Best notebooks & writing pads according to Reddit
Reddit mentions of Refillable Leather Journal Vintage Travelers Notebook Set, 4.7" x 8.6" &3.9" x 5.2", with Pen Holder, for Men Women Writing Gift, by ZLYC, Dark Coffee
Sentiment score: 5
Reddit mentions: 8
We found 8 Reddit mentions of Refillable Leather Journal Vintage Travelers Notebook Set, 4.7" x 8.6" &3.9" x 5.2", with Pen Holder, for Men Women Writing Gift, by ZLYC, Dark Coffee. Here are the top ones.
- Fine Leather Cover: Handcarfted of 100% genuine full grain cow leather. The more you use, the better and softer it will be
- Perfect Size: Standard size 4.7" x 8.6"x 1.1"; Passport size 3.9" x 5.2" x 0.9"; Pencil case 1.4" x 5.9". 2 travelers notebooks in different size, easy to carry with you in your daily life or journey, to suit any needs
- Set of Three: 1 standard size notebook (3 inserts + 1 plastic credit card /zip pocket + 2 elastic in black /orange); a passport size notebook(3 inserts + 2 elastic in black/orange); 1 leather pen holder
- Refillable: Our each journal come with 3 decent kraft inserts - 32 sheets /64 pages of lined, black and calendar pages. The calendar pages have 31 months for you to record. They work well for writing, sketching, planning and coloring. And our journals are refillable, so you can use the notebook for lifetime with new pages. Save your money!
- Wonderful Gift: Come with our ZLYC cloth bag, great for giving as a unique and meaningful gift for travelers. writers or students. Surprise them with this amazing gift!
Features:
Specs:
| Color | Dark coffee |
| Height | 1.1 Inches |
| Length | 8.6 Inches |
| Number of items | 3 |
| Weight | 1.212542441 Pounds |
| Width | 4.7 Inches |
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#21 of 1,157
http://www.amazon.com/ZLYC-Handmade-Refillable-Travelers-Journals/dp/B00ME26WYU/ref=pd_sim_op_38?ie=UTF8&refRID=062CJZEBB2KV5PA4V17G
There are thin elastic bands holding the paper notebooks in place - there's no fear of anything falling out, it's a really neat system (it comes with one notebook, and you can easily add 2 more.) The Midori, I've found, to be among the best, but also most costly. There is a knockoff brand, ZLYC that I bought. The paper is thicker, but not as fountain pen friendly, lots of inks seem to feather on it. The elastic bands are also thicker, and it's harder for this one to lay flat easily. The ZLYC comes with 3 notebook already installed. ZLYC is amazing for the price, just not quite as friendly to use.
edit: check out the 4th photo on the ZLYC link I gave you, it gives you some idea how the orange elastic holds the notebooks in place.
edit2: check out /r/midori and see what all those folks have to say, they also demonstrate the Fauxdori knockoffs that work really well also.
I've been using a Zlyc brand Fauxdori, been quite happy with it. Quality is ace and fits all the Midori brand inserts fine. Default package comes with a large size, passport size and pen sleeve for $40.
https://www.amazon.com/ZLYC-Refillable-Handmade-Travelers-Notebook/dp/B00ME26WYU/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1478469510&sr=1-1&keywords=zlyc+traveler%27s+notebook
I have this one and love it
https://www.amazon.com/Refillable-Leather-Travelers-Notebook-ZLYC/dp/B00ME26WYU
There seems to be good reviews of this TN clone here on Reddit. ZLYC Leather Travelers Notebook - no affiliation. You could then print out your own inserts if you want to go the TN route.
5x8" = A5 size, roughly. Jet Pens has the most comprehensive notebook buying guide. It and Goulet have a notebook search with the "size=A5" filter that would be a great way to see what's out there.
I got my brother a Leuchtturm 1917 and he thinks it's pretty nice. Dot grid with page numbers too. You'll hear a lot of people say it's inferior paper for fountain pens compared to the Rhodia Webnotebook, but it does absorb and dry ink quicker so when you have to close the book and go, the ink doesn't smear onto the opposite page. I personally love my webnotebook but it does take a little while before I'm comfortable flipping onto the next page. The ultimate A5 notebook is the Nanami Seven Seas Writer with 480 pages of Tomoe River paper (the fountain pen holy grail paper), but it always sells out when it comes on sale. I just checked their website and they're restocking "Late May" which could be any time in the next couple of weeks, so keep your eye out!
Edit: didn't see your college budget: Black n Red notebooks are budget- and fountain pen-friendly. They're $6-7 a pop, available in twin-wire or hardcover, so go hog wild.
I have been trying to compare the differences between Foxy Fix and Chic Sparrow myself. I have a standard TN in brown from Traveler's Company and was looking to expand into one of the softer leathers. Here is what I found out:
Chic Sparrow has sizing charts that are very well explained. The pocket version would be the size that most matches the TN Passport, though it will also fit field notes and moleskien small notebook
Foxy Fix has sizing charts that are done in measurements only. The No7 size is a standard TN size-ish. The No2 would match the passport/fieldnotes/moleskin small size.
As far as other shops, check etsy. There are a lot of them all over the place. In addition to that, you can look at Amazon.com and try the ZYLC line of TN's I think that for the price of one book you can get one of each size and a pen holder. I have one of these as well and just got the passport size for my husband. The leather is good. And it comes with inserts.
Let us know what you end up getting!
I got a set from Amazon instead by ZLYC: for $37 at the moment
When I got them, the original was still more expensive, but right now it would be similar (this is for one, not a set).
Quality-wise, the ZLYC ones were a bit disappointing. The leather is okay, but not great and the included elastics look nice but are quite large. Similarly, the included paper is okay for pencils, but rough and feathers with ink.
By comparison, I had a look at the Midori one at a local bookstore and it definitely felt much, much nicer.
Since the refills are a non-standard size, you can either order them online or cut down more standard sizes. Alternatively, the copies (also called fauxdori in reference to midori) can be found in standard sizes.
Personally, I went back to leuchtturm hardcover notebooks in A5, but that is personal preference.
Ever consider one of these ZLYC fauxdori covers? I have the green one and it's awesome. Midori inserts fit perfectly. I also have a Word notebook in there which hangs over a tiny bit, but I actually sort of like it because the covers are so fun. These ZLYCs are shockingly great quality especially for the price. If you really want to go all in, you can get a set with a passport size and regular size for $40 total. The value is kind of insane.