Vs.
- Moleskine, large hardcover, with grid
Versus:
![Ex!Pe!ri!ment! L!fe Noble Note, size A5, with grid](https://www.rosemarykirstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/130819-105146.jpg)
L!fe Noble Note, size A5, with grid
![8-10-13 Saturday... New journal! I bought this from Jet Pens (www.jetpens.com), because it was advertised as being especially good for fountain pens, with minimal bleed-through. So far, so good... Just arrived in today's post and I LOVE the feel! Downside: no hard-cover. But I can create a refillable cover. I've already made my own pen-holders for the Moleskines. Also, the grid is lighter than the Moleskines. I think the Moleskies used to have a lighter grid, too. 8-11-13 Of course, darker ink would bleed through more readily. But so far, really liking this, and already preferring it to the Moleskine... 100_1853](https://www.rosemarykirstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/100_18531.jpg)
L!fe Noble Note
![8-10-13 ctd... Sometimes I think I like the idea of a Moleskine more than the object itself. You know -- the history, the literary connection. They're cool! They're hip! (Jeez, does anybody actually say "hip" anymore, other than when actually referring to hips?)... But the bleed-through is awful. And even worse when using dark blue or black ink....The darker ink shows through just that much worse. And what about a calligraphy pen? ... For calligraphy pens -- even slower writing -- more ink, more bleed-through. 100_1851](https://www.rosemarykirstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/100_1851-768x1024.jpg)
Moleskine
![Bleed-through on the Moleskine, as you can see... Plus: Weirdly, the two sides of a Moleskine page have slightly different surfac fiishes. ... The rougher side tends to feather more than the smoother side. ... And Calligraphy... 100_1852](https://www.rosemarykirstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/100_18521.jpg)
Moleskine
![Zero bleed-through. ... There is, however, a certain amount of shine through, which you could see on the previous page; on this page it's less noticeable because of the orange cover. 100_1854](https://www.rosemarykirstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/100_1854.jpg)
L!fe Noble Note
![I've been using Moleskines for years, and I've been recommending them -- But... They've deteriorated in that time. The truth about Moleskines](https://www.rosemarykirstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/100_1870.jpg)
The truth about Moleskines
![2009 and 2013 Moleskines 100_1867sm](https://www.rosemarykirstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/100_1867sm.jpg)
Moleskine from 2009; Moleskine from 2013
![Way less bleed-through... Bleed through. 100_1868sm](https://www.rosemarykirstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/100_1868sm.jpg)
Old Moleskine on left; current Moleskine on right
![final verdict: with no bleed-through, minimal shine-throuh, and delicous, smooth, lovely, creamy paper -- it's the L!FE Noble Note! -- Just have to make a cover. The soft cover is just too soft. 100_1871](https://www.rosemarykirstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/100_1871.jpg)
The winner!
Ta-da!
If I can’t make the journals myself, at least I can make the cover cool.
August 29th, 2013 at 2:54 am
No. No to both. Leuchtturm dotted.
or Zequenz 360 (my favourite) …
Let me think … for you: definitely Leuchtturm either dotted or grid.
August 29th, 2013 at 9:46 am
Regina —
Do you use a fountain pen? Because that’s the critical difference for me between the Moleskine, and the Life Noble Note. People who use a ball-point pen have no trouble with bleed-through on the Moleskine.
Also: the paper on the Life Noble Note really is as good as advertised… If the Leuchtturm is comparable, I’ll give it a try (once I’ve used up this 3-pack of Lifes that I bought).
August 29th, 2013 at 10:26 am
Leuchtturms are fountain pen friendly, the paper is very good, writing shines through but does not bleed through (at least not with my fountain pens and inks).
For work purposes I always use Leuchtturm.
August 30th, 2013 at 8:43 am
I wish I could use a fountain pen. I love the feel of writing – more like painting, in a way, than just scrawling with a ball-point. But, being a leftie, I tend to put the side of my hand over whatever I have just written. Instant ink-stained wench!*
* P.I.
August 30th, 2013 at 10:07 am
Sabine –
Well, even though there are leftie fountain pens, the learning curve is pretty steep! But I know there are higher-level non-fountain pens that have a nicer feel than the standard disposable Bic or Biro. I guess gel pens (which feel pretty good) would still smear on you.
There’s always the italic-tipped felt-tip pens, for an especially classy look!