(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
It’s been a couple of years since I last reviewed a notebook from Word Notebooks, but I’ve always kept one of their notebooks close by for different uses. One of the more recent versions I’ve picked up is the standard orange covers. With a cover like that, do I really need to explain why I picked them up? The orange covers are unmistakably orange, but they also aren’t the fluorescent orange that pops out and demands attention. Apart from the simple Word logo branding, the notebooks are just plain, beautiful orange.
Word Notebooks come in a three-pack and all feature Word’s own lined ruling with a signature circle check mark on the left side of the page. I’m a fan of the check mark system because it’s there when you need it, but doesn’t stand out if you just want to use the notebook to jot down unordered ideas or notes. There are 48 pages in each notebook, and they’re staple bound with rounded corners. Standard specs for the pocket notebook realm, but it’s really the ruling (and check mark circles) and wide variety of cover colors and designs that set Word apart.
When you get into the notebook, you find a standard middle-of-the-road paper inside. It performs beautifully with gel pens, pencils, and ballpoints, but shows some feathering and major show-through for wet rollerballs and fountain pens. This is also pretty normal for the pocket notebook category. After all, these notebooks are about convenience and portability over paper quality. The paper can certainly handle most inks, but just remember that the ink will bleed and feather, and you might not be able to use the back of the page. It’s a smooth, white paper that is pleasant to use.
Another thing that we all expect in a new notebook is the area at the front of the notebook to write down our name, contact information, etc. in case we lose the notebook or just for archival purposes. This seems so normal now, but I’m curious if people actually use these pages as intended. Regardless of how you use the front page of your notebooks, Word provides a familiar template with which to start.
Conveniently, the inside of the front cover also includes a quick legend (or suggestions) for using their check mark circles. If you’re familiar with the Bullet Journal system, this will look very familiar.
In all, not much has changed in the past two years in regards to Word notebooks, and that’s a good thing. I always enjoy using these books, and always keep some in stock. If you haven’t tried Word notebooks yet, find a design that speaks to you and give them a try! If orange isn’t your think, there are numerous other delightful options. Word Notebooks come in at around $10 for a three-pack.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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