(Part 2) Best wirebound notebooks according to redditors

You need to get one of these.

I’ve been waiting to buy this pen for months and months, and I finally did it. I got the clear transparent one with a fine nib from a Japanese seller on eBay. I’m in the northeastern US. I ordered it on Saturday night, and it arrived at my house today. Others in the community highly recommended this seller when I asked about them a while back, and I do as well. They sent me a picture of my pen before it shipped and included a little paper crane in the box!

I flushed it out and filled it with Pilot blue black. This is my first time using Pilot blue black. I got it because Sailor Sei-boku is my favorite ink, but it’s difficult to clean out of any pen, and this pen is particularly hard to clean. It’s good alternative, although it shades less and doesn’t have the greenish hue that makes Sei-boku unique.

The pen writes beautifully. It’s nice and smooth with minimal feedback. The fine is a true Japanese fine, which is my ideal nib size because I have small handwriting that all kind of runs together in broader nibs.

I'm going back to school in the spring for the first time in over three years, and I will be doing a lot of writing. I bought a five pack of Maruman B5 graph notebooks to use for chemistry and calculus, and I'm stupid reckless enough to use pen for math. With the fine nib and excellent ink capacity, I'm really looking forward to using this pen as a workhorse for long writing sessions.

Resident Engrosser's/Copperplate here... As the others have said, fundamental's first and foremost! Stay away from making any crazy flourishes in the beginning. This will take a lot of time to learn to a somewhat efficient level and even more work to get to the next level after that.

• Guidelines, guidelines, guidelines. For the love of god, more guidelines. Your angles are all over the place right now. Engrosser's/Copperplate is at a consistent 45 degree angle. Please watch this video to understand how to properly use guidelines. It's essential to improving correctly.
  
  I made a large guideline sheet using some heavy watercolor paper laying and drawing (with a thin sharpie) the diagonal guidelines with a ruler and protractor. I highly suggest Rhodia paper as it's easy enough to see the guidelines through the sheet... It's exceptionally good paper that I use for practice all the time.
  
  Look on IAMPETH and the lessons below. Especially the videos by Joe Vitolo. It helped me to really understand the letter forms. And if you have the time, read through this post by /u/ThenWhenceComethEvil, who is currently studying to become a master penman. Very indepth beginner's information that are essentials.
  
  I can go more in depth about nibs/holders/ink, but we can save that for another time. Or I can answer those questions as well.
  
  Just remember to take things slowly. If you do want to continue to pursue the script, it will take a lot of patience. I've found each step of improvement very rewarding for myself, I hope you can continue on and don't give up!

I know this is quite different from the Leuchtturm notebook you were using OP, but I wanted to put it out there anyway.

I actually like to use dot grid wirebound spiral notebooks like this. The paper quality is not as good as the fancy stuff, but it's also slightly more affordable. The reason I like using spiral notebooks for my BuJo is because: (1) I have more hand mobility near the spine of the paper and (2) I can easily rip out 'bad' pages without it being very noticeable.

I'm still a beginner BuJo-er, so I make quite a bit of mistakes and haven't settled for a style yet. Sometimes I'll remake a monthly spread a couple of times just for fun.

For precision shooting, definitely.

I still take notes if i bring out an SBR or a gun that had something changed on it recently, like a gas block.

My last SBR i built has an adjustable gas block, so i took some simple notes about how many clicks it took from being shut-off to locking back after the last round, when shooting unsuppressed or suppressed, and with what types of ammo.

I just bought a pack of these notebooks. I keep one in ASO bag, SPR rifle bag, center console of my car, and my day-bag. Useful little books for random note taking.

Hello! I'm unsure as to what you mean by "punched," so I didn't really include that in the notebooks I'm recommending below. Sorry that none of the notebooks are exactly what you asked for, but I hope this helps out!

First off, a Rhodia Wirebound Notepad! Rhodia is well known and popular for its fantastic paper, which I must agree from experience, is fantastic. The 80 gsm paper will hold up to a lot of different mediums, and the paper is just so smooth. This notepad isn't exactly A4, but it's a pretty close size comparison. While it's not blank, the dot grid is pretty decent, making it a good alternative to a blank dotpad.

