If you like the Leuchtturm dot grid notebooks but want a cheaper alternative, the Paper Ideas notebook is eerily similar to the Leuchtturm but for about $15 cheaper.

Quick facts

• Size: 5.75″ wide x 8.5″ high (14.5cm wide x 21.5cm high)
• Hardcover
• Sewn binding
• Multiple cover colors to choose from
• Index / contents (1 double sided page)
• 100 GSM paper
• Ivory / cream
• 188 numbered pages
• Pocket folder
• 2 ribbon bookmarks

Let’s take a closer look!

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Mentioned in the video: The 3 types of bullet journal notebooks you should have

The Cover

The usual cover that sewn bound notebooks have – hardcover with a smooth finish.

Approx 0.75″ thick

Contents

There is 1 double sided (so 2) contents pages at the front

Dot Grid Pages

There are 188 dot grid pages with 5mm dot grid spacing (which is the usual spacing you’ll find in most notebooks).

Unlike most dot grid notebooks (apart from the Artist’s Loft), this one has a wide margin up the top – you’ll either love it or hate it! I don’t mind it as I put the dates for the week in that section.

The pages lay flat on their own!

There is 1 pocket folder adhered to the back cover.

Pen Testing

The paper is only 100 GSM and feels thin so I was expecting quite a bit of ghosting…

… which was the case. All pens – ballpoint, gel, fineliner – had ghosting. There was some bleed through for the MAMBI stamps.

Pros of the Notebook

• Portable size
• Lightweight
• Cheap
• Index pages
• Pocket folder
• 2 Ribbon bookmarks
• Ivory colored paper (not yellow!)
• Multiple cover colors to choose from

Cons of the Notebook

• Thin paper is prone to ghosting / bleed through
• The ribbon bookmarks are the same color

Would I use this notebook?

No. The paper is too thin and prone to ghosting and bleed through. I’ve reviewed so many dot grid notebooks by now that this one doesn’t really stand out other than the fact that it’s packaging and style is similar to the Leuchtturm.

I’m probably going to use it only for drafting up bullet journal spread ideas and maybe some brain dumping.

Related: The 3 types of bullet journal notebooks you should have

How does this notebook compare with the Leuchtturm?

• The paper is yellowish in the Leuchtturm and is more of a creamy ivory color in the Paper Ideas notebook
• The paper in both notebooks is thin and prone to ghosting and bleed through (Paper Ideas is 100 GSM, Leuchtturm is 80 GSM i.e. thinner)
• The page size is the same
• Both notebooks have numbered pages with 5mm dot grid spacing
• Both have an index / contents
• Both notebooks have different cover colors to choose from (Leuchtturm has way more colors to choose from though)
• Paper Ideas has a wider margin up the top with a date section that the Leuchtturm doesn’t have

My opinion? I don’t think there’s a need to pay extra for the Leuchtturm. You’re paying for a well-known brand name and that’s about it. However if you really want a notebook in a particular cover color, then Leuchtturm has the widest range.

Related: Bullet journal notebooks with colorful covers (not black!)

As you can see both notebooks have really bad ghosting. The Leuchtturm (left) has more yellowish paper

If you’re looking for your first notebook for bullet journaling then this notebook could be one option, but there are so many notebooks to choose from now I wouldn’t go out of your way to get it.

More bullet journal reviews:

• Jumping Fox Designs Dot Grid Notebook Review
• Agendio custom dot grid notebook 
• Northbooks dot grid notebook

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