B5 notebooks

[reprieve]

After years of switching back and forth between A5 (too small) and A4 (too large) notebooks, I've recently discovered that B5 is the perfect size for me. Does anyone else prefer this in-between size? What are your favorite B5 notebooks?

[Newjelan]

I agree with you and am a fan of B5 notebooks. As a left-hander, I also find B5 ideal for meetings since I'm usually cramped for space with all those right-handers hogging my side of the table. I use Life! Notebooks & some "unknown" brands from a Japanese chain in Australia (called Daiso) that have a good, low cost range with nice paper.

[earthdawn]

I love this size as well...

I just got these in from Japan today! Santa Trading on Amazon. Took 3 weeks to arrive but shipping was free for a total of $9.40 usd.

http://i880.photobucket.com/albums/ac10/thevaporcafe/F024DE44-BFC8-4C64-BC18-71668C342C83_zpsamqzsofx.jpg (http://s880.photobucket.com/user/thevaporcafe/media/F024DE44-BFC8-4C64-BC18-71668C342C83_zpsamqzsofx.jpg.html)

[reprieve]

I like the Campus notebooks, too. I have been using those and B5 Apica notebooks.

Has anyone had any luck finding a B5 sized Moleskine/Leuchtturm-style notebook? I have a couple of the large TWSBI notebooks, and those have worked out pretty well, though I would like something with a slightly higher build quality. I also have a Semikolon Professional (http://www.amazon.com/Semikolon-Professional-Notebook-Black-0150007/dp/B007QVFEG6), but it doesn't have an elastic closure or a pocket (also the paper ruling is wiiiiiide). Has anyone found any other options?

[klpeabody]

I think the Quo Vadis Habana comes in B5 size. They are definitely at a higher price point than Leuctturm, but I think the build-quality you are looking for is there.

[Cookies]

I think the Quo Vadis Habana comes in B5 size. They are definitely at a higher price point than Leuctturm, but I think the build-quality you are looking for is there.

Great build quality and paper. However the lines are very close together, which I love since I write quite small, but I know many are annoyed by it.

[mtnbiker62]

According to their website, the Quo Vadis Habana comes in A4, A5 and A6 sizes.

[klpeabody]

Reprieve, my apologies for the misstatement. I guess I don't know which to apologize for more: (a) that I misspoke or (b) that after all this time, I actually thought Quo Vadis Habana came in B5. Oh, well. Now that I understand that B5 really applies to the 7x10-ish notebooks, I will say that when I discovered Apica 6A10, I also wished I had a more durable cover for it. I looked around a bit and really couldn't find any hardcover options, so I began looking at refillable leather cover options. The conclusion I came to was to try Renaissance Art for a custom leather refillable cover. I stopped there. =)

I really like Renaissance Art's work, and am not concerned about spending the additional money, but I already have an A5 refillable leather cover for regular daily use, and I just didn't want to add another to the mix.

If anyone else has other B5 options, I would like to hear them too.

All the best,
kp

[reprieve]

Klpea, no worries! :)

I have a few of the A5 Habanas, and I do really like the paper and the tight line spacing but I find them just a bit too small. I wish they came in B5--that would be an almost-perfect notebook!

I am planning to try the Life Sunny Gold notebook (http://www.nanamipaper.com/products/life-sunny-gold-notebook-ruled.html) next time I order from Nanami.

As far as covers for the Apica notebooks, has anyone else seen this canvas cover (http://www.jetpens.com/Kokuyo-Systemic-Refillable-Notebook-Cover-Semi-B5-7-X-9.8-Normal-Rule-30-Lines-X-40-Sheets-Gray-Black/pd/4876)?

[klpeabody]

@reprieve: Thanks! :angel:

Actually, I have seen the canvas cover sold by jet pens (purchased by a friend!), and I thought it looked sharp. I was a little surprised with how good it looked, in person. I tend to have low expectations with items of that nature, but I have looked for it on jet pens since then; seems to be sold out a lot. I guess that must say something, right?

[Tony Rex]

I like B5 in loose leaf then filed in a Kokuyo Color Palette binder.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/13982599163_9476c7a0cd_c.jpg

Topic/subject dividers..
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/13962634275_b53b609516_c.jpg

Tony

[Plume145]

oh absolutely, I just love B5! Unlike you I'd never realized that A5 is too small and A4 too big, I only realized I felt like that AFTER I'd actually tried B5 and experienced just how perfect a size it is :P I used it sort of because I had to: after impulse-buying a notepad-sized Lihit Lab Twist Rings, I loved the ring mechanism but wanted a bigger notebook, and B5 was the only one Jetpens stocked (still is). I was none too pleased because I didn't think too much of in-between sizes like that, but when I actually used it, OMG what a revelation!!

Since then I've also kept an eye out for other B sizes - B6 makes a great portable format, for instance. It's also a great size for a journal, as I discovered when I realized I'd been using B6 notebooks for almost a year with my refillable barnes and noble journal cover :P

My favorite B5 notebook is the Twist Rings I mentioned, but only for the binding and covers. I'm not crazy about the lined paper it ships with, so I use other notebooks as a refill for it. I like squared paper that is off-white so my absolute favorite for that was the Kokuyo Inspiracion, but jetpens no longer stock it and I can't find it anywhere else either! Still I had to mention it because if you can find it, it's just great and totally worth a try :) Alternatively the Kokuyo Campus "Route to the top" (http://www.jetpens.com/Kokuyo-Campus-Twin-Ring-Notebook-Route-to-the-Top-Cover-Semi-B5-Dotted-7-mm-Rule-40-Sheets/pd/5610) is great too - lined instead of squared, but still off-white :)

[mtnbiker62]

@reprieve: Thanks! :angel:

Actually, I have seen the canvas cover sold by jet pens (purchased by a friend!), and I thought it looked sharp. I was a little surprised with how good it looked, in person. I tend to have low expectations with items of that nature, but I have looked for it on jet pens since then; seems to be sold out a lot. I guess that must say something, right?

I got my A5 one from JetPens, but I got my B5 one from Amazon. They are a little spendy, but they have lots of cool organizational features inside.

[Silverbreeze]

I think the Quo Vadis Habana comes in B5 size. They are definitely at a higher price point than Leuctturm, but I think the build-quality you are looking for is there.

I think Leuctturm paper is meh. Love the numbered pages and TOC so I do buy and use them. There is high chance of show through in my experience though

[reprieve]

I've had pretty good luck with Leuctturm. A bit of show through but minimal feathering and bleed-through. The binding and elastic are pretty sturdy. Too bad they don't come in the B5 size! The A4 master notebooks are a bit too large for me.

[klpeabody]

I've had pretty good luck with Leuctturm. A bit of show through but minimal feathering and bleed-through. The binding and elastic are pretty sturdy. Too bad they don't come in the B5 size! The A4 master notebooks are a bit too large for me.

I have had good luck with Leuchtturm, too!
Yeah, no B5. Sadly. :(

[jackwebb]

A5 (too small) and A4 (too large)

I don't know about notebooks yet as I am still trying to find writing pads that work for me. I agree that the A5 is too small and the A4 is too big, I have recently received Tomoe River and Madori pads both in B5 and think that is the perfect size for me. Once I am done sampling pads I will move on to notebooks.