Leuchtturm started making all of their their journals and planners with a new, ink-proof paper starting in August, 2009. The original journals did not have this feature, so I thought it would be interesting to subject both old and new journals to the same tests I conducted on the Rhodia, Moleskine, Ciak, Cartesio and Markings Journals.
The pens I tested on the paper include:
- Tombow Ultra Rollerball Pen, 0.5 mm point
- Sensa Ballpoint Pen
- Staedtler Triplus Fineliner
- Tombow Fountain Pen with Medium Nib and Foray Ink Cartridge
- Tombow Pixie Ballpoint Pen, 0.7 mm point
- Pilot Precise Grip Fine Point Marker
- Tombow Dual Brush Pen, Fine Point
- Bic Mark It!
Please note that you may get different results using your pens than I do with mine. A lot of variables can come into play here including pen type, ink type, pressure used, nib style and environmental conditions, etc. I will do my best to be specific when possible and to include all of the relevant details.
First Impressions
Both Leuchtturm journals are different than the other journals I tested in the following ways.
- They measure 3½″ wide by nearly 6″ tall, so they are taller than most.
- The pages are numbered
- There is a Table of Contents in the front for organizing
- There are self-adhesive labels included for archiving
- The paper is being advertised as ink-proof
- The elastic strap is wider
- The paper is thinner than most
Like other notebooks in a previous test, both include a ribbon bookmark and ruled lines. Like the Moleskine, the Leuchtturm journals both lay completely lay flat when opened. There are 22 usable lines per page, that measure 6 mm apart. The expandable envelope in the back is useful for storing notes, receipts and photos.
The New, Ink-Proof Paper
This paper is thinner than the earlier version and weighs 70 gsm. I don’t know for sure what the weight of Leuchtturms’s previous journal was, but it feels thicker then the new paper and is similar to that in a Moleskine. The lines are much lighter than the earlier version, which is great if you prefer a page with a clean appearance. It performed as advertised regarding bleedthrough, but because the paper is thin, there is showthrough on the back side. It did perform better than any notebook I have tested so far with a permanent marker, however. The Bic Mark It pen I used just barely bled through the back while it saturated any other paper I have tested.
The surface of the paper was receptive to wet writers but the ink dried slowly. This is a problem for me because I write quickly and tend to smear ink if it is still wet. The paper produced dark, contrasting lines and rendered strong, bright colors that rivaled the lines made in the Ciak notebook in an earlier test.
When using my fountain pen, the ink dried slowly. There was some tonal variation that was equal to the variation on the Rhodia paper, but overall the ink color was darker and more intense. I liked the way my fountain pen wrote on this paper and found it satisfying the way the paper accepted the ink even though drying times were long. I did not experience any bleedthrough with my Tombow Fountain pen.
Other things to consider; the new Leuchtturm journal has 185 pages, 5 pages more than the previous version, which is good news if you find yourself running out of paper too soon. But there are only 8 perforated pages in the new journal while the old journal had 32 perforated pages.
The Previous Paper
The paper in the earlier Leuchtturm journals was heavier than the new paper and so were the lines. The rules in the old version are substantially darker and appear thicker than in the new, ink-proof paper. It performed much like the Markings journal in a previous test. There was bleedthrough on the Tombow Fountain Pen as well as the Tombow Rollerball and permanent marker examples.
The surface of the paper was receptive to wet writers and the ink dried fairly fast. The paper produced dark, contrasting lines and rendered strong, bright colors similar to the lines in the Leuchtturm journals. When using my fountain pen, the ink sank well into the paper and dried in a reasonable amount of time. There was less tonal variation than on the new, ink-proof paper, but overall the ink color was dark and intense. I liked the way my fountain pen wrote on this paper and found it satisfying the way the paper accepted the ink. There was some bleedthrough with my Tombow Fountain pen, however.
