The folks at Rollo London have continued to expand their product line, and recently introduced the Otto collection of notebooks. Let’s take a look at the sample Otto notebook they sent me:
This is another pretty standard A5 format notebook. Like Rollo’s Hardy notebook I previously reviewed, the Otto notebook has a hard cover, ribbon marker, back pocket and elastic closure. Inside you get a “reference” aka index page at the beginning, and then lined pages with a space in the header where you can put the date. The pages don’t have the little dog logo that is at the bottom on the Hardy notebook pages. All of the pages are perforated for easy removal. (See the Hardy review for some additional photos of things that are basically the same between the two notebooks.)
But the Otto differs from the Hardy in a few ways. Instead of the leather-look textured cover of the Hardy, the Otto has a more basic smooth cover, with a printed pattern. From afar, the pattern sort of looks like a pebbly leather grain, or water drops, or perhaps just an abstract pattern. The sample I received is light grey, which I think accentuates the water drop look. Other colors are available, and while I haven’t seen them in person, the online images suggest that darker shades might play up the leather illusion.
The Otto has plain page edges, vs. the gilded edges on the Hardy. There is no metallic charm on the cover (which is fine with me), but instead a metallic stamped Rollo London logo on the front, and just “Rollo” in smaller print on the back. I liked the upscale look of the Hardy notebook, but the Otto is attractive in its own way. It doesn’t make as much of a style statement, but for many people, less is more when it comes to “bling” on notebook covers, so I’m sure both designs will have their fans. If you prefer a minimal notebook, you’ll be happy to hear that there are options where you can dial down the bling even more: the Otto is also available with a plain, logo-less front cover in certain colors.
When I reviewed the Hardy notebook, I found its 70 gsm paper to be disappointing when used with some fountain pens. The Otto has 80 gsm paper, and it performed somewhat better in my pen tests. It still isn’t top-notch but there’s less bleed-through and feathering than with the Hardy I tested, and some of my finer nibs worked perfectly well. Depending on your preferred nib/ink combos, the Otto may work for you, and the Hardy now uses this upgraded paper as well.
And the last key point is that the Otto is cheaper than the Hardy! While the Hardy is £22, the Otto is only £19. And as of this writing the Otto is even marked down to £12 while stock lasts. The Otto is made in the UK and is said to be environmentally responsible, so that price seems fair for a notebook with these specs.
The bottom line here is that the Otto is a well-made notebook at a decent price. Rollo’s Hardy notebooks distinguish themselves a bit more in the marketplace with their high design specs relative to their price. I can’t say the Otto is super exciting in any particular way vs. all the competition, but if the design and features suit your personal preferences and pen usage habits, it is worth a try. You can purchase them directly from Rollo London’s website and at various UK retailers.
[I received a free sample notebook but was not otherwise compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.]