Write Notepads Spiral Notebook: How Far Can I Push This Paper?

Before I get started, I wanted to let you know, in the interests of complete transparency, that today I’m going to be talking about a product I sell. That said, my “retail” operation at TGS is relatively small, and for the time being is limited to those products about which I feel strongly enough to keep in my own regular rotation, including the current TGS “house paper” from Write Notepads. I don’t think my opinion on the product is colored by my interests as a retailer, but again, transparency is important. With that out of the way, on to the review.

If you read my recent series on the Best Paper for Everyday Writing, Write Notepads paper makes numerous appearances. Their standard spiral notebook and landscape notebooks have earned a regular place in my workflow, simply because the paper is among the best-performing paper for fountain pens that’s I’ve used. It helps that I have a thing for vintage-inspired design, and their pistachio-colored notebooks remind me of the vintage supplies I used to “borrow” from my Dad's office supply closet when I was a kid. So, bonus points for nostalgia.

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I’ve never done a “proper” review of this paper, and wanted to post some pictures demonstrating why I like these notebooks so much. Write Notepads has found a source of paper that, for me, strikes the perfect balance of absorbency and smoothness. It’s not heavily coated like Clairefontaine, so you get that same tactile feel reminiscent of Baron Fig paper (another favorite), but with better performance with wet fountain pens. I’ve experienced absolutely no bleed-through, little to no feathering, and a reasonable dry time that’s similar to Rhodia.

Sometimes I find that extra fine nibs will feather and bleed more than broader nibs, especially needlepoints that can dig into the fibers. I tried this paper out with the Platinum Curidas fine nib with both heavy pressure (top) and light pressure (bottom). Neither bled through but the heavy pressure writing sample feathered a bit. With normal writing pressure I did not have this issue.

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Absolutely NO bleedthrough or show-through whatsoever, even with a really wet swab where I made multiple passes. I was, of course, able to make a Sharpie bleed through to the back side.

Final Thoughts and Where to Buy

As I mentioned above, this paper works so well for me that I’ve largely switched over to Write Notepads paper as my primary general purpose writing paper. With the exception of some of their pocket notebooks, Write Notepads uses this high-performance stock in all of their offerings, and I like that the full-size spiral notebooks come in both standard and landscape orientation.

You can purchase Write Notepads notebooks (including the spiral dot grid notebook pictured here) in the TGS Curated Shop, and I also carry the Landscape Notebook, Steno Pad, Reporter Notebook, Paper Journal, and Copper Anniversary Edition Pocket Notebooks (which has the higher quality paper). For items I don’t carry, you can order directly from Write Notepads, though I appreciate all the support you can throw my way!

The Best Paper for Everyday Writing, Part V: Writing Pads, Notecards, and Even Some Looseleaf

I keep a wide assortment of paper products on hand beyond traditional bound notebooks. Because I generally think better on the page than on a screen, I maintain a large stash of what I think of as "brainstorming supplies": paper in convenient formats that I can pull out to get my thoughts down, which I can then shred, scan, or stick in a file or binder for later reference. The products I use for this purpose don't fall into a traditional category, so this final installment of the "Everyday Writers: Best Paper" series will seem like a catch-all - because it is. That said, the fact that I saved this particular article for last doesn't reflect its importance to my workflow. In many ways, the products listed here are among the most important that I use, particularly the Baron Fig Mastermind and Rhodia pads.

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1. Baron Fig Mastermind. At times, the Baron Fig Mastermind desk pad has been the most heavily used product in my rotation. I generally keep one on my desk at home, and one on my desk at the office. This versatile piece of stationery serves multiple purposes: an open canvas for mind mapping; a landscape-style dot grid pad for general note taking; and even a different format for handwritten drafts of longer writing projects.

2. Rhodia A4/A5 Pad (Grid/Dot). For many - and possibly a majority of - fountain pen enthusiasts, Rhodia pads are the default workhorse paper. It's inexpensive for good paper, widely available, and handles nearly any fountain pen ink with minimal feathering or bleed-through. Unlike Baron Fig paper, it's coated and relatively non-absorbent, so the primary drawback will be dry time but even that is reasonable and honestly depends heavily on the ink you’re using.

