Buke Stationery Dot Grid Notebook Review (180 GSM thick paper – NO ghosting or bleed through!)

I’ve done more than 50 bullet journal notebook reviews and have finally found one that has NO ghosting or pen bleed through (even for brush pens)!!!

If you follow my blog, you might remember I did a review of the Buke Stationery 160 GSM notebook. 160 GSM is really thick paper so I was surprised (and disappointed) when there was minor ghosting. That same brand has a 180 GSM thick paper version so I ordered that… and finally found a notebook with no ghosting at all.

Quick facts

  • Size: 5.75″ wide x 8.25″ high
  • Hardcover
  • Sewn binding
  • 180 GSM dot grid paper (5mm spacing)
  • Pen loop
  • 1 ribbon bookmark
  • Pocket folder

Let’s take a closer look!

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The Cover

The cover is the same type of material – like a faux leather – that almost all sewn bound dot grid notebooks have.

buke stationery dot grid notebook review 180gsm thick paper no ghosting or bleed through pen testing hardcover cheap best quality paper value for money bright white_01

Unfortunately it only comes in a black cover version 🙁

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Almost 1 inch thick (about 2cm). It’s quite chunky but to be expected with 180 GSM thick paper

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 5mm dot spacing

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The page lay flat on their own.

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There are 2 ribbon bookmarks, a pen loop and a pocket folder at the back.

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Pen Testing

I tried all the usual gel pens, fine tip pens, ballpoint, highlighters and stamps.

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No ghosting or bleed through at all!

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So I thought I’d really test the paper out with some brush pens…

buke stationery dot grid notebook 180 gsm ghosting bleed through bright white paper

Now that is good paper!!!

buke stationery dot grid notebook 180 gsm ghosting bleed through bright white paper best bullet journal

Let’s compare this to the 160 GSM Buke Stationery notebooks paper:

This notebook (180 GSM) is on the left, the 160 GSM is on the right. As you can see the paper color is completely different, and there’s a bit of ghosting for the 160 GSM notebook.

For there being only 20 GSM difference in paperweights, there’s a huge difference in the paper quality!

buke stationery 160 GSM versus 180 GSM dot grid notebook review pen testing comparison paper quality

Pros of the notebook

  • Pages lay flat on their own
  • Best paper I’ve ever come across in a dot grid notebook – no ghosting or bleed through!!!
  • 1 pocket folder
  • Sturdy hardcover
  • 2 ribbon bookmarks

Cons of the notebook

  • No page numbers
  • No index page
  • Only available in black cover color

Would I use this notebook?

Yes! If you want a notebook where the pen doesn’t show through, then this would be my top pick. I really wish this notebook came in the same colors as their 160 GSM version (i.e. not just black), with the pen loop, and that the pages were numbered – then it would be perfect!

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