LEUCHTTURM1917 - Pocket Notepad A6-184 Dotted...

Most Helpful Review

"In the large notebook (apprx 5” x 8”), I gave the edge to the Leuchtturm over the Moleskine, but in this category it goes back to the Moleskine. The bottom line is the Moleskine binding is far better than the Leuchtturm, which makes all the difference in real world use.I prefer "plain" pages for small notebooks because "ruled" pages can be restricting on a small page. The Leuchtturm has several features the Moleskine does not have: pages are about ½” longer (and a negligible 1/16" more narrow), a Table of Contents, numbered pages, and slightly better paper. However, though these are useful features for a journal or permanent "Record Book", they are not necessary in a field notebook where you are taking quick notes in varying locations and conditions, and they certainly don't compensate for the overly stiff binding that makes the Leuchtturm awkward to use.It was simply function over features. Although the Leuchtturm has better features, in this size and category the Moleskine simply functioned better.With small notebooks, getting access to the whole sheet is important, but the binding is so tight in the Leuchtturm that it tries to close on you, or the sheet you are writing on wants to float.You can handle these problems if you're at a desk, but once I used the Moleskine reporter, I decided it wasn’t worth it anymore. With the Moleskine, the binding stays open and the sheets lay flat ……. no problem. I can talk on the phone and jot away without using both hands to hold the notebook open or hold the paper flat, or I can flip the page without it flipping back. In actual use, this feature was the deciding factor, despite the better paper and features of the Leuchtturm.You can “loosen up" the binding of the Leuchtturm with a little work, which helps a little, but the binding still has more spring and wants to close, fully or partially, and the pages want to turn whenever you move it.I can only speak for myself, but I use a pocket notebook in a utility sense, i.e. real notes and chicken scratching, not as a journal or permanent record, so in the end the Leuchtturm’s TOC, numbered pages, larger sheets, and quality paper were nice, but not as important as the lay flat ability of the Moleskine.EDIT: 4/18/2017My latest purchase of a "Classic Collection" Moleskine has convinced me that Moleskine has slid to a new low in quality. You can see my review of it dated 04/18/2017. Despite my misgivings about the stiff binding of the Leuchtturm, paper quality is now not just "slightly better" as I stated in the review, it is now much, much, much better. Moleskines decline in paper quality and the divider pages is now enough to be a game changer for me. Other Leuchtturm features have always been superior to the Moleskine, and Moleskines superior binding is no longer enough to keep me using them. I will use the Leuchtturm exclusively unless and until Moleskine drastically improves their quality."