Secondly, a pretty generalized recommendation would be any sketchbook from Dick Blick. I haven't exclusively checked for A4, but these sketchbooks are pretty fantastic. Since they're for art, they're going to be fantastically thick, standing up to plenty of mediums, but they are on the pricier side. Also, only a handful of them are micropreforated, such as the Strathmore 400 Series Recycled Paper Pads and the Strathmore Windpower Drawing Pad.

The last recommendation I have is another Rhodia Notepad. This is not spiral bound, unfortunately, but it is blank, unlike the first notepad. These pages are also micropreforated at the top and has that wonderfully smooth and nice Rhodia paper.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YZXPH7E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_aomMybXA0ESQV

Rite in the Rain. Check it out on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRT1TUU/) or anywhere else. I use a pencil with it, they have a pen too. Love them.

Excellent! Thanks 😊

Here is a link for US peeps: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076BQDD7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Oi-ADbZRT25Z4

I can’t rip a page without destroying the entire thing. The cover doesn’t stay flat when resting on a table. I don’t have a spot to clip a pen onto.
A memopad is a thousand times better.
https://www.amazon.com/Mead-Notebook-College-Assorted-73605/dp/B00YZXPH7E

The TWSBI Diamond 580AL is a great pen, piston filler and demonstrator for £58.99. That would also give you about £11 free for some ink and maybe a Rhodia dot pad staplebound or wirebound.

If you wanted to get a couple of inks and writing pad then you could go for the slightly cheaper TWSBI Diamond 580RB £46.99 leaving you £23 to spend on ink and paper.

If you wanted to push the £70 to the limit and just get a classy pen with a solid 18kt gold nib for £72.72. It wouldn't leave you anything over for ink or writing pads but it would be a classy pen.

The other option would be to go the cheap fountain route and buy 2 or 3 Jinhao X450's off Amazon or eBay, they typically sell for around £6-10 each, then you have a lot more to spend on ink and writing pads. If you go the Jinhao route then I would avoid the 250 range, they are fine nibs as opposed to the 450 medium nibs, and my experience are the fine nibs tend to be quite scratchy and I had one where the nib just wouldn't friction fit into the pen. I have 5x Jinhao X450's and not had a single problem with any of them.

Maruman Spiral Note B5 Grid, 80 sheets each, 5-pack on Amazon for $25.

They’re great notebooks, paper is wonderful for fountain pens. Grid markings clear but not distracting. Highly recommend!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QTA6N8S/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_i_c_xdCCDb5X4GPPD

The Baron Fig Confidant comes in a B5 plus size (at 7x10 inches) with a hardcover, dot grid layout, and at $22. (Plus $2.95 for shipping if your order doesn't meet their minimum free shipping requirement, though there's opportunity for a coupon code if it's your first order with them.) I'm a huge fan of their notebooks, and though it's not much cheaper than $25, it might be an option for you. In case you're interested.

Otherwise I did a quick search on Amazon for B5 hardcovers, and a brand called Miliko has dot grid, spiral bound hardcovers that are 2 for $14.99, so more bang for your buck and the reviews look promising.

Top to bottom, left to right

1. Auckey Portable Charger
   
   
2. Casio GWM5610
   
3. RF Probie
   
4. Camelbak Mule NV (old style, no link)
   
5. Amazon Basics 6ft Charging Cable
   
6. Sharpie
   
7. Pilot G2 Pens
   
8. Keybar and Squirtle from this keychain
   
9. Kershaw Shuffle
   
10. RF Sergeant
    
11. Leatherman Wave
    
12. Rite in the Rain Stapled Notebook
    
13. Fisher Space Pen
    
14. Philips Screw Driver
    
15. Allen Wrench Set
    
16. 12' Tape Measure

That paper is going to be really heavy, more like cardstock. A 24-32lb copy paper might be more appropriate for day to day.

