Back in the day, when I still wrote on lined paper and didn’t prefer graph or dot grid, my hardbound notebook of choice was the Quo Vadis Habana, which at the time did not come in a dot grid format. For whatever reason, that notebook became difficult to find, and I moved on to other things, but the format always stuck in the back of my mind - a slim, A5-ish notebook with a leatherette cover, elastic closure, and exceptionally fountain pen friendly paper. I used several Habanas as my personal journals over a multi-year period, and still have them on my shelf.
The Endless Recorder, the product of a relatively new company based in India called Endless Works, has updated this format by incorporating 187 numbered pages of 68 GSM Tomoe River dot grid paper into a compact notebook with a similar faux-leather cover. The notebook comes in four colors: black, blue, red, and green, each with a sky blue elastic closure.
The specs of the Endless Recorder. The only possible complaint I have is that I wish the elastic were a bit tighter. I have some concern that it will loosen up over time.
The Endless Recorder feels well-made, and lays flat - a relatively uncommon feature in a notebook this thin. As for the paper, this is my first experience with 68 GSM Tomoe River. Most “Tomoe River” notebooks use the lightweight 52 GSM paper, which handles fountain pen ink quite well but which I’ve personally found less durable and subject to tears. If you put a lot of ink on the page, you can also experience extremely long dry times, in addition to the “crinkling” effect which I personally dislike. Though I have several 52 GSM Tomoe River notebooks that I use regularly, I do wish that this 68 GSM version would receive more attention and make its way into more products. The heavier paper is more absorbent, allowing ink to dry quicker, and also has a bit of tooth to it, which I prefer over the glassy-smooth texture of “standard” Tomoe River paper. (Added texture is one of the reasons I enjoy Baron Fig’s paper so much.) While the 68 GSM Tomoe River isn’t quite that toothy, it’s still very pleasant to use with pencils. Many pencil aficionados dislike the 52 GSM variant because it’s too smooth and doesn’t offer enough feedback when writing with graphite.
You don’t sacrifice the signature thinness of Tomoe River notebooks by opting for the heavier 68 GSM paper. Shown here (bottom) compared against the Baron Fig “Gather” Review Journal.
It’s relatively uncommon to find a smaller bound notebook that lays completely flat without breaking the spine or holding it open, much less one with 187 pages (16 of which are perforated).
Takeaways and Where to Buy
I’m impressed with the Endless Recorder, and plan on picking up a couple to use for work. Given the slimmer profile and general absence of bulk, these notebooks would also make excellent travel journals. Since the pages are numbered, this notebook could also easily be converted into a bullet journal.
You can purchase the Endless Recorder directly from Endless via their online shop. Pen Chalet also carries the standard journal, priced at $22.95, as well as a Pen Chalet special edition in “Rust”, currently priced at $17.99.
Disclaimer: Many thanks to Endless for sending me this notebook to review, free of charge. This post contains affiliate links.