3. Doane Paper Writing Pad. Doane Paper's signature "Grid+Lines" ruling makes another appearance on my "Best Paper for Everyday Writing" lists, and their single-sided large Writing Pad is probably the Doane Paper format I use the most. Since this particular pad is only made to write on one side anyway, I don't worry about bleed-through, though the grid ruling is so small that I mainly use pencils and ultra-fine gel pens (and sometimes extra-fine or needlepoint fountain pens) on this particular paper. Great for making lists, flowcharts, and analog mind-mapping.

4. Nock Co. Dot-Dash Index Cards. Though I don't use index cards extensively, I will break them out when I'm having trouble organizing thoughts for a longer-form article or legal brief, or otherwise have a project with lots of moving pieces that I want to track visually. Nock's Dot-Dash cards work well with nearly all writing instruments, including most fountain pens, and their colorful orange ruling is visible enough to use but not so loud that it obstructs your writing. The cards also come in large bifold "Gigante" and smaller "Petite" sizes.

5. Clairefontaine Looseleaf. It pains me to have to put this last on this list, because it's arguably my favorite paper ever, but given how difficult it is to get your hands on Clairefontaine looseleaf sheets these days, I debated whether to include it. Oh well. I hauled enough packs of this stuff back from France a few years ago to last me until Armageddon, so I'm going to continue to use it, and hope that at some point Exaclair starts to distribute this paper to U.S. retailers once again. Since I only use the French ruled version, I expect that I'll have to make a restock run across the Atlantic when we're allowed to travel again, though Wonder Pens has it listed on their site (though as “Out of Stock”) and I’m hopeful they’ll bring it back.

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One product that we will likely never see in the U.S. are the French-ruled “Doubles”, or four sheet booklets of French-ruled paper used for notetaking in school. [EDIT: Turns out we now carry them!]

Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Given that this last installment is more of a "catch-all" list, there aren't any products on here that I would necessarily prioritize over others in my workflow in terms of importance - I use all of them in different scenarios for different purposes. That said, the ones I use most frequently, as measured by how often I have to restock, are the Baron Fig Mastermind and Rhodia pads. I order these by the dozen at the beginning of each year and typically have to place a restock order towards the end of the summer.

I hope you all have enjoyed the "Everyday Writers: Best Paper" series. Paper can be difficult to write about, since everyone has different needs and preferences and recommendations turn out to be highly subjective, but the best thing about today's market is the variety of products out there, which means that you will almost certainly be able to find something that works for you.

If you are interested in reading further, the rest of the “Everyday Writers: Best Paper” series includes Part I: Hardcover Notebooks; Part II: Slim Softcover Notebooks; Part III: Spiral Notebooks; and Part IV: Pocket Notebooks and Portable Paper.

The Best Paper for Everyday Writing, Part II: Top Five Slim Softcover Notebooks

The second category of paper that I’m going to discuss as part of my “Everyday Writing” series is probably the one that I use the least: slim softcover notebooks. It’s not that I don’t find these notebooks “bad” in any way, it’s just that they rarely meet my personal needs. I tend to be hard on notebooks, and often a soft cover - particularly those made from paper or card stock - will wear quickly, fall off and need to be reinforced with tape before I actually finish the notebook. I also generally prefer to use a single book for multiple projects, relying on an index or bookmarks to separate pages by subject matter. This is mainly a matter of convenience, since I don’t want to have to carry too much when I commute or travel. That said, many people who like to use individual notebooks for different projects swear by the slim softcover format, and I’m slowly coming around and beginning to incorporate them into my workflow, particularly for projects like logging household expenses and home improvements, where the notebook lives on a desk and not in my bag.

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1. BaronFig Vanguard Softcover Notebook. At $12 for a pack of three, BaronFig’s Vanguard softcover notebook is one of the best buys out there if you like smaller, “single-subject” books. I enjoy BaronFig’s paper, and while it’s not the most fountain pen friendly option out there, it’s certainly good enough for my use case, especially at this price point. Baron Fig will also periodically release limited edition Vanguard notebooks, such as the current “New York City” softcover set.

