Leuchtturm1917 Product Review

I’ve kept a personal notebook since I was a kid. Back then, I called it my Dear Diary. Now, it’s my journal, and I use it to balance my checkbook, doodling, and everything in between. I keep one journal for every calendar year. My journal goes everywhere with me –  I use it to brainstorm cocktails behind the bar, to research local plants out in the woods, and to write down recipes in the kitchen. It’s always in my bag.  It needs to be tough! Over the years I’ve tried a few different brands, but my favorite by far is the Leuchtturm1917.

My first Leuchtturm1917 was a total impulse buy. I wasn’t 100% happy with the journal I was using at the time, and the Leuchtturm1917 display at Barnes & Noble caught my eye. I got a bright pink one, and I haven’t bought a different brand since. 

When I first got my pink Leuchtturm1917 home and opened it up, I was happily surprised to see that the pages were numbered! In my last journal, I had literally numbered the pages myself! It was a huge relief not to have to complete THAT chore again. This new notebook also had an index section in the front you can fill out for your table of contents, a pocket in the back to hold loose papers, and two ribboned page keepers. 

Leuchtturm1917 is a journal for the people – it’s durable and versatile. I always get the dotted version, but it comes lined, dotted, squared, and blank. It’s also available in 8 different sizes, so the combination possibilities are vast. It’s great for bullet journalers, artists, note takers, and whoever needs to write something down! The 251 pages are thread bound so they all open flat, and they’re thick enough to handle most pens and markers. There are even 8 perforated, detachable sheets that you can utilize if you need to add an extra page to a section or fix a mistake. These journals come in just about every color, and you can get them custom embossed online. 

One major drawback for me about Leuchtturm1917 is that it isn’t made in my home country of the United States. I always try to buy local when I can, and Germany is quite far away from Ohio. The fact that it’s an import could be a contributing factor to the price, which is a little higher than your average notebook. It’s $24.95 before taxes. You can definitely get a cheaper notebook, but it won’t be this high of quality. 

Another problem some people have with the Leuchtturm1917 is that the pages will bleed with certain markers and paints. The paper is totally fine for ink and lightweight markers, maybe even some watercolor, but for heavier art projects you’ll want a notebook with studier paper. 

In summary, the Leuchtturm1917 is a great journal for anyone who isn’t looking to use heavy drawing mediums. It’s price is higher than some, but you get the quality you pay for. It’s ultra customizable, so you can get exactly what notebook works best for you. I highly recommend it.