The Best Paper Notebooks and Journals
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This might be WIRED, and we do love some of the latest gadgets, but there's no more tried-and-true technology than a nice pen paired with a good paper notebook or journal. There's something about putting pen to paper that's infinitely more satisfying than hammering keys or tapping screens. The physical act of writing can be therapeutic or personally enlightening, and it might even help you remember things.
Like any technology that's this old, there’s a dizzying selection of notebooks to choose from. Spiral-bound, perfect bound, softcover, hardcover, pocket notebooks, bullet journals, daily journals—the list goes on. Then there's paper. Do you want Tomoe River paper? Clairefontaine paper? 100 gsm paper? 120 gsm? 80 gsm? Lined? Dot grid? Blank? It can overwhelming. To help you out, we've waded through the morass of details and spent two years testing notebooks of all types to come up with the best options for all kinds of writers, journalers, sketchbook lovers, and diarists. Don't see anything you like? Check out the rest of our buying guides, from the Best Paper Planners to the Best Messenger Bags.
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- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The Best Hardcover Notebook
Leuchtturm1917 Notebook Hardcover Medium A5The Leuchtturm1917 A5 notebooks are the best hardcover notebook we've tested. They're durable and have high-quality, 80-gsm paper that works well with just about every pen I tested on them. (If you love heavy-nib fountain pens, see the alt pick below.) The A5 size measures 5.75 inches by 8.25 inches (145 x 210 mm), which is generally considered the “average” size notebook, though Leuchtturm1917 makes other sizes. I've used these notebooks as journals, bullet journals, sketchbooks, to-do list keepers, planners, and more. They're not necessarily the best at all these things, but they'll get the job done, and they make a great gift.
There are 251 pages in the A5 size notebook and Leuchtturm1917 has thought of all the extras here, including numbered pages, a table of contents page, two page marker ribbons, a pocket in the back, and an elastic closure band that has held up remarkably well, still keeping some of my Leuchtturm1917's closed tight after three years of use. They're also available in a huge rainbow of colors, which makes it easy to keep your notebooks straight at a glance.
Alternatives:
Leuchtturm1917 120 GSM Paper for $28: I have also used the like the 120-gsm paper version of Leuchtturm1917’s A5 medium notebook. I recommend this heavier-weight paper if you like heavy ink pens, like fountain pens or permanent markers. It's marginally more expensive, and there are only 203 pages, but it's otherwise identical and a great notebook.
Moleskine Classic Notebook for $18: This was my first real notebook in college and remains an OK choice if you're on a budget. It's slightly smaller and more portable at 4.5 by 7 inches and 208 pages, but you lose the nice extras of the Leuchtturm1917, like numbered pages, an index, and double bookmarks. I've also found that the paper quality has declined over the years. The most recent Moleskine I tested has overly thin paper that bled badly using anything but a ballpoint pen. All that said, and maybe it's the faux Hemingway vibes, but there is something great about a Moleskine. If only it had better paper.
- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The Best Pocket Notebook
Field Notes Original Kraft (3-Pack)I have had a Field Notes kraft notebook in my pocket pretty much since the brand launched in 2006. (Coudal Partners, a marketing firm that was at the time doing innovative web design work, is a partner in Field Notes and ensured that web developers like myself heard about Field Notes very early on.) Field Notes draw their note-taking inspiration from the tiny pocket notebooks farmers used to use to track crops. At 3.5 inches × 5.5 inches and only 48 pages long, these soft-cover notebooks fit in just about any pocket (no need to bring back cargo pants) and are my always-on-me notebook for jotting down, well, anything I need to write down.
Field Notes paper is high-quality and smudge-proof, even writing in pencil as I do most of the time. Almost always available in a pack of three, Field Notes come in an astonishing range of colors and themes that enthusiasts love to collect.
One note of caution: The covers tend to fall off with heavy use. But then I abuse mine, pulling them out and shoving them back in my pocket many times a day. I've taken to reinforcing the inside of each cover with a piece of book tape. I also don't archive them. Once they're full, I toss them. I find them best for capturing ideas, which I copy over to other notebooks later, so there's no need for me to keep them. But if you want to keep yours in nicer shape, there are also many Field Notes holders, including this nice leather cover ($90) from Field Notes. I keep mine in this wax canvas holder ($15), which does double duty as my wallet. Field Notes does make some heavier-duty notebooks, including a weatherproof version, which looks considerably more durable, but I have not tested it.
