Which is better? Leuchtturm1917 review of hardcover & softcover journals

Why review just one version of a Leuchtturm1917 dot grid notebook when I could review two? I go into great depth in this review, not only looking at the features of the journal and a pen test, but doing a thorough review of the construction of the journals and the company's approach to social and environmental responsibility (among other things). Settle in and take notes!

Detailed specifications for the journals can be found on my website at

Music is Morning Walk - Cozy Coffee Shop Jazz Ambience by DPMusic purchased under commercial licence from Pond5.

[harrylew]

Your journal reviews are the most comprehensive on the internet. Well done! (And I agree with your findings about Leuchtturm 1917. They're nice, but not superlative.

[holohulolo]

This has to be the most comprehensive review of these journals. I always assume journals like this or moleskine are made mostly for writing in mind, and at most would hold up to fountain pen. I want one for sketches and couldn't justify having it if I can only use ballpoint gel or fountain pens. I didn't know you can use them for markers and watercolour even. I saw a leather hard cover by traveler's company and really wanted one, I'm glad that their paper are more fitting to my needs too.

[agathoklesmartinios]

I think people might be dedicated to it exactly because it is not **too** remarkable. Thus avoiding any kind of decision paralysis over whether to actually use it, as opposed to really good paper notebooks of very high quality which might inspire reticence to actually use it out of fear of wasting such good quality paper on low quality writing/sketching/water colouring/whatever.
As for me, personally, I like them a lot simply because they are good enough quality for my needs (saying this as a fountain pen user) and easily available in a range of lay-outs, paper thickness, colour of covers, and so on. I started with the hardcover ones, but tried out the softcovers at some point, which I now prefer; only my official Bullet Journal is still hardcover, on account of no softcover versions being available.
BTW, love the headband!

[piafitoussi]

I am SO annoyed with Leuchtturm paper: I had two 120gsm in A5, and the paper felt really good, and worked well with foutain pen, but this weight only exists in A5, and I'm a B5 girl for my planner/journal. So this year, I bought a B5 planner in 80gsm, because the spreads looked ideal to my practice. And it's awful! It's incredibly transparent (and I like to write with large nibs), and it gets crinkly like bible paper, I really don't understand! In the same weight, you have school Clairefontaine paper (well 90gsm) which doesn't ghost at all, the standard Clairefontaine (like in Rhodia notebooks) that works fine, the Paperblanks that is insanely good (well except the 120gsm, which baffles me a little), or the thicker Tomoe River (it's like 70gsm I think? Not the 52gsm one), and then Apica and so on. I really don't understand the Leuchtturm hype, honestly, I think it's just snobism. And I had the same experience of badly glued binding with one of my A5, which means it must happen regularly.
Sorry for the rant, there aren't a lot of people that are as nerdy about paper as I am, and as you're very knowledgeable in all things stationary, I thought I would share 😁! Thank you once more for the in-depth and carefuly researched reviews!

[thechosenseljak]

Thanks for review. Do you have favorite for fountain pen use only? Is it midori or rhodia better buy? Cheers 😊

[pauljj]

Lady, don’t you think you’re a little past the mouse ears headband or whatever that is you put on your head?