Hi! Welcome back! So I know that this blog is more for people who are actually interested in bullet journaling or want to start one. But don’t worry! I will have more content coming soon for those of you who aren’t!

I’m going to be sticking to certain notebooks, only because there are tons on the market to choose from. I also will only be covering notebooks that are A5 Size and that are relatively easy to find.

Bullet Journal Type #1: The Best of Both Worlds

Scribbles That Matter (Original): 201 pages, $29.97, 100 GSM, Page color: off White, available on Amazon

These are about average price for a bullet journal. Unfortunately, it is a bit harder to find this particular notebook. When Archer & Olive came out with their really thick-papered notebooks, Scribbles That Matter changed their style, purely out of competition. They also included notebooks without covers that you could put inside inserts so you could technically customize your bullet journal. However, the new paper was ONLY 160 GSM, and there was a surprisingly large market for the original paper type. Currently, as of the date of this blog, there are two options left for the 100 GSM paper notebooks: The Teal and the Blue Covers. There is a third option: the Black Notebook but make sure to read the description as the paper in that one is 160 GSM. As well, the price changes on Amazon due to value and the market.
The reason it is my favorite is because the original notebook came in so many different color options. You could also get the cover in plain, or with a doodle engraved cover. The paper is good quality without being too thick or thin and there are a lot of pages in the original.

Tekukor: 192 pages, ~$40.00, 100 GSM, Page color: off White, available on Amazon

Light Pink Scribbles That Matter, Purple Tekukor Dot Grid Notebooks

These notebooks are pretty close to the original Scribbles That Matter. The main difference is the price, and there are currently only 4 color options (Purple, Blue, Gray and Black). The paper is very similar, and with 192 pages, is pretty close to the Scribbles That Matter.

Bullet Journal Type #2: Classic & Easy to find

Leuchtturm: 249 pages, $26.95, 80 GSM, Page color: Ivory, available on Amazon, Indigo, etc…

This is a classic notebook that was one of the first notebooks I ever used for bullet journaling. The pages are relatively thin, and most pens you use will shadow on the back page. That being said, there is something to the paper. I once used a notebook that was waterproof (for geology fieldwork) and this paper has that same quality. This makes sense because when you write, the paper is supposed to absorb the ink so it doesn’t smear as easy. (People are surprised to find that paper type and quality plays a huge role in how your pen will perform).
I personally like this notebook because there are a lot of pages, and I like the feel of the thinner pages. They feel “written” on once used, unlike 160 GSM paper.

Bullet Journal Type #3: Thick Paper

Archer & Olive: 160 pages, $32-38 US, 160 GSM, Page color: Bright White, available on Archer&Olive.com & their affiliate retailers…

These are really popular now for good reason: you can basically use any medium in these books and they don’t bleed or shadow. The paper is quite thick and feels like card stock. You can use water color in them as well but the paper will start to crinkle a bit and doesn’t work the way a good quality water color paper does. It will pill if too much water is added.
I enjoy supporting small companies, and there is a wide variety of notebooks cover colors.

ShopAmandaRachLee: 160 pages, $26 US, 160 GSM, Page color: Bright White, available on ShopAmandaRachLee.com

Any supporter and follower of Amanda RachLee will know why these notebooks are great. They are pretty much an exact replica of the Archer & olive (except in color choice - there are 4 or 5 colors to choose from) but you also have the opportunity to support Amanda, another fellow Canadian Youtuber and small business owner.

Shop Amanda Rach Lee Tan Notebook, Archer & Olive A5 Dot Grid Notebook

Bullet Journal Type #4: Best Quality Paper

Rhodia Rhodiarama: 80 pages, $27.25, 90 GSM, Page color: Ivory, available on Amazon & their website

If you have ever bullet journaled, and used good quality brush pens, you know that writing on paper eventually destroys your brush pens. It’s bound to happen eventually, but there is some paper that is a dream to write on, and you can find it in this notebook right here.
The major downfalls that I have experienced is that you don’t get many pages at all (will definitely NOT last you an entire year), expensive for quantity of pages and the page color is pretty yellow.

Dingbats Earth Series: 192 pages, $29.95, 100 GSM, Page color: Ivory, available on Amazon & their website

There are 4 colors to choose from, paper is a dream and there are a lot of them! The paper is quite yellow, but these are quite nice if you don’t mind the ivory page color.
There is also a wildlife series, but the pages are perforated so did not make this particular list. Those ones however have more muted colors and a larger variety.

Purple Rhodiarama, Lime Earth Series Dingbats Dot Grid Notebooks

Bullet Journal Type #5: On a Budget

Peter Pauper Press Essential Dot Grid: 192 pages, $15.99, GSM - the description doesn't say, but feels like 100GSM , Page color: off white, available on Amazon

There are a few colors/variations available on Amazon. This notebook has a soft spot in my heart, because I am in love with Peter Pauper Press Journals. The dot grid journals, however, do not have the best paper quality. You really do get what you pay for.

Panda Natura: 192 pages, $19.99, 100 GSM, Page color: ivory, available on Amazon

The colors are limited to Teal and Black. Paper quality is similar to the Peter Pauper Press Essential Dot Grid Journal.

Clever Fox: 160 pages, $22.99, 120 GSM, Page color: off White, available on Amazon

The notebook cover colors are really pretty. There is a variety of colors to choose from. The 120 GSM paper is a unique thickness and nice to write on. The downside is there are not enough pages in the journal for a whole year of bullet journaling. I feel like this company took the cover art idea from Scribbles That Matter. This journal has that same feel on the outside except the cover itself is not as sturdy as the Scribbles That Matter.

Teal Panda Natura, Purple Clever Fox Dot Grid Notebooks

Overall, I feel like this is still an overwhelming number of notebooks to choose from. I think when you choose your notebook, you need to decide what is most important to you. If you want to save your brush pens, go for best paper quality. If you want to use water color, go for thick paper.

I think if you are just starting out with bullet journaling, pick a cheaper option. You won’t know if you love it until you have bullet journaled for awhile and if you don’t use it, you won’t feel so bad if you pick a cheaper option.

If you asked me to pick my very favorite top 3 notebooks, I would have to say: (In order of most favorite)

Scribbles That Matter 100GSM
Dingbats Earth Series
Archer & Olive

I have used a variety of notebooks, some even that have not made this list. Those particular notebooks either are not sold any more or they did not have the same qualities that these ones listed have.

I hope that this list narrows down your choice if you are in the market for a new notebook.

💜 SAN

Stay tuned for next week’s blog Anxiety & What To Do About It.

Which Bullet Journal is Right for You? My Top Picks!

What the Heck is a Bullet Journal?