Moleskine Issues

[KrazyIvan]

My comments are specifically directed to the pocket size but applies to the large size too. (Graph paper).

LOL @ gwgtaylor

[John the Monkey]

Could be. I forgot to mention though that I was referring to the pocket size notebooks. Apologies for any confusion.

To be fair, my only experience is of the pocket Moleskine too - a lined notebook, a cahier, and a plain reporter. None of them like ink very much

FWIW, the paper in the plain reporter is delightful with soft graphite.

My notebook, cahier & some ink;

mole_cahier_ink008.jpgmole_closeup2.jpg

Note the odd, tendril like feathering on some of the inks.

[Bogon07]

To be fair, my only experience is of the pocket Moleskine too - a lined notebook, a cahier, and a plain reporter. None of them like ink very much

FWIW, the paper in the plain reporter is delightful with soft graphite.

My notebook, caheir & some ink;

mole_cahier_ink008.jpgmole_closeup2.jpg

Note the odd, tendril like feathering on some of the inks.

You've just won a Clairefontaine notebook from the Goulets Ink Nouveau contest so you won't need to worry about issues with Moleskines. Congratulations.

[John the Monkey]

You've just won a Clairefontaine notebook from the Goulets Ink Nouveau contest so you won't need to worry about issues with Moleskines. Congratulations.

Yes, I didn't see the edition of Write Now, but Brian was kind enough to email and let me know - my daughter has already called the Preppy, I don't think she knows about the notebook, so I may still get to keep that

[MrClockWork]

I broke down and bought a Rhodia notebook with the 90g Clairefontaine paper in it and I have to say... it is awesome! I simply couldn't stop writing when I sat down with it! The paper is drastically smoother than Moleskine but still gives the slightest feedback, which I enjoy, and ink actually behaves on it. I may now be a Rhodia convert.

[writingrav]

I broke down and bought a Rhodia notebook with the 90g Clairefontaine paper in it and I have to say... it is awesome! I simply couldn't stop writing when I sat down with it! The paper is drastically smoother than Moleskine but still gives the slightest feedback, which I enjoy, and ink actually behaves on it. I may now be a Rhodia convert.

Many of us have made that journey.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[fountainpenkid]

Wait...Rhodia uses Clairfontaine paper?

[MrClockWork]

Wait...Rhodia uses Clairfontaine paper?

My Rhodia WebNotebook is filled with off-white 90g Clairefontaine. Pretty sweet stuff

[mazzas]

While not my favorite paper (by far), the general availability of Moleskine notebooks almost guarantees that I've got one or two at any given time. I absolutely concur with previous recommendations for Rhodia and (especially) Clairefontaine. But... I have also found that Noodler's ink (specifically, but not limited to: Manhattan Blue, Baystate Blue, and La Reine Mauve) flow nicely and don't bleed or feather in my Moleskine books (or for that matter on most copy paper -- like there's a *huge* difference).

[fountainpenkid]

My Rhodia WebNotebook is filled with off-white 90g Clairefontaine. Pretty sweet stuff

Cool! But does Rhodia always use Clairfontaine paper?

[snedwos]

Only for the webbie, I think. Not that their other paper is at all bad...

[Lane]

I can echo much of the sentiment here. I've been using Moleskine A5 notebooks for a while and more recently with fountain pens. The paper performs perfectly well with a Lamy Safari F with Lamy Blue ink. It starts to break down with wetter inks and broader nibs. It is also pricey. On the plus side it is well made and holds together beautifully over time.

For a cheap Moleskine alternative: I recently picked up a few Piccadilly A5 notebooks for $5 each at Barnes & Noble and was shocked to see that the paper quality was significantly better than Moleskine. Using a Konrad flex pen with full flex and Noodler's Liberty's Elysium ink the paper didn't bleed or feather in the least. Impressive for any paper. I've only used a few pages so I can't say anything about the consistency of the paper, but I have been impressed so far.

[AndreasDavour]

Using a Hero 616 Jumbo (quite fine nib) and Pelikan Royal Blue is an excellent fit. Not that a better notebook and any ink and pen wouldn't be even better, I'm just saying.

[mommalisa]

G Lalo is great paper - fountain pen friendly- but for pocket notebook size Rhodia is extremely fountain pen friendly, they have a great deal of size choices- and you can choose graph, lined or blank.
Vanness is a 75 year old brick and mortar pen company in Arkansas- it offers all the Rhodia, Claire Fontaine, and the G Lalo. you can email them vanness1938@sbcglobal.net. You can also find their website ( it will be up March 1) vanness1938.com

[KrazyIvan]

I can echo much of the sentiment here. I've been using Moleskine A5 notebooks for a while and more recently with fountain pens. The paper performs perfectly well with a Lamy Safari F with Lamy Blue ink. It starts to break down with wetter inks and broader nibs. It is also pricey. On the plus side it is well made and holds together beautifully over time.

For a cheap Moleskine alternative: I recently picked up a few Piccadilly A5 notebooks for $5 each at Barnes & Noble and was shocked to see that the paper quality was significantly better than Moleskine. Using a Konrad flex pen with full flex and Noodler's Liberty's Elysium ink the paper didn't bleed or feather in the least. Impressive for any paper. I've only used a few pages so I can't say anything about the consistency of the paper, but I have been impressed so far.

I have a few of those Picadilly Moleskine look-a-like journals and they bleed terribly for me. Much worse than Moleskine, even with fine nibs and dry ink.

[kemuri]

Hello, everybody!

Strange feeling seeing you all talk about Moleskine notebooks this way!

I've been using them with and without fountain pens and always found them very good. Didn't have the problem with ink passing through the paper and other issues related.

Something I agree is the price. It's not really a good cost & benefit...

Thanks!


-kemuri

[cwent2]

I'll second Rhodia and add Claire Fontaine, both my go to paper for everyday use of my fountain pens at work. The down side of using fountain pens is that I need to buy almost all of my work supplies myself. The government is getting off easy!!! :-)

For work related paper you may be able to obtain Franklin Covey through GSA. I used to before I retired and the paper is Fountain Pen friendly. Just a thought.

Carl

[cwent2]

I have a few of those Picadilly Moleskine look-a-like journals and they bleed terribly for me. Much worse than Moleskine, even with fine nibs and dry ink.

Strange I just got Piccadilly 8 x 8 1/4 from BJ's and it is behaving great!

Cwood

[fncll]

Piccadilly notebooks are a pretty good value. For me, their paper is reasonably better than Moleskine but nowhere near Leuchtterm or the like.

I've tried Moleskine's for years, through some paper changes, and it's never satisfied me with fountain pens.

[jacksterp]

Thanks to this and other forums, I have never had the misfortune to use Moleskine and most likely never will.

There are far too many much better and much less expensive alternatives.