I have finally gotten around to trying out and reviewing the Rhodia Webnotebook (AKA the Webbie). I held out until I could find the exact model I like: the A5 size, in black with blank paper. Thank you very much.
The notebook has a subtle emboss logo on the leatherette cover but that’s the extent of the outward branding. Inside, the pages are a good quality creamy off-white (I wouldn’t go so far as to call it ivory as its lighter color than ivory, I think). The paper is 90g acid-free, pH neutral so it really is “good quality”. Each book is 96 pages and what I discovered is that I really can use both sides of the paper with 95% of the writing tools I use so that’s lots of writing space. There is also a black satin bookmark which is treated on the end so it won’t fray (this is a big thing with me!) so yeah! The cover also sports the vertical elastic like that other notebook.
The back of notebook includes the requisite pocket to store loose papers.
I tested every pen in my daily carry bag (I know, I carry way more pens day-to-day then I actually need but better to be prepared and all that). For a larger view of these images, click through to Flickr.
This notebook definitely loves all my fountain pens and inks as well as my LePen collection. The fine, fine lines of the Coleto and Uni-Style Fit also worked well on the smooth paper.
I even got the Lamy with 1.1mm calligraphy stub on the paper with no issues with show-through or bleeding. Quite impressive.
From the back, no show-through at all. I didn’t test out a Sharpie because I didn’t have one handy but I so rarely use them in my day-to-day notes that it didn’t seem necessary. I address boxes with Shapries, I don’t take notes with them. I love using it with my new Kaweco Student EF fountain pen.
I had been hesitant to purchase the Rhodia Webbie because it is a pricier notebook than others ($32) but it clearly is worth the investment. I have never been able to use both sides of a sheet of Moleskine paper so I will get considerably more mileage out of a Webbie than the old Moleskine.
So.. I thought I’d share. Want to win a Rhodia Webnotebook? I have an unopened, brand new A5 blank webbie to give away. Leave a comment below and tell me what pen you will pair with your new webbie to qualify to win.
FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Friday, September 21, 2012. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Tuesday. Winner will be select by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please include your email address in the comment form so that I can contact you if you win. I will not save email addresses or sell them to anyone — pinky swear. Shipping via USPS first class is covered. Additional shipping options or insurance will have to be paid by the winner. We are generous but we’re not made of money.
(Thanks to JetPens for sponsoring this giveaway. Please support our sponsors and tell them “The Well-Appointed Desk sent me!“)
PPS: The mug shown above is from the fine folks at Folded Pigs, its the skull and crossed utensils tea cup.
Nice review–Btw Twsbi is made in Taiwan, not Korea. Ciao!
Thanks for catching my typo. Makes me think of that scene in Armageddon, “American components, Russian components — all made in Taiwan!”
I’d ink up my Lamy 2000 to go with the Rhodia Webbie.
If I had a Rhodia Webnotebook, I’d use my yellow Lamy Safari with Noodler’s Gruene Cactus ink… it’s the best!
I would use my Charcoal Lamy Safari since I don’t have many pens but it’s reliable! I like it! Thanks for the giveaway! 😀
Looks like a great notebook. I would love to see how my fav Staedtler triplus fineliners work on it. Currently loving the magenta color.
I would use my Sheaffer 100 with red-black ink…..
I’m not quite the pen junkie you are, but have a few Fischer Space Pens that I like that would likely end up being used on this.
I would use my Pilot G Tec C4s. Thank you for the chance 🙂
Just got back from Germany; would definitely use my Kaweco!
Hi there! Thanks for another giveaway! Having just returned from Germany, I’d use my new Kaweco!
That is a beautiful notebook. A tad better than the composition books I’m using right now! I’ve been looking at Rhodia notebooks lately and considering buying one. The paper quality sounds lovely.
Ooh, a very nice notebook! If I won it I’d use my Venetian glass dip pen with vintage Waterman’s Tropic Green ink, I think. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would use my light blue Pilot Plumix fountain pen! It’s my favorite!
this is a good time to tell you how much I enjoy your blog!
I have a new lumocolor permanent pen that is my new love. Never been enamored of a felt tip before. sharpies were always too “heavy.”
I would probably use one of my favorite writing pens in it, the Pilot Precise V5…LONG lasting ink, good line quality, smooth writing and dries quickly.
I would use my Kaweco Sport (F) with Kaweco Sepia ink. (Boring I know, but I would alternate with my LAMY calligraphy pen in Schaffer black.)
Thank you for this review, just when I was about to buy a notebook, and your comments have made my decision easier: Rhodia it is.
How handy that you are doing a giveaway! 😀
I’d love this, so .. let me see, I would like this so much so I can fill it with ink from my recently obtained Sailor SAPPORO. It’s purple. It’s beautiful. And it writes heavenly!
Many greetings from Ireland!
Anja
I’d use my Esterbrook SJ inked up with Noodler’s Black. I only use black ink, haven’t quite gotten into the fancy colors.
I’d love to use my Pentel Hi-Tec Cs in this notebook!
For me, it’s a Sheaffer Triumph tuckaway with Sheaffer black ink…to complete the look!
I’d start with my Pilot Prera with pilot blue – but my pen ADD would kick in and then …. Well, you know what happens when you have pen ADD.
Oh, how I’d love to try a Webbie! The pen that would go perfectly with this is Waterman’s Serenite, the only pen that is filled with black ink (other than drawing pens). Thanks for the great review and generous giveaway.
