As stationery enthusiasts, the type of paper we pair with our pens matters a great deal. Choosing quality paper can significantly improve the writing experience and make it more pleasurable and fulfilling. It doesn’t matter what pen you use for your daily needs; quality paper is a must. Many of us tote notebooks around for school, work, or other endeavors, so we’ll be recommending the best notebooks you can use for your writing instruments, specifically, gel pens.
How To Choose A Notebook For Your Gel Pens
Choosing the best notebook for gel pens depends on personal preferences and the specific characteristics you're looking for. Gel pens typically work well on smooth paper that prevents smudging and bleeding.
When in doubt, you can look up your favorite notebooks for fountain pen writing and use them for your gel pens to prevent bleeding and feathering.
Here are some popular notebook options that we recommend for use with gel pens:
Rhodia Rhodiarama Hard Notebook
Rhodia notebooks use smooth paper that resists bleeding or feathering. The ivory vellum paper is thick enough at 90 gsm (grams per square meter) to ensure that your writing will not bleed through to the next page. This notebook is also easy to carry around and comes with inner pockets, rounded corners, and an elastic to keep it shut when not in use. You can choose from A5 or A6 sizes in any color you want.
MD Paper Regular Notebook
If you want ultimate comfort when writing, then Midori is the notebook to pair with your gel pen. It’s thread-bound in such a way that the notebook lays flat when you write. This makes it easy and comfortable to jot down notes or write for longer sessions. The paper on Midori notebooks gives just the right amount of feedback so you can feel your gel pen writing on the surface. It’s a little thinner and lighter than Rhodia paper, but make no mistake, this can take gel pen ink with no problem.
Maruman Mnemosyne Memo Notebook - A5
For gel pen users who want a sophisticated notebook to pair with their everyday writing tool, the Maruman Mnemosyne is a perfect choice. It comes with microperforated pages that make it easy to use for any situation, whether you want to keep the pages in your notebook or remove them. It comes with a bright white 80 gsm paper that can withstand a lot of ink, so you don’t have to worry about your gel pens bleeding through. This is a great notebook for students and professionals.
Tomoe River A6 Notebook - 68gsm
If you want paper that shows off your gel pen’s properties and you don’t mind a little bit of ghosting on pages, then you’ll love Tomoe River paper. It is ultra-thin at only 68 gsm and ultra-lightweight, but it can take a lot of ink with minimal to no bleedthrough. This is a great option to pair with your gel pens if you like bullet journaling. Tomoe River paper is one of the most popular brands of paper, whether you are using fountain pens or gel pens.
The Bottom Line
Having the right notebook no matter your choice of pen, whether it’s a fountain pen, ballpoint pen, rollerball pen, or gel pen, can make or break your writing experience. High-quality paper is a must for pen enthusiasts, and having it in notebook form makes things a lot more convenient for your daily needs. If you’re using fountain pens, then you can use these same recommendations or other fountain pen-friendly paper for your writing.
Written by EndlessPens Blogger Ramona Kabigting
