Looking for Moleskine replacement, looking for advice

[JFT]

Hello all,

 

I'm looking for something to used instead of Moleskine Large ( 13 x 21 cm (5 x 8¼") ) Lined notebook. I'm writing a lot while on the suburb train so the hard back is a must. So far I failed to find anything of that size with a hard back (like the Moleskine) with good paper quality. That size is ideal for me since it can fits my rather large coat pockets. Smaller than this I and have issues with verse not fitting on single line

 

Any suggestion?

 

Thanks you!

[elena]

I use large size moleskines as well, and yes, there is some bleed through, but there are other factors that seem to compensate for it. So, am curious why are you switching?

[JFT]

I use large size moleskines as well, and yes, there is some bleed through, but there are other factors that seem to compensate for it. So, am curious why are you switching?

 

Too much feathering and bleedthrough

 

I recently got a a Visconti Van Gogh. I wanted a wet F nib. The F nib to fit more words per line in the Moleskine, and the wet because my main writer (Waterman Le Man 100 M nib) was too dry for many inks, I had flow issue with some inks and others were too light (many red turns to pink ). As it is, I'm enjoying my Van Gogh a lot but I didn't get any "real estate" in my Moleskine since there is so much feathering that it write almost as wide as my Le Man and the bleedthrough is worse due to the heavier flow...

 

I really do like the form factor, the rigidity, the pocket and all aspect of the Moleskine... except for the paper.

 

Hence why I'm looking for a replacement

[inkypete]

Considering Moleskin is marketed as a quality brand their disappointing paper quality means I just don't risk buying them anymore. Love everything else about them but the paper is inconsistent and thats not good enough for a prestige brand.

[excarnate]

If in the US see if this will do it:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0013CDCMM

or perhaps

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000EFK3TO

 

UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000SHUE56

http://www.idealb2b.co.uk/Shop/product.php?xProd=35060

or perhaps

http://www.ryman.co.uk/Ryman-A5-Bound-Memo...-0340020540.asp

(I haven't heard of this one, Black n' Red (all the other links) seems to have well-regarded paper on FPN (search for references)).

 

Beware of shipping! Seek them out locally first, see if they would meet your needs. Also, if in the US, stop by a Target store and see if they have something in stock that'll meet your needs. I found something just as good as a Moleskine, but for 1/3 the price (I don't recall if they had A5 sizes like you seek, though).

[JFT]

Thank you! Yes A5 is what I am after.

 

The Black n' Red looks interesting, but I have yet to find a retailer for that brand in Montreal

 

I usually prefer to see paper "in the flesh" before buying through the net. Guess it's time to make a first

[excarnate]

Talk about timely!

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...showtopic=27790

 

A discussion of the Black n' Red and mentions that Staples carries it. If you in Canada chances are you are close to the US and hopefully check it out (I think they are US only, but their main site seems to have an international link). Also someone in that topic offered to send individual sheets off if you wanted to see paper.

[RonB]

I looked at the Black n' Red notebooks but they just didn't do it for me. Too High-Schoolish looking or something. I still prefer the Moleskines and just choose my ink and pen carefully. If another manufacturer had a knockoff of the Moleskines with better paper, I would buy it.

 

Before someone asks, I like the Moleskines because of their sedate, conservative exterior, the hardback covers, the thin, cream colored paper, the thin lines, etc.

 

Ron

[RonB]

These have been mentioned before and I just received one:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...A:IT&ih=006

 

I like them better than R&B, personally, but I'm sticking with Moleskines for now.

 

Ron

Edited March 18, 2008 by RonB

[JFT]

These have been mentioned before and I just received one:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...A:IT&ih=006

 

I like them better than B&W, personally, but I'm sticking with Moleskines for now.

 

Ron

 

I looked at these but they are soft cover

[Will Argyle]

since there is so much feathering that it write almost as wide as my Le Man and the bleedthrough is worse due to the heavier flow...

 

I really do like the form factor, the rigidity, the pocket and all aspect of the Moleskine... except for the paper.

 

Hence why I'm looking for a replacement

 

I switched from Moleskine's about three months ago to Hand*Book Journals. They have a hardbound cloth cover, an improved elastic strap, and a nifty pocket. The paper is much thicker (I'd guess 32#) but the paper is not 'slick' like the Moleskine sketch books. The paper is ivory colored and thirsty as hell. Despite the heavy weight, there is no feathering or bleedthrough. I think they create every size that Moleskine does, but I'm not sure whether they produce lined journals.

 

It's apparent that Handbook was trying to do just what you requested, create a better Moleskine. Handbook is manufactured and distributed by Global Art Materials, Inc.

 

Check out this review: http://ducly.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/handbook-journal-co/

 

Best of luck,

 

Will

 

 

[Splicer]

There are a number of choices in the 12cm x 18cm size, but I rarely see any in the Moleskine 13cm x 21cm size. How set are you on that exact size?

