Moleskine Classic notebook review

Good paper, an elastic band and no page numbers, which is the entire argument for and against it.

Specifications

Specifications above come from Moleskine's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• The ivory paper is pleasant to write on with a ballpoint or gel pen, and the colour is easier on the eye than bright white under a lamp.
• The elastic band keeps the book closed in a bag, which sounds trivial and is the reason Moleskines survive being carried.
• The inner pocket takes loose notes and cards, which is where half the things you meant to keep otherwise go.
• It is available everywhere, in a size and ruling you can replace identically for years, which matters if you want a shelf of matching volumes.
• The format is compact enough to carry and large enough to write properly in, which is a genuinely good compromise.

Where it falls short

• No page numbers and no table of contents. If you journal for a year and want to find what you wrote in the spring, you will read your way there. That is the single biggest difference from a Leuchtturm and it is worth deciding on before buying.
• Fountain pen users report feathering and bleed-through, and Moleskine's paper has a long-standing reputation for it. If you use wet ink, test before committing.
• It costs a premium for a brand and a format rather than for a feature the Leuchtturm does not also have.
• A hardcover journal that looks like an artefact can make people precious about the first page. If you find yourself saving it for good thoughts, that is the notebook winning.
• Page count is lower than a Leuchtturm at similar money, so the cost per page is higher.

What owners report

Reader reports are consistently positive about the writing experience and the durability of the cover and band, and consistently negative about the paper under fountain pens. Both of those have been the pattern for years and neither is contentious.

The other recurring theme is the comparison with Leuchtturm, which comes up in a large share of reports unprompted. People who want to index their journals move; people who want the feel of a Moleskine stay.

Who it suits

• Ballpoint and gel pen users who want a classic hardcover journal.
• Anyone who carries a notebook and needs it to stay shut.
• People who want a format they can buy identically for years.

Who should skip it

• Fountain pen users, who should look for heavier paper.
• Anyone who wants to index and search a journal, who should buy a Leuchtturm.
• Writers who want the most pages per dollar.

Alternatives worth considering

Common questions

Is Moleskine paper good for fountain pens?

It has a long-standing reputation for feathering and bleeding with wet inks, and reader reports back that up consistently. Fine nibs and drier inks fare better. If fountain pens are your main tool, test one page before filling a book, or choose a notebook with heavier paper.

Moleskine or Leuchtturm1917?

Leuchtturm if you want numbered pages and a table of contents so you can find entries again. Moleskine if you prefer the paper and the format and do not intend to index anything. That is genuinely the whole decision, and our comparison covers the details of paper, binding and page count.

Does the notebook matter for journaling?

Much less than the habit. A good notebook makes writing more pleasant, and no notebook makes you write. If your barrier is starting rather than organising, buy something cheap today and upgrade when you have filled it.

Ruled, dotted, plain or squared?

Ruled for continuous writing, dotted if you mix text with layouts and diagrams, plain if you draw. Pick one and stop thinking about it, because switching format is a very effective way to feel productive without writing anything.

How long does one notebook last?

That depends entirely on how much you write. A page a day fills a large Moleskine in roughly seven or eight months; three morning pages a day fills one in about two. If you are following a practice with a page count, work out how many books you will need before you buy one, because running out mid-practice is a common way to stop.

Keep reading

• Leuchtturm1917 vs Moleskine
• Guided dream journal vs plain notebook
• Leuchtturm1917 review
• The Artist's Way review

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.