Notebook review: Rhodia notepad

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I first discovered this wonderful little orange notebook back in 2003 when I was watching one of my favorite shows, Good Eats. The host, Alton Brown, was writing a grocery list on a Rhodia notepad. It didn't process with me, until a year later when I attended college at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. There is a WONDERFUL store there called T.I.S. that sells textbooks, college apparel, and office supplies. Yes, a plethora of pens, pencils, and paper.

One shelf had a shoddy little orange display. Though it was in disrepair, the orange-ness and the stylized European look lended itself to hipness and -- what immediately attracts me to almost any consumer product -- a cult following. That episode of Good Eats sprung into my mind, and I realized: if my hero Alton Brown has one, by gum -- I need one too.

Fallacious though my reasoning was, it was one of the best purchases I ever made. Yeah, it is cool looking. (Aesthetics count for a lot, just read some of my pencil reviews.) The bright orange and the crisp black  go so well together, you don't even think of a Halloween theme. Immediately upon opening the cover, you know you've reached notepad nirvana. The satin-finished paper is think, luscious, and smooth. If writing on a standard notepad is like driving down the street, writing on Rhodia paper is like cruising in your hovercraft across the English Channel. Take a look at the paper:

Isn't that nice? (The image is not mine.)

Notice that both pictures feature graph paper in their notebooks. Chill out, man, that's the way the Europeans do it. I personally like it. That way, you can write with the notebook turned portrait or landscape. For your American purists out there, they do come in lined versions.

Pencil Things sells the spiral versions, above, as well as the staple bound version, left. Whichever is better is for your to decide -- I like them both equally.

I can tell you what my favorite size is -- the 3" x 8.25". It is extremely long and skinny and fits in the palm of your hand very well. Perfect for making lists and, if you are a reporter, taking notes on the go. I spent some time working for a newspaper and this was my best friend.

Unfortunately, yes -- Rhodia is expensive. An 8.5"x11" pad with 80 sheets will cost you about $9, as opposed to less than a dollar you might spend on a Mead notebook from Target. But it is worth it. Trust me.

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 points.


-For more on Rhodia notepads, check out one of my favorite blogs, Rhodia Drive. They announce, review, and organize new Rhodia products.

-Andy Welfle

 

Comments

[slywy]

P.S. I would feel guilty using a Rhodia for a throwaway thing like a shopping list. Help me! (Of course, my letters could be throwaways for all I know. :)

[slywy]

I have Rhodias in all shapes and sizes and use the middle and largest (A4) size for writing letters.

DS

[bosecanon]

Excellent review.

Also suggest a review for the rhodia pencil. It is one of the best writing and most comfortable pencils I have used. I actually prefer it over the favorite blackwing 602.

[Norman N]

Hello Andy,

I also prefer the graph (No. 19) for the flexible orientation that you cited. And since I use these notepads heavily on designing, e.g. websites and logos, the graph serves as a grid to keep elements in their place too.