Was going back and forth between which to buy; i'm going with the Kinbor for this year (its my first time trying a planner/journal and i didnt want to spend too much) thanks to this video. I was looking for a good compare and contrast video and this one is perfectly informative, paced, and detailed. You have a lovely voice too so this was almost asmr for me which made it all the better 😭. Anyways, thanks for the video!!! (:
From what I understand, the "Bachuan" paper in the Kinbor planner is actually Sanzen Tomoe River; the differences between the Kinbor and the two Hobo Weeks would be because that a) the 2024 weeks is using OG TRP, and b) the 2025 weeks is using the new Hobonichi-specific 47gsm Sanzen paper (I think). Plus the cream does seem to be performing differently from the white in any case. Glad to see the Kinbor holds up as well as the Hobonichi in use, even if the quality/consistency isn't quite there.
I have this same Kinbor planner. Thanks for the comparison! I haven't tried the Hobonichi Weeks yet so had nothing to compare against. I purchased the Kinbor for 2025 to see if I would like the weeks type format without committing to the cost of a Hobonichi. I've been using an A5 forever. The binding on mine is good with no quality issues. What a bummer to get a dud! :( What I have swatched: Tombows (no ghosting, no bleed ) Uni-ball ONE 0.5 (no ghosting, no bleed) Sarasa 0.7 (some ghosting, no bleed) Robert Oster Caffe Crema in a Jinhao Medium Nib (No ghosting, no bleed) Pilot Platinum Carbon Ink in a Pilot Vanishing Point EF Nib ( No ghosting, no bleed) I'm not seeing any feathering so far, but we'll see as I continue to use it and try out more inks.
Oooh thank you so much for this info. So helpful! So glad you didn't get a dud, haha. I feel like the size of the weeks is perfect for me, hope it works out for you too ☺️
Just bought a Kinbor for 2025. Thank you for this comparison video! I wanted to see the differences without pulling the trigger on the Hobonichi price point.
I got the Kinbor this year mostly because of the price. I got the blue net cover, which has an amazing texture...😊 I was confused by the plastic cover that came with your Kinbor because mine looks exactly like the one you are using on the Hobonichi. I'm glad because I didn't like the one you received...😅
thanks for the super detailed video! I've been using a Hobonichi Weeks for the last two months and the price doesn't bother me, but none of the covers were speaking to me so I got a 2025 Kinbor with an adorable goose cover partly thanks to your video! I considered the Sterling Ink as well but also not a fan of the cover. I'm excited to try the Kinbor because of: 1) the increased vertical space on the weekly spreads due to lack of quotes, 2) increased space on the note/righthand side of the weekly spreads, and 3) lighter printing. I find darker printing and grids to take attention away from what I've actually written, which to me is way more important than anything printed as long as it's legible. I'm apprehensive about the binding quality because I'm obsessive about things laying and generally being flat, and am not sure the extra space in the weekly spread will matter since I use the grid on the other side as a guide like you do and there are the same number of 'lines' per day as you mentioned (little disappointed about that). but I'm still in the baby stages of using paper planners so I'm happy to experiment to see what works! (sorry for the essay)
My biggest complaint with the Kinbor is that the writing and grid lines are too light making it a little difficult to read. I do prefer the whiter paper than the cream colored pages in the hobonichi. Most of all the price is less than half the price of the Hobonichi!
Im screaming because everything you said Ive said! i love it, honest and direct. I had to use a blow dryer to get the clear cover to properly fit the Kinbor weekly. Which I shouldn’t have to do. Thank you
I used a Kinbor weeks this year and it’s been great 😊 I wanted to purchase the cat cafe one that you have but they won’t ship it to NZ 🤷♀️ so I have a Weeks instead for 2025 ❤
@ yeah I managed to get the A6 version but no one would send the weeks size 🤷♀️ very bizarre but I don’t need it so probably just saved me some money 😂
Kinbor has better feel and look but the inconsistency in the binding quality is a little saddening but it's still worth it for the price. Can't really justify the Hobonichi's price especially since it's gone down in quality this 2025.
i appreciated this review so much! I'd been considering getting a kinbor but that binding issue i think would drive me nuts and I've not seen anyone else cover that - nor how the grid on the righthand side doesnt line up with the lines separating the days in the weekly spreads. Thank you so much for this!! :)
Kinbor is 1cm taller. So buy the combo of Kinbor Weeks and cover if the vendor offers to that option. Or pick a hobonichi weeks cover that is not snug fit like their new PVC Alettone covers.
Was going back and forth between which to buy; i'm going with the Kinbor for this year (its my first time trying a planner/journal and i didnt want to spend too much) thanks to this video. I was looking for a good compare and contrast video and this one is perfectly informative, paced, and detailed. You have a lovely voice too so this was almost asmr for me which made it all the better 😭. Anyways, thanks for the video!!! (:
So glad the video helped you make your decision and that you enjoyed it! 😊
From what I understand, the "Bachuan" paper in the Kinbor planner is actually Sanzen Tomoe River; the differences between the Kinbor and the two Hobo Weeks would be because that a) the 2024 weeks is using OG TRP, and b) the 2025 weeks is using the new Hobonichi-specific 47gsm Sanzen paper (I think). Plus the cream does seem to be performing differently from the white in any case. Glad to see the Kinbor holds up as well as the Hobonichi in use, even if the quality/consistency isn't quite there.
