As longtime readers of this site will know, I’ve been pretty committed to using Moleskine sketchbooks. For years, I’ve been keeping one going at almost all times, for drawing and sketching whenever the mood strikes– sometimes even sticking to a habit of daily drawing for a year or more.
I built up a stash of dozens of spares, many of them from the early days when Modo e Modo was still the company name behind the Moleskine brand (and the quality was higher). I’m pretty sure I have enough to last me the rest of my life… especially if I occasionally try to shake myself up and try another brand!
Now is one of those shake-ups– I’ve been enjoying using a squared Moleskine (again from my stash of older ones) as my daily journal, but I also love my Bindewerk journals. Most of the Bindewerk notebooks I have are unlined, so I thought I’d try using one as a sketchbook. But after doing a few drawings in it, I realized it wasn’t working for me.
I love the Bindewerk paper– it has a bit of texture to it that works nicely with pencil and pens, and it’s very fountain pen friendly. It can even handle light use of watercolors. But it’s not super-heavy, and the show-through, which has never bothered me when I’m just writing, is kind of distracting when I’m drawing.
I usually hate to leave a notebook unfinished, but since I’m only a few pages into this one, I’m going to set it aside. I’ll continue it when I need to start a new journal, in a month or so. But in the meantime, I’ll start a different sketchbook.
My sketchbook choice is particularly important right now because I’m about to head off on a trip where I hope to do some sketching, including with watercolors. The regular Moleskine sketchbook paper isn’t ideal for watercolors, so I usually also bring a watercolor sketchbook. But it would be nice to just use a single sketchbook for all media. I’m considering a few options, which I am well-equipped to do, as I have a whole shoebox full of pocket size sketchbooks from other brands. (I should do one of my “shoebox tour” posts about it!)
I went through the box and eliminated several brands (FlexBook, Pentalic, Canson 180, and Daler Rowney Ivory) that had thinner paper with show-through– like the Bindewerk notebook, these will work better as journals.
Then there are a few other contenders that I ruled out pretty quickly for other reasons (all are linked to their original reviews on this site for more details):
The Leuchtturm sketchbook is the wrong size (3.5 x 6′, instead of 3.5 x 5.5″). The Daler Rowney has too much cover overhang. I don’t like the diagonal elastics on the Sketch & Draw and the Pen & Ink. The Derwent black suede sketchbook has lost all tension in its elastic– not totally surprising, given that it was one of the first notebooks I ever reviewed on this site, back in 2008.
With the final batch, it gets more challenging. The Arteza sketchbook is not too bad but some pens were a little feathery and the spine was a bit stiff. The Pen & Ink Heavy-Weight sketchbook is really tempting– but it’s my last one and they don’t make them like this any more. The elastic is slightly loose, but this is another one I reviewed originally in 2008, and it’s actually still in great shape. The Pen & Ink is probably the closest thing to a Moleskine sketchbook, as it has smooth, cream colored paper– but it handles watercolor a bit better than a Moleskine. I really liked the paper in the Talens sketchbook— it is also creamy and smooth like a Moleskine but with better ability to handle watercolor. But ugh, that cover overhang! The actual pages are much smaller than other notebooks with the same exterior dimensions.
That leaves these as the final contenders:
Stillman & Birn Alpha or Epsilon
Each of these has their pros and cons. When I started writing this post, I had already decided on one of them, but in the course of writing, I’ve changed my mind several times. And I may yet change it again before I leave on my trip! So I’m going to just leave you hanging, and ask: which would YOU choose? Which do you think I will choose? I’ll let you know what I picked in another post soon. And hopefully, after all the fuss I’ve made about this choice, I’ll actually do some worthwhile sketching on my trip!
Many of these sketchbooks are available via my Amazon shop, including its “Favorite Sketchbooks” page. I earn a small commission from any purchases made there.
Oh, I’m on the edge of my seat to find out which you choose! In addition to an A5 size sketchbook for “serious” sketches, I like to bring a small notebook that serves as a travel journal with mostly writing but also small sketches. I don’t usually use watercolor in that notebook, so my paper choice isn’t as critical, but my favorite for many years had been the Rhodia Rhodiarama. It’s beautiful with fountain pen and other inks and markers. Now that I use water-soluble colored pencils and crayons more than watercolors, I think I will choose something different for my next trip — maybe a Stillman & Birn Beta or Zeta, or a Hahnemuhle. Of your options, I might choose the Handbook, which has OK paper, and I’ve heard raves about the Leda (though I haven’t tried it). The S&B Alpha and Epsilon might be OK, too. I do like the thin, lightweight form factor of S&B, but I wish they were a true A6. Now that I’m saying all this out loud, I’m talking myself into a S&B — a good compromise because it would be so easy to carry (which is a top priority for travel).
Even before I scrolled to the end I could guess those final contenders! I have no experience with that specific Hahnemuhle and don’t do much watercolor but here are my thoughts on the rest: I agree with Tina that S&B has the best form factor. It’s the most efficient when it comes to bulk and weight, with paper that’s second to none for such a journal, and barely any cons.
The HandBook and Leda are needlessly bulky compared to SB, but they have their own charms unlike the utilitarian SB.
The cloth hardcover of HandBook feels really good in hand and the paper looks and feels charmingly warm. I liked the look of the few watercolor washes I did in it more than in other sketchbooks.
Leda feels less fancy/crisp/prestine without sacrificing the feeling of quality too much, so it’s good to doodle without fearing imperfection– something I often feel with SB and HandBook.
If I had to choose among the final contenders, I’d likely go with SB because I value portability and the ability to put it in my pocket in a pinch, and a flexible cover that can be folded back.
If it was an extended and particularly special trip, I might choose HandBook because it feels the nicest and most special of the three, including its clear folder-like back pocket.
Then I could end up just bringing the Leda since it feels the least precious and lends itself more to random scribbles and doodles.
It’s really hard to guess what you chose! I almost went with Hahnemuhle because it looks like a Moleskine lol but you didn’t like the look of watercolor on it, so my guess is HandBook, a buddy in spirit to the Bindewerk.
I have the same issue with having so many journals reaching back to the 1990s and the original Moleskine notebooks. (I still have some of the fabric covered ones they made!) There is no one “right“ journal because we all use them in different ways. After trying many, many brands I have found that the most effective for doing pen-and-ink, taking notes, and watercolor is the Hahnemuhle 100% cotton, hot press, A6 journal. Great paper, great cover, the smallest size for doing watercolor. My pro tip is to “block” the pages so that they don’t warp. I used to use a hot glue gun, smoothing the glue out with a silicone spatula. Recently, I have found that using blocking compound is super easy. Enjoy your trip!
Really insightful breakdown on “Sketchbook Switch: SO Many to Choose From!”. The way you framed the practical implications makes the whole topic much clearer. Looking forward to your next update!