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There's no better place than a paper notebook to pour out your blood, sweat, and tears. It helps you to slow down and be more thoughtful about what you write, whether it's deep, dark secrets or lyrics to the song you're writing. With so many different variations out there, we want to help you sort through all of your options. Read on to find what kind of paper notebook is best for you!
Characteristics of Notebooks and Notepads
Standard size notebooks and notepads are usually letter or legal size (U.S.), or A4 (ISO 216 international paper size standard). These notebooks are best for taking notes at school or work. Notebooks about half that size (A5) are usually used as journals and small sketchbooks. Another popular size is B5, which is in between A4 and A5. We think B5 notebooks are "just right"--not so big that it becomes a hassle to lug around and not so small that you can't finish your thoughts in one page. There are also people who prefer pocket sizes (A6), as they're much easier to carry around. For more pocket notebook picks, please click here and here.
You've probably seen lined or even blank notebooks, but there are many other styles out there that you can consider depending on your application.
The dotted line pattern is a ruled style that features evenly spaced dots along the lines. This is great for students as it helps keep notes organized and neat when writing and drawing diagrams at the same time.
Doane Paper features an innovative style of Grid + Lines. Lines are wide-ruled and bolded, while the 5 mm grid is a light blue shade.
Most people use medium (college) ruled paper, which is 7 mm. Wide ruled (8 mm and up) paper is usually used in grade school, or for people who have larger handwriting. People with very small handwriting can also use narrow ruled (6 mm) paper. For graph styles, the standard size is 5 mm, and although less common, 3 mm grids are also available for those who do very detailed work.
Glue binding tends to not be as secure as other types of binding. Traditionally, glue-bound notebooks don't lay completely flat, though this is not the case anymore with the advent of "lay-flat technology". Some glue-bound notebooks are made intentionally so that pages can be removed easily. You can see this in top-bound sketchbooks and the like, which is perfect for those who need to remove their work from the notebook cleanly.
Staple binding is used for thinner notebooks (roughly 64 pages or less). Staples are placed in the middle of the pages and then the pages are folded into a notebook. Some notepads have staple bindings at the top of the notebook, where pages have to be folded back or removed in order to use the next page. Look for staple bindings when choosing a pocket or thin notebook.
Thread or stitched binding is similar to staple binding, as thread is stitched through the middle of the pages and then folded to create the notebook. Unlike staple binding, thread binding can accommodate more pages, and it is sturdier. This binding style is ideal for people who need more pages and more stability in their notebook.
A combination of thread and glue allows for a more tightly bound notebook that can also lay flat. It's also not limited by number of pages. This type is great for people who prefer a sleek notebook with a sturdier binding.
Spiral notebooks have a spiral wire running through the pages. Though secure, we're not fond of the way the wider spiral moves out of place every time we open and close our notebooks and how easily they're bent. Tightly wound spirals are a better choice if you're looking for a spiral notebook because they are sturdier and less likely to move out of place.
Paper weight is expressed as grammage (grams per square meter) or pounds (in the States). Paper weight does not necessarily correlate to the quality of the paper. Some with lower paper weights, such as Tomoe River paper at 58 gsm but made for fountain pens, are very high quality. On the whole, heavier paper (101 gsm and up) is thicker and more durable. They can withstand more robust erasing and have less show-through. People who draw or who write on both sides of the paper should consider heavier paper.
Number of Sheets
Notebooks don't just come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, they also vary in the number of sheets within the notebook. Some people prefer thinner notebooks, while others need an encyclopedia-like notebook to chronicle their thoughts. If you want more pages without the extra weight, try finding paper with a lower weight. You'll be amazed by how many more sheets you can carry!
Cover Material and Design
Covers for notebooks range from thicker cardstock to hard cardboard to premium flexible plastic to luxurious leatherette covers. If you tend to lug your notebook around with you everywhere, you should choose a sturdier cover that can withstand a few knocks. Covers with rounded corners are also a good choice, since they won't get worn down or accidentally folded. We like covers that multitask; for example, a cover with pockets so you can slip in business cards or other loose leaf paper.
Whether it's tearing out homework that has to be turned in or an awesome sketch that you just have to frame, perforated notebooks are handy to have, especially in a school or professional setting. Look for perforation with dots set closely together for that smooth, easy tear. Perforations that are not set close enough usually need "help" by folding or creasing the paper in order for it to rip, and even then it may be difficult to get a clean tear.
