The Best Notebooks For Fountain Pens :Top 10 Picks For 2023
Sometimes, you just want a notebook that is a lot of fun to write in. Other times, you want to write fast with a fountain pen. There are lined, dot grids, blank, or just plain grid notebooks.
Any of those are going to work just fine. All of it comes down to the paper and your personal preference.
Writing in a fountain pen friendly notebook is a great way to practice mindfulness each day. These days, it seems notebooks are the gift of choice.
The best notebooks for fountain pens can also be a great tool for self-improvement. Also, writing in a journal using a fountain pen is a great way to keep a record of your life and enjoy it while writing.
Image | Name | Editor's Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Leather Journal Writing Notebook From Moonster | 5 out of 5 | |
| Huhuhero Classic Ruled Notebook Journal | 5 out of 5 | |
| Nomad Crafts Co. Vintage Leather Journal | 4.5 out of 5 | |
| Minimalism Art, Premium Hard Cover Notebook | 4 out of 5 | |
| BooQool Ruled Page Notebook/Journal | 4.5 out of 5 |
Top 9 Best Notebooks For Fountain Pen - Reviews 2023
A fountain pen needs a quality notebook to write on. Below are some good notebooks for fountain pens that you can use daily and show off the ink colors.
1. Leather Journal Writing Notebook From Moonster
If you love to journal and looking for a notebook with quality that will hold up for years to come, this leather journal writing notebook from Moonster is a perfect choice. The cover is made using 100% genuine hand-cut water buffalo leather.
It's one of the best journals for fountain pens has a thick cover that feels soft and nice to the touch. You can really tell this fountain pen journal was handcrafted and made with a lot of love. You will really enjoy writing in it.
As for the paper quality, it's really nice and thick. It's an earth-friendly cotton paper, and the notebook comes with 120 sheets of these. It's the ideal handcrafter gift that you can give to someone that loves to journal.
It also comes in a cotton presentation bag. Apart from journaling, there are so many things you can do with it. The thick cotton paper can be a great canvas to put artwork in it. You can also scrapbook and bullet journal in this notebook.
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2. Huhuhero Classic Ruled Notebook Journal
Up next, we have a faux leather notebook that is designed for pen-and-paper enthusiasts. This ruled notebook from Huhuhero looks and feels great and has thick, smooth pages. It's a very nice quality notebook at an affordable price.
Whether you want to make to-do lists or jot down a few bullets, this versatile faux leather professional notebook will sure come in handy. The premium 120 GSM papers are ideal for a number of uses like drawing, sketching, and planning.
The black hardcover feels soft and smooth. It's also super durable and can easily last for years to come. This thick notebook comes with a strong elastic closure band and a ribbon bookmark, as well as an expandable pocket.
For a comfortable writing experience, this notepad lays flat 180°. The heavy bond papers can absorb ink from your fountain pen really well.
It also has a strong binding so that you can take it with you every day without having to worry about wear and tear.
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3. Nomad Crafts Co. Vintage Fountain Pen Journal
This leather journal from Nomad Crafts Co. looks like something that came from the world of Harry Potter.
It's one of the best notebooks for fountain pen that looks handmade and old to give you that vintage vibe. You can use quill and ink to write in it without any ink bleeding.
This fountain pen journal comes with 120 sheets of handmade antique papers that look like something that was pulled from the museum of history. These cotton papers are also environmentally friendly since they are made mostly using reused fabrics.
This thick journal has a genuine leather cover that soft and supple. This cover is made using naturally tanned full-grain leather that feels comfortable in the hands and smells amazing. It's one of those covers that ages well with time.
This vintage notebook has a leather wraparound that keeps the contents inside safe and secure. As for the binding, this is the real deal. The binding is hand-stitched to ensure the pages don't fall off easily.
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4. Minimalism Art, Premium Notebooks for Fountain Pens
This premium hardcover notebook from Minimalism Art is all about simplicity. If you're a bullet journaling beginner or looking for a dot journal to practice and get used to this method of writing, this is a good hardcover notebook to start with.
The 120gsm ivory papers are ink-proof and also have a pretty decent thickness to prevent bleeding. These numbered pages are also acid-free and environmentally friendly. This classic style thread-bound notebook lays completely flat.
If you are on a tight budget but still want a quality journal, this is the one. It has a gusseted pocket at the back and features two matching color ribbon bookmarks. This notepad also comes with an elastic strap.
At first glance, this one looks exactly the same as the Leuchtturm1917 notebook but with a more affordable price tag. The papers are thick and strong to prevent heavy ghosting and can easily withstand heavy writing erasing.
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5. BooQool Ruled Page Notebook/Journal
Looking for a journal for brainstorming ideas?