New, Ink-Proof Paper Summary
- Clear, sharp text with ballpoint, rollerball and fountain pens
- Ink does not bleed though (except slightly on permanent markers)
- Best performer regarding bleedthrough of permanent markers I’ve tested
- Table of Contents and page numbers for easy archiving
- Includes self adhesive labels
- Pale ivory color and pale rules are easy on the eyes
- Good quality for less money than most
- Paper is thinner than most
- Heavy showthrough on the reverse side of the paper
- Writing with any pressure will push through leaving raised areas on the back side
- Drying times are long and heavy inks may remain sticky
Final Thoughts
The new, ink-proof paper in the Leuchtturm notebooks is definitely an improvement over the earlier paper. It handled even the wettest inks without any bleedthrough. It even performed well with a permanent marker, better than any others I have tested to date. The paper is thinner than the earlier paper and thinner than many comparable notebooks, so there is a fair amount of showthrough on the backside of the paper. If you use a pen with wet, dark ink, I would look elsewhere unless you are happy using only one side of each page. However, I think the paper in the Leuchtturm notebook is fine for use with most pens, especially those with lighter colored inks. If you are using this journal to take quick notes on a day-to-day basis using basic ballpoint pens, pencils and markers, a Leuchtturm journal will work well for you and may even save you some money in the long run.
The extra archiving features make this journal ideal if you like to categorize and/or organize your information. This is where the Leuchtturm journals really shines. There is no other journal that offers these features at the moment. The Table of Contents and page numbers make it easy to find what you are looking for as long as you can bring yourself to catalog your journal’s contents as you go. The labels are perfect for titling your journals and make them easy to identify when organized on a shelf.
However, if you prefer using dark, wet pens, such as fountain pens, roll pens or markers, you may want to consider a Rhodia, Ciak, or Cartesio notebook instead because they have significantly less showthrough than the Leuchtturm and shorter drying times.
Hello Cynthia,
Nice review! I have some questions:
1. If I order some in your store, how can I be sure that I have the new paper?
2. Is the paper in the pocket-size the same as in the medium-sized Leichtturm?
3. Is the paperquality the same in the graph, plain and ruled version?
Hi Richard,
Thank you for your questions. Here are my answers to your questions.
1. If I order some in your store, how can I be sure that I have the new paper?
Just email me when you place the order and request the new paper. Most of the Leuchtturm journals I have in stock do have the new paper, although I have a few of the journals with the older paper in stock if you are interested. I have only the old version available in the Master Book Plain journals, but the paper is heavier in the Master Books and will react differently to the inks than the thinner paper in the smaller journals.
2. Is the paper in the pocket-size the same as in the medium-sized Leuchtturm?
Yes, the paper in all versions of the small and medium Leuchtturm journals is the 70 gsm paper. The Master Book journals have 100 gsm paper, so I would imagine it performs better regarding showthrough although I haven’t actually tested this yet.
3. Is the paper quality the same in the graph, plain and ruled version?
Yes, the paper is the same in the ruled, plain and squared version for the small and medium sizes. The Master Books have 100 gsm paper in ruled, squared and plain versions.
I hope this helps!
Cynthia
Aaaaargh I forgot!
4. Mostly when the paper is great for fountain pens and minimize bleed through the drying time is longer on these kind of paper (like the Rhodia webbook). How is this in the Leuchtturm?
Hi Richard,
The answer to your last question:
4. Mostly when the paper is great for fountain pens and minimize bleed through the drying time is longer on these kind of paper (like the Rhodia webbook). How is this in the Leuchtturm?
Like the Rhodia, the drying time on the Leuchtturm journals is longer than most. It took longer for the ink to dry on this paper than it did on the test I performed on the Rhodia Web Notebook. However, the Leuchtturm test was performed during the winter months while my home humidifier was running full tilt, so the extra humidity in the air, may have affected the drying time.
It seems as though there is a coating on the paper that helps it resist bleedthrough. I noticed it mostly on the Bick permanent marker sample, which remained a little bit tacky for a while after it was written.
Thanks!
Cynthia
Excellent. Thanks.
The older paper was truly horrible, bleeding and spotting. Even a pencil showed through. The Leucht. products are still an excellent value with features other molie clone mfrs should include such as page numbering and TOC in the front.
Bummer many of us have received the older stocks from other retailers.
david boise ID
Hi David,
Yes, the features on the Leuchtturm journals were a long time coming. I am glad to see that they took the initiative to fill this void in the notebook market. Perhaps the others will recognize that this is a good thing and start including these features in their notebooks, too.
