Posts filed under Notebook Reviews

Tsubame Fools Cream B5 Notebook Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

Have you got something fancy to write, or something boring to write that needs a little spice? Definitely check out the Tsubame notebooks. These flew under my radar for a while, and now the oversight seems scandalous. These are great notebooks.

The cover is sturdy cardstock, and the single signature is secured with sewn binding. With a bit of training, it lays open flat. The spine is protected with a lovely, rustic bit of gauze tape that adds strength and texture.

Inside, there are 32 sheets of cream-colored, acid-free, 7mm lined, 83.5 gsm paper. This paper shouts "luxury" and "workhorse" at the same time--a rare but noteworthy feat. The paper is crisp with great tooth, but feels smooth. There is a subtle watermark to it that is most apparent when it is held up to the light. There are also grid dots along the bottom, to assist with any vertical alignment you might need with your text, if you're using it for notes or outlines.

This paper handles ink like a boss. I threw all kinds of things at it, and the only thing I could get to bleed at all was sharpie. Nothing, not even my dribbly flex nib, feathered. The back side of the page shows hardly any ghosting. It's a bit more absorbent than more heavily-coated papers, so it doesn't show quite as much sheen, but there is still some. And, due to that cushy paper, it dries more quickly, too.

Overall, I really like this notebook. The 32 sheets leave me wanting more, though, and I wish there were other sizes. It does come in graph and plain varieties as well, which is very nice. Each notebook is $8.50, a bit steep for something I could fill in one sitting. Because of that, I won't be collecting these, but I will be enjoying the one I have.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Sarah Read and filed under Tsubame Fools, Notebook Reviews.

Yamamoto Ro-Biki Reticle Notebook Review

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

The Yamamoto Ro-Biki notebook is a non-standard notebook in terms of size and materials, but it really pays off in the end. When I first saw the Ro-Biki, I was pessimistic about the weird size and assumed I would never be able to find a use for a notebook of that size. But, after looking at the months and months of notes I take for work, I realized that my notes naturally fit the tall and slender shape of the Ro-Biki even though the page was wider. So, I decided to purchase one of the Ro-Biki notebooks to see if the size would work for me.

At 3.6 x 8.3 inches, the notebook has a similar size to the Traveler's brand notebooks. Tall and skinny, it works great for jotting down quick notes but also still fits into most pockets as long as vertical space isn't an issue. Since the size is basically a Field Notes with three extra inches on top, it was really easy to become comfortable with the size.

The Ro-Biki only contains 30 sheets (60 pages), but that's still a few more than you find in a standard Field Notes book. Yamamoto explains that the paper is from recycled materials, but I honestly can't tell a difference from other papers of the same thickness. What I can tell you, though, is that the Ro-Biki recycled paper is a stellar performer with any pen and ink combo you throw at it. This paper is exceptional!

The paper feel is smooth with the slightest amount of texture that you can feel when writing. The version I chose has a 5mm reticle grid pattern that has really grown on me. They make a standard graph paper, but only in 2mm or 4.5mm sizes. Like dot-grid, the reticle pattern provides a lot of structure on the page if you need it, but it also easily melts away if you don't need the lines and intersections.

The cover is made of an interesting "wax-infused kraft paper" that is delightful to touch and handle. Even though it is wax infused, I don't get a sense of waxy fingers after I've touched it. This has happened to me with some waxed canvas goods I've used in the past, and I can't say I enjoyed that experience. I'm glad that the Ro-Biki notebook cover has the protection of wax without the waxy feel. Another positive of the wax is that it gives the cover a nice sheen, and it will also develop over time as it picks up oils, dirt, and other particles from your journey.

The notebook is held together with a great-looking stitch, and I've had no issues with the notebook staying open and also feeling well-constructed. This book will hold up to back pocket and bag use, and the additional strength that the wax gives the cover will ensure it stays intact until you finish filling the pages.

The Yamamoto Ro-Biki was a notebook I quickly overlooked when it was introduced on JetPens, but I'm glad I took the time to look again. This is a notebook format that I have quickly become a fan of, and the paper quality will keep me coming back for more.

If reticle grid isn't your thing, Yamamoto has several other options that range in paper style and cover art. The Ro-Biki notebooks cost $9 a piece, which is a bit pricy compared to other small pocket notebooks. But, given the extra sheets, the taller size, the materials, and the superb paper quality, I think this is a fantastic price for what you get. These have easily shot to the top of my favorite notebooks, and I can't recommend them enough!

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on January 23, 2019 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Yamamoto, Notebook Reviews.

Midori MD Notebook Light A5 Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

The Midori MD notebooks easily make it into my top three at every incarnation, and these Light versions are no different. I mean, as far as awesomeness. They're different from the other MD notebooks in that they are lighter, as you might have guessed. These books come in a 3-pack of 48-page, staple-bound goodness. They're great if you need something light to carry, but with more work space than a pocket notebook. They make great planning books, or overflow books for when you run out of pages in your main notebook but still need a bit of space to finish a project.

The construction is simple, but good. Plain cream cardstock with an embossed logo, triple-staple-bound with gorgeous ivory Midori paper. The staples appear to be brass, though I haven't found confirmation of this. The cardstock cover is meant to be covered in some way (though mine hasn't been--the pale cardstock does show dirt and wear quickly) and you can fit two of these slim books into a Midori cover (or probably any A5 cover). They'd make amazing inserts for a traveler's notebook.

The light versions come in all the Midori sizes: A6, B6 slim, A5, and A4 variant; they all come in blank, 5 mm grid, and lined. The grid is a bit small for handwriting, unless you have wee letters and a very fine pen. The print is very fair, though, so when you need space, it fades into the background. They all come with a sheet of labeling and indexing stickers.

The paper, like all Midori paper I've used, is phenomenal. It's thick, crisp, has just the right amount of tooth, and hosts liquid inks like a boss. It doesn't feather, it shows off beautiful sheening and shading, and doesn't allow bleed-through. There is a faint ghosty show-through, but I actually love that (and it's not prominent). The only thing it couldn't handle was Sharpie, the lightsaber of inks. With all this ink imperviousness, though, comes a long dry time. About 30 seconds for a wet line of fountain pen ink. But that's what blotting paper is for.

Like their heftier cousins, these are notebooks I want to stockpile. Stacked like firewood for rainy days, when the ink is flowing and the nibs are rolling. This three-pack is only $13 at JetPens, or just under $4.50 a book. That is crazy good value. Let the stockpiling commence.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!