Notebook for school

[jrward2]

Hello everyone,

I start working towards my masters of accountancy in August and I need some advice on a notebook to use for school. I'm looking for some quality paper that will not feather or bleed, but I also want qualities that I can find at a local office stores. I'm looking for a notebook with around 200-300 pages, college rule lined, and also with a very sturdy wire bounding on the side. I saw some on goulet's -clairefontaine and rhodia- but I was wondering if y'all knew of something else that you have used. The reason I'm hoping for something with a lot of pages is because I take a lot of notes and have a lot of work. Because of this, I also like everything to be in the same notebook so I don't have to flip around a bunch of different notebooks looking for some notes that I took. Thanks for your help.

 

[Hirsute]

I use the Staples ARC system, which is similar/identical to the Levenger Circa system. You can get decent paper and print your own ruling (i get my templates from incompetech. Then I punch with the ARC punch (very nice and much much cheaper than Levenger).

I'll also say the the normal ARC paper from Staples is very good and not that expensive. I can write on both sides without bleed through even with a fairly wet medium tip, and I haven't noticed any feathering with the dozen or so inks I've tried. You can usually find a sale or coupon on the ARC stuff if you want a month or two.

If you want really nice paper, you can buy the Rhodia refills from Levenger. If you're tempted by the Levenger route, I recommend ordering their "sampler" for $40, which includes a $40 gift card so you can then buy refills of things you like from the sampler. Also, lots of Levenger Circa stuff on ebay and through the Levenger outlet.

 

[the_edski]

Black and Red from Office Depot (or Max), i can never remember which. To my eye and hand, it writes and feels just like Clairefontaine!

 

[SmoovD]

Staples has a line of sugarcane/bagasse notebooks that might be suitable. It should be a good time to buy with school days making their way back around.

 

[crowdog]

With the description you provided, I don't think you can go wrong with the Staples. It is just how you described, comes in A4 and A5 sizes and is cheap!! http://www.staples.com/Sustainable-Earth-by-Staples-Wirebound-Notebooks-Notebooks/product_SS1042782

 

[N2theBreech]

I have a large Rhodia spiral-bound notebook that I got from the Goulets. It has good paper, of course. There are 80 sheets, making 160 pages. I do wish the cover was stiffer. Even when it's folded back, I it is still limber.

I really liked the sugar cane paper from Staples, until I got a fountain pen. I understand paper quality can be variable from notebook to notebook in that series. I tried two, and with the pen/ink combo I was using, I had bleed through and feathering so I gave up.

The disc system looks attractive. If you buy the letter-sized version, you could hole-punch in-class handouts and insert them right next to the notes from the same class session. Also, you wouldn't waste paper, whatever you don't use can be moved to the next notebook.

Another option is to use something like a Leuchturm1917. They look like a Moleskine, come in small, med, or large, and they have choices between blank, ruled, graph/squares, and dots. The dots are cool. They can be used as graph paper, ruled, or blank, since the are unobtrusive. They also have several pages set aside for table of contents, discreet page numbers on every page, and the last few pages are perforated. And, of course, there is the obligatory pocket in the back, and a piece of elastic to keep it closed. They

Speaking from experience, whichever you choose, you'll be trying other options as you progress through your program!

A hearty best of luck on your journey!