Trust me, this habit is cheaper than real drugs

So, I’ve had this review of Quo Vadis’ Habana notebook sitting on my desk for like, three weeks now. Thank God it’s not a PECO bill. Also available as a planner cover, the Habana notebook was recently revamped by the Quo Vadis agenda company. It now features the same 90g, pH neutral, acid-free paper as found in Clairefontaine notebooks. You may remember Clairefontaine and Quo Vadis as being under the same U.S. distributor, Exaclair, Inc. (Background info is good for you. Enjoy). J. Herbin is also distributed by Exaclair in the U.S.

So one of the reasons I pay attention to notebooks like these is because as much as I love the overall design of the Moleskine notebooks, the paper quality can be hit-or-miss, particularly when fountain pen use is concerned. And heck, even when fountain pens aren’t concerned, I’m not happy with the Moleskine paper quality. Just writing sometimes feels like I’m writing on a dry leaf (I’m willing to acknowledge that this could all be my fault, though). But Clairefontaine paper is awesome. The “90g” means it’s a heavier weight than the Moleskine so theoretically, it should stand up without substantial bleedthrough. The pH neutral and acid-free characteristics give it a strong case for longevity (again, in theory). And Clairefontaine paper just feels nicer to write with when compared to other papers. I approve, as my sister would say.

The Habana notebook has the same feature set that I’ve enjoyed on the Moleskine journals: elastic band on the cover to hold it closed; interior back pocket; rounded corners on the pages; and even a ribbon bookmark (older versions of the Habana lacked the bookmark. The original Habana, available in the UK for some time now, had ivory-colored, 80g paper that hated all of my pens). The new Habanas come in blue, black, red, and taupe covers that have a “leather look and feel,” according to the QV website. It lies flat when you write. The small journal’s specs are:

4 x 6 3/8"

64g paper

96 sheets

The large journal is:

6 1/4 x 9 1/4"

90g paper

80 sheets

Both sizes are only available in ruled pages currently (the rulings are light-gray if you care). Prices are in the $15-20 USD range from vendors like Writer's Bloc and The Daily Planner.

But how does it handle ink?

Awesomely! From my initial notes: “very smooth paper; tested inks dry in seconds! Very little show-through to other side of page. No ink spreading or feathering. Journal doesn’t feel like it would easily fall apart. Would recommend this journal for anyone looking for a well-made, gorgeous book. The Habana is especially great for fountain pen users.”

Below are links to some shots of the journal, including a test page of inks. I declare this notebook: awesome. Please note that the pages really are a bright white. My “photography skills” were not cooperating with me that day and even after tweaking the photos, I couldn’t quite get rid of that ivory cast. But hey, if you’re into that, take a look at the improved Rhodia Webnotebooks which also feature Clairefontaine paper but in ivory. Ooh!

Open journal

Ink page

(And for the record, I always pay my bills on time)