Nice Notebooks/Jotters

[whiskeylaureate]

I've been looking at the Paul Smith notebooks lately, and it has me wondering -- are there any other cool/unique notebooks for under $100?

Thus far, I've looked at:
Mulberry
Paul Smith
Moleskine

Thanks.

 

[dopey]

Originally Posted by whiskeylaureate

I've been looking at the Paul Smith notebooks lately, and it has me wondering -- are there any other cool/unique notebooks for under $100?

Thus far, I've looked at:
Mulberry
Paul Smith
Moleskine

Thanks.

I think you have to define what you mean by cool.

I try to carry a small Rhodia notebook or Field Notes book with me as a jotter; neither are especiall cool, but I like the aesthetic of them. Claire Fontaine uses really good paper, though spiral bound, which I don't like, are easier to come by than cloth edge bound. I burn through the cheap Muji books. They have a nice aesthetic, but the paper is pretty thin and won't work well with a fountain pen.

 

[Cary Grant]

+1 to Rhodia.

Superb paper quality. The covers are indestructible. The #13 has been my notebook of choice the past few years.

 

[LabelKing]

I use an Hermes PM.

 

[Mildly Consumptive]

Originally Posted by dopey

I try to carry a small Rhodia notebook or Field Notes book with me as a jotter; neither are especiall cool, but I like the aesthetic of them. Claire Fontaine uses really good paper, though spiral bound, which I don't like, are easier to come by than cloth edge bound.



I like the Clairefontaine brown cloth-bound pocket model (#79596). As you said, it is good paper, and hard to find.

I like the Rhodia spiralbound A5 as a jotter for the desk at work. It also has good paper. Rhodia and Clairefontaine appear to be owned by the same company.

 

[Sangfroid]

Smythson makes excellent pocket notebooks with special "featherweight" paper. I have a couple and like them very much.

Smythson notebooks, various sizes

At least one fountain pen enthusiast has written favorably about the paper quality: here.

-- Sangfroid

 

[Mildly Consumptive]

Originally Posted by Sangfroid

Smythson makes excellent pocket notebooks with special "featherweight" paper. I have a couple and like them very much. Smythson notebooks, various sizes At least one fountain pen enthusiast has written favorably about the paper quality: here. -- Sangfroid
Meh. Like the guy says in his review, the featherweight paper takes too long to dry with a fountain-pen. Also, I find them too expensive for a disposable notebook. P.S. I like your avatar. I have a small What Would Burnside Do? poster on my wall at work.

 

[augustin]

I know I'll take it for this, but sometimes technological change is good. I want a notebook that does hypertext, and there is one: http://www.tiddlywiki.com/, on a smartphone. Now if only I had the thumbtyping skills of my kids.

If you insist on paper, then waterproofing is a requirement for me --- for notes in the field. I've never found anything elegant that will do, but "Rite in the Rain" notebooks actually work. You can write, it won't smear, and it doesn't get moldy.

 

[whiskeylaureate]

Interesting thoughts, all of them. I really just wanted to see some options. As for cool, I suppose I mean somewhat unique and aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, I can't say what types of things will qualify with any certainty.

I wish I could afford a Hermes jotter, but sadly, I can't.

 

[JayJay]

I have a Col. Littleton Pocket Journal No. 23 that I keep in my jacket inside breast pocket. The cover is gator and it holds 5x3 note cards or notebook.

 

[AlanC]

I like Rhodia, too. The No. 11 fits well in the pocket.

Levenger has some options for notecard size sheets. I'm considering, following some others and using a personal size Filofax (already have one) with blank lined sheets for jotting notes.

 

[haganah]

You guys are too good for black n reds?

 

[AgentQ]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I use an Hermes PM.

Me too. The paper refills are a bit pricey (... for paper) but I like it.

 

[Sangfroid]

Originally Posted by Mildly Consumptive

Meh. Like the guy says in his review, the featherweight paper takes too long to dry with a fountain-pen. Also, I find them too expensive for a disposable notebook.

P.S. I like your avatar. I have a small What Would Burnside Do? poster on my wall at work.

I haven't used a fountain pen on the Smythson paper, but I'm sure you're right. With a rollerball, which is what I use, it works fine. They're definitely too expensive to be disposable, but then I never dispose of notebooks, even the cheap ones.

Your WWBD poster sounds great. I don't know how applicable the usual answer to the question -- have a series of frustrating tete-a-tetes, then take it privately to the Americans -- is to everyday life, but it's worth a try.

 

[KlezmerBlues]

Originally Posted by whiskeylaureate

I've been looking at the Paul Smith notebooks lately, and it has me wondering -- are there any other cool/unique notebooks for under $100?

Thus far, I've looked at:
Mulberry
Paul Smith
Moleskine

Thanks.

It depends on your penmanship. Your choices would probably do for ballpoint scribbling, but are hardly unique. I like Canteo http://www.canteo.ch/e/canteo.asp for flex nib fountain pen writing.