As for notebooks, take a look at the hardcover Black n' Red books or maybe something top wirebound? Until recently, I hadn't found a legal pad that worked well (then I found these) so I used Rhodia pads with the spiral on top, like so. Definitely lets you hold up with one hand and write with the other.

• Elephant Brand Cotton Bandana
  
  
• Spyderco Manix 2 LW
  
  
• Fisher Space Bullet Pen
  
  
• Rite in Rain Mini Stapled Notebook

Thank you! Probably gonna print out the typewriter labels at the top in the future so I don’t have to spend so much time hand-lettering them. The note book is this one from amazon. It’s great IMO because it’s A5 and 120gsm paper :)

I just got these. The paper is white, 100gsm. If you don’t mind the spiral, they’re fantastic (spiral is a must-have for me).

Try the mini “Rite in the rain” journals! Durable and waterproof. Although I personally prefer using my phone for journaling, because I’m lazy.

SAK Recruit 14.95

Casio World Time 14.95

Fenix e01 10.00

Recycled Firefighter Wallet 39.00 (49 + 30 = 79 total)

Rhodai Dot Pad 5.26

Pilot Metropolitan 11.00

Should come out to about $95.

I switched to the Miliko spiral notebook this year and absolutely love it. Amazon has one with a soft leather cover that looks pretty sharp so it works well as both a personal and a work related journal.https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Softcover-Wirebound-Notebook-Journal-90/dp/B06XH4CB9M/

I've started using Mnemosyne notebooks for meeting notes at work. I get no bleed through, not even any show though using a stub nib with a wet flow and dark Yama-Dori ink.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001A1VB9M/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1484709596&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=mnemosyne&dpPl=1&dpID=41ReKz-sFGL&ref=plSrch

Maruman's Mnemosyne in B5?

I like it. I would would probably try to keep my color chart in it and would put use the coloring page to actually do different blends of those colors and remind myself of what colors look good together. You should cross post to /r/notebooks.

This is the only one that came up on a quick amazon search:

https://www.amazon.com/Coloring-NoteBook-inches-Side-bound-Notebook/dp/B01BYZGXCS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1465800214&sr=8-7&keywords=coloring+notebook

Amazon sells a bunch of them.

Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Top-Spiral Notebook, 3" x 5", Black Cover, Universal Pattern, 3 Pack (No. 735-3) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0139W7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1kyEDbJ4N1S0H

If you carry a pen, you need paper too:

https://www.amazon.com/Rite-Rain-Weatherproof-Mini-Stapled-971FX-M/dp/B01MRT1TUU/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=rite+in+the+rain+stapled&qid=1564488416&s=gateway&sr=8-4

I used these for years and had good luck with them - I'd cut them in half, horizontally, and they were very easy to carry.

Rhodia makes a pocket sized notebook that's 3.25 x 4.75 inches. They come lined or as a dot pad. I carry one in my pocket every day, and I find them ideal.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A6VRZZG/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481852933&sr=sr-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=rhodia+dot+pad

Nothing wrong with a Surface Pro, other than the premium price tag.

Just one minor thought:

Buying a convertible laptop/tablet adds $300-500 to the price of an otherwise "good" laptop.

Your use-case example of writing math equations by hand instead of a keyboard is a pretty narrow window of opportunity to use that feature/functionality.

Good old spiral notebooks or even fancy graph-paper notebooks are cheap and provide that same note-taking functionality with no risk of technical frustration or distraction.

Pay close attention to the Surface Pro and its inability to stand up on its own without a desk for the kick-stand to prop up the display.

The Surface Book doesn't have that same issue...

I don't have to use the device, you do - do I have no skin in this game. I'm just pointing out something about convertibles that might not be immediately obvious...

In a similar price range ($1K ish) I'd be trolling the Dell refurbished site to jump on a refurbed XPS13-9350 in the $800-range.

[Dell Home PC Coupon Center]9http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/22/campaigns/dell-coupons-codes-us-outlet)

Those coupons will reduce the price-as-shown in the outlet store...

Dell XPS13-9343 and 9350 available configurations

The 9343 is a good laptop, but it's using the previous generation Intel CPU... which isn't bad, just older...

