MAMBI have introduced sewn bound dot grid notebooks and the paper is 160 GSM thick. I really like MAMBI’s discbound range, plus dot grid notebooks with 160 GSM paper – so a combination of the two should produce a great notebook… or so I thought.

This is not a sponsored post. I paid for the notebook myself and I’m not being compensated for writing this post.

Quick facts

• Size: 5.625″ wide x 8″ high
• Hardcover
• Sewn binding
• 80 Double sided, 160 GSM white pages
• No page numbers
• 2 Ribbon bookmarks
• Pen loop
• 5mm dot grid
• Comes with 3 sticker sheets

Price: $25 USD

Let’s take a closer look!

To enlarge the screen of the video, click the square icon in the bottom right hand corner of the video (it will say ‘full screen’ when you hover your mouse over the icon).

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The Cover

At the time of writing this post there are 6 different cover versions – mostly floral.

I wish there were more cover designs to choose from. I hate anything floral (gives me grandma curtains / bedspread vibes). This is the ‘sunset stripe’ version – the colors are very ‘blah’ – it’s not something i would’ve normally chosen but there weren’t many options.

The notebook is a hardcover and is approx. 1″ thick.

Dot grid pages

There are 80 double sided dot grid pages. Unfortunately none of them have page numbers. At least the pages are bright white!

One major con: the dot placement. It differs throughout the notebook (much clearer to see when I flip through the notebook in the video ^above^). Basically the location of the dots differs on the pages. Some are very close to the edge of the page (almost cut off) and some are set far back. There are also instances (like in the above photo) where the dots don’t actually line up on the left and right pages.

There are 2 ribbon bookmarks in the same mint green color.

Once you break the spine, the pages lay flat on their own.

Pen Testing

I tried the usual gel, fine tip, ballpoint, and twin tip marker pens. The paper held up well – there was some minor bleed through for the Uni Pi pens.

Ironically, the MAMBI stamps bled through the page.

The Frixion erasable erased smoothly and cleanly.

At the back of the notebook is a roomy pocket folder with 3 sticker sheets.

Pros of the Notebook

• Portable size
• White 160GSM paper
• Pen loop
• Pocket folder
• 2 Ribbon bookmarks

Cons of the Notebook

• No page numbers
• Only 6 cover designs to choose from (and I think all of them are ugly)
• Ribbon bookmarks are the same color
• Inconsistent dot placement on the pages
• Dots are too bold
• Some ghosting and minor bleed through

Would I use this notebook?

No. I know you probably expected me to say yes because it has 160 GSM paper but there are plenty of notebooks with 160GSM paper to choose from these days. I don’t think Happy Planner / MAMBI put much effort into making these notebooks at all. The notebook feels cheap and not high quality, which is quite disappointing as I really like the discbound dot grid Happy Notes (although those don’t have 160 GSM paper). I also don’t like that the dots are a bold grey, they don’t ‘fade’ when you draw up a spread.

I would rather purchase and use a notebook with 160 GSM paper from a different brand and get a nicer cover design and page numbers.

More 160GSM dot grid notebook reviews:

(I think these notebooks are better quality than the Happy Planner dot grid notebook)

• Amanda Rach Lee (160 GSM paper)
• Esc Goods (160 GSM paper)
• Archer and Olive Dot Grid Notebook (Is the 160 GSM Paper Worth the Hype?)
• Bullet Journal notebooks with the best paper (my top 7)

Planning Tips:

• 7 Planner supplies that aren’t worth the hype 
• Planner companies that will let you download, print and try their planner layout for free 
• 10 Useful printables to add to your planner or bullet journal
• DIY Bullet journal alphabet stencil that costs practically nothing

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