Paper
Are Moleskine notebooks worth it?
Yes, for a pencil. Probably not for a fountain pen. Moleskine publishes the number that settles it, which is more than most of its rivals do.
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Moleskine is the most-owned notebook in the world and the most complained-about notebook among fountain pen users, and both facts have the same cause. It is worth separating the complaint from the product, because the complaint is usually right and the conclusion people draw from it usually is not.
Here is the number the whole argument turns on: Moleskine states 70 gsm acid-free ivory paper on its Classic listing. That is the specification. Everything else on this page follows from it.
What 70 gsm actually means here
Seventy grams per square meter is thin. For comparison, against notebooks this site covers elsewhere: Field Notes publishes 90 gsm, the Leuchtturm A6 publishes 80, Rhodia's range runs to 90, and Dingbats publishes 100.
Thin paper does not automatically bleed. What thin paper does is reduce the margin for error. A dry ink in a fine nib puts down little enough liquid that 70 gsm copes; a wet ink in a medium nib does not, and the ink arrives on the other side of the page.
That margin is exactly why the internet cannot agree about Moleskine. Someone writing with a Japanese Fine and a dry black ink has a perfectly good experience. Someone writing with a LAMY Medium and a saturated blue has a ruined notebook. Both are describing the same paper accurately.
What you are actually paying for
If the paper is the weak point, it is fair to ask what the money buys. The honest answer is: a genuinely well-made object and a format everything else copies.
- The physical construction is good. The cover, the elastic, the ribbon, the rear pocket, the way it opens — Moleskine defined this format and executes it properly.
- Availability is unmatched. You can buy one in an airport, a supermarket, a bookshop. No other notebook on this page is available the afternoon you need it.
- Range. Moleskine's own line includes 100, 120, 165 and 200 g/m2 papers in other ranges, per its listing. The Classic is the thin one, not the only one.
- It is not pretending. The weight is on the listing. Nobody has been misled who read it.
What it does not buy is fountain-pen paper, and it has never claimed to. Moleskine's market is everyone who writes, which overwhelmingly means ballpoint and gel.
The notebooks
Quick picks
Ranked for the beginner buying their first setup. Every pick names who it is wrong for.
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Moleskine Classic, large ruled 70 gsm ivory paper — the specification that explains why so many people conclude their new pen is broken. | Everything except a fountain pen | $24.95 · View on Amazon #ad Price as of October 18, 2026. How this is funded |
| 2 |  LEUCHTTURM1917 A5, dotted Numbered pages, a printed index and a pocket, in the notebook that made bullet journaling a thing — but at 80 g/m2 the paper sits right at the floor for a wet nib. | Structure, if your ink is well behaved | $31.50 · View on Amazon #ad Price as of October 18, 2026. How this is funded |
| 3 |  Rhodia Webnotebook A5, dot Clairefontaine paper in a hardcover book, which is the shortest route to a journal that a wet nib cannot ruin. | A hardcover journal that holds wet ink | $30.75 · View on Amazon #ad Price as of October 18, 2026. How this is funded |
| 4 |  Dingbats Wildlife A5, dotted 100 gsm cream paper in a hardcover journal, which is the specification Leuchtturm buyers keep asking for. | Structure plus heavier paper | $22.99 · View on Amazon #ad Price as of October 18, 2026. How this is funded |
| 5 |  Clairefontaine Age Bag A5, clothbound The same brushed vellum in a clothbound cover with 192 pages, which is the version to actually carry. | Clairefontaine paper in a book that lasts | $15.59 · View on Amazon #ad Price as of October 18, 2026. How this is funded |
| 6 |  Apica Premium C.D. Notebook A5 A plain Japanese school-style notebook whose paper punches far above the cover it comes in. | A cheap notebook that behaves like an expensive one | $11.50 · View on Amazon #ad Price as of October 18, 2026. How this is funded |
1. Everything except a fountain pen
Moleskine Classic, large ruled
70 gsm ivory paper — the specification that explains why so many people conclude their new pen is broken.
#ad Price as of October 18, 2026. How this is funded
We are including this specifically because it is the notebook most people already own, and because Moleskine publishes the number that explains the problem: 70 gsm.
