Is there a best notebook? Probably not. Notebooks are not a one-size-fits-all product. If none of these features appeal to you, here are some general features to look for in a paper notebook.
Paper quality:A high-quality paper will enhance your writing experience. That said, what constitutes a high-quality paper depends largely on the writing device. For example, heavy ink pens, like fountain pens, will require a thicker paper to prevent ghosting (when ink bleeds through), while a thicker paper may be better for sketching with a soft pencil. (A lot of this also depends on personal preference.) If you primarily take notes with a pen, pretty much any paper will do.
Size and shape:For writing, I like portrait-sized notebooks, roughly A5, but for sketching and watercolors I prefer landscape-sized notebooks. I know people who like the exact opposite. You’ll have to figure out what format you like, but once you do, you can narrow down the field considerably. Keep in mind, too, that if you’re carrying a notebook around with you all day, weight matters. Everyone has their own sweet spot between page count, weight, and size. You’ll have to experiment to find what works for you.
Binding style:This may seem strange, but the way a notebook lies flat when it’s open is very important, and the way a notebook lies flat is largely determined by the binding. For example, some people (especially left-handed people) love notebooks with a lay-flat binding because they lay completely flat, making them easier to write in. Other people like spiral binding because the entire notebook can be folded in half and it’s easy to tear out pages. Perfect-bound notebooks (the most common binding, like Moleskine) are much sturdier than spiral-bound notebooks, but they don’t lay flat and are difficult to tear out pages.
Page RulerThere are four common types of lines: ruled, dotted, gridded, and unlined. The lines are mostly a matter of taste, though I find the dot grid essential for planning some projects, especially anything that involves measurements (like woodworking projects, for example), so I always keep a dot grid notebook handy. The dot grid is also a popular choice for bullet journaling.
Reuse:I’ve come to think of notebooks as two parts: the cover and the pages. Hardcover notebooks, like our top pick, Leuchtturm1917, combine both into one package, while softcover notebooks, like Field Notes or Moleskine Cahier, lend themselves to being slipped inside an additional cover. What I like about keeping the two things separate is that my notebook always looks the same. The leather cover never changes—I just keep inserting new notebooks inside. There are covers for Leuchtturm notebooks, so you can do both if you want, but I find that this makes the notebooks quite heavy.