Mini-Composition Book Recommendations

[OakIris]

I have found that composition books work very well with my fountain pens – and with my limited budget. I was lucky enough to purchase some with paper made in Brazil from a fellow-FPN member several years ago, back when paper from Brazil was considered to be the most fountain-pen-friendly of the inexpensive paper sources available. Now I would like to get a pocket notebook for EDC. It would be nice to have one with Tomoe River paper or the like, but I can’t afford to pay for a “fancy” notebook just for my daily note scribblings, so I think my “ideal” EDC pocket notebook would be a mini-composition book – inexpensive, pocket size, sturdy enough to hold up to some wear and tear.

I am hoping to get some recommendations for mini-composition notebooks - brands, sources - that are most likely to have fountain pen friendly paper. Suggestions would be much appreciated!

Holly

Edited March 24, 2017 by OakIris

[richila]

https://www.amazon.com/Essentials-Ruled-Notebook-Small-Journal/dp/1441311351/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1490375087&sr=8-2&keywords=peter+pauper+press+A6

This is the notebook that I use for my bullet journal.

[Witsius]

I find the Apica CD 11 or CD15 notebooks to be a great value. The paper is excellent, and they are really inexpensive. The page count is pretty small (34 sheets), but that gives you 68 pages if you use both sides. I like these because they are thin. I find it awkward to write on a thick notebook.

 

I recently picked up a Clairfontaine 1951 notebook that has 96 sheets for $7.00. You might check those out too.

[OakIris]

Thank you for your suggestions. I should have given more details in my first post. I do not use a purse and seldom carry a bag, so need something a little smaller that will fit in the back pocket of a pair of jeans. I will be using this for jotting down notes, etc., not for a journal, so pocket size would be perfect.

 

The mini-composition books are 4.5 X 3.25 inches in size. (And they cost about $2 each, too, for 80 sheets of paper, very affordable if the paper is any good....) I will be making a leather cover for whatever notebook I end up with, which will add to the bulk a bit, but a notebook around the size of the mini-book should still fit neatly in the pocket, even with a cover - or so I hope.

 

Holly

[elladee]

I have found mini Composition books at our local Dollar Tree. A pack of 3, one blue, one red and one green cover. 50 sheets each. 3.25" x 4.5". American Scholar brand, doesn't say where they are made. Very fountain pen friendly, fits nicely in my back pocket. I use them for shopping lists and other random notes.

 

Found a link:

50-Sheet Mini Composition Notebooks, 3-ct. Packs

[OakIris]

Thank you, elladee. Currently on back order at Dollar Tree but I will put American Scholar on my list.

 

I see that Staples and Office Depot offer the mini-comp books under their own branding; I am going to check them out, too, hopefully can see them "in person" at one of the local stores.

 

Holly

[effika]

I bought these last month, and the paper is great! You get 12 mini comp books for your trouble.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0127TV3NE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

They should easily fit in the back pocket of jeans.

[inkstainedruth]

The paper on the Staples ones is pretty good. But the composition books themselves? Not so much. I bought one because it had more pages than the Dollar Tree ones, but the pages are just glued in and the binding is coming off. As a result, I've had to keep a rubber band on it to hold it together, and use a paperclip to keep the previous pages together -- and I'm not even a quarter of the way through it (I use it to keep track of expenses).

If the Staples ones aren't on sale (a buck or two -- generally around "back to school" season) I'd say to give them a pass.

I have another one (which may be one of the Dollar Tree ones) that is 50 sheets and marked on the cover as having sewn in pages. I haven't used it yet so I can't say how it will hold up. It's a brand called "American Scholar" but doesn't say anywhere on it where it was made (the Staples one is made in Egypt; the Dollar Tree ones are generally coming from India, IIRC).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[SallyLyn]

Walmart also has 3.5x5.5" notebooks for a lower price than Fieldnotes at 3 for $13. The paper may not be perfect, perfect for FP but if your nib is fine enough can work well. normally 48 pages, 24 sheets, small enough for a pocket. I shoot for a buck or two for 3. Buy one, try with a fountain pen in the parking lot, if works good, go back in and buy a ton for just a few dollars. Saw someone show a photo of some found at Walmart. they were small 3.5x5.5 but said on front "composition". Sometimes you have to check several Walmart, staples, dollar stores... in an area as they have different selections at different times.

 

Some other searching in this forum to get info on the countries making best paper will help as you wander through stores. I look for Brazil but don't remember the other good ones or ones to avoid.

 

You can fold and cut some paper you like, use an old small notebook cover, cereal box, heavier paper for a cover and make your own. If you have a stapler can try that, thin rubber band, ponytail tie.

 

Any of these will work with a pencil. I find an old vintage bullet pencil a great pocket carry with a small notebook.

[Octo]

For the kind of carry you use, you will want mini composition notebooks that are stitched. As inkstainedruth warns, the glued kind are not durable.

[effika]

The ones I linked above are sewn, if that helps.

 

I use them to keep a food log, and they get thrown around a lot. I'm very happy with the quality/price ratio.

[OakIris]

I bought these last month, and the paper is great! You get 12 mini comp books for your trouble.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0127TV3NE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

They should easily fit in the back pocket of jeans.

 

 

The ones I linked above are sewn, if that helps.

 

I use them to keep a food log, and they get thrown around a lot. I'm very happy with the quality/price ratio.

 

I just ordered these. I had already done so before reading your second post, having read the description and the reviews on Amazon. Only 50 pages, but thread bound and your recommendation that "the paper is great!" swayed me. No blame to you, of course, if I happen not to like them, but I bet I will be happy with them. Thank you for the link!

 

@inkstainedruth & Octo - thank you for the recommendations to get stitched bindings, not glued. My preference, too, given my experience with such things as paperbacks with glued bindings. An EDC notebook can get some rough treatment, so thread binding seems a must.

 

Thank you to everyone for your responses. I'm already planning the design of my mini-composition book leather cover.

 

Holly

Edited March 26, 2017 by OakIris