2. Write Notepads Paper Notebook/Journal. The surprise hit from the Baltimore Pen Show, where I sold out of these Write Notepads notebooks/journals in a matter of hours. These lined notebooks contain the same premium fountain pen friendly paper found in Write Notepads’ larger spiral notebooks, and come in a wide array of cool colors with a design reminiscent of vintage books that you might have stolen from your parents’ office supply closet back in the day. I absolutely love Write Notepads’ paper, and they’re one of the only brands I currently carry in my curated shop. (They’re now restocked!)

3. Studio Neat Totebook. At a higher price point that the previous two options, Studio Neat’s Totebook sells in packs of 2 for $20, but offers a slightly more durable leatherette cover, 100gsm dot grid paper, and 8 perforated sheets at the back. If I were to choose a softcover notebook as a “daily carry”, it would likely be the Totebook simply due to durability. I also love that Studio Neat includes archival stickers that you can use to label the spine of your notebook when you’ve finished.

4. Life Noble Note A5 Sidebound. If you want both quantity (in terms of sheets in a notebook) and quality (in terms of premium paper), consider Life, a premium Japanese brand that makes some of the best notebooks around. At $20 per notebook, they’re expensive for a softcover, but you get 100 sheets of paper. The question, at least for me, is whether a softcover notebook will survive long enough for me to actually use all of this paper.

5. Midori MD Notebook Light. Midori is another exceptional Japanese paper brand that makes softcover “Light” notebooks in both A5 and slimmer B6 sizes. The great thing about these notebooks is that Midori makes PVC covers. I’ve not tried this, but I’ve heard you can fit two volumes of the “Light” notebooks into one cover. Midori paper is quite versatile and handles fountain pen ink well.

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Both the Studio Neat Totebook and the BaronFig Vanguard are best described as “A5-ish”. They are both slightly smaller than a standard A5 notebook, whereas the Write Notepads Paper Journal is a closer match at 5.5” by 8.5”.

Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Though this particular format is not a personal favorite, that doesn’t mean it won’t meet your needs. If you best organize your thoughts and projects using separate notebooks for different topics, the slim softcover format is a highly cost effective way to do that, especially if you need more space than a pocket notebook can provide. As I mentioned above, if I had to pick one notebook from this list, I’d roll with the Studio Neat Totebook, if for no other reason than the increased durability offered by the leatherette cover.

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The Studio Neat Totebook pleasantly surprised me, and I’m looking for a way to get this notebook into my workflow soon. I previously reviewed Studio Neat’s “Panobook” panoramic spiral notebook, and if they' ever decide to use the Totebook’s paper in that format, I’d buy a dozen immediately. I’m becoming a fan of the Panoramic notebook for computer work.

Further Reading 

Don’t miss “The Best Paper for Everyday Writing, Part I: Best Hardcover Notebooks.” If you’d like to read further on my recommendations for “Everyday Writing” tools other than paper, please check out my posts “Choosing the Best Pens and Pencils for Life” and “The Best Fountain Pen Inks for Daily Use”. I also recently updated my “Best Pens” recommendations page, which contains multiple lists of pen recommendations for users at different price points and experience levels.    

Disclaimer: The three notebooks pictured in this review were provided to me free of charge as product samples.

New Products You Should Try: Custom Writing Pads from Blank Slate Paper Company

One new paper product that I’ve been using regularly is this new writing pad from Blank Slate Paper Company. If you’re unfamiliar with Blank Slate, it’s the brainchild of Dave and Kelly Rea, who set out to create a company that would allow stationery enthusiasts to design a “completely customizable writing pad” to their exact specifications. You can choose from dot grid, reticle grid, graph, lined ruling, or even a combination!

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For my first pad, I chose the HP Premium 32lb paper with orange dot grid.

When the company first launched last year, only single-sided pads were possible, but double-sided is now an option. Blank Slate offers two paper types: HP Premium 32lb and Domtar Bold 28. I prefer the HP Premium paper, as I’ve found it to be some of the most fountain-pen friendly paper in terms of minimizing bleed-through and feathering. It’s what I use in my printers at home.

Blank Slate products are printed and hand-assembled in Rochester, New York. Single custom writing pads start at $23.50 with a discount on purchases of three or more. Head over to the custom pad design tool - which Dave designed and built himself - and get started now!