Or a diary for taking notes? The BooQool classic is one of the best notepads for fountain pens that are perfect for all uses. It comes with 128 pages of premium and thick lined papers that are thicker than regular notebook papers.
The ink-proof paper suits more pen inks and are designed to avoid ghosting and feathering. The paper has a nice color tone that is easy on the eyes. These high-quality papers are acid-free and can resist damage from air and light.
The cover of this journal has a nice texture finish made using faux leather. The exterior of this notebook feels soft and comfortable to hold. It has an expandable inner pocket, integrated bookmark, and comes with an elastic closure.
The outer cover also doubles as a convenient writing surface and also lays flat no matter what page you turn to. In short, it has just about all the features you can expect from a notebook to provide you with a high-quality writing experience.
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6. British A5 Journal by Beechmore Books
The Beechmore notebook is brought into existence after combining careful craftsmanship and quality materials. Inside this journal, you will find 80 sheets of ivory cream papers that are ruled, crisp, and thicker than most other brands.
To store your key essentials like business cards, posted notes, and receipts, you will find an expandable, reinforced pocket in the back of the notebook. It has a 180-degree lay-flat binding thanks to the careful bookbinding process.
This allows for easy one-handed not taking on the go. Whether you are an avid procrastinator, a big thinker, or just want a space to grow your ideas, this luxury journal/notebook is the best fountain pen notebook to get creative and enjoy writing.
The classic British style tactile cover is made from specially sourced vegan leather. It comes with a subtle bookmark ribbon and features a secure elastic closure to keep the pages safe and secure. This luxury notebook is sure to bring the best of your creativity.
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7. Vintage Artificial Leather Writing Journal By VALERY
Up next, we have a very classy and high-quality notebook from VALERY with a faux leather cover.
If you are looking for the best notebook for fountain pen writing, go with this one. It's clean, crisp, durable, and very well put together.
The design of this journal is very practical. The cover and the binding allow for one-handed writing.
The papers are fountain pen friendly, and you will be really pleased with the performance of the paper. You can also refill the pages.
Along with its great paper quality and perfect size, the cover feels as if it were made using real leather. Take a cup of coffee, a fountain pen and sit in a desk with this notebook and enjoy every detail that this journal has to offer.
The old, vintage look of the papers truly inspires you to pick up the pen and write whatever comes to your mind.
For both personal and professional use, you can use this leather journal for various occasions. It's truly the perfect daily writing journal.
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8. Amazon Basics Classic Lined Notebook
If you do a lot of writing daily and want an alternative to pricey notebooks, this one from Amazon Basics is a great product for a reasonable price. It's the best cheap notebook for fountain pens for daily use and made using durable material to keep in the notebook in one piece.
The pages aren't very thick but can be used with gel pens and ink pens. It's not completely ink-proof, so expect some bleed through. This is a basic notebook with basic features, and the price reflects the quality.
When using a fine sharpie tip, there will be some slight bleed. Otherwise, the pages are somewhat resistant to ghosting.
You can try using quality pens like Waterman fountain pen, Lamy Safari, etc., and the paper will hold up just fine.
It's a bit on the heavy side, which makes this notebook perfect for notetaking, journaling, and writing.
I've seen mixed reviews about this one, but you get what you pay for, a cardboard cover, acid-free paper, elastic closure, and a bookmark.
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9. HUSTLE Co. Thick Ruled Fountain Pen Notebook
Rediscover the joy of writing with a classic yet contemporary designed notebook from HUSTLE Co. The Classic Pro notebook is super functional, featuring a stylish hardbound cover. It's the perfect journal for personal use, work, and meetings.
These journals are designed to lay flat thanks to the unique 3-piece carefully constructed cover. You can open it wide and write without having to worry about the integrity of the binding. Writing in this notebook feels like a dream.
For durability, it features section-stitching that is carefully crafted to make this notebook last for years to come. The 120 GSM ink-resistant papers are perfect for fountain pen users and gel pen users.
This journal contains 160 fountain pen friendly papers that are resistant to ink bleeding and ghosting. It also has other features like an elastic strap, ribbon, inside pocket, and a built-in pen holder loop.