Seventy grams of uncoated paper is thin. A dry fine nib will be fine on it. A wet medium will ghost badly and a broad will bleed, and the person holding the pen will reasonably conclude the pen is at fault.
Moleskine's own range includes 100, 120 and heavier papers. If you like the object, buy one of those instead of this one.
| Paper weight | 70 gsm, acid-free, ivorySource: Moleskine Classic, large ruled (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
|---|---|
| Extent | 192 pages, 5" x 8.25", ruledSource: Moleskine Classic, large ruled (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
| Cover | Hard cover with elastic closure and ribbon bookmarkSource: Moleskine Classic, large ruled (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
| Also offered | 100, 120, 165 and 200 g/m2 in other Moleskine rangesSource: Moleskine Classic, large ruled (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
What it does well
- The maker publishes the weight, which is more than several rivals do
- The physical object is genuinely well made
- Heavier-paper versions exist in the same range
What it does not
- 70 gsm is below what a wet fountain pen needs
- Priced as a premium notebook
- Ivory paper mutes ink colors
Skip this if you are buying it for a fountain pen. This is the paper problem, not the solution.
2. Structure, if your ink is well behaved
LEUCHTTURM1917 A5, dotted
Numbered pages, a printed index and a pocket, in the notebook that made bullet journaling a thing — but at 80 g/m2 the paper sits right at the floor for a wet nib.
#ad Price as of October 18, 2026. How this is funded
The structure is genuinely excellent: numbered pages, an index you fill in yourself, two ribbons and a pocket. Nothing else at this price is as well organized out of the box.
The paper is the argument against, and the listing now puts a number on it: 80 g/m2. That is the lower end of what a fountain pen is comfortable on — adequate for a dry nib, marginal for a wet one.
If you write with a fine nib and a dry ink, this is a fine book. If you have just bought a broad nib and a wet blue, it is the wrong one.
| Extent | 251 numbered pages, A5, dottedThe edition currently listed is the Bauhaus special edition; the format, extent and ruling are the standard Medium A5 dotted hardcover.Source: LEUCHTTURM1917 A5, dotted (retail listing, read 2026-10-10) |
|---|---|
| Maker's claim | Acid-free paper with high ink compatibility, to help prevent bleed-throughThe maker's own wording. It is a comparative claim rather than a measured one, which is why we do not repeat it as a finding.Source: LEUCHTTURM1917 A5, dotted (retail listing, read 2026-10-10) |
| Paper weight | 80 g/m2, acid-freeNow stated on the listing for this edition. 80 g/m2 is the lower end of what a fountain pen is comfortable on.Source: LEUCHTTURM1917 A5, dotted (retail listing, read 2026-10-10) |
| Extras | Blank table of contents, expandable gusseted pocket inside the back cover, two page markers, elastic closure band and eight perforated detachable sheetsSource: LEUCHTTURM1917 A5, dotted (retail listing, read 2026-10-10) |
What it does well
- Numbered pages and printed index
- Hardcover with a pocket and two ribbons
- The most widely stocked structured notebook
What it does not
- 80 g/m2 is the floor for a wet nib
- Thinner paper than the 90 and 100 gsm books on this site
- Costs as much as notebooks with better paper
Skip this if you write with a broad nib or a wet ink — pair the structure you want with paper that can take it.
3. A hardcover journal that holds wet ink
Rhodia Webnotebook A5, dot
Clairefontaine paper in a hardcover book, which is the shortest route to a journal that a wet nib cannot ruin.
#ad Price as of October 18, 2026. How this is funded
Rhodia and Clairefontaine are the same group, and the paper is the reason to buy either. It is coated and hard-sized, so ink sits on the surface rather than soaking in — which is what stops feathering before it starts.
A wet ink in a broad nib is the hardest test a notebook faces. This is the book that passes it.
