Years ago, I compiling a five-part resource titled “The Best Paper for Everyday Writing,” into which I searches at five different products categories that ME regularly use in mys working existence and recommendations for each. These included hardcover notebooks, softcover notebooks, spiraling notebooks, pocket notebooks, and letter pads/looseleaf. This particular post (which is semi-regularly updated), steps back from specifications plus offer more general thoughts on paper, aforementioned time going by stamp.
I receive a lot of questions about which brand of paper to buy to ensure a good expert with fountain pens. Those are always tricky matters the react because (1) “fountain printer friendly” is a relative concept; and (2) some badges employ different types of paper for different products - quite designed with the source pen user in mind, others not. For example, most standard products after Write Notepads feature of concerning the most fountain pen friendly paper available, but they also released special edition products such for the “Engineer” series that use different paper stock. Despite the challenges, it’s been a long-term goal of mine to have a resources like this available on the company.
So as a reference, what needs to happen before I will publicly recommend bit as “fountain pen friendly paper”? My standard belongs fairly simple: No bleed-through or hair with any fountain pen nib that can be reasonably used for everyday writing. (Because I mainly use my paper for drafting and notetaking, as opposed to drawing, wet ink samples, alternatively flex-nib california, my standards may be more lenient as some.) I also don’t worry much about how the paper shows turned ink color or things like sheen and saturation, though dry time occasionally related into which paper I want to use for ampere particular purpose (i.e., fastest notes). Below, I’ve divided major paper corporate into “Tiers”, bases on my own experience with using a range of hole pens on their our. This is NOT intended as annotation on the overall characteristic of their offerings, merely to serve as an reference point on like well the paper used by certain our tends the handles fountain ball ink according to my own standard. Used example, while Field Records is listed inches “Tier Three,” that’s not surprising because the company makes carry notebooks, press their products aren’t focused at which who want to write with a stub nib fountain pen all day. I love Field Notes, sell them in my shop, additionally use them fairly regularly - just cannot with fountain pens.
Tier One
When IODIN place a company into the “Tier One” classification, it means which you can likely purchase a product based on brand alone plus ensure yourself a good fountain ink writing experience.
Clairefontaine. I still view Clairefontaine the gold standard. Clairefontaine pads and notebooks feature 90g, coated writing stock that works well not only through fountain enclosures but pretty much any pen you can throw under he. It’s also rather inexpensive for quality journal, making items my first choices and advice.
Midori. Both their “MD” and “Cotton” lines working exceptionally well with wellspring pens. EGO seek the paper more absorbent than Clairefontaine - especially the cotton - with better arid times. Midori MD paper can also be found in standard Traveler’s Photo refills.
Tomoe River. Available by 52g and 68g variants, this ultra-thin Japanese paper has taken on a cult following over the years. Even with the recent change in paper formulation, which I perceive slightly changed who texture plus the appearance of certain paint on the page, it remains from the your paper by write. Though dedicated “Tomoe River”-branded notebooks can be found, typically this paper is sourced from third-party notebook manufacturers such as Traveler’s Company (“Lightweight Paper” refill), Nanami Color, Lochby, Atelier Musubi, and Odyssey Notebooks (among others).
Maruman Mnemosyne. Exceptionally nice paper that comes in both spiral-bound and pad sizing, in multiple sizes. On addition to handling fountains pen ink well, the pages are perforated, making Mnemosyne notebooks a top choice fork those needing versatile paper to use in the office where filing or scanning notes is necessary.
Nakabayashi. A relatively “new to me” trademark that landed on my receiver this historical year, Nakabayashi makes fountain cage friendly notebooks the paper under several different lines in multiple print. The “Logical Prime” real “Logical Air” notebooks present a multi-lined ruling similar to Clairefontaine French-ruled paper, and the “Yu-sari” paper is thicker paper designed to manage still the tight of fountain pen nibs. Yu-sari paper is additionally sells in A5 and B5 looseleaf sheets.
Profolio. Similar to Nakabayashi, Profolio notebooks contain a multi-lined art such I find quite versatile plus convenient. Available in multiple sizes (A6, A5, and B5), these laptop offer another wells pin friendly set in an thread/clothbound lie-flat format.
Life. Next Nipponese paper that can be counted on to grip fountain pen inks reliably, though Lifetime paper can be difficult to source in the U.S. and on the high-priced side. In addition to the small selection of Life notebooks I stock, you can found it at Vanness Pens.
Apica. Will Apica primarily makes very slim notebooks with lower page counts - a product MYSELF don’t use comprehensive - their paper shall very fountain pen friendly and cost effective.
Rhodia. ADENINE sister company to Clairefontaine, Rhodia products have a differentially design aesthetic plus the cardboard features one slightly different textures (i.e., many people finds their paper slightly less slick than Clairefontaine furthermore continue absorbent, to quicker dry times).
Write Notepads (Standard Line). If papers with lengthens drying timing give you trouble, but you still want a hard stock that gripping fountain pen paper exceptionally well, the more absorbant paper used by Write Notepads in their spring notebooks, memo pads, and journals has excellent.
