18.3.2009

In re what Matthew Bodycombe said - that's rather strange. I know where he's coming from re having specific paper needs due to liking fountain pens, but I haven't had this problem with moleskine paper - in fact it's the only kind of paper I'm consistently sure will be pleasing to use (with other papers, it's not that fountain pens won't work at all; it's more that you don't get the same sensual enjoyment out of it than you get using proper paper). It helps that it is cream-colored, rather than blinding white - much easier on the eyes and looks much neater than harsh, too-white copier-style paper, which had become the standard for most notebooks and diaries alike until moleskines hit the market.I mean, it is still to be found in the majority although about the time the moleskine arrived (because of it?) the whole journalling craze took a new boost, and you finally got some other manufacturers introducing cream, soft paper - paperblanks for instance, the ciak brand he mentions also does that I believe (not sure tho')In fact, it's the only kind of paper I can easily recommend to someone needing to use it with a fountain pen - obviously in my time I've come across lots of other brands and styles, but they're the sort of thing I can only get at one store, or I have to order it specially or something like that. Until I hit on moleskines, which are available pretty widely and consistently over the entire western world, there was no simple answer a longer-standing pen geek like me could give newbies when they asked me where to get some paper that was more pleasing to use with their new pen ;-) Now I can just tell them to get a moleskine, and there's enough of a range to get them started whatever their needs (a notable exception being loose leaf sheets for correspondence or to use in a binder). I don't think it's the best (I'd vote for Kokuyo Campus in that category), but it's really bluidy good, and most of all, unlike Kokuyo, you don't have to have like relatives in Japan or something to get your hands on it!Tbh I think moleskines aren't too good to use with ballpoints or gels or rollerballs, unless you got a really light touch to your writing. The paper's pretty skinny (deliberately, to keep the thing lightweight), so if you press down hard, as you're much more likely to do with a ballpoint etc than with a fountain pen, you might be marking the next two pages with today's entry :-) (and hey, it's fine if it's a profound quote on the meaning of life, but what if it's something lame like 'BUY MILK!!! DO NOT FORGET THIS TIME!!' - sure I'm not the only one who has these!)The only way I can imagine Matthew is having trouble with a moleskine and an FP is if the pen(s) he tried it with is really 'juicy' - ie, it dumps great big wads of ink on the paper as it writes (either through design, especially with broader nibs, or because it's just wonky :-)). Similarly, the ink being used could be pretty heavy and viscous, too. I've used the moleskine with up to a size medium nib with no hassle whatsoever - and that was a european-style medium, which would be a Broad for asian/japanese pens where the nibs tend to be finer and crisper. I have also used it with Montblanc ink, which I have noticed is heavier, with more pigment than other inks, such as J Herbin if you wanna go higher end, or your basic standard pelikan in schoolroom blue ;-). Again, that wasn't a problem.All in all, it might be worth playing around with the possibilities, because the experience outlined in Matthew's reveiw isn't very common - most FP users I know get along pretty well with moleskine paper, even if it's not their favorite (we're also fussier than the average ballpoint or gel pen user, bear in mind, because FP writing comes closer to artistic-type uses than handwriting with any other kind of tool, so things like how nice and smooth the writing feels play a part in paper selection in ways that don't even register when using ballpoints or gels). So Matthew I think you should have a go, try a few things differently and you might get a nice surprise - there's hardly anything to lose now since you already have the diary, might as well try and make the most of it!Oh, and everyone, if you're worried about not liking it, try the moleskine cahiers first - cheaper and smaller than the rest, so less of a commitment if you find you really don't get along! And you can split the pack with a friend too; either someone who wants to try it out just like you or someone who already likes the stuff and knows they'll find a spot for another cahier or two somewhere :-)Good luck!

3.7.2007

I was looking for a journal/notebook and arrived at a shortlist of two: this one and the Ciak large black notebook, so bought one of each. This is a comparative review of the two, which I hope you will find useful.The notebooks are very similar, both black, both the same height, but with the Ciak being about 15mm wider. They have about the same number of pages, but the paper in the Ciak is thicker and heavier, so the book is thicker, and weighs in at 481g compared to the Moleskine's 346g (on my kitchen scales). I have written in both of them with a fountain pen (fine nib) and found that, even with the thinner paper of the Moleskine, the writing surface is good and the ink does not bleed through to the other side of the paper.

3.12.2020

This notebook feels great and looks good too. The cover on mine is a wonderful forest-green. The paper inside is cream, nice and smooth, and thick enough to feel good quality. The little ribbon is great for keeping track of the page you've reached.The lines on the paper are quite small, so if you have large handwriting this may be an issue for you. I find the size encourages me to write more neatly, though.If you are European, please note that this book is slightly smaller than A4 size, therefore you won't be able to stick printed sheets etc. in to it as easily.The paper accepts ink very well, and a fountain-pen writes beautifully on it. If you write with a fountain-pen, be sure to exercise some caution,

28.1.2016

I am an English Language student and I feel naked without a good journal or writing pad to my side. Previously I have found Pukka Pad writing pads and journals to be quite good.Moleskine appear to be very well praised for their journals- I am happy with this product.Arrived in two days.The Moleskine I received is not what appears in the product picture which looks as if it has some light coloured pattern, but rather it is plain black with a subtly leather look and feel. I prefer blank pages, and especially creamy coloured blank pages.I am using either a ball point Parker pen or a Uniball Jetstream 0.7. The paper is smooth to write on (considering you also have a good pen,

28.11.2007

When I first bought a Moleskine notebook I was more than a little hesitant due to the price, which was at least twice as much as I would normally spend on a notebook. However, as soon as I started using it I fell well and truly in love and have been recommending them to friends ever since.These notebooks are made from quality materials and the paper is a joy to write on. I always write with liquid ink pens, including dipped nib pens on occasion and, even though the paper is fairly thin, I have never had the ink seep through. The hardcover opens fully and stays open easily without cracking or bending, allowing for easy writing without obstuction and without damaging the book.

22.4.2013

I keep journals at work where I take meetings notes, jot down ideas and sketches and other things I need to remember. I like to keep them in rather sturdy books that I keep on my bookshelf for future reference. This is very practical. I often find myself going back to check discussions and ideas from years back when this is needed -- which is surprisingly often. I realize this sounds a bit backwards in these days of electronic tablets, but it is not at all a matter of being conservative. I often mix sketches and text in my notes, and this is extremely difficult to do quickly on a tablet. Writing "manually" also keeps my handwriting from degrading to that of a third grader (increasingly common these days).

28.2.2008

I originally bought the large ruled notebook, but found that the line spaces were a little on the narrow side for me. Having now got hold of the plain version, it's obvious that this is the one I should have bought in the first place; I much prefer a blank space rather than blank lines. But each to their own.Having used mine for a few weeks, I can find no fault with the classic Moleskine design or the quality of the workmanship. I like the off-white paper which is neither too thin or too thick. The overall size of this notebook - rather than the pocket version - is perfect, neither too large or too small. And there are enough pages to store my genius ideas or inane ramblings for a long time,

7.4.2011

I have had a paperblank notebook and I thought I would try a different brand to see what is was like.I have two paperblanks, one small which I use a lot and carry around with me. The other bigger which I leave at home. The small one has got a bit battered, and the cover has come off from the notebook itself (this is wear and tear). The big one is looking still neat at home on the bookshelf.Now lets talk about size and paper quality-The same size notebook from Moleskine and Paperblanks are different. The depth of the moleskine is much less than that of a paperblank, PLUS it has more pages. I guess this additional thickness comes from the cover. The Moleskin hard cover looks pretty good and sturdy,

28.1.2014

There's something deliciously decadent about shelling out this much cash for a simple notebook. In truth, unless your livelihood depends on being able to jot down notes on high quality paper, you can easily get away with a much cheaper alternative to the Moleskine brand. Heck. I even bought a Moleskine clone from Asda not so long ago. It was much the same size, had the same hard cover, the same expandable back pocket*, the same elastic band and ribbon page-marker. Even the paper had that rich creamy yellow colour and seemed to be just as "all that" as Moleskine's acid resistant product. And all for less than a couple of quid. Makes buying a real Moleskine a bit silly doesn't it? But then, Asda...

28.1.2014

There's something deliciously decadent about shelling out this much cash for a simple notebook. In truth, unless your livelihood depends on being able to jot down notes on high quality paper, you can easily get away with a much cheaper alternative to the Moleskine brand. Heck. I even bought a Moleskine clone from Asda not so long ago. It was much the same size, had the same hard cover, the same expandable back pocket*, the same elastic band and ribbon page-marker. Even the paper had that rich creamy yellow colour and seemed to be just as "all that" as Moleskine's acid resistant product. And all for less than a couple of quid. Makes buying a real Moleskine a bit silly doesn't it? But then, Asda...

25.11.2011

So many Moleskines, so many reviews... Why do people get so excited about a notebook? The prices here on Amazon are unbeatable and so that's always a good starting point but you may still think they're expensive despite that. This is a premium product though, it looks and feels expensive. Colleagues glance covetously at it and surely that's enough reason to have one?This squared variety is my second Moleskine (the first was the lined variety) but after living for just a month with this beauty, I already know my third will also be a squared one. There are more 'lines' per page than the, um, lined one and I like the ease with which you can turn the book 90 degrees and the format makes it comfortable to write in a straight line!

28.4.2013

Moleskine are the iPhone of notebooks - some people love them with a passion, others can't believe that something so straightforward is so expensive.They're both right, really. They certainly aren't cheap - you can scour bookshops, Amazon and Ebay and struggle to find a reasonably-priced one - and you could find a very similar alternative (from a supermarket among many other sources) for a third of the price.On the other hand, there is something very likeable about them. They are pretty robust and well made; the pages are stitched into the spine so that the book falls open easily; the paper is good quality and made to last; there is both a book mark and an elastic snap-band to close the book,

12.5.2016

The Moleskine plain notebooks have great quality paper. I use a fountain pen and I find the paper really smooth to write on - I personally haven't experienced the feathering effect you sometimes get with poor quality paper, where the ink spreads out uncontrollably, and I find the ink dries quickly. Because the paper is so thin I can see my writing on the other side, but I can still use the other side and read both sides of what I've written clearly. I like the plain pages as I can use it to do quick sketches and diagrams, or turn it on its side and use it in landscape. The small document pouch in the back cover is useful and the elastic closure means I can slot in more lose papers and feel

12.8.2011

The notebook is great. Well made, with hard cover in some imitation of something remembering somehow leather. I really like the paper, a bit cream-coloured, which gives a very good look; smooth surface and very good consistence. The rules are maybe a bit too close to write without leaving a blank line; I would prefer the color to be more discrete (not as dark as it is), but ok. The notebook opens completely, leaving uniform surface, which makes possible and comfortable to write close to the center. 240 pages is a good number.What I don't generally like of the moleskines is the excessive flattering tone of the brand. "Moleskine is personality, moleskine is art and intelect,

6.9.2018

The usual high quality you would expect from Moleskine. As the pages are quite thin (I like this as it packs more pages into a smaller package), your average Biro will be preferable over a fountain pen, or even a Moleskine pen which I find ghosts slightly onto the next page. The pages are 'natural' rather than white, and are narrow ruled, making this a very comfortable notebook to write in. There is a strong elastic closure around the notebook and a ribbon inside to maintain the page. A cardboard wallet on the back inside cover is ideal for keeping loose sheets. The initial cover page features a section for you to write your contact details and propose a reward in case the notebook is lost.

Moleskine Classic Notebook Hardcover Dotted A4 192 pages black - Reviews

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