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- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
The Best Lay-Flat Notebook
Moo Hardcover NotebookMoo is probably best known for its business cards (we also like them for printing postcards), but the company also makes this unique hardcover, lay-flat notebook, which was popular with our left-handed testers. The notebook has 160 pages and is available in lined or dotted white, non-glare 100-gsm paper (Swedish Munken Kristall paper). The lines and the dots have a 6-mm spacing. The paper works well with most pens, even fountain pens, though if you favor very heavy nibs you may get some bleed.
There are some nice little touches here. For example, the first page is heavy card stock, so that minute you turn it, you have a nice writing surface for the left side of the page. In the middle of the notebook is a layer of heavier, darker colored pages—a bit like a photo insert in printed book. These pages are great for sketching or just acting as a divider, or you can just keep on writing through them. There are no page numbers, but there are little circles at the bottom of the page that you can use for page numbers or other notation. My only real gripe is that there's no elastic closure, otherwise this is one of my favorite notebooks.
- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Best Paper for Gel-Ink Pens
Quo Vadis Habana Blank JournalThe Quo Vadis Habana was my go-to notebook for years and is where I've written the most words. It's what a Moleskine should be. At 6.25 by 9.25 inches, it's larger than a Moleskine or Leuchtturm1917 (A5), but not by much. The cover is hard but not as stiff as a Leuchtturm1917; it has a bit of give that I happen to like, though that makes it more difficult to write in your lap.
The Clairefontaine paper is a gorgeous, warm white color (not yellow, though). I have not been able to find an official paper weight, but I would guess around 80 to 100 gsm. I did not have any issues with bleed, though ballpoint sometimes comes through with a Braille-like ridge (if you press too hard, which I tend to do). The paper is very smooth, and writing on it with a gel or similarly smooth ink feels very fluid and, well, good. It's still my favorite paper for writing with a nice gel-ink pen.
The main reason this isn't my top pick is that at 80 pages for $25, it is one of the most expensive notebooks in this guide. The larger paper size means you get more room on each page, but not that much. If you don't mind splurging, this is a great notebook.
- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Best Bullet Journal
SeQeS Bullet Dotted A5 JournalSeQes Bullet Journal doesn't have to be a bullet journal, but the heavy paper is a plus if you like decorating your journal. The paper is white and 160 gsm, which is very sturdy, almost like card stock. This is the one notebook for which I could not get any bleed-through. (Well, technically, I could get Copic markers to bleed through, but they aren't really something you'd write with.) SeQes notebooks are identical in size to the Leuchtturm1917 (A5), but the heavier paper means there are only 160 pages compared to the Leuchtturm1917's 251. It has the same dual marker design, a table of contents page in the front, and little storage envelope in the back. One nice extra I've come to appreciate is the included yearlong calendar insert. You also get a little etched ruler and some bullet journal-oriented stickers.
- Photograph: Scott Gilbertson
Best All-in-One Notebook
Traveler's Company Traveler's NotebookThe Traveler's Notebook has been my primary notebook for over two years. Aside from testing things for this guide, it is the only notebook I carry. It was originally released by the Japanese stationary company Midori but proved so popular it has become a separate company. This leather bound Traveller's Notebook is really just that—a leather binding which you can fill with whatever notebook (or notebooks) you want. For example I use the process described here to keep three notebooks within the covers on my traveler's notebook. I have one dot grid notebook for planning, one plain notebook as my journal, and one heavier paper notebook for sketching and Copic markers. There are other specialized notebooks available (here's a monthly diary and daily planner), as well as inserts to hold business cards and more. Plenty of third-party sellers on Amazon and Etsy offer all sorts of inserts, which may or may not fit.
As you would expect from a company spun out of Midori, all the paper is fantastic, though not great for fountain pens. I also like that there are replacement bands and closure loops, since closure loops especially always stretch out. At least with the Traveler's Notebook, you can replace the worn-out loops.
If there's a drawback here, it's the slightly odd size. The full-size Traveler's Notebook is 8.7 by 4.9 inches, which is slightly narrower than A5. It's a little odd, but I've grown used to it. There's also a “passport” size at 5.3 by 3.9 inches. Note that there are many imitators. I would avoid the cheap knockoffs that litter Amazon, but there are plenty of people on Etsy and elsewhere making very nice notebooks, often in different sizes. I love my A5 Falcon Traveler's Notebook (€64), which wasn't cheap, took ages to ship (it's handmade), but is a work of art.
