(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
As far as notebooks go, my expectations are pretty simple. My needs can vary a great deal when it comes to size, legend (lined, grid, etc.), thickness, cover, and writing purpose, but a notebook is still a notebook at the end of the day. If I find a good notebook that I enjoy using, I don't really care what brand it is.
It seems that Faber-Castell is dipping their toes into the Moleskine / Leuchtturm waters by offering a new hardcover notebook that mimics the style of other popular brands. Seemingly every paper brand has a version of the hardcover notebook with an elastic closure and little pockets on the inside cover, but that doesn't mean they all perform well. If you're going to throw yet another notebook with almost identical specs into the pool, it better be good.
Luckily, Faber-Castell seem to have struck a fantastic balance when it comes to the paper quality in their hardcover notebook offering. It's rated as 100gsm, which is a little on the thick side, but it still feels lightweight and pliable. The writing surface is smooth with just the right amount of tactile feedback, giving you a great writing experience. With 194 pages, you also get a few more sheets than other comparable notebooks, but Leuchtturm still has them beat on this metric.
Honestly, I didn't know what to expect when I opened this notebook because Faber-Castell is an unknown quantity in the notebook realm — at least in the US. I wasn't sure if it would be a serious competitor (like Blackwing's paper line) or just another half-assed copy cat meant to rake in some extra revenue through marketing hype and popular trends. I was pleasantly surprised when I started using this notebook. I found the writing experience quite enjoyable, and I would have no problem recommending this notebook to anyone.
The paper has a darker cream color than I normally prefer, but it's not too bad. The grid ink is also a bit dark for my taste, but this has more to do with the fact that I don't use grid paper very often (because dot grids are superior). I'm just not used to seeing this many lines on blank paper. But, when writing or drawing, the grids still easily get out of my way or help me stay aligned based on what I'm doing. In terms of paper and grids, it's great!
I tested this paper with several different pen and ink types and didn't notice any adverse effects. No bleeding, feathering, or splotchiness, and surprisingly little show-through on the back side. This paper is definitely safe to use on both sides due to how little show-through is there. I'm actually pretty impressed by this. Sure, the paper is rated at 100gsm, but it feels lighter. I was expecting more show-through because of this, but I'm happy to be wrong.
The other areas of the notebook are, frankly, boring. We've all used a hardcover A5 notebook — probably several different types from different brands. It functions great as a notebook. It stays open when in use, it stays shut when not in use. The pockets in the front and back are useful, and it also includes the token stickers for labeling the cover. There's even a couple of table of contents pages at the front of the notebook. The last page has a nice metric ruler, a la Field Notes style for making quick measurements in a pinch. And, of course, you get a bookmark and an elastic band to keep the notebook securely closed. Unlike many other notebooks, the elastic band is round instead of a flat ribbon. I like this change because it makes the band easier to pluck with your fingers when it's time to open the notebook. The flat band is great, but I usually have to slide it to the side to get my finger underneath it. The round band is just easier to use.
Overall, the Faber-Castell A5 hardcover notebook is a great product. I wasn't expecting much, but I'm happy to report that this is a real contender in the notebook space. At $23 MSRP, it's fairly priced.
(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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