Welcome to Part III of my ongoing series, "Everyday Writers: The Best Paper for Everyday Writing," in which I've been taking an extended look at the different types of paper I use in my daily life, with a focus on work. When it comes to office supplies - as in, supplies that actually get used in the office - the traits I value most are (1) versatility and (2) cost effectiveness. You can't get much more versatile or cost effective than the traditional spiral notebook.
Some people love spiral bindings and others hate them. Lefties complain about how the binding gets in the way and hurts their hand, and even righties aren't immune to this problem if, like me, you always write on both sides of the page and wind up with a right-sided binding when you flip the notebook. Personally, the ability to fold the notebook over and easily tear sheets out even if the pages aren't perforated outweighs any inconvenience. I also appreciate the fact that a spiral notebook lays flat and, now that companies have started to make notebooks in "landscape" orientation, can fit perfectly underneath the keyboards most of us use for our daily work.
I use both the A4 and A5 Clairefontaine notebooks, which feature a sturdy wire binding and relatively durable covers. Clairefontaine’s thicker paper also stands up better to the wear and tear of a spiral binding, and I’ve noticed fewer sheets coming loose over time.
Because they aren't designed to look nice on a bookshelf, spiral notebooks also tend to cost less than hardcovers (though decent paper will still be much more expensive than the $0.25 drugstore notebooks we used in school). While you do sacrifice durability and a nicer appearance, I tend to use my spiral notebooks for tasks that require “disposable” paper: brainstorming, testing pens, jotting review notes, and - for the day job - notes that may need to be torn out and shredded for confidentiality purposes. If you use your notebooks in the same way I do, this paper doesn't need to be the most fountain-pen friendly, further helping to reduce cost, and both Doane Paper and Studio Neat make excellent spiral notebook options if you can tolerate a little bit of bleedthrough with wider nibs and/or wetter inks.
Clairefontaine Side Wirebound Notebooks. In terms of versatility, my longtime favorite spiral notebook comes from French paper company Clairefontaine. Before they were widely available in the United States, I used to lug suitcases full of these notebooks back from France whenever I visited, which would be enough to get me through the year or two between trips. These spiral notebooks are available in A4, A5, and B6 sizes, as well as in single or 4-subject format. While I prefer the Seyes or "French" ruling, Clairefontaine also makes graph and lined paper. Those looking for dot grid will have to go with Write Notepads or Rhodia.
Write Notepads Spiral Notebooks. Last year, Write Notepads revamped their spiral bound notebook offerings to include more fountain pen friendly paper, which is among some of the best I've used. I also appreciate the more subdued cover design, which not only makes these exceptional notebooks to use at the office but strongly resembles something you would see in a midcentury office supply closet - and that's a good thing! Write Notepads makes a dot grid version, and also added a lined "Landscape" notebook that fits well in the space on your desk below the keyboard.
Rhodia Spiral Notebooks. Over the years, Rhodia seemingly has replaced Clairefontaine as the "standard" fountain pen friendly paper recommendation. And the brand has a lot to offer: It's widely available (often found in local art supply stores), relatively inexpensive, and high quality. Personally, while I don't dislike Rhodia, and use their A5 and A4 pads extensively, I find Clairefontaine and Write Notepads paper to be more consistent. I do love that Rhodia makes spiral notebooks with microperforated sheets that can easily be removed.
Doane Paper Idea Journal. Of all the notebooks on this list, the Doane Paper Idea Journal offers the best value proposition, with 100 sheets/200 pages of Doane's signature "Grid+Lines" paper. As remarked above, Doane Paper isn't as suitable for fountain pens as some of the other options on this list, but generally handles fine and extra-fine nibs well enough. The bigger question for many people is whether the somewhat quirky paper ruling meets their needs. Personally, I love it, especially for sketching out flow charts or detailed lists where I want the option to write very small.
Studio Neat Panobook. Finally, this last entry is perhaps the most specialized. Specifically designed to fit beneath an Apple keyboard, Studio Neat’s “Panobook” is a landscape or "panoramic" notebook that's a bit narrower than the Write Notepads version. Since it also features dot grid paper, you can change the orientation of the Panobook and use the notebook vertically, transforming it into an extra-large steno pad or reporter's notebook. Like Doane Paper, the Studio Neat Panobook isn't the most fountain-pen friendly option out there, but if you're judicious with the nibs and ink you use, it should be workable.
I really wish every notebook came with the option of French or Seyes-ruled paper. You can check out my full review here.
Takeaways and Further Reading
If I had to stock my office with two choices, they would be the A5 Clairefontaine French-ruled notebook and the Write Notepads dot grid spiral, because the paper works the best for my style of writing. I love these two versatile rulings, and not only does the paper in both notebooks handle pretty much any fountain pen nib or ink, but it also works well with rollerballs, gel pens, ballpoints, and, of course, pencils. With perforated pages, they would be absolutely perfect, but I guess you can't have it all.
If you haven’t already, don’t miss the first two installments of my “Everyday Writers: Best Paper” series, Part I: Best Hardcover Notebooks, and Part II: Top Five Slim Softcover Notebooks.