Moleskine Volant Journals
2009/04/03The new Moleskine Volants come in great colors, two shades to each package. The Daily Planner has them already and rumor has it they are fountain pen friendly or at least more so than some other Moleskine journals. Anyone have experience with them?
Moleskine Volant
Moleskine has announced red and sky blue versions due out soon.
Moleskine Volant in Red and Sky Blue
Which color would you buy first?
Got the Red cahiers already, which I picked up at Borders in Florida. Haven’t cracked open the package though, and haven’t seen the blue sky version.
I’m eager to hear how they rate on the fountain-pen-friendly scale.
I bought the 3.5 X 5.5 inch black package. I received them Monday (four days ago), along with several other notebooks to test. I tested mine with a Lamy AL-Star EF nib using Noodler’s (bulletproof) Black. It had a -superior- drying time to every other paper I tested (Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Miquelruis, Doane and Field Notes Brand) and despite that it did not feather or bleed. The paper is very good. In fact, the Noodler’s ink looked identical to a Uni-Ball Signo RT .38 gel ink pen in terms of show-through and feathering. This paper is awesome, and I rather like the idea of 16 pages that are perforated so I can write a note to or for a friend and just tear it out easily if I am without a notecard, etc.
Having said that, the laminate on the cover is peeling, already, off of the back corner of one and the other came with bubbles between the laminate and paper cover. This -without even carrying them-, as after I tested them they went into a desk drawer to await being carried as a notebook for a week while I decide on which brand will be my go to for everyday use.
So, they look great, the paper is fantastic (at least with an ink known to be quick-drying), and the page count to cost ratio is downright superior to other brands. Unfortunately, they are still made in China or where ever and the quality of the lamination job on the cover proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Maybe it was just this batch or even my package that slipped through quality control, I do not know the reason. What I do know is that I will not be tempted to buy these ever again, unless I can see them out of the package first to check for even the slightest indication that the cover will peel. I hope that helps you out!