(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
I love it when notebook makers try out different formats for niche purposes, and that's exactly what we have here with the Delfonics Rollbahn Horizontal spiral notebook. It's similar in size to an A6 reporter's notebook, but it's intended to be used horizontally underneath or next to a laptop, mouse, keyboard, or other tools. The extra horizontal width makes it ideal for writing out notes, but does the short vertical space become too cramped for heavy use?
Let's start by measuring this notebook and looking at the specifications. It's rather small at just 6.7 inches (16.9 cm) by 4.3 inches (10.9 cm) overall, and the usable sheet sizes are actually 5.8 inches (14.7 cm) by 4.1 inches (10.5 cm). While the notebook is a little larger overall, the sheet sizes are almost exactly A6, which is what you find in small planners like the Hobonichi Techo. It's a usable size that provides a bit more real estate than the typical pocket notebook, but it also doesn't take up much space on the desk. On top of that, the spiral binding means you can fold it over on itself so that it doesn't take up twice the space when open.
Inside, there are 60 sheets of cream paper with a 5mm grid pattern and no other markings or templates. Each sheet is perforated at the top for easy and clean removal, and there's also a few (5) transparent pockets in the back of the notebook that hold a torn out sheet of paper perfectly. The front and back covers are sturdy and minimally decorated. The back cover is a thick cardstock that has a tiny Delfonics logo imprinted at the bottom of the long side, and the front features some Rollbahn branding. Holding everything together is a color-matching elastic band that has an ideal amount of tension to keep the book closed while still be easy to operate.
The paper is really nice to use, though I'm not sure what they mean when they say the paper is "wood-free" in the marketing materials. If it's not some kind of wood-based pulp, what is it? Some other fiber? It definitely doesn't feel like stone paper. Either way, it's really smooth and handles ink incredibly well. It performs similarly to other 80gsm notebooks I have, so I'd guess it's somewhere in that ballpark. Ink dries quickly, there's hardly any show through on the back side, and there wasn't any feathering on most inks — I only saw feathering with one fountain pen ink, but it wasn't terrible by any means. I'd say this is very fountain pen friendly, and also does splendidly with any other pen or pencil.
Back to the form factor, which is the main reason I think this product exists. There are several other notebooks that aim to fill the space beneath your keyboard, but they're quite a bit wider and offer a lot more writing space at the expense of desk real estate. But what if you don't want the notebook under your keyboard, but to the side instead? That's where I think this format shines. It's wide enough to provide a lot of space for jotting down notes and sketches, but doesn't require much desk space at all. In fact, it works great as a makeshift wrist wrest under your mouse or pointing device.
There clearly isn't enough space for this to take over a bigger notebook, but it just fits so well into small spaces. I'm not a huge fan of the cream colored paper, but I've been reaching for this notebook often even still just because I like the size and format. The small grid is exactly what I'm used to, and I find there's plenty of space for me on a page with my relatively small writing style.
At $14, it does come at a premium compared to other notebooks. The robust spiral binding, hard covers, and elastic closure are the bonus parts here that contribute to the higher price tag, as other small notebooks are just barebones notebooks with a sewn binding. The Delfonics Rollbahn Horizontal spiral notebook definitely feels like a well-made and well-designed product, so I think the price is fair for what you get. If these specs stand out to you, then you'll know if it will serve you well over a more basic notebook. And if you want to pick one up, there are several color options to choose from! I love the dark blue I have, but that turquoise is really calling my name.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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