Essentials Grid-lined Notebook, Large, A5 Size (Journal, Diary)

I started bullet journaling and have been looking for a good journal. Originally I used a blank notebook but the paper was printer paper thin and wasnt practical for my uses. After all the reviews and recommendations, I bought the Leuchtturm. I was hesitant at first since because it was kinda pricey and do I regret it! The paper is pretty thin and a huge pet peeve of mine is when ink bleeds or ghosts and the Leuchtturm ghosts REALLY bad. The pages are numbered and there is an index which is nice (plus two ribbon bookmarks) but honestly I'd rather have better quality paper than all those features.This essentials journal is a great price for me and I love squared paper so this option for me was great. The paper quality is nice too! This isn't watercolor paper but I don't have to worry about ghosting and bleeding 🙏☺!!! There IS slight ghosting (when using a thicker nib) however very minimal and I can write on both sides without it bugging me. Besides the 20$ I wasted on the Leuchtturm1917, I am a happy person!UPDATE:I've since then bought 3/4 more? My mom loves the journal too and I got her one. After using it for almost 3 months, I still like it. The design is simple and the paper is still great. I have noticed some of the pages folding out? Like the middle section where the stitching is slips out a little or the inside corners fold. But this has only happened to a couple of pages and doesn't bother me too much because I just glue two pages together then. My journal still opens flat and I'm about 70 pages in. I have noticed though that fountain pens feather a little especially if you're heavy handed and slow. If you write light and quick you'll be fine.I have dissected my Leuchtturm and ripped the extra ribbons out and glued them into the essentials journal. I've also bought a pen loop to hold my pen because it's more convenient for me. Overall I really love this journal and it's helped me keep up with my Bullet journal.

The grid allows me to organize sections neatly and clearly. I do need strong light to see it, but my eyes are almost 50 years old and in need of glasses. So, grain of salt.Good, mid-weight paper. This is based on my fanatical devotion to The Best Pen the World Has Ever Seen; the Signo Uni Ball 207 ultra micro line (or the bold line if I need something really bossy). An emergency once required me to use a Bic felt tip and it did bleed through. Other felt tips did not. It's an uncertain world, full of risks. Be brave.The binding is strong and flexible. I can lay it flat to write without the spine breaking. Pages are tight.The back-cover pocket holds miscellaneous papers secure. I do not fear windy days.The elastic strap doesn't stretch out, break, fray, or slip.I have no use for the ribbon marker, but if I did it's there, by god, and not to be trifled with.The cover is a solid not-vinyl, not-leather, not-fabric thing. In black. Doesn't especially lend itself to decoration, although stickers might work. If a decorative cover is important to you, this could be a deal breaker.I tried one of those expensive journals often spoken of in bujo blogs (long name, maybe German? Starts with an L.) Aside from the pretty color, it had nothing to recommend it and is ludicrously overpriced.I don't think this a good product for art journalling. Ink and paint are better served by more sketch-booky journals. I use this one for organization: weekly goals, daily pages, grocery lists, spending logs, checking account logs, reading lists, work schedules, and whatever whimsy catches me. (Song lyrics, fictional heroines, things I thought I had to have but now that I see it written down I realize I don't, outpourings of grief for the loss of Carrie Fisher, Stupid POTUS Tricks, book reviews, top ten ice cream flavors, stuff like that.)

I got into 'bujo'ing a few weeks ago and wanted a good journal to start with, but also wanted it at a low price in case I didn't follow through with this new hobby and system. I did many, many cross reviews of this and the other popular journals including the moleskin and leuchtturm. I'm so glad I went with this journal, it's perfect. The pages lay flat after only having to apply minimal pressure, basically I only have to lay my hand on it to write and the page goes flat. The grid is light enough to not conflict with my text and lines, but dark enough for me to see to layout column and box lines for spreads. I like the grid because it resembles the lines of notebook paper as opposed to the dotted grid. The cover is hard and has put up with a month's worth of going in and out of my purse with no signs of wear. The stay-closed strap on the cover is an awesome feature, as is the placeholer ribbon. The interior pocket in the back is hardly noticeable and an awesome bonus. I keep a small template, loose notes and sticker sheet inside and you can't even tell anything is in there. It has plenty of pages and should be lasting me a while.I use Micron pens and Tombow dual brush pens and fudesenke pens and have had zero problems with ghosting. I've seen pictures of ghosting on the leuchtturm and the ghosting on this doesn't even compare, it's much less of an issue.I haven't personally tried the other journals yet, and I'm not even sure that I need to because this hits all the marks for me all at a good price. This Journal should be just as or more popular than the big, popular ones out there. Aptly named, it is the Essential journal.

I have had this notebook for a while and recently need a sketch journal book to start with. Due to the thicker paper, so I give it a shot to use with watercolor and other mixed media. It holds very well with water-based paint. Recommend it if you are looking for good quality paper for your use, this may be the one to consider.