Kokuyo Campus Semi B5 Notebook Review

[heath]

Full review here with all the images.



This is the Kokuyo Campus Semi B5 notebook. It features ‘normal rule’ at 6mm and has 100 sheets. B5 is one of my favorite sizes and I love Kokuyo Campus paper as you can see here and here and here and here. Since you can already see what I think of the paper in those four reviews, solid fountain pen friendly quality paper, I’m going to simply focus on the particulars of this notebook.



First, the binding. It’s squared off glued binding with a paper wrapper. I don’t hate this setup but the more I use a variety of notebooks the more I value stitched binding and setups that allow the pages to easily open flat. This is where I’ll introduce the $13.50 price tag. It might be more flattering to do it in the wrap up where I say I do truly like this notebook and the paper saves it but I want to be as blunt as I can. If you compare the price to the least flattering aspect you can see that the book is a bit high or at least competitive in the market but not a value book at all.

Second, the covers. For some reason on the slightly smaller A5 notebook I reviewed the cover felt appropriate but on this notebook it seems to be a but understated. I’d prefer a thicker or in someway more robust cover here.

Bridging the binding and cover I have to say, although it’s just a preference, I wish they were a bit more substantial but they aren’t a deal breaker.



Ok, back to the price. If you made it past the initial price introduction and still think you might enjoy a semi B5 notebook with good paper you are in luck. You can get a 5 pack for $40, a $27.50 savings at JetPens.com. Spend over $75 on qualifying single notebooks and use coupon code “NOTEBOOKS” for 40% off too! I think the value in these comes in bulk buying for sure but at $13.50 I would probably be ok just getting one to try out first as well.



Finally, If you are looking at the 5 packs I think these are a solid value for the paper quality and notebook size. They aren’t to tall or to slim. They are slightly smaller than text books so they will be easy to handle if you are using these for note taking in classes. I wish they were perforated but other than that I like the setup for the price. You can check them out from JetPens.com here (single) and here (5 pack).

-Heath
@WeThePPIL

[mtnbiker62]

I've been using the twin ring version of this notebook, and I love it! I'm about halfway through a 5-pack. These have become my go-to random note taking books...good size, lay flat, excellent paper, and handle the wettest of my nibs with aplomb!

[Waski_the_Squirrel]

I use this exact notebook and it has rapidly become my favorite. I wrote two drafts of a novel. The first draft involved experiments with different notebooks. By the end of the first draft, I picked this notebook and the entire second draft was written in this kind.

I'm a bit disappointed now because I have to type the third draft.

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[danieltucker]

Thank you for the detailed review of the Kokuyo Campus Semi B5 notebook. Your insights on paper quality, binding, and covers are valuable. The notebook's size and suitability for note-taking in classes make it an appealing choice. Overall, it seems like a solid option, especially when purchased in bulk for those who appreciate good paper quality in a convenient size.