Carl Pullein - My Favourite Notebooks of 2025
The speaker discusses their transition back to using pen and paper, specifically focusing on finding suitable notebooks for fountain pen use. They emphasize the challenges faced with ordinary notebooks, such as feathering and ghosting, which led them to explore various brands. The speaker tested several notebooks, including Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Midori, each offering different qualities. Ultimately, they settled on Maruman Nemezine notebooks for their planning and scratchpad needs due to their excellent paper quality and availability in Korea. Additionally, they mention the luxurious but expensive Smithson notebooks for their commonplace book, appreciating the craftsmanship and writing experience. The speaker highlights the benefits of using paper over digital tools, such as reduced screen time and deeper thinking, and plans to continue using this system for their work and personal projects.
Key Points:
- Choose notebooks with high-quality paper to avoid issues like feathering and ghosting when using fountain pens.
- Rhodia and Midori notebooks are recommended for their excellent paper quality and writing experience.
- Maruman Nemezine notebooks are preferred for planning and scratchpad use due to their availability and cost-effectiveness in Korea.
- Smithson notebooks, though expensive, offer a luxurious writing experience for commonplace books.
- Using paper notebooks can reduce screen time and promote deeper thinking compared to digital tools.
Details:
1. ✍️ Rediscovering Pen and Paper: A Journey Back
1.1. Decision to Transition to Traditional Methods
1.2. Benefits and Enduring Legacy of Pen and Paper
2. 🖋️ The Fountain Pen Dilemma and Notebook Hunt
2.1. Challenges with Fountain Pens and Common Notebooks
2.2. Rhodia Notebooks: The Preferred Solution
3. 📜 Tomoe River Paper: Smooth but Not Perfect
- Tomoe River paper is widely praised by fountain pen users for its exceptional quality, demonstrating a high level of user satisfaction.
- The paper's ultra-smooth texture is a major selling point, but it may not appeal to users who prefer a tactile writing experience with more feedback.
- Despite its smoothness, the paper maintains a strong market presence, as evidenced by its loyal user base who continue to value it highly.
- The cost of Tomoe River notebooks is notably high, which could be a barrier for some potential buyers.
- Users often appreciate the paper's ability to handle various inks well, making it a preferred choice for fountain pen enthusiasts.
- There is an opportunity to compare this paper with other brands to highlight its unique advantages and disadvantages.
- Incorporating user testimonials could provide additional insights into specific use cases and personal experiences.
4. 📘 Rhodia to Midori: Notebook Trials and Triumphs
- Rhodia notebooks, known as Webbooks, are praised for their excellent paper quality and vibrant colors, making them ideal for users who value aesthetics and writing quality.
- Midori's MD notebook stands out as a preferred choice due to its superior paper quality and overall design, making it a favorite for consistent use last year.
- Both Rhodia and Midori notebooks are favored for their ability to enhance the writing experience, with specific emphasis on paper quality and design aesthetics.
5. 📚 Commonplace Books: Capturing Thoughts and Ideas
- Commonplace books are used to capture bits of information and quotes, aiding in historical studies and note-taking during activities such as watching documentaries.
- Historically, commonplace books have served as valuable tools for scholars and thinkers to compile knowledge and insights across various subjects.
- Japanese papers are noted for their fantastic quality, enhancing the experience of using commonplace books, and are especially valued for their excellent feedback and durability.
- The A5 book size is highlighted for its excellent binding and paper feedback, making the note-taking experience enjoyable and efficient.
6. 🖊️ Maruman Nemezine: The Perfect Fit
- Maruman Nemezine notebooks are highlighted as the ideal choice after extensive testing, particularly for a commonplace book, planning book, and scrapbook.
- The notebooks are produced by Maruman, a Japanese company known for high-quality paper, making them especially suitable for use with fountain pens.
- The B5 size of the notebooks is noted to be slightly larger than A5, providing ample space for notes while maintaining portability.
- Maruman notebooks feature an optically excellent and divine paper quality, praised for its smoothness and suitability for quick note-taking.
- The notebooks come with a sturdy, waterproof plastic cover, ensuring durability and protection against spills, such as tea or coffee, making them ideal for travel.
- The portability of the notebooks is emphasized, with the ability to easily fit into a bag, thus enhancing convenience for note-taking on the go.
- The effectiveness of using a physical notebook over digital tools for quick note-taking is underscored, highlighting the speed and readiness of a notebook always open on a desk.
7. 📔 British Craftsmanship: The Smithson Experience
7.1. Planning Strategy and Notebook Quality
7.2. Cost Management and Purchasing Strategy
8. 📝 High-End Notebooks: A Worthy Investment
- Smithson notebooks are renowned for their exceptional paper quality, offering a superior writing experience, especially with fountain pens, making them a premium choice for stationery enthusiasts.
- These notebooks come with a significant price tag, underscoring their status as a luxury item and an investment in high-quality stationery.
- Despite the high cost, they are favored for personal use, particularly for jotting down important quotes or notes in fields of interest like contemporary history, due to their unmatched quality.
- Smithson, established in London, is one of the oldest stationers, adding historical value and a rich heritage to their products, which enhances their appeal.
- In a competitive landscape of high-end stationery, Smithson stands out because of their unique combination of quality, historical significance, and brand prestige.
- Alternatives exist, but Smithson's reputation for quality and history makes them a preferred choice for discerning users.