Comments on: Hardcover or Softcover Journals- Which do you prefer?

By: tom hall

tom hall — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:50:03 +0000

Hard cover, because I’m not always at a desk. In addition, flexible notebooks tend to get mauled in the small bag I use.

By: Carys

Carys — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:18:54 +0000

Hardcover, so I always have a firm writing surface available, and so my notebooks don’t get beaten up as much. I’ve even made heavy covers for a couple soft ones so I could use them more easily.

By: Lanzman

Lanzman — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:21:57 +0000

Anything I’m going to use mostly for writing, I prefer hardcover – as long as it opens/lays flat. If it’s going to be more of a sketchbook, then softcover is better for me. Either way, I *seriously* dislike spiralbound or three-ring loose-leaf or discbound or similar products. I much prefer my notebooks/journals to look like finished books.
What I’d really love to get ahold of, tho, would be something like the notebook Johnny Depp’s Ichabod Crane uses in the movie “Sleepy Hollow”. That was one neat-looking journal!

By: J.

J. — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:30:01 +0000

I’ve always preferred hardcover notebooks. They tend to take abuse a bit better than softcover ones, with a few exceptions.

By: The Archer

The Archer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:36:20 +0000

I do my journalling on hard cover notebooks. Moleskine has been my Journal for 3 years and now I also got Quo Vadis Habana and a locally produced fountain pen-friendly hardcover journal, the Scribe. For notetaking during meetings, I like using spiral-bound notebooks. :)

By: B Irwin

B Irwin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:40:18 +0000

Both. For notetaking at conventions, I prefer hard bound that will fold back on themselves, like the Habanas. For personal journaling, the tactile feel of soft leather is more relaxing and sensuous. For my writing, I prefer the notebook fold back on itself, which is why I keep reverting to the staple or cloth bound Clairefontaines. I associate hard backs with travel and portability, while the soft bound go with writing on desks or lap boards.

By: Rev/Dr John

Rev/Dr John — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:24:40 +0000

I found that ALL my journals and calendars are hard cover, going all the way back to the beginnings with Franklin Covey day-per-2-pages (which I still use.

Having a ringbound hardcover calendar book makes it easy to pop out today’s page and use it on a clipboard, then put it back at the end of the day. And I do a lot of laptop writing on the go – and I REALLY need the firmness of a hardbound book for that so I can read my writing the next day AND so my fountain pens won’t skip!

Even my portable prayers blank book (write the prayers in by event as needed) is one of the nicely decorated hardbound books with the wrap around cover that closes magnetically.

I didn’t NEED the fancy snap on that one: I bought it for the decorated (public-prayer-appropriate) art around the outside.

Rev/Dr J.

By: Liz B

Liz B — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:19:21 +0000

I like hardcover books the best. I find that soft covers get too badly damaged too easily, and that makes me feel bad. It’s weird, I know. But I don’t like hurting my books, and I carry one around EVERYWHERE.

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:51:31 +0000

For journaling and sketching I prefer hardcover, as I am frequently working outdoors. I often carry the books around in my backpack and the hard cover is best because it does not get as tattered with this treatment as most soft covers will. But for notes (such as for school) and books that I will mainly be using while working indoors at a table, then softcover notebooks work as well.

By: Dax

Dax — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:19:36 +0000

I prefer hardcovers. Easier if you want to take notes and don’t have a table. Also more elegant.

By: sophie_vf

sophie_vf — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:42:58 +0000

Great question. Until recently I would have unequivocally said hard cover – all the journals of my youth were hard cover because I always wrote lying face down on the bed, or on my knee, as you described. But I do like thinner, staplebound books for specific projects – Apica, for example; I use that as a thesis journal because it slips easily into a larger folder.

Right now, I’m in love with the Exacompta Basics sketchbook, which surprises me because I’d always preferred hardcover sketchbooks.

A softcover webnotebook – this sounds odd, but I would only be interested if it were blank or gridded. For me, lined=private journal, which again, I much prefer in hard cover.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:46:16 +0000

I prefer both: larger sizes seem to work better in hardcover, as long as they lay flat when open. Anything small enough to fit in a pocket I seem to prefer thin and soft-covered, with two exceptions: top-bound reporter style notebooks that I’m likely to hold in my hand and No.8, 10, and 11 Rhodia pads.

By: Deirdre Saoirse Moen

Deirdre Saoirse Moen — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:45:20 +0000

I thought I preferred softcover until I got my Rhodia Web Notebook. Then, when I received a Quo Vadis Habana notebook, I was sure: hardcover’s the way for me.

For notetaking (completely different), I still prefer disc-bound softcovers.

By: range

range — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:26:35 +0000

Hi Stephanie, I have to say that there isn’t a perfect notebook for everything, there are notebooks for every occasion.

I use hardcover and softcover notebooks, and each has their uses. Softcover is less durable, but weighs less and is transported easier. Moleskine released softcover notebooks so I guess that there is a good market for these.