on saleApica CD-15 B5 Notebook - Sky Blue, Lined

This notebook is lovely to write in with fountain pens. I've used Noodler's Heart of Darkness in a Pilot Metropolitan (fine nib), Iroshizuki chiku-rin in a LAMY LX (extra fine nib), and Iroshizuku yama-budo in a LAMY LX (broad nib) so far. There is no bleed through or feathering. Each pen glides smoothly on the paper. Love it!

I used several of my pens with different kinds of ink and each wrote smoothly, without feathering on this paper.

The price, I wasn't sure what to expect, but this is the best combination of form factor, paper quality, and price you can find. The paper is like Clairefontaine and Rhodia in that your hand oils can change the behavior of the paper, but the paper is remarkably anti-ghost and anti-feather, unless you scrape or rub at it with your hand. There is a slightly higher propensity to bleed through compared to some others, but only slightly, and the paper is, IMO, smoother writing and more cleanly absorbant than Clairefontaine. The feel is closer to a good Tomoe River day, and feels less plasticy than Clairefontaine. IOW, smoother paper with better absorbancy, and only slightly worse bleedthrough, but better anti-ghost than something like Midori MD. The form factor really clinches it. You get as many lines as an A4 in a B5 size, with a stiched binding, and very subtle alignment cues around the edge of the paper, with a minimal, but highly usable header. This makes it more practical than most of the other notebooks out there. The writing space in a B5 without margins is the same as an A4 with margins. Overall, this is a surprisingly well executed, subtle, exceptional notebook. The only issue is that you'll want to have some absorbant paper to put under your hand if you hate the occasional feather, but that's true for Clairefontaine and Rhodia IME, too.

I have been using these notebooks for my college classes for 2 years and I absolutely love them. I always get compliments on them and they are perfect for fountain pen ink. You are able to use both sides of the paper because there is little bleed-through (if you use dryer inks) therefore, one notebook should last you the semester.

I love all the Apica notebooks and the service Goulet Company provides. Apicas feature great writing paper, strong flexable binding, and an old fashioned appearance. I use them for daily journal writing and my husband uses the pocket size for on the go ideas. As for Goulet C., great service. I live across the country from them but the shipping is very fast and the notebooks are always wrapped carefully and beautifully.