Disclaimer: Dave was kind enough to provide me with a discount on the pad pictured here. This post contains affiliate links.

Catching up with Baron Fig: New Squires, a Confidant Partnership, and Leather Goods

In terms of companies that make some of my favorite products for everyday use, both at home and at work, you need not look much further than Baron Fig. From its origins as a Kickstarter notebook project, the company has evolved from being simply the makers of the Confidant notebook to a full-blown lifestyle brand, though the focus remains on stationery. Today I’ll take a look at a few of the Baron Fig products I’ve added to my daily kit over the past year or so.

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Pictured from left: Squire Rollerball in “Sheath” Pen single pen sleeve; “Lock” Brass limited edition Squire (check out that patina!) and my getting-worn-in slim bifold wallet. All of these products are sitting on top of a Mastermind desk pad.

Squire Rollerball Pen. Baron Fig’s Squire is my preferred iteration of the retractable rollerball - I like the teardrop shape, they’ve kept the design clean, and now there’s even a compatible Uniball Jetstream Refill that you can use to turn your rollerball into a fine-tip hybrid gel/ballpoint. Over the past year, Baron Fig also has backed away from a quarterly “limited edition” release schedule in favor of a wider range of standard colors and materials. The most recent release has been a Squire in brass, which is one of my favorites and which I’ve had the pleasure of using as part of the “Lock and Key” limited edition set that was released about a year ago. Today, my brass pen sports a gorgeous patina. I’m glad to see brass join stainless steel and copper as part of the regular Squire lineup.  

Confidant Notebooks. The Confidant lineup also has expanded over the past couple of years, with both new sizes and new colors now available as part of the regular line. The limited or special edition Confidants that were being released on a quarterly basis have apparently been replaced by special-purpose notebooks designed in partnership with various writers and designers. These include the new Clear Habit Journal (designed to accompany the book Atomic Habits by James Clear), the Wander Dream Journal, and the Show & Tell Notebook (designed in conjunction with Dribbble design showcase). Of these three, the Clear Habit Journal is probably the only one that might find its way into my regular rotation - and I have one on the way to review - but I love that Baron Fig has branched out and released these other products. I know several people who have enjoyed using the Wander Dream journal, and the Show & Tell will appeal to those who like to combine lined pages for writing with blank pages for sketching, doodling, or diagramming.

Workspace Accessories. In 2018 the Mastermind Desk Pad remained my most used stationery item. I probably churned through a dozen of these things, far outpacing my use of anything else in my kit. Though the Mastermind is not intended for writing on both sides of the page, the paper quality holds up with fountain pens, especially with respect to feathering and dry time. One of the things I love about Baron Fig paper is that it’s slightly absorbent, so it dries relatively quickly and doesn’t get all over your hands and wrists if, like me, you keep a Mastermind notepad underneath your keyboard. It also comes available in an “Mini” size, and Baron Fig subsequently released a narrow “Weeks” version to help you plan.

Bags and Leather Goods. Last but not least, I’ve found Baron Fig’s leather goods surprisingly impressive in both their looks and durability, especially at the price point. I’ve periodically posted that I’m carrying one of their slim bifold wallets in Charcoal, which is actually a very light gray that ages into an almost khaki color. I’m very hard on wallets, and this one has held up well. Other Baron Fig leather goods in my regular repertoire include the leather “Sheath” pen case for the Squire, as well as the “Guardian” notebook covers.  

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You can say I’m a fan of the Squire…

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Baron Fig is one of those brands that I’ve enjoyed getting to watch grow over the past few years. One thing I appreciate is that despite their rapid growth and introduction of new product lines, I’ve not had significant quality control issues, even as they’ve managed to keep their pricing reasonable. The stuff just “works,” and allows you to get down to doing your work, whatever that may be, with a minimum of fuss.

You can purchase any of the products featured in this post through the Baron Fig website, and they’re even starting to expand into retail streams. Our sponsor Vanness Pens currently carries a range of Baron Fig products, including the Confidant and Vanguard notebooks.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. Baron Fig provided me with certain of the products pictured in this review free of charge for review purposes, though others (like the gray squire pen and the Mastermind desk pads) were purchased with my own funds for my own personal use.