Page Text: Home Stationery Journaling Drawing Reading Contact
Bullet Journal x Leuchtturm1917 Edition 2 Review.
The newest Bullet Journal x Leuchtturm1917 collaboration notebook holds a few upgrades to the first edition. You have all the usual features - a debossed front cover, hardback with elastic closure, dot grid internals, back pocket and the very useful three bookmarks. The Edition 2 does introduce a few extras all around the theme of saving you time to make this notebook a bullet journalers friend.
Edition 2 features.
Grid guide - the inside front cover is essentially a cheat sheet for all the ways you can carve up a single page. It also includes the number of horizontal and vertical bullets per page to assist in the design process, plus it looks pretty good. This is a good use of the inside cover giving you handy information and does mean you don’t have to create one of these spreads yourself.
Page markers - there are these subtle extra bullets to help you split your page into half or thirds and they appear on every single page. A simple, quick use feature.
Number of Pages - this edition has 206 pages. This is comparable number to other branded notebooks you may use for a bullet journal but for some reason it feels bulky.
Pre-printed pages - From pages 2-11 there are pre-printed sections that include the Key, Intentions, Index and Future Log which are staples of most bullet journals. If you don’t use these pages and don’t want to waste the space they are subtle enough to ignore.
Pocket Guide - this seems to be aimed at bullet journal novices or newbies. It outlines how to use a bullet journal in a simple and basic format, sort of a primer for Ryder Carrolls book on the subject.
Stickers - there are some stickers included with this edition, with the same gold foiling that you find on the inside cover.
Using the Bullet Journal x Leuchtturm1917 Edition 2.
This notebook was out of stock for a long time so when it finally arrived back I snapped one up. When it arrived however I immediately knew I wouldn’t like using this notebook. It was a complete FOMO / influenced purchase that wasn’t exactly cheap (€25). If I was choosing a dedicated bullet journal to use this wouldn’t be my top choice for a number of reasons.
it’s too bulky. A slimmer notebook is easier to write in but also if you get bored and want to try something different you’re not committed. It’s also more portable which is important for me as this isn’t my primary notebook.
the margins are very wide and it feels like I am losing space, which in a bullet journal with calendar style spreads is valuable. The Bullet Journal site sells this as a feature, but I would prefer the extra line of dots to use as I wish.
the price! This is one expensive notebook priced around €10 over the standard Leuchtturm1917 hardback notebooks and it’s not a justified cost. You’re paying for the branding and not a lot else.
distribution is a pain. You can only get this direct from the bullet journal site and they charge you to shipping.
The only positive I have found while using the Edition 2 is the three bookmarks which is a genuine benefit for bullet journalers. Otherwise I am stumped and don’t really see why you would pay that extra cost when a normal Leuchtturm1917 notebook costs £17 and has a few extra pages but one less bookmark.
Overall thoughts.
I am partly disappointed but also not surprised by this notebook. Bullet Journal are using Lechutturm1917 as branded merchandise and not perhaps as a partner to create a good notebook. The belly band acts as a sales tool pointing users to the Bullet Journal website, their app and where to buy Ryder Carrolls book. I struggle to find the shared values between these two companies.
Putting the brand relationship aside I think there are so many better A5 bullet journal notebook options on the market. The tiny helpful features in the Leuchtturm1917 x Bullet Journal Edition 2 don’t outweigh the cost. The price is a massive barrier of entry for new bullet journal users who may be the real target and beneficiaries of this notebook.
Really in summary my final thought is don’t get suckered into buying this notebook thinking it will elevate your bullet journaling. Use a notebook you like and if your choice is the Leuchtturm1917 stick with the standard hardback notebook and buy yourself some nice stationery accessories with the spare £10.