Some manufacturers provide covers to protect their notebooks, making them refillable. After you finish one notebook, simply buy a refill and you can continue using the cover. This is great for people who keep their notebooks after they're finished with it since the refills match, making them easier to stack and store.
For General Use
If you use notebooks to write down phone numbers, recipes, or other miscellaneous items, your needs are simple. A basic ruled notebook in a compact A5 size would be sufficient to keep your information organized. We like using the Apica CD Notebooks for their simplicity and light weight. You can carry them around with you, and with their attractive, stylish covers, why wouldn't you?
Recommended product: Apica CD Notebooks.
Also consider: Rhodia Pad No. 18.
Students use notebooks for a variety of tasks, including taking notes during lectures, writing down assignments, doing homework, and more. We're partial to a particular ruled style from Japan called dotted lines. The dots are evenly spaced so that when you're simultaneously taking notes and making diagrams, you can use the dots as guidelines and keep your notes organized and easy to read. The Kokuyo Campus Notebooks are perfect for students. They're color-coded so you can have one for each class, and they feature the versatile dotted lines pattern.
Recommended product: Kokuyo Campus Notebook.
Also consider: Lihit Lab Twist Ring Notebooks.
Whether your journal is a chronicle of your life, a dream recorder, or a place for you to put your thoughts and feelings, our favorite part of keeping a journal is looking back at completed journals and seeing how we've changed over time. Refillable notebooks are great for this, since you can organize your old notebooks in a bookshelf somewhere and reuse the notebook cover. For a journal that is luxurious and functional, the Exacompta is our pick. It has a lovely leatherette cover that protects your journal and perforated edges to keep your place as you write.
Recommended product: Exacompta Journal.
Also consider: Palomino Blackwing Luxury Notebook.
For Sketching and Visual Thinking
For all you visual thinkers out there, we recommend completely blank pages, so your imagination can run wild. You never know where or when inspiration may strike, so having a notebook with a hard cover will help protect it as you carry it around. The legendary Moleskine notebook is a great choice with its durable cover and creamy blank pages. It opens flat so you can sketch away to your heart's content.
Recommended product: Moleskine Classic Pocket Notebook.
Also consider: Art Alternatives Pen & Ink Sketchbook.
For Engineering and Design
For engineers, architects, and designers, we recommend using graph paper notebooks. You can present your work in a clean and clear fashion within the grid guidelines, and keep everything neat and to scale. Aptly named after the Greek goddess of memory, the Maruman Mneosyne Notebook features subtle light gray graph lines that will help your work stand out. Its flexible but sturdy cover, durable ring binding, and carefully perforated paper all speak to its high quality.
Recommended product: Maruman Mnemosyne Imagination Notebook.
Also consider: Life Expert Notebook.
For Fountain Pen Users
Fountain pen users often struggle to find a paper that will prevent the much dreaded effects of feathering and bleed-through. Ideally, the paper will be dense, but smooth and silky, and not so absorbent that it bleeds through to the other side. We recommend looking for notebooks that are specifically made with fountain pens in mind. We like using the remarkably smooth paper of the Clairefontaine Collection 1951 Notebook with our fountain pens. It's definitely a match made in heaven!
Recommended product: Clairefontaine Collection 1951 Notebook
Also consider: Kokuyo High Grade MIO.
For Carpentry, Workshop, or Garage
If you're looking for something a little grittier, or a notebook that can get down and dirty, we recommend looking for notebooks with an unpolished cover, such as chipboard or craft covers. These kinds of rugged notebooks will fit right into your workshop or garage. Doane notebooks do just that. With their sturdy twin ring binding and unfinished chipboard cover, you don't have to worry about damaging or being overly careful with them.
Recommended product: Doane Paper Grid + Lines Idea Journal.
Also consider: Field Notes.
Some notebooks feature innovative, eco-friendly paper. One type of paper that particularly stood out to us is Repap paper, found in Ogami Professional Notebooks. The paper is made from limestone and ecological resins. Unfortunately, most fountain pen inks will bleed on this paper, so this is a skip for fountain pen users!
Recommended product: Ogami Professional Notebooks - Hardcover.
Also consider: Kokuyo ReEDEN Notebooks.
Even though people have taken to storing information in digital clouds, we still reach for our paper notebooks. We feel a little bit like Lord Voldemort when we say this, but it's like the notebook contains a part of our soul after we've written in it. Do you feel that way? Let us know what you put in your notebooks in the comments below!
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