Page Text: Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper (Last Updated 2.18.22)
March 11, 2021
Last year I compiled a five-part resource titled “The Best Paper for Everyday Writing,” in which I looked at five different product categories that I regularly use in my working life and recommendations for each. These included hardcover notebooks , softcover notebooks , spiral notebooks , pocket notebooks , and writing pads/looseleaf . Today I’d like to step back from specifics and offer more general thoughts on paper, this time going by brand.
I receive a lot of questions about which brand of paper to buy to ensure a good experience with fountain pens. Those are always tricky questions to answer because (1) “fountain pen friendly” is a relative concept; and (2) some brands use different types of paper for different products - some designed with the fountain pen user in mind, others not. For example, most standard products from Write Notepads feature some of the most fountain pen friendly paper available, but they also release special edition products such as the “Engineer” series that use different paper stock. Despite the challenges, it’s been a long-term goal of mine to have a resource like this available on the site.
So as a baseline, what needs to happen before I will publicly recommend something as “fountain pen friendly paper”? My standard is fairly simple: No bleed-through or feathering with any fountain pen nib that can be reasonably used for everyday writing. (Because I mainly use my paper for drafting and notetaking, as opposed to drawing, wet ink samples, or flex-nib calligraphy, my standards may be more lenient than some.) I also don’t worry much about how the paper shows off ink color or things like sheen and saturation, though dry time occasionally factors into which paper I want to use for a particular purpose (i.e., quick notes). Below, I’ve divided major paper companies into “Tiers”, based on my own experience with using a range of fountain pens on their products. This is NOT intended as commentary on the overall quality of their offerings, merely to serve as a reference point on how well the paper used by certain brands tends to handle fountain pen ink according to my own standard. For example, while Field Notes is listed in “Tier Three,” that’s not surprising because the company makes pocket notebooks, and their products aren’t directed at those who want to write with a stub nib fountain pen every day. I love Field Notes, sell them in my shop, and use them fairly regularly - just not with fountain pens.
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Tier One
When I place a company into the “Tier One” category, it means that you can likely purchase a product based on brand alone and ensure yourself a good fountain pen writing experience.
Clairefontaine. I still consider Clairefontaine the gold standard. Clairefontaine pads and notebooks feature 90g, coated writing stock that works well not only with fountain pens but pretty much any ink you can throw at it. It’s also relatively inexpensive for quality paper, making it my first choice and recommendation.
Midori. Both their “MD” and “Cotton” lines work exceptionally well with fountain pens. I find the paper more absorbent than Clairefontaine - especially the cotton - with better dry times. Midori MD paper can also be found in standard Traveler’s Notebook refills .
Tomoe River. Available in 52g and 68g variants, this ultra-thin Japanese paper has taken on a cult following over the years. Even with the recent change in paper formulation, which I understand slightly changed the texture and the appearance of certain inks on the page, it remains among the best paper for writing. While the manufacturers sort out production issues, the best way to find this paper is to source it from third-party notebook manufacturers such as Traveler’s Company (“Lightweight Paper” refill), Nanami Paper , Lochby , Atelier Musubi , and Odyssey Notebooks (among others).
Maruman Mnemosyne. Exceptionally good paper that comes in both spiral-bound and pad formats, in multiple sizes. In addition to handling fountain pen ink well, the pages are perforated, making Mnemosyne notebooks a top choice for those needing versatile paper to use in the office where filing or scanning notes is necessary.
Cosmo Air Light. When Tomoe River paper changed its formulation, enthusiasts began turning to this ink-friendly paper that feels similar to 68g Tomoe River, but perhaps with slightly more texture and feedback. Cosmo Air Light shows off ink color and sheen, and while it originally could only be purchased in looseleaf sheets, Atelier Musubi now manufactures 208-page notebooks. (See link).
Life. Another Japanese paper that can be counted on to handle fountain pen inks reliably, though Life paper can be difficult to source in the U.S. and on the expensive side. In addition to the small selection of Life notebooks I stock, you can find it at Vanness Pens.
Apica. Though Apica primarily makes very slim notebooks with lower page counts - a product I don’t use extensively - their paper is very fountain pen friendly and cost effective.
Rhodia. A sister company to Clairefontaine, Rhodia products have a different design aesthetic and the paper features a slightly different texture (i.e., many people find their paper slightly less slick than Clairefontaine and more absorbent, with quicker dry times).
Write Notepads (Standard Line). If papers with longer dry times give you trouble, but you still want a heavier stock that handles fountain pen ink exceptionally well, the more absorbent paper used by Write Notepads in their spiral notebooks, memo pads, and journals is excellent.
Kokuyo PERPANEP (Zara Zara Variant). While most Kokuyo Paper can be finicky with very wet fountain pens, the textured version of Kokuyo’s high-end PERPANEP paper offers excellent performance and a tactile writing experience. The cheesecloth binding also allows the notebook to lie perfectly flat - something that can be frustratingly hard to come by in a non-spiral bound notebook.
