Moleskine Classic Notebook, Large, Ruled, Black, Hard Cover (5 X 8.25)

This is one of my favourite journalling books as it is hardback and easy to write in. The delivery was prompt - next day - nicely packaged.

Good product and good for cost

I was looking for a journal/notebook and arrived at a shortlist of two: this one and the Ciak large black notebook, so bought one of each. This is a comparative review of the two, which I hope you will find useful. The notebooks are very similar, both black, both the same height, but with the Ciak being about 15mm wider. They have about the same number of pages, but the paper in the Ciak is thicker and heavier, so the book is thicker, and weighs in at 481g compared to the Moleskine's 346g (on my kitchen scales). I have written in both of them with a fountain pen (fine nib) and found that, even with the thinner paper of the Moleskine, the writing surface is good and the ink does not bleed through to the other side of the paper. Both notebooks are lined, the lines being of a similar colour and thickness. However, the lines in the Moleskine extend to the edge of the paper so that they are visible down the edge of the book when it is shut, whereas the lines in the Ciak do not. The space between the lines is virtually identical, with the Moleskine squeezing in 31 lines per page to the Ciak's 30. The Moleskine has a stiff cover, whereas the Ciak's is soft and felxible. The Moleskine has its famous pocket at the back, which the Ciak does not. The Moleskine has a vertical elastic closure, whereas the Ciak has a horizontal one. Both have sturdy bindings, but I found the Moleskine easier to use because it opens wider and stays flat under my hand as I write. The Ciak resists being opened to the full 180 degrees, so is more of a struggle to use. Last but not least, on current prices the Moleskine is a fair bit cheaper, worth considering if you're going to get through a lot of them. Which is best? Depends on what you want. If you want something that is beautiful and sensuous, then the Ciak wins. The more practical among us would probably prefer the Moleskine. I've now got two notebooks with only a page used in each, so it will be a while before I need to buy another. I may change my mind in the meantime, but for now I think it will be Moleskine for me. So you may also wish to consider the Moleskine's pedigree as the notebook of choice of van Gogh, Hemingway, Picasso, Chatwin and Williams.

Nice to use any feels like it will last well

Repurchased many times - everyday business notebook and easy to travel with in handbags

Have used Moleskin books for many years for work, excellent quality and professional looking

Brought this for work, needed a light weight and soft journal to take notes! Works great with parker pens! Great value for money! Would love a loop for a pen!

This Moleskine hardback large lined notebook is excellent!! I think I paid £9-50 from Amazon and it was delivered by royal mail in good packaging. What other reviewers have perhaps missed is that the dimentions of this notebook are very well thought out, in that you can hold the book open easily. I discovered that if you open the front cover you can hold it bettween the spine and the side edge in your left hand. Though i suppose it depends on the size of your hands. The pages are fairly thin but very good quality and bound exceptionally well. The paper lends itself to be written on and the whole feel of the product exudes quality. It might seem alot of money for a notebook but its something that you will perhaps have for a very long time and it really is quality. Get one, use it for field trips, excursions, private study, messing about, and be well a little excentric. If you carry it around people might think there's important stuff in there! There probably is! Enjoy your notebook and your time - David