The trade is drying time. Ink that sits on the surface takes noticeably longer to dry, which matters if you are left-handed or in a hurry.
| Size | A5Source: Rhodia Webnotebook A5, dot (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
|---|---|
| Ruling | Dot gridSource: Rhodia Webnotebook A5, dot (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
| Paper weight | 90 g Ivory Brushed VellumPublished on the listing as of the 2026-10-17 read. It was absent at the 2026-09-01 read, so this row is newer than the rest of the entry.Source: Rhodia A5 Webnotebook, Dot (47391EX) (retail listing, read 2026-10-17) |
| Extent | 96 sheetsSource: Rhodia A5 Webnotebook, Dot (47391EX) (retail listing, read 2026-10-17) |
| Closure and extras | Leatherette cover with an elasticated strap, a ribbon marker and an expanding back pocketSource: Rhodia A5 Webnotebook, Dot (47391EX) (retail listing, read 2026-10-17) |
| Cover | HardcoverSource: Rhodia Webnotebook A5, dot (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
What it does well
- Coated paper that resists feathering and bleed-through
- Hardcover, so it survives a bag
- Dot grid is the most flexible ruling
What it does not
- Slow drying, which punishes left-handers
- Expensive per page next to a plain notebook
- Its listing is not in a shipping state at the time of writing
Skip this if you write left-handed and smudge — coated paper is the worst case for drying time.
4. Structure plus heavier paper
Dingbats Wildlife A5, dotted
100 gsm cream paper in a hardcover journal, which is the specification Leuchtturm buyers keep asking for.
#ad Price as of October 18, 2026. How this is funded
100 gsm is the number that removes the argument. At that weight a wet medium nib is comfortable and a broad is workable, which is not true of the 70-80 gsm books this competes against.
The format copies the structured-journal template closely — hardcover, elastic, pocket, ribbon — so you are not trading features for the paper.
Cream paper warms every ink slightly. If you have chosen a color carefully, it will not look the same here as on white.
| Paper weight | 100 gsm, acid-free, creamSource: Dingbats Wildlife A5 (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
|---|---|
| Maker's claim | Made for fountain pens, gel ink and markers; outperforms standard 70-80 gsm paperThe maker's own wording on its listing.Source: Dingbats Wildlife A5 (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
| Format | A5, dot grid, vegan leather hardcoverSource: Dingbats Wildlife A5 (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
| Extras | Inside pocket, elastic closure, bookmarkSource: Dingbats Wildlife A5 (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
What it does well
- Published 100 gsm, comfortably above the fountain pen threshold
- All the structured-journal features
- Coated cover survives a bag
What it does not
- Cream paper shifts ink colors
- Heavier and thicker than a comparable 80 gsm book
- Less widely stocked than the market leader
Skip this if you want ink colors to read true — buy a white-paper notebook instead.
5. Clairefontaine paper in a book that lasts
Clairefontaine Age Bag A5, clothbound
The same brushed vellum in a clothbound cover with 192 pages, which is the version to actually carry.
#ad Price as of October 18, 2026. How this is funded
Twice the page count of the 1951 in a binding that survives being carried. For most people this is the Clairefontaine to own.
The paper is the same family and behaves the same way: ink sits on the surface, lines stay sharp, drying takes its time.
There are no page numbers and no index, so if you want a bullet-journal structure you will be drawing it yourself.
| Paper | 90 gsm brushed vellumSource: Clairefontaine Age Bag A5 (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
|---|---|
| Size and extent | A5, 192 pages, linedSource: Clairefontaine Age Bag A5 (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
| Binding | ClothboundSource: Clairefontaine Age Bag A5 (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
| Numbered pages | Not published |
What it does well
- Published paper weight
- 192 pages in a durable clothbound cover
- Lies reasonably flat for a sewn book
What it does not
- No page numbers
- Slow drying
- Lined only in this edition
Skip this if you want a dot grid or a numbered page system out of the box.
6. A cheap notebook that behaves like an expensive one
Apica Premium C.D. Notebook A5
A plain Japanese school-style notebook whose paper punches far above the cover it comes in.
#ad Price as of October 18, 2026. How this is funded
Apica does not publish a paper weight, and the notebook still turns up in every conversation about cheap paper that handles fountain pens. That gap between what is published and what is observed is worth being honest about: we can tell you the ruling and the sheet count, and we can tell you the reputation, but not a number.
The build is deliberately plain — a stitched softcover with a paper wrapper.