1. The Anatomy of Story by John Truby.
   
   
2. The Art of Fiction by John Gardner
   
   
3. A writing journal :)
   
   

I know, right?! it's this paper: https://www.amazon.com/OrgoNote-NB-Classic/dp/B01KJGKPL8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525353587&sr=8-1&keywords=orgonote

it's called orgonote. i love it. i came across it randomly on the internet and omg im in love.

Yeah, you could use the regular staplebound pads or the wirebound notebooks.

I realized that if you pull the dot grid sheets out of an A5 pad, their size will be less than A5. As I’m picky as hell, I got the A5+ 193439c notebook so that the detached paper size is exactly A5. Also, they are micro perforated, which helps. Note that the dots are bluish though, not sure why they do not use the subtle grey of their notepads.

They have A4+ staplebound pads as well.

Hey, thanks for the offer! So generous! :)

I've tried loads (I prefer softcover and thinner - I don't want to schlep the weight of a hardback book with 200+ pages)

-Fabriano ecoqua spiral bound grid

-Fabriano ecoqua dot grid

-Northbooks softcover dot grid

-Miliko spiral hardcover dot grid

-Currently I'm using a freebie that The Spouse got at a conference... I think it was made by Northbooks.

These all have their advantages and disadvantages. After about six months in bound books I've bought another of the spiral bound Fabrianos for my next notebook.

I use a modified Traveler pen, tiny dropper bottles for inks (they are very tiny, but wide enough to dip all of my nibs into), and a Rhodia travel pad. It's quite short compared to standard holders, and even short compared to your run-of-the-mill ballpoint pens, but it gets the job done.

The Traveler mod is just to remove the pen part from the ferrule, stuff the ferrule with a chunk of eraser, then gently wedge in the nib. I like to use the Pentel Clic erasers because they're already the right width.

Is it possible to get a direct link to Five Star notebook? There are so many different version. I was told that Cambridge Quad notebook is good .
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MP9D5AG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_CCSLBbXC3YMCH

However, it really depends on ink. Pilot Blue was fine but other wet ink - it feathers and bleeds badly.

I just did some quick searching around and found these on amazon. I haven’t tried them, but they come with 100 gsm (67 lb) paper.

OH my god, the struggle is real.

This is one I was able to find:

https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Chart-Notebook-Gelding-Publishing/dp/1502718111

However I never bought it. We didn't do a lot on smith charts, I wish I'd had more opportunity.

​

My favorite notebooks:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MP9D5AG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Why:

1.) F-ing graph paper

2.) Thick pages. I like colored markers for notes, like these: https://www.amazon.com/Staedtler-Triplus-Fineliner-Assorted-334SB20BK/dp/B0007OEE7E/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Staedtler&qid=1570659385&s=office-products&sr=1-2

The thick pages doesn't allow (as much) marker bleed and the notebooks hold up for a long time.

3.) F-ing graph paper and thick pages.

Hey there, I'm not too familiar with the anatomy of an Amazon link, but the spam filter doesn't like yours. Is that an affiliate link? Why not just use something like this instead?

https://www.amazon.com/2-Pack-Bullet-Journal-100gsm-Notebook/dp/B079KTMC5P

Maybe I'm missing something, I dunno. Help clue me in?

Amazon Miliko A5 Size Kraft Paper Hardcover Dot Grid Wirebound/Spiral Notebook/Journal-2 Notebooks Per Pack-70 Sheets (140 Pages)-8.27" x 5.67" (Silver Binding Rings, Blue Dot Grid) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X9H9R7J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SCndBbM28XMP3

I like them. A little bleed thru with markers though but none with my pen I use.

https://www.amazon.es/Rite-Rain-Impermeable-Unidades-Amarillo/dp/B00YDGV97K/ref=sr_1_11?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=rite+in+the+rain&qid=1559064245&s=gateway&sr=8-11

These memo books are pretty competitive in price with ours. Our 3-pack of spirals typically goes on Amazon for $10 (not sure why it's higher right now). Our 3-pack of staple mini's usually goes for $8.

So you just have a notebook like this, or something different?

I pretty much want exactly the same thing. I haven't done any journaling yet, but am considering getting into it. I went to my local Office Max today and they had no journals with dot-grids (I asked), but there were a couple lined/graph journals that were a really nice size, spiral bound, good cover, and good paper... but not dots. The guy I asked jokingly said "we'll probably get them once people stop using them".

I'm considering ordering this one. But maybe more experienced journalers can weigh in on better options. I'm gonna keep an eye on this thread!

Here is the mobile version of your link

https://www.amazon.com/Clairefontaine-Classic-Spiral-Bound-Notebook/dp/B071D7X26F/ref=sr_1_19?keywords=Rhodia+spiral&qid=1555513478&s=gateway&sr=8-19

1 be 30 min early on premise
2 be on station ready to work 15 min early
3 you can always be working harder and faster
4 "slow is fast , fast is slow " have your sous explain
5 say behind you
6 say heard
7 have a notebook ready in you pocket 24/7
8 your going to fuck up everyday accept it and dont make the same mistake twice
9 dont touch anyone else's knifes
10 the floor can always use a good sweep
11 take care of your dishwasher
12 "yes chef" " no chef" " right now chef"
13 if you dont have time to make it right the first time then you dont have time to do it twice so just make it perfect
14 food safety
15 you are the grunt accept it embrace it dont half ass cleaning projects do everything to the best of your ability the first time
16 if you need help call for help before it's an issue
17 if you have time to lean you have time to clean
18 move with purpose always
19 always ask your coworkers what they still need done, and after you run out of easy tasks ask them to teach you the more complex, that's why you need to go faster every day
20 look fresh always
21 learn some Spanish
22 be the last one to leave the kitchen

Bonus

Take note of what cigarettes your executive chef, chef de cuisine, and sous smoke keep a extra in your bag / car so after a busy shift and you hear one say fuck I forgot to get cigs you can save the day


Ps notebook notebook notebook notebook
I like using these

https://www.amazon.com/Rite-Rain-Weatherproof-Top-Spiral-735-3/dp/B01N0139W7/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=all+weather+notebooks&qid=1570447369&sr=8-4

I always have 2 in my pocket 1 for neatly written recipes and one for random thoughts lists orders prep lists

Hope this helps, best of luck
It take 10000 hours to get good, it's a good thing you can start ticking them off 60 70 or 80 hours per week haha

Would that be something like this one?

Rhodia Wirebound Notebook, A5+, Dot - Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071D7X26F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-18HDb8A93V8A

Funny you should mention that......my current laptop is a Lenovo Y510 which is black with a red lit keyboard 😆

I'm a big fan of simple things......two colours.....red and black, a dark grey and light blue, yellow and orange even.....less is usually more

I don't user nicer paper for everyday use because frankly, I go too it too much to be constantly buying more, but I do keep a couple of nice notebooks for special purposes.

1. A Moleskine notebook/journal that I fill with quotes using different nice pens. These quotes can be from famous people or just someone close to me, but they're good to look through for inspiration/motivation when I need it.
   
   
2. For similar purposes as #1, I have a Rhodia notepad where I write down all the milestones I want to achieve and have achieved in my life as a sort of "checklist."
   
   Here are the links to the aforementioned:
   
   Rhodia notepad (in hindsight I wish I'd bought the wirebound one, but I got mine from my university bookstore on sale along time ago).
   
   Moleskine (you could probably get the same quality paper for cheaper btw, Moleskine is definitely nice but usually considered a tad overpriced for what it is).

Sure, I was actually wrong about the pen though, it's the Hero 616
...not JinHao!

Pen is here

Tiny dotpad is here It says add on items, but if you check the other sellers you can still get it for the same price without the £29 minimum order!

I'll second the Mnemosyne. It's what I'm using for my studies currently and I also just use it as a general notebook for random notes. Well made, small but not tiny, and the page layout is good with the topic and dates lines. Amazon Link to the one I got.