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
theusefuljournal.com/product/...
theusefuljournal.com/product/...
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.

[@thechosenseljak]

What is alternative to Leuchtturm? Thanks in advance.

[@theusefuljournal]

Thank you so much - it means a lot to me to know that someone values my hard work!

[@theusefuljournal]

Hi, I think the most common alternatives are Midori, Rhodia and any journals with Clair Fontaine or Tomoe River paper. I'm yet to test these, so I can't speak from my own experience, but I'll be testing them soon to find out for myself.

[@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.

[@theusefuljournal]

Ooh I've heard Moleskine is not good at all - I'm not even keen to review one! The Travelers Company notebooks that have Midori MD paper are excellent.

[@thechosenseljak]

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

[@theusefuljournal]

Thanks for you question. I've only just started reviewing journals suited to fountain pen use (I have concentrated on journals for creative journaling so far). I have several reviews planned in the next few months, including Midori (with their proprietary paper), Rhodia (with Claire Fontaine paper), and a notebook with Tomoe River paper. These three are generally regarded as the best, but I can't speak from experience yet sorry! Keep watching for my future reviews :)

[@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!

[@theusefuljournal]

I suspect that Leuchtturm1917 has a very clever marketing team behind them, and by getting their journals in ALL the stores, they've become associated with journaling. It's a bit like Moleskine, which I haven't tried yet, but is in every single book store, but I've heard isn't as good as some of the other brands. People often impulse buy - imagine if they watched my videos and found a journal that actually suited what they wanted to do! I am prone to a little impulse buying myself and it nearly always doesn't go well. I've got two hardcover Leuchtturm journals now and both have the tearing at the stitches. Not good enough for a big company like them.
I agree about Paperblanks - I've just bought myself a dot grid one to review, because I've been using a blank page Flexi for my house renovations journal and I love the paper!
Love chatting with you about paper - any time! 😊 🩷

[@paul777jj]

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

[@theusefuljournal]

Haha, I don't worry too much about social conventions. I wanted to wear it so I did.