I have both kinbor and hobo. The kinbor doesn’t show shade or sheening as much as the standard TRP. For me, it doesn’t show sheen at all.
I have this same Kinbor planner. Thanks for the comparison! I haven't tried the Hobonichi Weeks yet so had nothing to compare against. I purchased the Kinbor for 2025 to see if I would like the weeks type format without committing to the cost of a Hobonichi. I've been using an A5 forever. The binding on mine is good with no quality issues. What a bummer to get a dud! :(
What I have swatched:
Tombows (no ghosting, no bleed )
Uni-ball ONE 0.5 (no ghosting, no bleed)
Sarasa 0.7 (some ghosting, no bleed)
Robert Oster Caffe Crema in a Jinhao Medium Nib (No ghosting, no bleed)
Pilot Platinum Carbon Ink in a Pilot Vanishing Point EF Nib ( No ghosting, no bleed)
I'm not seeing any feathering so far, but we'll see as I continue to use it and try out more inks.
Oooh thank you so much for this info. So helpful! So glad you didn't get a dud, haha. I feel like the size of the weeks is perfect for me, hope it works out for you too ☺️
Ahhhhh love this comparison video! I always wondered how the Kinbor paper performed! Great great walk through! 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻
Thanks lovely 🥰
Just bought a Kinbor for 2025. Thank you for this comparison video! I wanted to see the differences without pulling the trigger on the Hobonichi price point.
I got the Kinbor this year mostly because of the price. I got the blue net cover, which has an amazing texture...😊
I was confused by the plastic cover that came with your Kinbor because mine looks exactly like the one you are using on the Hobonichi. I'm glad because I didn't like the one you received...😅
thanks for the super detailed video! I've been using a Hobonichi Weeks for the last two months and the price doesn't bother me, but none of the covers were speaking to me so I got a 2025 Kinbor with an adorable goose cover partly thanks to your video! I considered the Sterling Ink as well but also not a fan of the cover. I'm excited to try the Kinbor because of: 1) the increased vertical space on the weekly spreads due to lack of quotes, 2) increased space on the note/righthand side of the weekly spreads, and 3) lighter printing. I find darker printing and grids to take attention away from what I've actually written, which to me is way more important than anything printed as long as it's legible. I'm apprehensive about the binding quality because I'm obsessive about things laying and generally being flat, and am not sure the extra space in the weekly spread will matter since I use the grid on the other side as a guide like you do and there are the same number of 'lines' per day as you mentioned (little disappointed about that). but I'm still in the baby stages of using paper planners so I'm happy to experiment to see what works!
(sorry for the essay)
Sounds like you've given your 2025 planner a lot of thought and consideration! Hope you enjoy planning and writing in your Kinbor 🥰
My biggest complaint with the Kinbor is that the writing and grid lines are too light making it a little difficult to read. I do prefer the whiter paper than the cream colored pages in the hobonichi. Most of all the price is less than half the price of the Hobonichi!
Agree with all of your points! 🙌
Im screaming because everything you said Ive said! i love it, honest and direct.
I had to use a blow dryer to get the clear cover to properly fit the Kinbor weekly. Which I shouldn’t have to do.
Thank you
Oh! Hahaha I'm glad our thoughts are aligned 😅 This was my first time seeing and opening one too! Great tip with the blow dryer, might give it a go!
I ordered the snake one with the clear cover and that cover seems to fit nicely
Interesting! Yeah, I suspect the Cat Cafe design has a thick cover and it doesn't fit well in the cover
I used a Kinbor weeks this year and it’s been great 😊 I wanted to purchase the cat cafe one that you have but they won’t ship it to NZ 🤷♀️ so I have a Weeks instead for 2025 ❤
Ooh that's so strange, NZ is so close to AU. Hope you enjoy the hobonichi Weeks regardless! Both excellent planners ❤️
@ yeah I managed to get the A6 version but no one would send the weeks size 🤷♀️ very bizarre but I don’t need it so probably just saved me some money 😂
thanks for this extensive review, it's really helpful because I am looking to get a weekly planner for 2025
Thanks for the comparison. Great that you can use fountain pens with the Kinbor (I only use fountain pens).
Kinbor has better feel and look but the inconsistency in the binding quality is a little saddening but it's still worth it for the price. Can't really justify the Hobonichi's price especially since it's gone down in quality this 2025.
enjoyed this comparison video!!!
on the kinbor, the text on the top right seems to be quotes.
Oh I see! Thank you ❤️
i appreciated this review so much! I'd been considering getting a kinbor but that binding issue i think would drive me nuts and I've not seen anyone else cover that - nor how the grid on the righthand side doesnt line up with the lines separating the days in the weekly spreads. Thank you so much for this!! :)
I'm so glad it was helpful! ❤️
So it performs well with Fountain pens too ? Thank you !
It certainly does from my experience!
is one notebook made to last one year?
Yes, there's at least 12 months in each of them.
I’m liking the Kinbor, quality issue is a bit of a put off tho. Would the weeks cover fit? Sorry if you’ve said and I missed it
I doubt the hobonichi Weeks cover would fit it, but also haven't tried!
i don’t think it would fit because the kinbor weeks is a bit taller than the hobonichi weeks!!
Kinbor is 1cm taller. So buy the combo of Kinbor Weeks and cover if the vendor offers to that option. Or pick a hobonichi weeks cover that is not snug fit like their new PVC Alettone covers.