Not all paper is created equal when it comes to fountain pens. The wrong paper can cause feathering, bleed-through, or slow drying -- none of which does justice to a good ink. Here is what to look for, and which notebooks we recommend.
What Makes Paper Fountain Pen Friendly?
Good fountain pen paper should be feather-resistant and should not allow ink to bleed through to the other side. This means you can write on both sides of the page without waste. A smooth surface is also important -- it allows the nib to glide freely rather than catching on the fibres.
Paper weight is measured in GSM (grams per square metre). The higher the GSM, the thicker the paper. 80gsm and above is generally suitable for fountain pens. Most of the notebooks we stock are 80gsm or higher.
Paper also comes in two common tones -- bright white and ivory/off-white -- and in a range of ruling options: blank, lined, grid, and dot. Grid and dot paper is particularly useful for keeping handwriting consistent and for drawing tables or diagrams.
Our Recommended Notebooks
- Rhodia -- a French brand producing some of the finest fountain pen paper available. Their notepads come in a huge range of sizes and are ideal for everyday use.
- Tomoe River -- exceptionally thin but highly fountain pen friendly paper, beloved by ink enthusiasts for the way it shows off sheen and shading.
- Leuchtturm1917 -- a popular hardcover notebook with numbered pages and a table of contents, available in a wide range of colours and ruling options.
- Endless -- notebooks designed specifically with fountain pen users in mind, using high-quality paper that handles wet inks with ease.
- Pilot Notebooks -- smooth, reliable paper from one of the world's leading pen manufacturers.
- Field Notes -- compact pocket notebooks, ideal for everyday carry.
- Legami -- fun, well-made notebooks in a wide range of styles and formats.
- Word. -- simple, well-designed pocket notebooks with good paper quality.
Browse our full notebook range at Pure Pens. If you need help choosing the right paper for your pens and inks, get in touch and we will be happy to advise.