Paper notebook recommendations (for a gift)?
December 17, 2015 11:24 AM Subscribe
Hi! I have spent the last two hours searching online for the perfect paper notebook/journal gift for my SO's father (a lawyer and clergyman), and all the ones I found seem to have something not-quite-right about them, even the ones found in "best! paper! notebooks!" blogs. Dear notebook lovers, help me, please. Requirements inside:
1. Size: A4, letter size, 8.5"X11" or close to that size (up to 9"X12")
2. Binding/cover: Plain soft/bendy cover; black, brown, navy, grey, or other dark color; elastic band outside and ribbon marker inside; not real leather, but leatherette is fine (like a Moleskine or Leuchtturm); book-style binding, not spiral or staple-bound
3. Thickness in pages: 80-120 pages or so (not so huge that it cannot be carried around everyday comfortably)
4. Blank (unlined) pages -- a mixture of unlined and lined pages would be ok though.
5. Paper quality - User will likely not be using a fountain pen. Still, I have read bad reviews of current Moleskine paper, even for ball-point pen users. Paper should be thick enough not to show through a roller-ball type of pen, but need not be super-duper thick.
6. Cost: $15-$25, if possible
7. Availability: Has to be ordered online with quick shipping (4-5 days max) to the U.S.
Am I asking too much from a notebook? Many thanks in advance!
1. Size: A4, letter size, 8.5"X11" or close to that size (up to 9"X12")
2. Binding/cover: Plain soft/bendy cover; black, brown, navy, grey, or other dark color; elastic band outside and ribbon marker inside; not real leather, but leatherette is fine (like a Moleskine or Leuchtturm); book-style binding, not spiral or staple-bound
3. Thickness in pages: 80-120 pages or so (not so huge that it cannot be carried around everyday comfortably)
4. Blank (unlined) pages -- a mixture of unlined and lined pages would be ok though.
5. Paper quality - User will likely not be using a fountain pen. Still, I have read bad reviews of current Moleskine paper, even for ball-point pen users. Paper should be thick enough not to show through a roller-ball type of pen, but need not be super-duper thick.
6. Cost: $15-$25, if possible
7. Availability: Has to be ordered online with quick shipping (4-5 days max) to the U.S.
Am I asking too much from a notebook? Many thanks in advance!
I can't recommend a single notebook, but check out this website: jetpens.com. It is paradise for those obsessed with writing implements and the things those writing implements are implemented on.
posted by soulbarn at 11:57 AM on December 17, 2015
posted by soulbarn at 11:57 AM on December 17, 2015
The nearest I can find is this one, which has the soft cover, elastic outside, ribbon market ... but the pages are lined.
posted by essexjan at 12:09 PM on December 17, 2015
posted by essexjan at 12:09 PM on December 17, 2015
A bit smaller than you're looking for, but Rhodia makes great paper products: the Black Webnotebook meets your other requirements. The dot grid version is available on Amazon w/ Prime shipping for $20.
posted by melissasaurus at 12:34 PM on December 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by melissasaurus at 12:34 PM on December 17, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Ecosystem! You can customise the books to a degree and the paper stands up to fountain pens, which is pretty rare in my experience.
posted by Tamanna at 12:36 PM on December 17, 2015
posted by Tamanna at 12:36 PM on December 17, 2015
I was also going to recommend ecosystem. Love them!
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 2:26 PM on December 17, 2015
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 2:26 PM on December 17, 2015
I like Shinola Detroit and they fit most of your criteria, but they aren't quite as big as you're looking for.
posted by asphericalcow at 6:53 PM on December 17, 2015
posted by asphericalcow at 6:53 PM on December 17, 2015
Best answer: Recently I got a couple of these Pentalic sketchbooks, one black 8x10, one 6x8 teal one. I've been loving them. They're light enough to live in my bags without making much weight difference, and the paper feels nice. As it so happens most of my recent doodling has been rollerball pens, and they're great - no bleed, not too rough, not too smooth. I was able to make some bleed happen just now when I tried doodling with a black Prismacolor marker, but that's pretty much expected to bleed unless you're using a sketchbook full of marker paper.
The cover is heavy paper with some kind of plasticized coating. Not faux leather but reasonably pleasant to touch. Back pocket, elastic closure, ribbon marker. 160 pages, $10-17 depending on size and where you buy it.
Dick Blick has a small selection online, I'm also seeing a wider selection of sizes and colors on Amazon. Or if you have an art store nearby you can probably find it, they're a major art supply manufacturer. I think i got mine off the shelf at either the local Dick Blick or the art supply basement of the University of Washington's bookstore.
posted by egypturnash at 10:59 PM on December 17, 2015
The cover is heavy paper with some kind of plasticized coating. Not faux leather but reasonably pleasant to touch. Back pocket, elastic closure, ribbon marker. 160 pages, $10-17 depending on size and where you buy it.
Dick Blick has a small selection online, I'm also seeing a wider selection of sizes and colors on Amazon. Or if you have an art store nearby you can probably find it, they're a major art supply manufacturer. I think i got mine off the shelf at either the local Dick Blick or the art supply basement of the University of Washington's bookstore.
posted by egypturnash at 10:59 PM on December 17, 2015
Soft but not bendy, but otherwise this sounds like the Staples Arc system. Available at Amazon as well as Staples. The paper is removable so he can fill it as he wishes.
posted by megatherium at 4:14 AM on December 18, 2015
posted by megatherium at 4:14 AM on December 18, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
I also saw a pretty good selection at Staples recently.
posted by amtho at 11:51 AM on December 17, 2015 [1 favorite]