While looking for a notebook to fit in the new folio I designed, The Builder, I came across this size notebook (7in x 10in) and wanted to do a full review to share my thoughts as I didn't find many other reviews online.
Composition Size Notebook (7x10in) shown in orange, A5 size (5.75x8.3in) notebook in black.
The first thing to note is the price, at $22.95 this is a relatively expensive book for only having 121 pages. Compared to the A5 size notebook also offered by Leuchtturm (5.75 x 8.3in) with 249 pages that costs $19.95, this starts off at a big question mark for me. Why the additional cost for fewer pages?
THE PAPER
While this paper is the standard weight of 80 g/m2, it is much smoother than the A5 notebook. This is a huge benefit as it works really well with the Pilot Hi Tec-C pen. This is a pen that does not work well with scratchy paper and will make the ink skip due to the very small tip size.
NUMBER OF PAGES
While I mentioned that the fewer pages as a negative to start out, it also creates an unexpected benefit. When writing on the lower half of the page, the thin notebook is a more comfortable for writing and allows the user to fill up the full page as it not as tall.
Page 35 comparison
Using up the full page
PEN TESTS
The white paper holds pens and pencil really well as is expected for Leuchtturm paper. I didn't have any wide nib fountain pens to test the drying time, but everything I used below didn't smudge due to the Ink-Proof qualities of the paper.
Something that caught me by surprise is that this paper is about two shades whiter than the A5 size notebook (shown in Grid layout.) This helps the pens and pencils really standout as this isn't mentioned in the marketing material and is a nice benefit.
Bright white pages in the Composition Notebook (A5 size notebook shown in square grid layout)
Three title pages
Archive stickers
Huge pocket in the back cover
MORE DETAILS
121 numbered pages
8 perforated and detachable sheets
Gusseted pocket
Blank table of contents and numbered pages
2 Page markers
Elastic enclosure band
Thread-bound book opens flat
Ink-proof paper (80 g/sqm)
Dimensions: 7in x 10in (178 x 254 mm)
OVERALL
What is lost in page numbers, the larger size notebook makes up for with other benefits that make this a really good notebook. This is now my standard go-to notebook for all my projects and I look forward to checking out the other colors!
This Leuchtturm Composition Notebook is available in 11 colors and 3 page layouts; you can find them on Amazon here.
If you are interested in joining our mini-crowdfunding campaign we are currently taking pre-orders for The Builder. This is a notebook folio that holds your essential tools like tablets, pens/pencils, a small tool, business cards and a notebook. Come check it out at a discounted price of $40 by clicking the image below.
