Simple notebooks offer many benefits over tablets: They don’t need to charge, they’re cheap, lightweight, and produce a tactile sensation that styluses cannot duplicate. It can encourage creativity, improve focus, and help you stay sharp as you age. You can also make sure it is always connected to the right application for taking notes. The owner will be able to pull out a well-chosen notebook and a quality pen, demonstrating that they are serious about their work and not just distracted by whims.
However, it is not difficult to choose a high-quality notebook. Ana Reinert from The Well-Appointed Desk says that notebooks “are very similar to cars.” My perfect notebook will look very different to someone else’s, just like the car I chose. Notebooks are just as diverse as our cars: They come with different shapes and sizes. There are also different paper weights. Line widths (or no lines), hard cover, softcover, treated paper, untreated, and so on. It would be impossible to recommend one notebook to everyone.
You can learn more about various types of notebooks to be better informed and to avoid obvious clunkers.
Let’s first talk about size. Although almost uniform in size, notebook sizing can vary depending on whether you are looking at U.S. or European sizes. The European sizes are generally available in A, A, and B series. They range from A0 to E10, B0 and B10, and even C0 to C10. All of these sizes share the same ratio. They are all the same shape but come in different sizes. These sizes are a beautiful work of arithmetic. The basic aspect ratio of all A series paper is 1:2 (which roughly 1.14). The largest size, A0, is the largest, and you are unlikely to see it. It measures 33.1 by 46.8 inches in area. Each size follows a similar process: you reduce the larger dimension by half and keep the smaller one the exact same. The A1 size is the next, with dimensions of 23.4 x 33.1.
If you go smaller than that, there are many sizes that don’t have names or barely exist. The term “pocket-sized” is usually referred to as around 3.5 by 5 inches. However, the U.S. may sometimes refer to an A6 from Europe which is approximately 4 by 6. Some formats are larger, such as Tabloid, which measures 11 by 17, but Reinert says that anything larger than an A4 can be used for specialist’s notes or architect’s pads. Architects have their own system. They use a ratio of 4 to 3, and can range from Arch A to Arch E. Arch E1, Arch E2, and so on. You may already have one.
The way you use the notebook will determine what size you need. Although pocket-sized notebooks can be small and light, they often have fewer pages than larger ones, sometimes as low as 50 pages. Half-Letter and Junior Legal sizes make great all-purpose notebook sizes. Although letter-sized notebooks may seem a bit large for office workers, they are not as practical for adults. There are many adult-designed notebooks with plenty of writing space and look great. Clairefontaine ($15), a notebook that has received great reviews for its paper quality and bindings, is worth a look.
BINDING
Once you have decided on a size, you can start to look at binding. This is when sheets of paper are joined together to form a notebook. There are many different types of binding and some will be used more frequently with certain sizes. Staple binding, such as is found most frequently with pocket-sized notebooks, is a common choice. Letter-sized notebooks are more likely to have spiral rings.
Most experts that I spoke to preferred bindings with stitching, but Ian Hedley of Pens! Paper! Pencils! He has no problem with staples. He said that pocket notebooks are typically stapled and that it works well for this size. Hedley admits that glue binding is possible, but it’s not always a good idea. Glue bound notebooks are less durable and can have problems laying flat. Spirals are not a popular choice for serious notebookists. They tend to be bent and can make it impossible to lay flat.
Stitched bindings (or a combination of stitching, glue) don’t have these problems: This style is lightweight and allows the notebook to lie flat. It also keeps the pages sturdy in place. A stitched bound is the best choice.
WEIGHT
It is difficult to measure paper weight. Thicker paper might be thought to be better. But that’s not always the case. Hedley said, “Funnily enough,” because fountain pen ink can bleed onto thick paper. This is known as “feathering.” However, too thin paper can lead to tearing of indentations on pages. This problem is called “ghosting”. It’s often seen in old detective movies. In these movies, the detective light shades in a notebook page using a pencil to see what was indented on the previous page.
Paper is measured by its weight. However, this won’t tell the whole story, as heavier paper doesn’t necessarily mean better. If you are really serious about this, you can go to a local store and buy the paper that you want to use. Different people prefer different paper textures. Reinert calls it the “tooth”. This is hard to quantify objectively. However, most people will find the notebooks that we recommend pleasing, except if you are using a fountain pen.
Reinert or Hedley recommend Tomoe river ($15), which is a Japanese company known for its ultra-thin, but very sturdy paper. This paper will dry slower, but the ink will still look stunning once it does.
PAGE COUNT
This can also affect the number of sheets that you require. A removable-sheet system is another option if you are unsure. Hedley enjoys the Arc which can be purchased at Staples (from $11 and above) and allows you to change and remove sheets from its disclike spine. The Arc is a favorite among notebook-philes for its ability to remove paper without needing to tear it. It is also much easier to remove the paper than, for example, a perforated glue bound legal pad.
COVERS
The soft and hard covers are another major decision you will need to make when it comes to notebooks. While a hardcover may be more durable and provide a firm surface for writing on your lap, you might prefer a softcover or more flexible cover. Reinert says that a patterned notebook is more personal, as they can take the shape of the owner. While a hard cover may appear more professional or formal depending on your workplace environment, it can also look more professional.
BLANK, RULES and GRIDDED
The style of the pages is the last factor to consider. There are three main styles: ruled, blank, and grid (sometimes known as graph paper). Although lines and grids can be of different widths, they are generally the same (college-ruled at 7mm, graph paper is at 5mm). Although most notebook manufacturers offer a variety in sheet styles, the final decision is largely up to you. Some notebook aficionados that I spoke to preferred blank pages, while others prefer traditional ruled lines. Graph paper is great for people with very small handwriting. However, it’s less popular for graphing as computers tend to do all the math and sketching work.
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