Moleskine

Does it lay flat?  Of course not².  How’s the paper?  Thin as a legal pad’s and too smooth to reliably get a roller ball writing.  Also, it’s worth noting that after opening it this far for the picture, it didn’t want to close completely even with the help of the elastic band.

Leuchtturm1917 A6 Softcover Grid

Next, we have the Leuchtturm1917 (pronounced LOYCH-turm) soft cover in pocket size (A6).  This is a good notebook with great features such as:  Lay flat design³, numbered pages, perforated pages in the rear, archival stickers in the pocket⁴, and a table of contents in the beginning.

As you might be able to see, this is their grid orientation.  Unfortunately, the grid is sub 5mm making it a bit too small for my enjoyment.

FIELD NOTES

I don’t remember where I got this Field Notes notebook.  Just in case you’ve been living under a rock ⁵ this is a passport style notebook.  If you followed our method for getting started, you’ve probably seen these.  I like them, they’re nice.  But, I like thicker notebooks better.  If you’ve only used these you owe it to yourself to try a “big boy/girl” notebook.

Conceptum A5 by Sigel

Speaking of which,  here’s my current favorite.  The Conceptum by Sigel in Steno-size (A5).  This thing has too many features to list here but let’s just say it has ALL THE FEATURES⁶!  My only complaint is that faux stitching around the cover.  It looks okay from afar but up close it reminds me of those “nice” editions of classic literature found at Barnes and Noble.  Nice from afar but SUPER cheesy up close.

As you can see it lays “mostly” flat and in fact it lays completely flat when using.  With great paper and generous ruling, writing in this notebook is a pleasure.  Who cares about a little fake stitching!?

Blackwing Slate

Finally, we come to the Blackwing Slate.  You may have noticed something odd about these pictures.  Yes, they all have the same pencil.  That’s a Blackwing 602 and it came with this notebook.  It’s an amazing pencil (yes, pencils can be amazing too).

This thing has great paper and thanks to it’s unique binding ⁷it lays completely flat making it a pleasure to write in.  Unfortunately, it isn’t available in pocket sized (A6)…yet.

I hope this was helpful.  As of the time of writing, these were all available online.  Enjoy and write well!

1. Although they usually are just terrible
2. In fact I’m holding it open at the bottom of the page!
3. Although, the hardcover does not lay flat.  Thought you should know.
4. These should be put on when you retire the notebook.  They won’t hold up to the rigors of carry.  Also, it’s a notebook not a stickerbook, Punky Brewster!
5. Does Notebook beat rock the same way paper does?
6. 2 bookmarks, standard pocket in back with a card holder in it, smaller pocket in the front cover, perforated pages in the back, table of contents, numbered pages and a pen/pencil loop!!!!
7. The website says it’s “double bound” and I have no idea what that means and I don’t care.  They could have called it nooks and crannies binding and I still wouldn’t care!  I just love it!