Best A5, hardcover, square grid notebook?
July 13, 2021 7:33 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for a new A5, hardcover, square grid notebook for a bullet journal.
I've enjoyed one from Minimalism Art this year and am tempted to order another, but would love more choice in cover color. Any suggestions? More info & other notebooks I've tried inside.
Requirements:
+ A5 size (or close)
+ Square grid (not a fan of dotted, although I know that opens up so many more choices)
+ Hardcover
+ Paper won't bleed through (likely 100+ gsm)
+ 200 or so pages
I'd also like, but am a little more flexible about:
+ Choices in cover color
+ Numbered pages
+ Space for table of contents
+ 2 ribbon placemarkers
+ Pocket in back
I'm in a major city in the US and am happy to order online. I'd prefer to avoid Amazon. Budget: US$25 including shipping, but I'd be willing to go a bit higher if it has everything.
I've also used:
Moleskine - I wasn't impressed with their paper, but it's been a while.
Leuchtturm1917 - they were great until they changed their paper. The last one I bought bled through on my regular pens and highlighters. I see they have new notebooks with 120gsm paper, but not for squared grid.
I also like Miquelrius square grid paper, but haven't found it in a hardcover notebook.
Thanks!
Requirements:
+ A5 size (or close)
+ Square grid (not a fan of dotted, although I know that opens up so many more choices)
+ Hardcover
+ Paper won't bleed through (likely 100+ gsm)
+ 200 or so pages
I'd also like, but am a little more flexible about:
+ Choices in cover color
+ Numbered pages
+ Space for table of contents
+ 2 ribbon placemarkers
+ Pocket in back
I'm in a major city in the US and am happy to order online. I'd prefer to avoid Amazon. Budget: US$25 including shipping, but I'd be willing to go a bit higher if it has everything.
I've also used:
Moleskine - I wasn't impressed with their paper, but it's been a while.
Leuchtturm1917 - they were great until they changed their paper. The last one I bought bled through on my regular pens and highlighters. I see they have new notebooks with 120gsm paper, but not for squared grid.
I also like Miquelrius square grid paper, but haven't found it in a hardcover notebook.
Thanks!
I frickin' love the filters at jetpens.com. Here's a search to get you started, but maybe play w/ the filters and see what you find? That Kunisawa notebook looks NICE, although it's got a soft cover! (notebook nerd here)
Your need for a super heavy paper seems to be the biggest limiting factor, esp. along with the grid, as you suggested.
posted by nosila at 7:55 AM on July 13, 2021 [4 favorites]
Your need for a super heavy paper seems to be the biggest limiting factor, esp. along with the grid, as you suggested.
posted by nosila at 7:55 AM on July 13, 2021 [4 favorites]
I don't know if I'd call them the best, but it's a low-risk option to try - the Exceed journals from Walmart meet every one of your requirements. $9 apiece and pretty easy to find. I was very impressed with the paper when compared to the Leuchtturm1917 books.
posted by lindseyg at 8:00 AM on July 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by lindseyg at 8:00 AM on July 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
Yikes, I'm so sorry, I read your question wrong. The Exceed notebooks are dot grid. My bad.
posted by lindseyg at 8:02 AM on July 13, 2021
posted by lindseyg at 8:02 AM on July 13, 2021
I can highly recommend Apica notebooks: Here's an A5 hardcover grid.
But also your range of options really opens up if hardcover isn't a ... hard requirement. The Maruman notebook brand for example is my absolute favorite but I believe is primarily spiral bound.
posted by dis_integration at 8:28 AM on July 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
But also your range of options really opens up if hardcover isn't a ... hard requirement. The Maruman notebook brand for example is my absolute favorite but I believe is primarily spiral bound.
posted by dis_integration at 8:28 AM on July 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
My notebook of choice for fountain pens is the Oxford Black N Red. Looks like they make an A5 square grid, but I can only find it for sale on Amazon.
posted by 10ch at 8:31 AM on July 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by 10ch at 8:31 AM on July 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
Hello, fellow notebook lover! I haven't used Lemome's notebooks before (I'm a ruled-notebook person). They match most of your criteria, and their paper seems suitable for fountain pens. Unfortunately, they're only available at Amazon.
posted by cursed at 9:48 AM on July 13, 2021
posted by cursed at 9:48 AM on July 13, 2021
I've recently discovered Fox Planners, and I love the quality. Alas they only have dotted grids and college-ruled notebooks, but they meet all your other criteria. Super-thick paper. Nice hard cover. Numbered pages. 3 ribbons for bookmarks. Pocket in back!
posted by hydra77 at 9:51 AM on July 13, 2021
posted by hydra77 at 9:51 AM on July 13, 2021
Clairefontaine notebooks have very nice paper and binding.
posted by dum spiro spero at 9:53 AM on July 13, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by dum spiro spero at 9:53 AM on July 13, 2021 [2 favorites]
Endless Recorder. TR paper, comes in grid/squared, has page numbers... I think it ticks most of your boxes.
posted by rewil at 3:19 PM on July 13, 2021
posted by rewil at 3:19 PM on July 13, 2021
Mossery has so many good cover choices!! It's close to A5, has a square grid option, and is 100gsm paper.
posted by blueberrypuffin at 3:26 PM on July 13, 2021
posted by blueberrypuffin at 3:26 PM on July 13, 2021
They're hard to find, but I love Rhodia for fancy pens - and I think they meet all your requirements.
posted by Valancy Rachel at 4:30 PM on July 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Valancy Rachel at 4:30 PM on July 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
I'm a fan of Dingbats Notebooks. Choice of color and line style.
posted by schrodycat at 5:59 PM on July 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by schrodycat at 5:59 PM on July 13, 2021 [1 favorite]
Rhodia!
posted by oceanjesse at 6:37 PM on July 13, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by oceanjesse at 6:37 PM on July 13, 2021 [2 favorites]
When leuchtturm switched their paper, I moved to a Rhodia webnotebook. That particular model comes in dot grid, not square grid, but others of their notebooks have square grid as an option and the paper is fantastic. The webnotebook meets all your other criteria, except that the cover is something between hardcover and softcover.
posted by pixiecrinkle at 8:25 PM on July 13, 2021
posted by pixiecrinkle at 8:25 PM on July 13, 2021
I buy these Rhodia notebooks by the dozen. Most, if not all, of their products have a grid option. The paper is thick(?) enough that it's great to write on - I've never had a bleed-through problem.
They don't have very many A5 products but this seems like the closest to what you're looking for.
Their size chart.
posted by bendy at 7:44 PM on July 20, 2021
They don't have very many A5 products but this seems like the closest to what you're looking for.
Their size chart.
posted by bendy at 7:44 PM on July 20, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by wiskunde at 7:49 AM on July 13, 2021