Behance Dot Grid Cahier Review

Aside from the plethora of pens I have laying around to review, I have so many notebooks that I am running behind on. Bryan got that ball rolling for me last week, and I am picking it up this week with the Behance Dot Grid Cahier.

This is one of those notebooks that grabbed me the first time I saw it online and I knew I would have to pick some up. My wife bought me a two pack this past Christmas from Barnes & Noble (I'm not sure they even stock them anymore), and I have been very happy with it so far.

One of my favorite things about the Dot Grid Cahier is the size. Most notebooks in this category (Moleskine Cahier, Field Notes, Doane Paper Utility Notebook) are 3 1/2" x 5 1/2". The Behance model checks in at 4"x6" and for regular every day use I like that size better. I still use the Doane as my back pocket notebook because of its size, but the Behance gives just a bit more writing room overall.

Behance chose to use 60lb New Leaf 100% recycled paper, which I had never used before, but it does a nice job. It is not as smooth as Rhodia paper, but it handled every ink I threw at it nicely. Gel and ballpoint inks were the best, while the liquid ink pens had a slight bit of soak into the page, but didn't bleed or show thru too badly.

What I haven't been able to figure out yet is how to approach the dot grid layout. Being the huge fan of regular grid paper that I am, the dot grid is visually appealing to me, but doesn't feel as functional. When I write, I get the feeling that I am lost on the page. I can see a ton of uses for this though, but I couldn't personally use it for straight journaling. To do lists, brainstorming, or what it is intended for - the Behance Action Method - would be nice fits though. It is a notebook definitely worth giving a shot.

Ink Links

-- A new pencil blog, and an amazing offer (Woodclinched)

-- The Competition (Field Notes)

-- A.G. Spalding & Bros Bullet Roller (Penfan.ru)

-- Zebra Eco Sarasa Clip Gel Ink Pen (Pocket Blonde)

-- Howard Andrew Jones’ Writing Tools (Notebook Stories)

-- I Draw Cars Sketchbook & Reference Guide (idsketching)

-- Ohto Comforcil-2.0 leadholder Review (Lung Sketching Scrolls)

-- Kaweco Sport Classic (Economy Pens)

-- Desert Island Pens: Which 10 Pens Would You Take? (Does This Pen Write?)

-- JetPens Review: White Pens (QuinnCreative)

-- Blog Review: An Inkophile’s Blog (Tiger Pens Blog)

-- Guest post: Dora's work diaries! (Plannerisms)

-- Sketchbook (Drawing with a Squirrel)

-- Dixon No. 2 Pencil (Stationery Traffic)

-- Noodler's Manjiro Nakahama (Whaleman's Sepia) First Impressions Review (Derek's Pens & Pencils)

-- Ink Review: J. Herbin Diabolo Menthe (Rants of The Archer)

-- Mini Review: Leuchtturm Pocket Notebook, Dots, 3.5 x 6 Inch (No Pen Intended)

-- Chatelaine and Vintage Mechanical Pencils (Dave's Mechanical Pencils)

-- Oh, the colors! (The Crazy Life of J)

-- Penpedia - Shaped Paper Clips at JetPens (JetPens Blog)

#OnePenOneDay - EnerGel, Sakura, Kaweco, Zebra

The #OnePenOneDay project keeps rolling on - here are the four latest pens to make it through the day:

Pentel EnerGel Euro Needle 0.35mm Blue -- This pen got heavy use on its selected project day, and it is just as good as ever. I took three full pages of notes with it, and it performed flawlessly. This is one of the best pens going, and may take over as my most recommended pen to those new to micro tip pens. Watch out Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.38mm!

Sakura Pigma Micron 03 Black -- See, I really do have a lot of these laying around. If it hasn't already, this pen needs to be added into the pantheon of all-time great pens. The performance is great, and the barrel is sleek and comfortable. Still a winner after all these years.

Kaweco Sport AL -- This was a risky acquisition seeing as I am not the biggest fountain pen guy on the block, but wow is this a great pen. In retrospect, I would have bought the blue black ink instead of the aubergine, but even after sitting around for weeks unused, the ink flows from the nib immediately.

Zebra Regal Roller NR5 -- I liked this pen a lot when it came out, and I still like it a lot, but when I was running it through the challenge I was longing for a finer tip. That is not a knock on this pen at all - in fact it still compares well to the Pilot V5 needle - but it is not going to make my heavy rotation.