 

Personally, I like the (slightly) smaller form factor, but it bugs me that all the notebooks are ruled so wide you could drive a truck between the lines. Why is Moleskine the only notebook with 6mm ruling? That can't be a patented feature.

 

Ehhh, if they'd just use decent paper, I wouldn't even look at another notebook.

[donwinn]

I have a Moleskine knockoff I got at either Target or Walmart (both sell the brand) with the brand Markings by C.R. Gibson. It is good with xf, f, and m nibs, with noodlers and pelikan royal blue, and skrip blue black, and pelikan green. The one I have is smaller, 4 x 6, but I think I saw the larger size also. I also have a bonded leather journal by the same company, also with fp friendly paper.

 

The bonus is, these are very inexpensive, $4 for the small one, $8 for the bonded leather journal. Check Target and/or Walmart for these. I love mine.

 

Donnie

[JFT]

Will: Thanks I'm going to check if I can find those in Montreal. My normal handwriting is so bad that I am condemned to use lined, so I hope they do have lined version

 

Splicer: 3 cm shorter is not "that" big of a deal but I'd prefer A5 size. I agree 100% if only Moleskine would use better paper I wouldn't have to look either

 

Donnie: Thanks for the hint I'm going to check the Walmart track

 

What I would have really loved is to find either a Rhodia, Clairefontaine or Whiteline in A5 format with a hardcover!

[CraigR]

Regarding the need for lined journal pages; many years ago I had a solution that worked for me. I only had access to some journals that were unlined but I also had handwriting that depended on lines for legibility. I made a lined template, the same size as the page, with fairly dark lines that fit behind the page I was writing on. The lines were faintly visable through the paper and was able to use them as a guide. I just moved the template to behind the page I was writing on. Perhaps if you can only find unlined journals that meet the rest of your requirements, this idea would work for you as well. /Craig

[Will Argyle]

What I would have really loved is to find either a Rhodia, Clairefontaine or Whiteline in A5 format with a hardcover!

 

As long as we're dreaming, I'd like Moleskine to use ivory paper created by Clairefontaine. Oh, and I want it white gold edged. Oh, and each Moleskine should come with a free Pelikan 825 (Deep Green/Sterling Silver).

 

Of course, for this to happen, Pelikan would have to get off their butts and make a Pelikan 825--and then offer it in green.

 

Will

 

[Zed]

Hello,

 

I am having exactly the same dilemma as you and many others: should the paper in Moleskine notebooks be of decent quality it would not even cross my mind to switch to anything else for my notes and preparatory writing. Yet as it is basically impossible to use flexible nibs on the paper without writing through the next three pages, I am slowly switching to Clairefontaine Matris Hard Cover and Clairefontaine Age Bag notebooks (which I had used only for my personal writing until now). In my opinion Clairefontaine paper is unbeatable and the Clairefontaine Age Bag notebooks are almost as stylish as Moleskine one's. Unfortunately, this particular style is not made in hard cover version, nor with the elastic to keep it closed, nor with the very useful back pocket... What a darn pity!

 

Regards, Zed

Edited March 21, 2008 by Zed

[excarnate]

I have a Moleskine knockoff I got at either Target or Walmart (both sell the brand) with the brand Markings by C.R. Gibson. It is good with xf, f, and m nibs, with noodlers and pelikan royal blue, and skrip blue black, and pelikan green. The one I have is smaller, 4 x 6, but I think I saw the larger size also. I also have a bonded leather journal by the same company, also with fp friendly paper.

Ding! I forgot all about that as I wanted a much smaller notebook (7x12x0.8 cm AKA 2 3/4 x 4 5/8 x 3/8 inch Miquelrius) but my first purchase after getting a fountain pen again was a 13 x 21 (x 1.6) cm tan suede book with pocket, ribbon, & band; from Target, "Markings by C. R. Gibson". Not real stiff covers, but plenty good. Lamy Safari EF (meaning it is really a F) with either the original cartridge or Noodler's bulletproof Black. You can write on both sides of a sheet without problems. You can tell something is written on the other side, but it is not at all disruptive. Roughly 110 pages (no, I'm not going to count! I forget how much, but 8 to 10 USD sounds about right.

 

Oh, and thin lines (that's what sold me on it). Let's see, 17 lines in 99 mm (that sounds like a metric version of a song) about 7 1/2 mm, or 13 in 3" about .23"

[Watermoon]

JFT, have a look at the Semikolon notebooks at L'Essence du Papier (Ogilvy's, rue St-Denis, or Centre Dix30). They're actually better than the Mole, with a comparable form factor.

[JFT]

JFT, have a look at the Semikolon notebooks at L'Essence du Papier (Ogilvy's, rue St-Denis, or Centre Dix30). They're actually better than the Mole, with a comparable form factor.

 

Hourra! Something in Montreal :clap1: I'm definitively going to check these out!

 

Thank you very much

 

Had I found a Black n Red retailer in Montreal that's what I would have liked to try...

Edited March 22, 2008 by JFT