Review: Ayush Notebooks From Federalist Pens

My pens have made best friends with Ayush notebooks, a paper from India that is perfectly suited to fountain pen ink and at 100 gsm, sturdy to boot. Yes, they are delighted with this new match and so am I.

Fred from Federalist Pens sent a couple of notebooks to review, but Ayush would have received high marks regardless. What is written on the back of the 3.5 x 5.5″ spiral pocket pad isn’t hype.

The only problem I had was trying to photograph the colors accurately. The paper is not quite white, easy on the eyes and did not shift the ink color. The photo at the end of this post is more accurate. The cover is salmon for the grid format which suits the paper color nicely.

The surface has a very slight softness to it unlike the slick surface of some Japanese brands of paper. It made writing a little less tiring since the nib had no inclination to wander and it also made controlling the nib easier. Being able to write on both sides of the paper makes Ayush economical as well as resource conserving.

The grid lines are neutral and unobtrusive, and at 5 mm, useful with a variety of nib widths. Even a Conklin 1.1 mm stub put down very legible words. Lined paper is 8 mm if you prefer more space. The pads are offered with blank paper for writers like me who tend to doodle or reject the confinement of lines. A dot version is offered as well so there is a format for everyone.

The double-spiral notebooks come in A4 and A5 sizes in addition to the pocket size plus there is a sewn-signature, glue-bound journal that is 135 x 210 mm. With a little use, it should lay flat.

Ayush is good for fountain pens, attractive, and very reasonably priced. Toss a couple of notebooks into your next pen and ink order. I am always looking for ways to meet the minimum purchase requirement for free shipping and these notebooks could be a good way to do it.

Thanks, Fred, for the Ayush paper samples. It’s good stuff and my finicky pens were glad to make its acquaintance. Not a hint of misbehaving from any of them.

From the Ayush paper company: