Wow – I had no idea that it’s now been over a year since my last review.
A lot of people have written asking me where I disappeared to and why I stopped writing notebook reviews. It’s pretty simple: I stopped writing reviews because I had covered all the notebooks that interested me on the market at the time. While a few obscure black notebooks were coming out of Europe, most were not interesting enough to merit paying the exorbitant overseas shipping costs. Meanwhile, I had received a bunch of sample notebooks that depressed me, and I wasn’t going to put them up on the site just to give them a bad review. So I decided to put the site on hiatus.
I logged in today to clean out some spam, and was amazed to find that my reviews were being used as message boards by notebook fans to communicate about their own experiences with a given notebook, where to purchase it, etc. A year later, and it looks like there are quite a few new contenders to be reviewed.
So tell me: what little black notebook is long overdue for a review on this site?
33 responses so far ↓
1 Speedmaster // Jan 13, 2010 at 7:56 am
Hey, glad to see you back!!!
2 Andy // Jan 13, 2010 at 8:31 am
I think you should review the rest of the Piccadilly line, the soft cover, grid ruled, etc.
Welcome back. We missed you.
3 SNC // Jan 13, 2010 at 10:15 am
The Smythson Panama Notes – hands down the best notebook ever. Very expensive, but worth every penny if you don’t use them up too quickly.
http://www.smythson.com/SmythsonSite/product/Books_Plain%20Manuscript/WP-1002432.htm
4 ccorrada // Jan 13, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Glad to see you back. you were missed!
5 chervatruffle // Jan 13, 2010 at 1:13 pm
I would like to see a review of the Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks with the new and improved paper in them. Love your website and use it as a reference frequently.
6 adam // Jan 13, 2010 at 1:26 pm
I am on my third Xonex Ru notebook at your recommendation. They are really easy to find in Canada as Chapters carries them (kind of like Borders or B&N) and they’re only about $6.
The charcoal isn’t *quite* black, but it does a pretty fair job.
7 Pat // Jan 13, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Any updates to the stifflexible reviews… (IOW, any sightings of places that sell them in the US?).
Just got a MOMA pocket calendar/diary which is a Stifflexible and they include a promotional brochure for the line in it, but no indication of anyone selling just plain old blank notebooks
Otherwise, I’ve got nothing for ya…
8 Eric // Jan 15, 2010 at 12:26 am
I would like to see a review that settles the question of whether the Ciak Pocket Slim is worth the cost (~$15 if you buy 3). Likewise whether the pen that comes with it is any good.
9 Risa // Jan 15, 2010 at 5:31 pm
I second the Leuchtturm 1917
10 Colin // Jan 16, 2010 at 3:06 am
Welcome back. I just bought six ‘Guildhall’ moleskine type notebooks locally [Cliftonville UK] at half the cost of the thorobred moley. They seem better too. Thanks for providing the definitive guide and doing the research so that we don’t have to.
11 AlaskanWriter // Jan 16, 2010 at 11:33 am
Welcome back! I thought I was seeing things for a second when I saw a new post here in the RSS feed…
The closest thing i am using to a ‘little black notebook’ is a B6 sized Cover Note from Mauruman. they are Rather Nice I think, open flat, nice paper(fountain pen friendly, a key point for me) lined, good creamish paper color.
You could do a ‘part2′ and review the newest release of the Allan’s Journal that is finally out.
12 Escargot Pudding // Jan 16, 2010 at 11:57 pm
I would love to see a review of the Hand Book Artist Journals…. They have some great features, and I feel like their construction beats out Moleskine by leaps and bounds.
13 Dave // Jan 17, 2010 at 7:43 am
The Canteo notebook by Biella is worth a look. Slightly wider than the Moleskine (which I know is usually a negative point in your reviews) but for the same price it feels like you’re getting something of considerably better quality.
They’re just hard to get and the lone North American supplier, nota-bene.ca in Montreal, is temporarily sold out. Worth keeping your eye out for.
14 nathan // Jan 18, 2010 at 3:58 pm
I haven’t tried them myself, but the ecosystem line ( http://www.ecosystemlife.com/ ) looks promising. They’ve finally arrived at my local Barnes & Noble.
15 René // Jan 18, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Exacompta Basics Gold/Silver Edged Journal with Madeira Cover
http://www.shopwritersbloc.com/exacompta-basics-gold-or-silver-edged-journal-with-madeira-cover.html
Haven’t seen it in black myself, but I’ve got a yelllow one incoming that I intend on reviewing.
16 MattiaC // Jan 19, 2010 at 6:33 am
In Europe/Italy we need something like ecosystem line! it’s amazing!
17 Tina // Jan 19, 2010 at 4:20 pm
There’s a line I’ve gotten into recently that’s called reflexion–it’s a sketch book brand, but it has lovely thick, smooth paper, and a hard cover. No pocket, a little strap for a pen, and the cover isn’t bendable, but if you can find a copy, I don’t think there’d be any harm in taking a look at it. It’s become a personal favorite of mine:
http://www.jerrysartarama.com/discount-art-supplies/Paper/Drawing-and-Multimedia-Paper-and-Boards/Reflexions-Drawing-and-Sketch-Journals/Reflexions-Bound-Sketch-Books.htm
18 Nitin // Jan 20, 2010 at 9:03 am
In India, a good option is Rubberband
http://www.rubberbandproducts.com/
19 David // Jan 24, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Hey – welcome back. It’s great to see some actibity here again.
Perhaps you could review the ‘new’ Allan’s Journal/Notebook which became available again in the mid-Autumn.
Sure hope it’s not as long again.
Best Wishes
20 Chris // Jan 27, 2010 at 10:34 am
I’m glad to see you back, and I hope you can stay motivated to keep adding reviews. If it gets hard, you might consider setting up a Paypal link so people can sponsor your purchase of the more expensive notebooks (that Panama notebook is 39 quid – good grief!). You could also consider accepting guest reviews, though I’d prefer you didn’t – it’s best to have a consistent point of view across all the notebooks.
Anyway, I’m just a fan sending some encouragement. Keep up the good work!
21 opli // Feb 1, 2010 at 1:48 pm
i like my midori, in Italy cost 25 euro the kit
22 Pierre-William // Feb 16, 2010 at 9:02 am
These notebooks look pretty nice.
http://www.jennibick.com/moderno-elastic-bonded-leather-journals.html
23 Anonymous Investigator // Feb 23, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Love this site! I just wish I found it earlier as I have a thing for notebooks that verges on being a fetish…
24 Billy // Mar 5, 2010 at 8:07 am
Couple of things. Fisrtly, welcome back!
Secondly, Eric, the Ciaks are wonderful. A little too stiff for my liking, but pretty much indistructable!
And thirdly, why the hell don’t more manufacturers make moleskine style notebooks without that bloody elastic closure thing? It’s not the bee all and end all of the little black notebook!
25 Greenman // Mar 5, 2010 at 4:19 pm
I found the perfect little black notebook (for me anyway) but the only problem is I have no idea who makes it or what to call it!
There’s a chain of art/craft/decorating stores called Hobby Lobby and one opened in a nearby town. They sell a LBN that’s almost identical to hardback Moleskines (elastic strap, ribbon, storage folder at back, slightly off-white paper) with a few differences which I prefer. There are 2 sizes that correspond with MK but the covers are slightly thicker, smooth, and rubberized. More importantly, they offer 3 weights of paper for different purposes, 80 gsm, 110 gsm, and watercolor. The only indication of a brand name is that the 80 gsm (grams per sq meter) paper book is called “The Art of Ink,” The 110 gsm is “The Art of Drawing,” and “The Art of Watercolor” has lightly textured 180 gsm paper. All are acid free and blank. So far as I know they don’t offer a lined or graph version.
Best of all, it’s 6.99 for the small and 12.99 for the lg, any weight of paper. (The heavier the paper, the fewer pages.) Hobby Lobby has a website but it’s not for ordering (it’s just for store locations and sales notices) so you have to buy from one of their locations.
26 Fern // Mar 21, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Hello, welcome back to the land of the living.
I hadn’t seen these yet, since I have stocked up on Moleskine notebooks out the wazoo (I moderate several fan sites), but I am thoroughly impressed with the Piccadilly line. I saw the shelf of them at Borders in Houston (we don’t have a Borders where I’m from, and our local bookstores don’t carry them) and I have to say, they’re as good or better than the Moleskine line. I mean, same quality paper, same cover, same pocket, etc. Basically, in summary, IDENTICAL to the pedigreed Moleskine in every way except the price. I mean, $4.99 for the LARGE?! They are now my all time favorite.
I’d also appreciate a review of any of the other variations of the brand, since they now offer more varieties to presumably compete with the Big M, from what I saw at Borders. Couldn’t justify purchasing a new one yet, though; I still have about 20 blank Moleskines I haven’t touched.
27 Walter // Apr 5, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Great to see you back!
The Paperblank journal is a bit upscale from the usual black notebook, but these are beautifully made and Biffybeans says they’re fountain pen friendly too.
This one probably come closest to your black notebook. http://www.paperblanks.com/us/en/collections/1/filtered?collection_id=250
I have one of their Zen line with the handsewn binding. Very nice.
28 Matt // Apr 15, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Dude, I have totally got the notebook for you to review. This one looks bad-jackson. I am ordering it today, I can’t wait to get my hand son it. Check it out. Action Method – Dot Grid Journal: http://www.creativesoutfitter.com/Products/Dot-Grid-Journal/20
29 david bogie // Apr 18, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Lots of new stuff on the market, most mentioned above. Of particular interest to me: Rhodia’s new webbies, Moleskine’s ever increasing product line, and the ecosystems line.
Separating the fact from marketing hype.
So glad you checked in. Your site has legs, few sites can say that.
david boise ID
30 Jessica // Apr 20, 2010 at 1:25 pm
I love my Leuchtturm journals and add my vote to seeing a review of them on this blog. They seem to be available in different countries with subtle differences. I bought them all the time in Montreal, but am looking for a brick & mortar place to buy them from in Seattle (or the US in general)
31 Jessica // Apr 26, 2010 at 7:42 am
Hi everybody!
I found the new stifflexible website and it is great! Check out http://www.stifflexible.it. I notice you can now even buy them on the e-shop right on the website. I love it! I write on the black cover Stifflexible every day. It’s my favorite. But not only do I love the blackcover version, but all of the versions are terrific.
Jessica
NYC
32 marc // May 23, 2010 at 12:11 am
my latest favorite are these:
http://www.joshuadavis.com/portfolio/miquelrius-notebooks/
good size, soft and flexible…love it!
33 San // Jun 3, 2010 at 4:31 am
You should check out the Modena collection. I have two of the larger size and love ‘em.
http://www.modenacollection.com/leather_notebooks
Leave a Comment