I’m in! I’d use a Vanishing Point or a Lamy Safari.
What would I use? Nothing that’s in my current kit–I’d have to splurge on a new pen! 🙂
Right now it would be used with my Stipula Passaporto with a 1.1 stub and R&K Verdigris ink. 🙂
Love the Rhodia Webbie! I’d use my violet Lamy Studio inked up with Noodler’s Saguaro Wine. Such a gorgeous color.
I would pair the webbie with my favorite pen, a Pelkan M205 Fine (and J. Herbin’s Ambre de Birmanie). Thanks for doing the giveaway!
Rotring Artpen, maybe, with brown/sepia ink – hmm . . .
I’d like to try a Webbie with my stealthy Edison Glenmont LE pen filled with Noodler’s Lexington Grey ink!
GAH! A5 webbie?!?! *DROOL* I have a new TWSBI 1.1mm that is juicy and delicious and it would pair perfectly with a Webbie, for sure. Thanks for the wicked giveaway! I love your test pages. They’re adorable.
I think that my Smoke Twisbi with Herbin’s Cacao de Bresil would match the webbie nicely.
I’d use it with my beautiful, vintage, inherited from my Grandfather, wide-nibbed Parker 51 fountain pen filled with black ink
My trusty Pelikan 120 with the blue-black 4001 I am hoarding, of course.
I would use it with my Blue/Black uni-ball Vision Elite Bold.
PENS?! :^)
I’d use some fantastic blue HB Palominos!
Johnny, I knew I could count on you to bring some graphite to the ink party. 🙂
I would write in it with a Danitrio Densho with a regular stub nib and Noodlers Heart of Darkness ink, but I am in the UK, so probably wouldn’t be eligible anyway. I started using the A6 Webbies when they were filled with 80 GSM paper. I think that yours is probably 90 GSM. The 80 GSM paper was better than the hideous Moleskine stuff, but still nothing to write home about. I stil have 3 or 4 A6s in the pile to use yet, but most of my notes tend to be taken in the A5 or close to A5 notebooks, especially notes at work for reference.
Thanks for offering the giveaway. I have long coveted one of these . . .
I would pair the notebook with a flexy Namiki Falcon!
I’m very jealous. I’ve always wanted a namiki falcon.
I will pair the Webbie with a Pelikan M205 Duo with a cursive italic nib. It is a very smooth and wet nib and it would be wonderful to see it glide across those smooth creamy pages!
Safari carbon w/ air corp blue/black noodlers..i can’t wait! :+)
I would love to give the Rhodia webbie a try with my Lamy Safari M Nib and the new J. Herbin 1670 Bleu Ocean Ink I just received.
Oh, that’s some highly coveted ink! congrats on scoring a bottle!
I would like to try my Pentel Brush Pen on this notebook.Thanks for having this giveaway.
Oof, I’d probably pair it with my go-to TWSBI 540 – and maybe, if we delve into the realm of the future when I have a million dollars, filled with Noodler’s Air Corp Blue Black, straight from a gallon bottle!
Thanks for the opportunity to win. If I do, I’d pair it with my trusted yellow Lamy Safari EF or my Retro 51 with a hacked Uniball Signo RT 0.38 refill.
I would use my TWSBI 540 with this
I’ve got to try this!!!
I would definitely pair this notebook with my Jinhao #159!
I would use my Sailor 1911M. 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
I have been inspired to begin hand lettering — I will begin with a Nikko G Pointed Nib. Thanks so much for this giveaway!
I prefer unlined pages, great that you selected this offering! Because the paper would capture the nuances of a fine and faintly flexy nib, I’d use my Namiki Falcon.
Oh my. Firstly, that tea cup is faboo. Secondly, I’d pair the Rhodia A5 Webbie with my sparkly Jinhao X750 black shimmering sands pen with Diamine Flamingo Pink ink.
Not just one pen for me as I am new to art and journaling and have no favorites. Okay, not many pens yet either! I am open to trying it all and love reading the comments for ideas!
It would be either my Very green Retro 51 Tornado or a burgundy Pilot G-2. I don’t even know where the G-2 came from only that it came with burgundy, kelly green and orange.
I would use my green Kaweco Ice Sport pen, medium nib, with J. Herbin Bleu Nuit cartridge. Although it sounds like I could use pretty much anything on this awesome paper!
I would use my new Sailor 1911m M-F with it!
I admit I am a Moleskine person but I would LOVE to try a Webbie after reading your review. I will use my Lamy Safari Green fountain pen in it…the paper sounds awesome for it! Please enter me in your drawing! Thanks!
I have just entered the world of fountain pens & will be getting a Lamy Safari EF! Definitely will use it with this awesome notebook!
the webbie looks to be the perfect sketchbook!!!!!! of course no lines , , , ,look forward to giving it a try – have read that the paper is superb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would use the first fountain pen I have purchased as an adult–my Pelikano junior yellow fountain pen filled with blue ink…
KaarenC
The majority of the time I’d use my Lamy Safari with brown Waterman ink. However, I’d switch back and forth to some Platinum Preppy pens that I keep around for color variety. If I was feeling like a black ink, it would be my Sailor Candy which is kept with either black ink or their brown (which is more of a reddish/brown iodine color). But if I were to win, who knows what other pens would be in my daily round up by the time I received the notebook?
I will be pairing this with any pen I can get my hands on. It looks that good.
Best, and keep on blogging.
I’m generally more of a pencil person, so I’d likely pair it with my new (and very cheap) retro 51 pencil.