Very rarely do I come across a notebook that is part planner / part bullet journal. Maybe there will be more coming out in the future but for now one option to consider if you’d like a hybrid is the Cloudberry Journal.
Quick facts
- Size: 13 x 21cm (about 5.75″ wide x 8.25″ high)
- Hardcover (choose between blue or green)
- Sewn binding
- 320 Dot grid pages (5mm dot grid)
- 2 page Monthly calendar (starts on Monday)
- 2 page weekly spread (starts on Monday)
- Extra pages including movies to watch, books to read, quotes tracker, USA and world map, things to learn etc.
- Pocket folder
- 3 Ribbon bookmarks
- Undated
- 1 year duration
Price: $29 USD + free shipping to the USA (I purchased this during Black Friday sales and paid $24 USD). Shipping to international addresses is flat rate $33 USD.
Let’s take a closer look!
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The Cover
The usual sturdy hardcover except there’s no black option!! 🙂
I don’t mind this green but aren’t a fan of the giant indented flower. Being very nit-picky here – I think small indented flowers over the entire cover would look better.
For once a company that prints something on the spine so I can actually distinguish it between all the other notebooks I’m hoarding.
Approx 1″ thick
I like that the pre-printed pages are also pre-printed in the table of contents. There are 320 pages in the notebook / planner so I do think a 3rd table of contents page would be needed by the time the book is filled.
After the table of contents and the key are 5 blank dot grid pages for you to set up your own future log or use for whatever you like.
Monthly Calendar
The monthly calendar starts Monday which is consistent with the weekly spread.
I think there are a few functionality flaws with this planner:
- The page numbers sit within the dot grid rather than above it. So if you want your design to go right to the edge of the dot grid you’ll end up ruling through the page number and cannot read it
- I prefer having the page numbers in the bottom corner of the page, being in the top corner is distracting and in the way if you want to write long headings
- All of the pre-printed elements are offset 2 dots into the edge of the page which wastes space
All of the monthly calendars are logically clustered together at the front in one section, followed by the weekly planning pages:
Weekly Planning
The design flaws continue from the monthly calendar into the weekly spread – the design is indented from the edges of the page wasting space.
Otherwise I do like this weekly layout – the pre-printed habit tracker is great.
There are 52 weekly planning spreads. There is the 2 page pre-printed weekly spread plus 2 blank dot grid pages for you to use however you like, before the next 2 page weekly spread starts.
Collections
At the back of the planner / notebook is the collection section – a mix of pre-printed and blank dot grid pages. This section has plenty of pages (about 1/4 of the notebook) in addition to all of those extra pages interspersed between the weekly spreads.
Pre-printed text like this is fine, it’s a list I would use.. but there’s no need for the title to be in the middle of the page and offset so far from the top and sides that it wastes 1/4 of the page.
After these pre-printed pages are more dot grid pages until the end of the notebook.
There are 320 pages in this notebook which is far more than most planners (or dot grid notebooks) include!
Most dot grid notebooks I’ve come across are 5mm including the dots. This one is a bit bigger – it’s 5mm between the dots (i.e. the spacing is slightly bigger than most dot grid notebooks).
There is 1 pocket folder adhered to the inside of the back cover.
Tabs
There are no tabs but there are the page dividers between each section and 1 ribbon bookmark.
Pen Testing
I didn’t bother doing a pen test as you can see in the photos, there a lot of ghosting of the pre-printed design on the back page so pens and highlighters are definitely going to show through.If you end up buying this notebook I’d use ballpoint pens. The paper does feel very smooth though so I expect it will feel very nice to write on.
Pros of the Planner
- Divider pages between each section (monthly calendar, weekly planner etc.)
- Undated – start planning anytime
- 4 page weekly spread (if you count the 2 pre-printed pages + 2 blank pages)
- Pocket folder
- Dot grid is just over 5mm
- Comes with 2 fineliner pens
- One of the few hybrid bullet journal / planners I’ve come across
- Plenty of extra pages (pre-printed and blank for you to choose your own)
- $28 is a very good price for a 320 page planner and notebook
- Smooth, ivory paper
Cons of the Planner
- Expensive international shipping (flat rate $33 USD)
- Only 1 ribbon bookmark
- Paper is thin
- The pages could be better thought out
- The design on the weekly spread should go to the edge of the dot grid
- Page numbers sit within the dot grid rather than below (and they’re at the top of the page not the bottom)
- Monthly calendar has split boxes (and diagonally split)
- Titles on the extras pages should be printed closer to the top / edge of the page (1 line of text instead of multiple)
Would I use this planner?
No. The design flaws in this planner irritate me – the pre-printed designs don’t maximise the page. I also don’t like the placement of the page numbers.
I can see the appeal of a hybrid notebook / planner and this one would be good if the layouts were better thought out. I do like that it has dot grid writing space which is much harder to find than lined or blank pages. However, for now I’m going to keep looking for other hybrid planners / notebooks.
More planner reviews:
- Personal Planner Review (custom planner)
- Golden Coil Planner Review
- Best planners for when you don’t have much to plan
Planning Tips:
- My 7 favorite planner supplies for making lists
- Tombow Brush Pen Testing in 8 Different Bullet Journals
- How to color code your planner for school using pens
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