I love the detailed commentary I sometimes get from readers of this site about their own favorite notebooks. A reader called Filcard responded to my review of the Pentalic Illustrator’s Sketchbook recommending that I check out another one of their products:
“My absolute favorite though is the “sister” product to the Illustrator, the Traveler Pocket Sketch. Instead of hard covers, they have a flexible cover, still waterproof and durable. I like the flex a bit better because it allows the book to open a tiny bit easier when I’m drawing or writing on the go. I use them primarily for journals. I write with tons of different pens. I’m a pen and ink freak. Usually I use Daler Rowney FW ink or Dr. Ph Martin’s Bombay india ink… both are dip inks, so I use a pen holder and various pen nibs. No ink other than yucky Sharpies (not a fan) bleed through the Traveler pages. The paper is great for ink, pencil and colored pencil. The Traveler sheets are considerably beefier than the Illustrator, at a 60# weight. I absolutely love these books and have filled a number of them.
I’m currently writing in an Illustrator, that’s why I found your blog interesting. The one I’m using right now is the white covered one, and it’s pages are pretty thick, so it must be the second run. If you can find one of those, I bet you’ll like it more based on your review of show through.”
They come in a few different colors and sizes and are available in many art supply and stationery stores. Here’s a link to various Pentalic notebooks on Amazon: Notebook Stories Store.
I picked one of these up looking for a cheaper alternative to the Moleskine art-specific hardcover. At ~$11 I liked the price, but using my Staedtler Triplus Fineliner, I found that the darker colours bled through. While my light grey one does not, the medium and black Fineliners do. A little disappointed since all the Moleskine alternatives I’ve found in my city are on par in terms of price.