A Guide to Choosing Notebooks | Lessons from Experience

In the past, when we needed to buy a notebook, we'd often just pick one up from a local stationery shop near our school or on the street. Initially, these notebooks seemed fine, but as we continued to use them, numerous issues would arise. Problems like ink bleeding through pages, loose pages, the binding coming apart, and the notebook eventually becoming unusable...

These notebooks might look good at first and even write well for the first few pages, but soon enough, they start causing all sorts of headaches. Disrupted thoughts due to uneven writing, ink bleeding through several pages making the notes untidy, and pages falling out, making it hard to keep track of where things are.

These issues affect the notebook's longevity and our mood, making it difficult to review our notes and wasting our money. Based on my experiences, I want to share some tips on how to choose a better notebook.

The notebooks I recommend in this article won't fall apart or have ink bleed issues, and they will write smoothly with standard pens. They are durable and, in the long run, more cost-effective than the cheap ones you find at street vendors.

Choosing the Right Size

The first step in choosing a notebook is to consider its size. Common sizes range from A4 to A6, with even smaller memo pads going down to A7 or A8.

Notebook Sizes and Uses:

• A4: Best for those who need a lot of space for each entry, like students needing to draw diagrams.
• B5: Suitable for those needing a larger space for comprehensive notes.
• A5: Ideal for general note-taking.
• A6 and A7: Great for portable, on-the-go notes.

If you're unsure about the sizes, you can refer to an A4 sheet of paper. A B5 is between A4 and A5, A5 is half of an A4, and so on.

Fixed-Page or Loose-Leaf?

After deciding on the size, the next consideration is whether you need a fixed-page notebook or a loose-leaf one. This also involves thinking about the notebook’s thickness and if you need to add pages later.

Fixed-Page Notebooks:

• Good for long-term use where you don’t need to rearrange pages.
• Come in various thicknesses (40, 80, 120, 160 pages).

Loose-Leaf Notebooks:

• Ideal if you need to add or rearrange pages.
• Great for class notes where you might add details later.

Binding Types

Fixed-Page Binding Types:

• Glue Binding: Early versions couldn't lie flat and would often fall apart. Modern improvements allow these to lie flat and pages don’t fall out easily.

• Stapled Binding: Generally lies flat but can cause pages to fall out when you remove one.
• Thread Binding: Similar to traditional bookbinding, often very durable but can be bulky.
• Coil Binding: Stable and popular but can be uncomfortable to write near the coils. Modern soft ring versions are much better.

Loose-Leaf Binding Types:

• 20-26 Ring Binders: Standard for A5 and B5, easy to find replacements.
• 6 Ring Binders: Typically very stylish and robust.
• Specialty Binders: Like Filofax, made from premium materials and very durable.

Page Layout

The layout of the pages is also crucial:

• Lined Pages: Common and straightforward, with various line spacings (6mm-8mm).
• Blank Pages: Offers maximum freedom but can be challenging to organize neatly.

• Grid Pages: My favorite. Helps with organization and neatness without being too restrictive.

• Dot Pages: Provides guidance without strict lines, ideal for diagrams.

• Specialty Pages: Cornell notes, planners, etc., for specific needs.