Compare notebook paper weight without assuming it tells you everything
Gsm tells you paper mass per area, not every aspect of how a pen will behave.
Read the maker's intended use, then test your own pen and writing style. Do not treat a higher number as an independent guarantee against feathering, show-through or bleed-through.
Make the check
- Define the medium. Write whether the notebook is mainly for pencil, ordinary notes, heavy ink or mixed sketching. These uses do not necessarily need the same paper.
- Read the specific product claim. The cited 120G notebook describes 120 gsm paper and low show-through. Treat that as a manufacturer claim rather than a hands-on result from this publication.
- Compare the whole book. At the same size, heavier paper can mean fewer pages or a thicker volume. Check page count, binding and carry needs instead of optimizing one specification.
- Make a small pen test. If you own a sample or can inspect one legitimately, use a back page and allow the ink to dry. Check the reverse under normal reading light before using both sides extensively.
A worked example
One cited standard A5 notebook lists 251 pages with 80 gsm paper, while the cited 120G A5 lists 203 pages. That is a real specification trade-off, not proof that either is better for your pen. Choose the combination of writing behavior, usable pages and size that fits your routine.
What to watch out for
- Manufacturer descriptions are not independent comparative testing.
- Marker behavior cannot be inferred from fountain-pen wording.
- A wet medium may need a specifically intended art paper.
Use a repeatable pen sample
Draw a few ordinary lines, a short written note and the type of filled area you actually use. Inspect both sides and the next sheet after the ink has dried. Record the pen, ink and notebook edition beside the sample. Do not describe the result as a universal property of all pens or papers with the same weight. A heavier paper specification is useful context, but the writing result is something your own sample must establish.
Sources and evidence
- Hardcover Notebook – Leuchtturm1917.us (read November 7, 2026)
- Notebook Medium (A5), 120G, Hardcover, 203 numbered pages – Leuchtturm1917.us (read November 7, 2026)
Common checks
Does heavier paper always mean a better notebook?
No. Page count, surface treatment, binding, size and your actual medium also matter.
Published November 7, 2026. Sources last read November 7, 2026. Send a correction.