Best Notebooks
Top notebooks ranked by transparent trust scores.
8 products ranked
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Top Pick
9.4
Excellent
Leuchtturm1917 A5 Dotted Notebook
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
#1
9.4
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Numbered pages with table of contents
- Numbered pages with table of contents
- Ink-proof paper backing
Cons
- 80gsm paper ghosts with heavy inks
- 80gsm paper ghosts with heavy inks
- Binding can crack if forced open
Don't buy this if…
- Fountain pen inks heavier than medium flow will show significant ghosting and possible bleed-through.
- Fountain pen inks heavier than medium flow will show significant ghosting and possible bleed-through.
#2
9.2
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #2 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Iconic brand with consistent quality
- Iconic brand with consistent quality
- Elastic closure keeps pages secure
Cons
- Thin 70gsm paper bleeds easily
- Thin 70gsm paper bleeds easily
- Higher price for the page count
Don't buy this if…
- The 70gsm paper is unsuitable for fountain pens, brush pens, or heavy markers.
- The 70gsm paper is unsuitable for fountain pens, brush pens, or heavy markers.
#3
9.0
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #3 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- 90gsm fountain-pen-friendly paper
- 90gsm fountain-pen-friendly paper
- Silky-smooth writing surface
Cons
- Fewer pages than competitors
- Fewer pages than competitors
- Limited color options
Don't buy this if…
- The smooth paper surface can cause ballpoint pens to skip until the pen warms up.
- The smooth paper surface can cause ballpoint pens to skip until the pen warms up.
#4
8.7
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #4 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Beautiful paper ages with character
- Beautiful paper ages with character
- Thread binding lies perfectly flat
Cons
- No back pocket or bookmark
- No back pocket or bookmark
- Soft cover offers less protection
Don't buy this if…
- The uncoated cover will stain easily — a separate cover is recommended for daily carry.
- The uncoated cover will stain easily — a separate cover is recommended for daily carry.
#5
8.5
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #5 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- 100gsm paper eliminates ghosting
- 100gsm paper eliminates ghosting
- Full feature set with dual bookmarks
Cons
- Slightly larger A5+ size may not fit all cases
- Slightly larger A5+ size may not fit all cases
- Cover dyes can transfer when wet
Don't buy this if…
- The vegan leather cover requires gentle cleaning — alcohol-based wipes will damage the finish.
- The vegan leather cover requires gentle cleaning — alcohol-based wipes will damage the finish.
#6
8.3
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #6 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Legendary Tomoe River paper quality
- Legendary Tomoe River paper quality
- Daily page format with grid layout
Cons
- Long dry times for wet inks
- Long dry times for wet inks
- A6 size is small for some users
Don't buy this if…
- Tomoe River paper requires extended drying time — closing the book too quickly will smear wet ink.
- Tomoe River paper requires extended drying time — closing the book too quickly will smear wet ink.
#7
8.1
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #7 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Beautiful cloth-covered hardcover
- Beautiful cloth-covered hardcover
- Premium American-made construction
Cons
- Only 80 pages for the price
- Only 80 pages for the price
- Limited ruling options
Don't buy this if…
- The cloth cover is not water-resistant and will stain permanently if exposed to liquids.
- The cloth cover is not water-resistant and will stain permanently if exposed to liquids.
#8
7.9
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #8 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Exceptionally smooth paper surface
- Exceptionally smooth paper surface
- Clean micro-perforated tear-out
Cons
- Spiral binding snags in bags
- Spiral binding snags in bags
- Fewer pages than hardcover competitors
Don't buy this if…
- The spiral binding will deform if stored under heavy items in a bag.
- The spiral binding will deform if stored under heavy items in a bag.
Quick Comparison
How We Rank
Composite trust score from expert reviews, user sentiment, complaint analysis, and value assessment.
Trust Score
Weighted composite of all factor scores
Expert Score
Aggregated expert review ratings
User Sentiment
Community votes and review analysis
Value Score
Price-to-performance ratio
Freshness
Recency of reviews and data
Change Log
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