Posts filed under Notebook Reviews

Maruman Reccer B7 Memo Pad Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

No matter what my favorite notebook or paper is at any given point of time, I always need a small notepad or notebook on my desk or wherever I'm hanging out. The most recent memo pad I've kept at my desk is the Reccer from Maruman. This B7 memo pad is small enough to fit anywhere, but just large enough for jotting down quick notes or sketches.

B7 isn't one of the more common sizes, so here's some specs. At just 67x132mm or 2.6x5.2 inches, you can easily throw this little pad in a pocket or bag when you are on the go, but it can also fit in just about any small space on your workspace. The paper is typical Maruman quality and weighs in at 70gsm. The paper is lined with 5.5mm spacing, and the lines alternate between solid and dotted. There aren't any page numbers or spaces for dates, titles, etc. All 50 sheets (100 pages) are perforated for easy removal.

The main reason this little memo pad has been such a hit for me is the paper quality. It's not terribly thick, but it handles ink incredibly well. The paper is smooth and provides a little feedback. There's also minimal show-through on the back side of the page, so both sides are completely usable. I'm really surprised by how little show-through there is for 70gsm paper. It feels and acts more like 80 or 90gsm. Not bad!

The twin spiral top binding is petite, but still strong. The diameter is large enough to make flipping through the pages easy. The bottom corners are rounded off so there aren't any sharp corners to snag on fabric. Overall, this memo pad is an exceptional tool to keep on your workspace, in your bag, or even on your person. It's versatile and easy to carry while also being just big enough to remain functional.

At just $3, the Maruman Reccer is also a great value. Since picking one up, I've learned that I need a few more to stash in different places.

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

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Posted on August 23, 2023 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Maruman, Notebook Reviews.

Endless Explorer Refillable Journal 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. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

The Endless Explorer Refillable Journal is Endless's take on the classic modular notebook system. It's a minimal design, just a leather cover with a system of elastics to hold up to three notebook inserts. The inserts are Endless's Storyboard notebooks.

The inserts themselves are very nice. They have a sewn binding that holds 64 pages of dot-grid Tomoe River paper. The Explorer pack only comes with one insert, so others would have to be purchased separately to get the full benefit of the system. The set also has the option of adding a pen holder that is also an elastic band that wraps around the cover vertically. It can wrap around the whole cover and serve as a closure strap, or just around the front cover. Either way, I found it mostly got in the way, either acting as an obstacle to getting into the notebook, or as something bulky that made for a lumpy writing surface when using the back side of pages. If you don't write on the back side of pages, it may work well for you.

Tomoe River paper hardly needs further review; it's still the best out there, in my opinion. This is the 68 gsm weight, and it can handle anything, even Sharpie, with just some faint ghosting. Because it's so lightweight, the inserts look slim while still packing a generous number of pages.

The elastics that hold the inserts in place are nicely finished so there are no knots or frayed ends loose in the book, and the elastic has a nice amount of tension so that it holds the notebooks snugly, preventing them from wiggling or sliding out when you don't want them to.

The system comes in a very fancy presentation box with a drawer that pulls out from the side. The box can then be used as an archive for filled inserts, though it's a bit bulky for that purpose. An included paper provides instructions for how to insert multiple notebooks, as well as a way to register your notebook system. It all feels very high-end and snazzy.

The Endless Explorer Notebook system sells for between $40-$50, with inserts that cost around $10, depending on where you get them. That's a very fair price for the quality, and it's in line with similar notebook systems. And there are a lot of similar systems. Where this one differs is in finishing touches--especially those neatly finished elastics. It's also a good size. It's smaller than an A5, but wider than the Traveler's Company notebook, making it a nice middle ground as far as portability and writing comfort. There are a lot of options to choose from in this style these days, but I think this Endless version is a particularly nice one.

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

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Posted on July 13, 2023 by Sarah Read and filed under Endless Notebook, Notebook Reviews.

Delfonics Rollbahn Horizontal Spiral Notebook Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

I love it when notebook makers try out different formats for niche purposes, and that's exactly what we have here with the Delfonics Rollbahn Horizontal spiral notebook. It's similar in size to an A6 reporter's notebook, but it's intended to be used horizontally underneath or next to a laptop, mouse, keyboard, or other tools. The extra horizontal width makes it ideal for writing out notes, but does the short vertical space become too cramped for heavy use?

Let's start by measuring this notebook and looking at the specifications. It's rather small at just 6.7 inches (16.9 cm) by 4.3 inches (10.9 cm) overall, and the usable sheet sizes are actually 5.8 inches (14.7 cm) by 4.1 inches (10.5 cm). While the notebook is a little larger overall, the sheet sizes are almost exactly A6, which is what you find in small planners like the Hobonichi Techo. It's a usable size that provides a bit more real estate than the typical pocket notebook, but it also doesn't take up much space on the desk. On top of that, the spiral binding means you can fold it over on itself so that it doesn't take up twice the space when open.

Inside, there are 60 sheets of cream paper with a 5mm grid pattern and no other markings or templates. Each sheet is perforated at the top for easy and clean removal, and there's also a few (5) transparent pockets in the back of the notebook that hold a torn out sheet of paper perfectly. The front and back covers are sturdy and minimally decorated. The back cover is a thick cardstock that has a tiny Delfonics logo imprinted at the bottom of the long side, and the front features some Rollbahn branding. Holding everything together is a color-matching elastic band that has an ideal amount of tension to keep the book closed while still be easy to operate.

The paper is really nice to use, though I'm not sure what they mean when they say the paper is "wood-free" in the marketing materials. If it's not some kind of wood-based pulp, what is it? Some other fiber? It definitely doesn't feel like stone paper. Either way, it's really smooth and handles ink incredibly well. It performs similarly to other 80gsm notebooks I have, so I'd guess it's somewhere in that ballpark. Ink dries quickly, there's hardly any show through on the back side, and there wasn't any feathering on most inks — I only saw feathering with one fountain pen ink, but it wasn't terrible by any means. I'd say this is very fountain pen friendly, and also does splendidly with any other pen or pencil.

Back to the form factor, which is the main reason I think this product exists. There are several other notebooks that aim to fill the space beneath your keyboard, but they're quite a bit wider and offer a lot more writing space at the expense of desk real estate. But what if you don't want the notebook under your keyboard, but to the side instead? That's where I think this format shines. It's wide enough to provide a lot of space for jotting down notes and sketches, but doesn't require much desk space at all. In fact, it works great as a makeshift wrist wrest under your mouse or pointing device.

There clearly isn't enough space for this to take over a bigger notebook, but it just fits so well into small spaces. I'm not a huge fan of the cream colored paper, but I've been reaching for this notebook often even still just because I like the size and format. The small grid is exactly what I'm used to, and I find there's plenty of space for me on a page with my relatively small writing style.

At $14, it does come at a premium compared to other notebooks. The robust spiral binding, hard covers, and elastic closure are the bonus parts here that contribute to the higher price tag, as other small notebooks are just barebones notebooks with a sewn binding. The Delfonics Rollbahn Horizontal spiral notebook definitely feels like a well-made and well-designed product, so I think the price is fair for what you get. If these specs stand out to you, then you'll know if it will serve you well over a more basic notebook. And if you want to pick one up, there are several color options to choose from! I love the dark blue I have, but that turquoise is really calling my name.

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

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Posted on July 5, 2023 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Delfonics, Notebook Reviews.