- Photograph: Nena Farrell
Best Digital Notebook
reMarkable 2What if you want a digital notebook or journal? We've got a whole guide to the best Digital Notebooks and Smart Pens, but our favorite is the reMarkable 2. The matte screen feels like paper, or at least as close as a screen is likely to get. It's quick and responsive, and the battery life is excellent, regularly lasting for several weeks on a charge. There is also a new keyboard attachment ($199) if you want to type your notes in addition to writing, which is nice. (It's a great keyboard, very satisfying to type on.)
Once you've made your notes, you can organize them into notebooks and sort them with tags and folders. The reMarkable 2 can also function as an ereader. You can upload PDFs and ebooks to it via the company's app or website, and reMarkable has a Chrome extension that lets you send any webpage to read on the tablet. You can also integrate your notes into Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive. You may need a Connect subscription ($3 per month) to access syncing and unlimited cloud storage.
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Photograph: Xavier Lorenzo/Getty ImagesWhat to Look for in a Notebook
Find the Perfect Notebook For YouIs there such a thing as the best notebook? Probably not. Notebooks are not a one-size-fits all commodity. If none of these quite tilt your pen, here are some general things to look for in a paper notebook.
Paper quality: High-quality paper will improve your writing experience. That said, what constitutes high-quality paper depends a lot on your writing device. For example, heavy ink pens, like fountain pens, will require thicker paper to avoid ghosting (when the ink soaks through), while coarser paper might be better for sketching with a soft pencil. (Much of this depends on personal preference, too.) If you’re mainly jotting notes with a ballpoint pen, pretty much any paper will work.
Size and shape: For writing, I like vertically-oriented notebooks, roughly A5 shape, but for sketching and watercolors I prefer landscape-oriented notebooks. I know people who like the exact opposite. You'll have to find out what shape you like, but once you do you can narrow the field considerably. Also keep in mind that if you're carrying a notebook around all day, weight matters. Everyone has their own sweet spot between page count, weight, and size. You'll have to experiment to find what works for you.
Binding style: This might seem obscure, but how a notebook lies when it is open is very important, and how a notebook lies is largely determined by the binding. For example, some people (especially left-handed writers) love lay-flat notebooks because they lie totally flat, making them easier to write in. Other people like spiral binding because you can fold the entire notebook in half, and it's easy to tear out pages. Perfect-bound notebooks (the most common binding, think Moleskine) are much more sturdy than spiral bound but don't lie flat, and it's hard to tear out pages.
Page ruling: There are four common types of ruling: lined, dotted, grid, and none. The ruling is mostly a matter of taste, though I find dot grid essential for some project planning, especially anything involving measurements (like woodworking projects, for instance), so I always have a dot grid notebook around. Dot grid is also a popular choice for keeping a bullet journal.
Reusability: I've come to think of notebooks as two parts: the cover, and the pages. Notebooks with hard covers, like our top pick Leuchtturm1917, combine both in a single package, where softcover notebooks, like Field Notes or Moleskine Cahier notebooks, lend themselves to being slipped into an additional cover. What I like about keeping the two things separate is that my notebook always looks the same. The leather cover never changes, I just keep inserting new notebooks inside. There are covers for Leuchtturm notebooks, so you can do both if you want, but I find this makes the notebooks rather heavy.
Photograph: Scott GilbertsonHow We Tested
And What We LearnedThe first thing to consider is the paper. Paper ranges from the very heavy and smooth to light but ragged and everything in between. Every notebook we tested seemed different. Even the same weight of paper made by two different production companies can be different. The only real way to know what the paper is like, how much feathering you're going to get (when ink bleeds out from the edges, making blurry lines), is to put pen to paper, which is what we did. Many pens to many papers.
We studied the feathering, watched for ghosting (where the writing is visible from the other side of the page) and, gods forbid, bleeding (where ink actually soaks through to the next sheet). The texture of the paper is also important if you're sketching. Artists refer to this as the toothiness of the paper. The more tooth, the more the paper will hold your charcoal when sketching.
We took notes, doodled scribbles during boring meetings, brainstormed, made plans, even attempted to bullet journal (sorry, didn't take). We used gel pens, highlighters, fountain pens, ball point pens, micron pens, Copic markers, oil pastels, water colors, charcoal, soft graphite pencils, hard graphite pencils, the best mechanical pencil, erasers, and even White Out for thoroughness. But don't use White Out. Seriously.
We also enlisted some lefties to learn how various notebooks smudged and how comfortable they were for the left-handed among us. The result of all this testing was a cloud of notebook chaos, which we distilled down to these picks and which we believe are the best of each of our use cases. That said, if you think we missed something, drop your favorite in the comments below and we'll check it out for future updates to this guide.