If the Clairefontaine 1951 is the European answer to good cheap paper, this is the Japanese one.
| Size and ruling | A5, 7 mm ruledSource: Apica Premium C.D. Notebook A5 (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
|---|---|
| Extent | 96 sheetsSource: Apica Premium C.D. Notebook A5 (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
| Paper weight | Not published |
| Also available | Grid and plain rulings in the same sizeSource: Apica Premium CD Notebook, plain, A5 (retail listing, read 2026-09-01) |
What it does well
- Very cheap for the paper quality it is known for
- Several rulings in the same format
- Thin and light enough to carry two
What it does not
- No published paper weight at all
- Softcover wears quickly
- Plain to the point of anonymous
Skip this if you want a published specification before you buy — Apica does not provide one.
When a Moleskine is genuinely the right buy
This page would be dishonest if it only argued one way. There are real cases where it is the correct purchase.
- You write with a pencil, ballpoint, gel or rollerball. None of them put enough liquid on the page for 70 gsm to matter, and you get the best-made version of the format.
- You need a notebook today. Availability is a genuine specification. The perfect notebook you have not got is worse than the adequate one in your hand.
- You want the object. Some people buy a notebook the way they buy a wallet. That is a legitimate reason and the construction supports it.
- You write on one side only. Show-through stops mattering the moment you stop using the reverse, and a 240-page notebook becomes a 120-page one you are happy with.
And one more: if you already own several, use them. Pair one with a dry ink and a fine nib and it will behave — the inks for cheap paper page is written for exactly this situation.
What to buy instead, by what you liked about it
| If you wanted | Buy | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| The same format, better paper | LEUCHTTURM1917 A5 | Numbered pages and an index. The A5 listing does not publish a weight, which is its own frustration - the comparison page covers the argument. |
| A hardcover that definitely handles wet ink | Rhodia Webnotebook | Clairefontaine paper in a hardcover. The shortest route to a journal a wet nib cannot ruin. |
| The heaviest paper available in the format | Dingbats Wildlife A5 | 100 gsm published, with the same structured-journal fittings. |
| Something that feels different, not just better | Clairefontaine Age Bag | Clothbound, French-ruled, and a distinctly different writing surface. |
| Japanese paper at a sensible price | Apica Premium C.D. | A plain, unfussy notebook whose paper is the entire point of it. |
The verdict
Moleskine is a well-made notebook with thin paper, sold at a premium price, by a company that tells you the paper is thin. None of those four things is a scandal.
Whether it is worth it depends entirely on what is in your hand. If that is a fountain pen with anything wetter than a dry fine nib, the answer is no and the alternatives above are better value at similar money. If it is a pencil or a gel pen, the objection disappears entirely and you are buying the best-executed version of a format everyone else imitates.
The thing not to do is buy one for a new fountain pen, watch it bleed, and conclude that fountain pens are messy. That conclusion has cost this hobby more converts than anything else, and it is the wrong lesson from a paper problem.
If you are choosing between a Moleskine and the obvious alternative rather than asking whether to buy one at all, Rhodia against Moleskine puts the two hardcovers side by side.
Questions people actually ask
Are Moleskine notebooks worth the price?
For pencil, ballpoint or gel, yes - the construction is genuinely good and the format is the one everyone copies. For a fountain pen with a medium or wet nib, no: the Classic is 70 gsm, and that is thin enough to bleed.
What GSM is Moleskine paper?
The Classic listing states 70 gsm acid-free ivory paper. Moleskine's wider range includes 100, 120, 165 and 200 g/m2 papers, so the Classic is the thin one rather than the only one.
Does fountain pen ink bleed through a Moleskine?
With a wet or broad nib, usually yes. With a dry ink and a fine nib, often not. Seventy gsm leaves very little margin, which is why people's experiences with the same notebook differ so completely.
What is a good alternative to a Moleskine?
A Rhodia Webnotebook for the same hardcover format with Clairefontaine paper, or a Dingbats Wildlife A5 which publishes 100 gsm. A Leuchtturm1917 is the closest match on features, though its A5 listing does not publish a paper weight.
Why do fountain pen users dislike Moleskine?
Because 70 gsm uncoated paper shows through and bleeds with wet nibs, and because the price suggests premium paper. The complaint is about a mismatch between price and paper, not about build quality.
Can I use a fountain pen in a Moleskine at all?
Yes, with the right combination: a fine or extra-fine nib and a dry, low-saturation ink. Writing on one side of the page only also removes the problem entirely at the cost of half the pages.