I think it will take a while before all retailers clear out their older Leuchtturm stock. I have new stock available on everything except for the Master Book Plain journals, but since the paper is much heavier in these, they don’t perform as poorly as the smaller journals. If you decide to place an order for Leuchtturm journals from http://www.journalingarts.com, please email me at cynthia@journalingarts.com to request the newer journals with the ink-proof paper.
Best,
Cynthia
Thanks,
Cynthia
Hi, I am just interested in these Leuchtturm notebooks. However, I have no chance to see a real one and personally have a preference for notebooks with lighter tone of line/grid, can you see the difference between Moleskine and Leuchtturm? Or do you know some other brand that have light grey ruled/squared paper?
Hi Jane,
Thank you for your comment. The lines in the new Leuchtturm journals are substantially lighter in tone than the Moleskine lines on both ruled and squared journals. The are also thinner and appear lighter than most I’ve seen. If you prefer a notebook with a super pale line, this would be a good option for you.
Cynthia
> personally have a preference for notebooks with lighter tone of line/grid,<
Might consider investigating the products from Whitelines. A light gray paper with white lines. They also have a version with white dots instead of quad.
Not sure if Cynthia handles Whitelines. You need to know they are a different form factor than most molie clones, slightly larger, no pocket, stiffer and thicker boards.
david boise ID
Hi David,
The Whitelines notebooks sound interesting. Have you had experience using fountain pens or other wet writers on the paper. I would be intereted in hearing about your experiences with them.
Thanks!
Cynthia
I’ve been using the Leuchtturm notebook – the larger one – medium? – since I received my order from Journaling Arts back in January and really like the book. I find the paper handles any of the inks I use very well, with no bleed through, and only minimal showthrough. (I use mostly fountain pens.) I prefer the feel of the notebook to the Moleskin and really like the numbered pages. Only minor complaint is that I prefer the Moleskin strap – much firmer and stronger than the Leuchtturm. Looking to buy more from you soon.
Hi Kurt,
Thank you for your comment about the Leuchtturm journals. I am glad they worked out for you and that you are having success with your fountain pens. I would be interested in knowing which pens and inks you are using on the paper and think this would be useful information for others who are considering trying a Leuchtturm journal.
The Leuchtturm I am using does have a strap that is not as tight as the Moleskine’s strap, but it still does the job. If you find that it is failing, please let me know.
When you are ready to order again, please email me at cynthia@journalingarts.com for the current coupon code for a discount on your order.
Thanks!
Cynthia
Hey Cynthia,
I’ve used any of the Herbin inks, Waterman, and Diamine mostly. Darker one – blues and blacks – some red.
Kurt
Hi Kurt,
Thank you for your comment. What sort of results have you had with the above mentioned inks? I would love to know your experience with them..
Cynthia
[…] just found a great review of the Leuchtturm here at Journaling Arts […]
[…] If you want to read more about the Leuchtturm 1917 you find other info & reviews here, here, here and here. […]
[…] do note that my journal has “ink proof” on the front, and I don’t know if my friend’s journal had that notation as well. […]
Hi. This was a very informative review. Thank you for taking time to post it. I’ve used Moleskine notebooks for some time. Now I’m looking for a notebook with more widely spaced lines. There doesn’t seem to be a difference between Moleskine and Leuchtturm in this regard (6mm spacing in each). By chance do you know of a brand of notebooks with line spacing closer to, say, 10 mm?
Many thanks,
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
Thank you for your question about the journals and their respective line spacing. The only journal I am aware of which has 10 mm line spacing is the Leuchtturm Masterbook which is a large A4 size journal. On our website, we have a chart which shows the line spacing of Cartesio, Ciak, Leuchtturm and Moleskine journals. You can find it here: http://www.journalingarts.com/journal-sizes-moleskine-ciak-leuchtturm-cartesio
In some cases you will find that the larger journals have wider spacing, especially in the Leuchtturm journals. Fiorentina and Rhodia journals generally have 6mm line spacing.
I do have a 6″ x 8″ Miquerlius notebook that has 8 mm spacing, but that is about the largest I can find without going to the A4 size.
IF anyone else has any suggestions for a notebook with 10 mm line spacing, feel free to post it here.
[…] do note that my journal has “ink proof” on the front, and I don’t know if my friend’s journal had that notation as well. […]