Moleskine

The Reddit community is largely skeptical of Moleskine notebooks as a BIFL purchase, with the most common criticism being a significant decline in paper quality over the past 10-15 years — particularly for fountain pen users. Many commenters actively recommend alternatives like Leuchtturm1917, Rhodia, or Tomoe River notebooks as superior options. A small number of users remain satisfied for basic note-taking and sketching, and some non-notebook Moleskine products like bags and pens receive more positive mentions.

The community broadly agrees that Moleskine notebook paper quality has declined substantially and that better alternatives exist at similar or lower price points, disqualifying it as a true BIFL notebook purchase.

Moleskine is praised for its iconic format, portability, and usefulness for pencil-based sketching and general note-taking. Some non-notebook products like bags and pens earn more durable reputations.

• Hardcover format is durable and convenient for everyday carry
• Works well for pencil-based sketching and note-taking
• Moleskine bags have held up well for years of commuter use
• Classic roller pen has lasted 15+ years with cheap refills
• Weekly calendar format is practical for scheduling 6+ months out
• Widely available and considered a recognizable standard format

Paper quality has deteriorated noticeably over the past 15 years, making Moleskine notebooks widely considered unsuitable for fountain pens due to feathering and bleed-through. Multiple users have switched to competing brands and say they won't go back.

• Paper quality declined significantly, causing ink feathering and bleed-through
• Not fountain pen friendly; ink bleeds with most common inks
• Elastic band loosens and becomes floppy before notebook is filled
• Cover material reportedly peels over time, unlike some competitors
• Notebooks don't lay flat, which is inconvenient during use
• Considered overpriced relative to quality compared to alternatives like Leuchtturm1917

One long-time fountain pen user noted that the paper composition changed dramatically at some point, making their go-to pen and ink combination completely unworkable due to feathering and bleed-through — they subsequently switched to Leuchtturm1917 and described it as a massive upgrade.

A commenter who evaluated Moleskine for BIFL purposes said the elastic bands would stretch out well before the notebook was filled, and that paper quality had dropped significantly over the last 15 years, making a traveler's notebook system a better long-term investment.

One user described Moleskine as a great case study in marketing, implying the brand's reputation outpaces its actual quality — a sentiment echoed by several others who questioned what justified the price premium.

A user who has carried a Moleskine commuter bag for nearly 10 years reported only minor fraying on one strap, suggesting the non-notebook product line holds up considerably better than the notebooks themselves.