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Notebook For Fountain Pen - Comparison Chart
Name | Cover Material | Pages | Page Style | Paper Weight | Binding | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Leather Journal Writing Notebook By Moonster | Leather | 240 | Plain | 125 | Stitched | 7" x 5" |
Huhuhero Notebook Journal | Faux Leather | 128 | Ruled | 120 | Glued | 5"X8.25" |
Leather Journal By NomadCraftsCo. | Leather | 240 | Plain | 120 | Stitched | 9" x 6" |
Minimalism Art Premium Hard Cover Notebook | PU Leather | 120 | Dotted Grid | 120 | Glued | 5" x 8.3" |
. Ruled Notebook/Journal By BooQool | Faux Leather | 128 | Ruled | 120 | Thread-Bound | 5.4" x 8.3" |
British A5 Journal by Beechmore Books | Vegan Leather | 160 | Ruled | 120 | Lay-Flat | 5.75" x 8.25" |
7. Vintage artificial leather writing journal | Artificial Leather | 185 | Ruled | 120 | Stitched | 6.29''X8.5" |
8. Amazon Basics Classic Lined Notebook | Cardboard | 240 | Ruled | 120 | Glued | 5" x 8.25" |
Thick Ruled Journal Notebook | Faux Leather | 160 | Lined | 120 | Stitched | 5.83''X8.5" |
Notebooks For Fountain Pen - Buying Guide
Fountain pen paper notebook comes in all different shapes and sizes. To guide you to the best journals for fountain pens, we will take a look at some of the key characteristics to narrow down your search.
1. Type Of Notebooks
The first thing to consider when it comes to buying a fountain pen friendly notebook is to look at the size. From standard notebook to pocket notebook, there are a bunch of them.
a. Standard Notebooks
These notepads are available in a wide range of paper types and sizes. As for their binding, standard notebooks generally feature stapled, glued, or stitched binding with a soft faux leather cover.
b. Refillable Notebooks
Some of them feature a refillable design with either replacement notebook inserts or loose-leaf filler paper. You can swap and add pages on the go. These notebooks have a high-quality cover with pen holders and pockets.
c. Ring Notebooks
These notebooks are tough and take up less space than standard or refillable notebooks. You can easily tear out pages and write in them without the support of a desk. These notebooks can be folded back to save space.
d. Elastic Closure Notebooks
There are more of a premium grade notebook that features heavy-duty binding, cover, and pages. The closure is more than just a style addon. As for its size, it's smaller than a standard notepad and larger than a bullet journal.
e. Pocket Notebooks
The smallest type of notebook on the market with a semi-durable cover and staple binding. These are used frequently by users that want something to quickly jot down ideas or take notes on the go.
2. Paper
When it comes to paper, you want something that is ink-proof. Some notebooks offer special papers that can be used to write using fountain pens. As for their color, most of them will have either ivory or cream-colored papers.
If you have the option to choose, go with ivory or cream color papers. They are easier on the eyes and do a great job of showing ink colors. Also, look for papers that are resistant to ghosting and fading. Follow this article to know about different types of paper.
3. GSM
GSM is the weight rating used to determine the weight of a paper. The standard is 120 GSM, which is considered as the ideal thickness for a paper suitable for fountain pen ink.
However, there are lighter papers out there that are between 80 to 90 GSM. It's a matter of personal preference. If you feel like you are comfortable writing in a 120 GSM paper, then that's the best notebook for you.
If you think the paper is too thick, you can go with thinner papers with lowers GSM.
4. Additional Features
What separates a good fountain pen friendly notebook from a regular notebook is the additional features that it comes with. It's those little addons that make a notebook worth buying.
For example, having a built-in pen holder saves a lot of time when you want to sit down and quickly jot down any ideas that popped up in your head.
Also, you will notice that most of the journals have a pocket or two at the back to keep all the essentials.
Another neat feature that is a must-have is the bookmark. Having multiple bookmarks will allow you to quickly go to a specific section of the journal without having to flip through the entire notebook.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
1. What are some of the most popular brands that make fountain pen friendly notebooks?
Some of the most popular brands are Rhodia, Moleskine, Leuchtturm 1917, Clairefontaine, and Apica. These are more of a premium brand and might not be suitable for beginners.
2. Can a fountain pen make my handwriting better?
It's a debatable question, but a lot of fountain pen users recommend using one to improve handwriting.
This type of pen allows you to write slower and clearly while paying attention to every detail. So, with practice, there is a good chance that you will be able to improve your handwriting.
3. What does “ghosting” means?
Ghosting refers to the show-through resistance of a paper. When the paper is too thin, you will see the writing become visible on the opposite side of the paper. Thinner pages will have less show-through resistance.
4. Should I go for a smooth paper or a toothy paper?
This comes down to personal preference. Some people love to write on a paper that is super smooth, while some want a bit of resistance. If you want to write fast, go for a smooth paper.
Final Words
These are just some of the best notebooks for fountain pen that will work with almost any pen and ink combination and can also handle fountain pen ink really well.
However, you can go beyond and get even better ones. However, for someone that is starting out, this will be a better deal.
Now, If I had to pick any one of these, I will gladly go with the Nomad Crafts Co. vintage leather journal.
It has better-quality paper for fountain pen ink and also resistant to feathering and bleed-through.