Soumkine. Paris-based Soumkine makes their notebooks by hand in their atelier, combining vintage-inspired design with high-quality Italian paper that handles fountain pen ink well. Soumkine paper reminds me Tomoe River 68gsm in terms of feel, only slightly more absorbent. Their “Universal Planner” format is versatile in the same way that both Stalogy and Nanami Paper allow you to use their offerings as either a traditional notebook or a bullet journal-style planner.
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Tier Two
Outside of the first group of papers, many of which are specifically targeted to fountain pen users, you have to start to think a bit about how you intend to use the notebook. Personally, I would still consider most of the paper listed in this category as “fountain pen friendly” for my own purposes (i.e., writing with EF-Medium nibs and “practical” inks), but since you may experience spots of bleed-through and feathering if you push the paper, I don’t feel comfortable discussing them in the same context as the papers listed above.
Leuchtturm 1917. Having developed a reputation as a “Moleskine upgrade,” Leuchtturm has become a fixture not only at specialty stationery stores, but more mainstream retail outlets. Leuchtturm paper is quite usable with fountain pens but you may see slight “pinpoint” bleed-through with very wet nibs and inks.
Baron Fig. I love the texture of Baron Fig paper, especially with pencils. It has a nice texture and absorbency, which makes it pleasant to write on but increases the potential to bleed and feather with especially wet fountain pens.
Lamy. Last year Lamy released a series of notebooks featuring a unique take on combination lined-grid ruling, with textured paper that behaves similarly to Baron Fig and Leuchtturn. Since this paper is quite fibrous, it doesn’t bleed but has a tendency to feather with very wet pens.
Kokuyo (Standard Paper). I love Kokuyo’s “tall and skinny” hardcover pocket notebooks, and the micro-grid paper works well enough for any writing instrument I would consider as pocket carry, including extra-fine and fine nibs on my pocket fountain pens. You may see pinpoint bleed-through otherwise, depending on the ink.
Stálogy. I love Stálogy’s 365-Day and Half-Year notebooks, which feature white paper and a light grey grid. While the paper is almost as thin as Tomoe River, it’s slightly more absorbent, resulting in shorter dry times that make it more “work friendly” for quick notes. (Several lefties I know love this paper.) I’ve included it in “Tier Two” because very wet fountain pens and inks may result in slight bleed-through and/or show through. I have no issues with most fine or medium nibs.
Write Notepads (Engineer and Standard Pocket Notebooks). Write Notepads’ new special purpose “engineer” paper is different from that found in their standard lineup, in that it’s not quite as fountain pen friendly, but this is likely irrelevant to the target audience for this particular notebook. Also note that older Write Notepads pocket notebooks use different paper that has a tendency towards pinpoint bleed-through.
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Tier Three
These are brands where you shouldn’t expect much compatibility with fountain pens, and if you purchase a notebook or notepad from one of these companies, you might see significant bleed-through and feathering. That’s not to say you can’t use fountain pens, I just wouldn’t expect to be able to use both sides of a page.
Moleskine. The ubiquitous black notebook that you see everywhere. If you’re a pencil a or ballpoint lover, Moleskine has some great limited and special editions, but I’ve never had a good experience with any of their paper using a fountain pen, or even a rollerball.
Field Notes. While some of the special edition Field Notes pocket notebooks use thicker paper, Field Notes are relegated to pocket ballpoint territory in my own personal carry. That’s fine - it’s their intended purpose.
Doane Paper. One of my favorite paper rulings of all time (Doane’s signature Grid + Lines) is generally relegated to the ballpoint + gel pens + pencils rotation. While Doane paper handles fountain pen ink somewhat better than Field Notes, it’s best categorized in the same tier.
Any drugstore or big-box brand. Sure, occasionally you can find batches of very inexpensive imported composition or spiral notebooks made from sugarcane paper or another fountain pen compatible stock, but it likely won’t remain consistent from year-to-year and you may have to start your search over annually.
Missing Brands and Future Updates
Obviously I don’t have extensive experience with every paper brand out there, so I haven’t included many in this list and won’t do so until I’m comfortable discussing their performance with some degree of certainty. This rough guide therefore shouldn’t be read as “exclusive,” and I intend to add to it. Also, I’ve avoided commenting on small makers or boutique brands that change their paper stock regularly. As a product develops consistency, I will consider adding it to this list.
UPDATE: If you’re interested in how paper and notebooks are sized, check out this post comparing various popular sizes (i.e. A4 vs. A5 vs. A6).
All links are to Gentleman Stationer Reviews, the T.G.S. Curated Shop, or to my friends at Vanness Pens. This post does not contain affiliate links.