neutral gray cover.

Here are some more specifications for the notebooks:

Lamy ruling, both lined and quadrille
64 pages per notebook
Size: A5 5.7in x 8.3in (145mm x 210mm)
Paper Color: Ivory
Paper Weight: 90 gram Italian paper
Bleed-proof and acid-free paper
Binding: Neon thread stitching

The Lamy ruling is reminiscent of Doane Paper, which features lines on top of a small grid. I really enjoy this type of ruling because it can be as structured or invisible as you want. It's like grid rule for people that appreciate lined ruling too. Regardless, it's the only option for these notebooks!

The ivory 90gsm paper is nice and pleasant to use. In my testing, I haven't seen any bleeding or feathering, but some inks do show through to the back of the page quite easily. That's a little surprising given the weight of the paper, but it's not a deal-breaker since the back page is totally usable. The show-through is minimal and seems to depend more on ink formula instead of how wet or wide a nib is. Your mileage may vary!

I really enjoy seeing how different stationery companies that are more known for their pens interpret the notebook as an experience. More often than not, they produce notebooks that are well-worth your consideration. After all, a company that has decades of experience with building great pens should also know what makes a notebook great just from testing their own pens. Lamy provides a fantastic notebook that I'm happy to keep on my desk. It's also a great alternative to anything that Moleskine offer.

There is a downside, though. Options! Lamy should offer this softcover notebook in more colors. That's an obvious gap at this point. They could also expand the ruling options they have to include more standard rules like lined, grid, and dot. I like Lamy's ruling, but sometimes I want something else, you know? Options, Lamy! We like having them!

At $15 for a three-pack of these 64-page notebooks, these are easy to throw into an order and keep around. Heck, even give them as gifts for the non-stationery folks in your life. Spread the love of good stationery that looks like the trendy stuff from the big box stores. These are great notebooks, but the lack of options just means I get to keep other great notebooks at hand to meet other needs.

(Goldspot provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on March 15, 2023 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Lamy, Notebook Reviews.

Clairefontaine Neo Deco A5 Notebook Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Pretty sure it has something to do with the on/off nature of this past winter, but I'm definitely ready for some warmer weather (or maybe just some consistency?). At any rate, a new notebook is always a good method to add some excitement to the dull weather. This week, I've been enjoying a new notebook from Clairefontaine that rocks an exquisite cover that has a lot of summer vibes.

The Neo Deco line of notebooks from Clairefontaine all feature a unique and bold art deco cover design that can fit any occasion. I couldn't pass up the Turquoise option because of the bright colors and contrast.

The specs of the notebook are very familiar if you've ever used Clairefontaine before. It features 48 pages of 90 gsm paper that provides an excellent writing experience with virtually all writing instruments. All of Clairefontaine’s paper is lined, so that normally turns a portion of people away who prefer other options. It's really a shame and something that I wish the company would change. I happen to enjoy lined paper on some occasions, and Clairefontaine is probably my favorite lined notebook maker. But, I'd buy a lot more of their products if they offered other options like blank, grid, and even dot.

Still, if you dislike lined paper, you still need to at least try Clairefontaine's excellent paper. It really is fantastic, and their notebooks are fairly accessible and affordable.

The Neo Deco line uses a soft cardboard material for the covers and a stitched binding that holds up well. At just 48 pages, the notebook easily stays open when writing, but the front cover will always stand up when the notebook is closed. That's easy to fix with an elastic band, though.

The 48 pages inside are all the same lined pages — no tables of contents or information pages in these notebooks. Branding is also small with this notebook. There are Clairefontaine logos on the front and back, and some information about the company and materials used on the inside of the back cover. Still, the branding is minimal.

Besides the silky paper, the real star of this show is the cover design. In the Turquoise option I picked, the main cover is a bright turquoise blue with gold leaf accents in the shape of tropical leaves. There's also light-blue tropical leaves on top of the blue cover that provide another layer to the design that gives it more dimension. The bright blue and reflective gold are a knockout combination that I love having on my desk.

Sticking with the art deco theme, there are several other cover options if the bright tropical cover isn't your thing. These A5 notebooks come in at $11, which is a great value for the fun covers and excellent paper. I always have at least one Clairefontaine notebook in my active rotation, and the paper quality and writing experience is the main reason. With this new notebook, it stays on top of the stack longer because the bright cover just makes me smile.

(This product was purchased from Goldspot at a discount.)

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Posted on February 22, 2023 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Clairefontaine, Notebook Reviews.

Traveler's Company Traveler's Notebook Unboxing and Setup

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

When you're planning a trip and writing your packing list, do you create a whole category for stationery? Of course you do; you're here. I love thinking about what pens and journals I'll need (or want) on my trips. One of the things I've wanted to do for a while is road-test a Traveler's Notebook from Traveler's Company. I mean, it's right there in the name! And this year seemed like the year to do it, as I have a lot of traveling planned. Mostly short business trips, but there will be planes, trains, boats, and buses, cars, and hotels, and couch surfing. And the Chicago Pen Show, of course. I did some research and planned a TN setup that I think will work for my adventures.

I got everything I needed from JetPens (some sent for review, some I bought to add a few accessories), and I'll be reviewing the components individually, but this post focuses on how I decided to set things up.

First, I opted for the Passport size, since I like to one-bag travel, and space is a premium. I want to use this notebook according to their old "all in one place" motto, so I intend to use it as my planner, wallet, and commonplace book. So, I got a Monthly Planner insert (which is all I'll need once school is over in May!), the zipper pouch/wallet, the kraft folder, a lightweight paper insert, a writing board, a pen holder, the adhesive pockets, and the brass notebook clip. I also got the sheet of double-sided adhesive so I can use it to put bits of travel memorabilia in the notebook.

I want the zipper part in the front of the book (so that I'm not writing on the lump of the zip), and the card slots in the back (to keep them extra safe). I want the monthly planner in front of the commonplace book, since they'll work together (events in the planner, task lists in the notebook). I connected the planner to the notebook with the extra elastic that came in the starter kit and put that pair through the notebook band, then put the zip-wallet behind them, and the folder in the middle. I put the writing board in the folder (along with some essential stickers), the adhesive pockets on the outside of the folder (for business cards), and I'm using the brass clip to hold the folder closed. I started with the pen clip on the back of the notebook, but it was annoying me, so I moved it to the folder as well, so that it holds the pen in a more central spot. I also swapped the black elastic out for the striking red one, and put the adhesive card slot on the inside of the front cover (for my ID). I still need to find a charm or bead for the elastic closure, but I figure that's something I'll find on my travels.

This is the setup I'm thinking and hoping will work for me! I haven't truly started testing it yet. I'm still using my main Midori planner for at least a few more weeks, while school is at its most intense. But using the Traveler's Notebook as a wallet setup for the past few weeks has been very successful. It's not too big or fiddly, it keeps everything safely contained, and I feel like I have everything I need right in my hand.

This notebook kit has so much personality. Maybe it's the act of constructing its layout and combining all the components, but I feel a bit like I've assembled a travel buddy, or like a bit of my own character got caught up in the elastics. You can't assemble a system so personal and not put a bit of yourself into it, I guess. Like Victor Frankenstein, but less messy. Or just as messy, you do you.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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