I like Midori MD. It's the only notebook I found that is toothy enough for pencils but can handle fountain pens and wet pens well too. 

For me, the moleskein cahier journal for their texture; most notebooks i find a bit too smooth on pencil. Easy to find locally and online. It’s not the cheapest, but reasonable when you look at price per page.

The "Bind Grid Notebook" from Muji is great. Smooth paper with just enough tooth for pleasant pencil writing, inexpensive.

Along with Muji notebooks - I also like Daiso notebooks a lot - the ones made in Japan, as they might have ones made elsewhere in SE Asia from companies like Bazic depending on their stock at the time. Comparable to other Japanese made notebooks which can be more expensive, but in the US they start at 1.75 USD.

Have you tried Decomposition notebooks? They’re quite cheap, and the recycled paper works just fine for pencils. Not super durable because they have cardboard covers.

Other notebooks that offer good price per area include the Levenger Notabilia, Fabriano EcoQua, Stalogy 365 A5, and Penco A5. They’re all fine for pencils, the Stalogy being the smoothest (good for Blackwings). Personally I like the tooth in Fabriano paper best. The polypropylene cover on the Penco notebooks is flexible and durable.

Clairefontaine age bag, midori notebooks... i like Muji notebooks. excellent price value

I hear you about the Midori MD (A5) not having a fancy cover but with a little wear they do look cool. My other favs are the Dingbats (A5) and Quo Vadis Habana (B5, in blank or ruled).

Personally I’d say Leuchtturm 1917, harcover, A5. I like the rhodia/clairefontaines, but I find their paper much to “coaty” for my taste. Midoris are really nice, good paper, nice design, but their covers being soft cardbosrd they end up wrecked unless you are careful.

Midori sells plastic covers for their notebooks, but they are expensive, so what I do with my midoris y wrap them with a thickish wrapping paper, which helps protect the notebook itself while at the same time improving its looks.

If you’re looking for durability, check out our Tuk Books. They were built to take a beating.

If you are looking for something a bit more “normal”, I like Leuchtturm.

I use the basic moleskin: https://mygeargallery.com/collections/notebooks
Etsy has some cool ones as well.

Tell me you didn't read rule 3 without telling me you didn't read rule 3

how fun!! if i’d definitely grab one for a friend who really enjoys halloween if I saw this at target or something

I love the Halloween theme and the fact that the colour of the dots match the page theme colours! :) very satisfying

How did you get the bottom edges to not curl up? I’m having issues with mine doing that.

I like the Traveler's Notebook System, the actual Midori cover and notebooks are definitely not cheap, but you can get knockoffs (referred to as "fauxdoris") on Amazon for $10 or so and refills something like 3 for $10.

You can also go with knockoffs of Field Notes - there's a brand called Field Book that sells 5-packs for $10 on Amazon. The paper isn't good for fountain pens, but if you're using gel pens or ballpoints, it's fine.

I haven't used them, but there was recently a lengthy segment on the Pen Addict about Write Notepads. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "flip" notepads, but this one is 4" x 8" so it can be held in your hand for on the go notes and stuff, but is still bigger than your traditional pocket notebook.

Hope this helps!

I just found out about these notebooks and I am in love. They look rugged, basic (which I love) but most of all, look at the gridline pattern–it's awesome.

https://www.doanepaper.com/products

Also, I buy these in bulk. They're cheap and they're good. If I lose one, I don't really care. I mean, yeah, I'll miss the notes, but the thing only cost about $1.50 so I don't lament the cost. Cheap is important because it gives you the agency to be very creative without worrying about ruining a page in a $30 notebook. The guy is a great craftsman.

​

https://www.etsy.com/shop/smplnotebooks?ref=l2-shop-info-avatar

Try Rite in the Rain notebooks. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes but are made for field work (meaning they can get dirty and it won't effect your writing).

I bought one thinking I'd need it for work. (i was wet plenty). and I still like the moleskin notebooks better, but yeah they don't like water so much...

FYI, pencil will not erase in these notebooks, but other than that, Rite in the Rain was my immediate thought as well.

Yes!! I also love some 4x6 lined sticky notes 🤌

I once read somewhere that yellow legal pads were the preferred writing pad of a writer I liked(can't remember who), so I bought a few. 

They're still sat in a drawer. Perhaps I'll dig them out. 

Yes i love my legal pads!

I personally can't stand them because the pages inevitably get wrinkled/edges folded torn and work etc which makes me crazy

I loved legal pads when I did my master’s program. I also used and continue to use the 9.5” x 6” hilroy coil notebooks. They’re a little crappy and scrappy, and they easily fit in my purse. I fill them completely. I often have more than one on the go. I used legal pads a lot at my job as an executive director - it was helpful to be able to flip back and forth between days of tasks and notes. Anyway- love the vibe of non-special totally functional stationary. I also love a fancy hardcover notebook but I just don’t use them up the same way. 🤷‍♀️

Field Notes! They're my favorite pocket notebook brand! They're 3.5 x 5.5 so slightly bigger than what you were using. They hold up well and have so many different pretty covers. Keep in mind they are on the pricey side- but good quality! They have grid, lined, blank, and dot grid!

If not because they may be out of your budget- check Amazon! Just search "pocket notebook" and they have plenty of cheap options with plenty in one pack!

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Rhodia, great paper, super cheap

Muji might have something that works well for this!

I love my reMarkable 2 it has just the right amount of friction, making it feel like I'm writing on actual paper.

I LOVE the RM2 as a note taker, journal, client note for my coaching, and reading PUB files of books.

However there is no “alarm” capabilities for reminders. RM2 is basically the same as a regular notebook. You want a place to take notes. This is it. You want an alert? Nope.

Supernote A6 X2 is in pre-order and you may be interested in the smaller size. But check out www.ewritable.com for all the devices out there, and see if you can narrow down some of the other pressures you might need.

Remarkable 2 is the way to go. LOVE it. I have not written on any piece of paper or paper notebook. This is the best.

stalogy, life/life noble, & muji are my favorites. i got a pack of 6 unbranded notebooks similar-ish to field notes from amazon for $10 that i really enjoy, too. i write exclusively with fountain pens. 

You hit it on the head. Leuchtturm is the standard for the type of writing you want to do. I use a 1917 for my story manuscript and it's literally amazing. Midori paper is pretty good and I enjoy their notebooks.

Currently it’s Midori :)

Midori has my heart currently. Also into Maruman MNEMOSYNE.