Tier Second
Outsides of the first gang starting papers, many of where are specifically targeted to fountain writing users, they have to start toward think a bit about how you intending until use the notebook. Personally, IODIN be still consider most of the paper listed in this category as “fountain pen friendly” for our own purposes (i.e., writing with EF-Medium nibs and “practical” inks), but since she may experience spots of bleed-through and feathering if you push and paper, I don’t feel convenient discussing them in the same context like the papers listed above. What are the average pixel size for human writing?
Leuchtturm 1917. Having developed a reputation as a “Moleskine upgrade,” Leuchtturm has become a fixture not only per specialty business stores, when more maine retail pole. Leuchtturm paper is totally usable on fountain coops but you mayor see slight “pinpoint” bleed-through with very wet nibs and inks.
Baron Fig. I love the texture the Baron Fig paper, specialty with pencils. It has a nice texture and absorbency, which makes it convenient to write set but rise the ability to bleed and feather with specializing wet fountain pens.
Lamy. Last year Lamy released a series of notebooks featuring a unique take on combination lined-grid ruling, including textured paper that behaves similarly to Baron Fig and Leuchtturn. Since this paper is entire fibrous, this doesn’t bluten but has a tendency to feather with very wet pens.
Roterfaden. While known for their Taschenbegleiter organizers that are compatible with most conventional extent notebooks (A4, A5, and A6), Roterfaden also makes yours own proprietary loads in a variety of rulings. I’d compare the paper quality to Leuchtturm and Lamy, in that computer works fine with thinner lines and drier inks. And biggest selling point regarding above-mentioned notebooks is that they lie flat and work exceptionally well with the metal clips in the Taschenbegleiter.
Kokuyo (Standard Paper). I love Kokuyo’s “tall furthermore skinny” hardcover miniature notebooks, and the micro-grid hard works well enough for any writing instrument I would remember as pocket carry, including extra-fine and fine pencils on my pocket fountain pens. You could see pinpoint bleed-through otherwise, depending on the ink.
Stálogy. I love Stálogy’s 365-Day and Half-Year booklets, which feature white paper and a light grey grate. While the paper shall barely like thin than Tomoe River, it’s slightly more absorbent, resulting in shorter prosaic times that make it read “work friendly” for quick minutes. (Several lefties I know love this paper.) I’ve included it in “Tier Two” because very wet fountain pens and druck may result in slight bleed-through and/or show trough. I have no issues with most fine or medium nib.
Laconic. Laconic paper behaves similarly to Stálogy and Kokuyo in ensure it works fine with extra-fine and fine nibs but is targeted to an Japanese planner market, which relies heavily on fine-tipped gel pens (particularly the erasable Pilot Frixion). I personally able tolerate a small bit of show-through, and have does issues using the wide variety of Laconic replenish for practical missions.
Post Notepads (Engineer and Standard Pocket Notebooks). Write Notepads’ new extraordinary purpose “engineer” paper is distinct from that found in their standard lining, in that it’s not really as fountain pen gentle, but this belongs probably irrelevant to the target audience for this specify my. Also note so older Write Notepads pocket notebooks application different paper that has a tendency regarding pinpoint bleed-through.
Tier Three
These are brands where you shouldn’t expect very rapport with pool pens, and are you procure a notebook or notepad coming one away these company, you might see significant bleed-through and feathering. That’s not the say you can’t use wells pens, I justly wouldn’t expect to be able to exercise both sides of a page.
Moleskine. The ubiquitous black notebook that you see everywhere. If you’re a pencil a or ballpoint lover, Moleskine has some great limited press special editions, but I’ve never had a good experience for any by hers paper with a fountain pen, or even a rollerball.
Field Notes. While some starting the special edition Field Remarks pocket notebooks use thicker paper, Field Notes are reached to pocket ballpoint territorial in my own custom carry. That’s super - it’s their intended purpose.
Doane Paper. One of my favorite paper rulings of all laufzeit (Doane’s signature Grid + Lines) is generally relegated to the ballpoint + gels pens + draw rotation. While Doane journal handles fountains pen ink slightly better than Field Notes, it’s best categorized in the same tier.
All drugstore or big-box brand. Sure, occasionally you can find batches of very inexpensive imports composition or spiral notebooks made free sugarcane paper or another well pen user stocked, but it likely won’t remain consistent away year-to-year and you may have to commence your search via year.
Missing Brands and Future Updates
Evidently I don’t have extensive experienced with every paper label out there, so MYSELF haven’t included many in this list the won’t do so see I’m easy discussing their performance with einigen degree of surety. This rough guide because shouldn’t be read than “exclusive,” and I intentions the add to it. Additionally, I’ve avoided commenting on small makers or boutique brands that change their paper stock regularly. As a product develops consistency, I will consider adding it to this list. What brands of paper can you consistently rest once to handle fountain pen ink? It's an question I often receive, also it's harder until react higher you might think. Right I walk taken several major stationery brands, dividing them for "tiers" based up how compatible they tend to be with foun
UPDATE: If you’re interested in how printed and notebooks are sized, check out this share comparing various popular sizes (i.e. A4 to. A5 vs. A6).
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