I wrote a blog earlier in the year about how I take notes, that was more focused on the ‘software’ i.e. the skills and techniques I use. This blog is more about the materials I use, the ‘hardware’. It might seem a bit vain but if I don’t have the right materials I DO NOT ENJOY taking notes. There might be some of you out there who are similar and are constantly trying new paper and pens to see which ones scratch that stationary itch. So here it goes:
Lamy Safari Fountain Pen
I discovered this pen 5 years ago and honestly, I have never looked back. It is an extremely comfortable pen to use and Lamy offers a good range of colours of pens and ink. They come out with a new colour each year which is exciting! I also have different nib sizes but tend to stick to the extra-fine nib. One downside is this pen is not made for paper that is faint on heart, in my experience paper needs to be at least 70gsm and not porous.
Pilot G-TEC-C4
When I have to use paper that is faint in heart. I oftentimes use my Pilot and I love it, not as luxurious feeling as my Lamy and definitely more expensive in the long run, however, I appreciate how fine and precise the nib is.
Muji Pens
Muji is a Japanese brand I absolutely adore! I love their 0.38mm nib pens for precision. They are also guaranteed to never bleed through paper and are very smooth to write with.
Sharpies
Yes, I know they are very basic, however, I find them amazing for colouring in and highlighting my notes.
Rhodia Notepads
The time you have been waiting for has finally come, paper time! I love pretty much all Rhodia notepads and have used them throughout university. The paper is pretty good with all types of pens and I rarely experience bleeding.
Muji Loose Leaf Paper
I got to a point in university where instead of having books that had a set order of pages, I wanted to be more flexible and able to add things in. This is where loose-leaf paper came in. I absolutely love the Muji Loose Leaf paper and so do a lot of people because it is always out of stock! The paper is extremely smooth and lovely to write on. It works wonderfully with the Muji and the pilot pen.
Leuchtturn1917
This notebook is an absolute holy grail! I have been using them for the last 5 years. It is an excellent on the go notebook for meeting, conferences and random stuff. I really like having a multi-purpose book and this does the trick. Did I mention that they come in a wide range of colours and sizes. Additionally, you can get them dotted, rules and plain. They also work with all the pens I have mentioned in this blog!
I hope this has been helpful for someone!
Thank you for sharing!
I have some ballpoint pens, blue and black, for my notes. And a lot of pencils. I also have a Muji Pens set (same as on pic). But I’m a long way from such a collection.
I love making notes and I want it to be beautiful and easy to use. And I don’t like taking notes on my tablet or laptop, only handwritten.
By the way, recently I came across a post on Pinterest, why handwritten notes are more useful for learning. It turns out that it trains the memory and imagination. And your notes, to be honest, is pure art!!
Hi Annie,
I am glad you enjoyed it! I totally agree, through my degree, most of my notes have been written and the modules which had a lot of content, I created Quizlet sets for. I found that was a good way to be able to revise the knowledge over time!
Great blog post Stephanie. Your handwriting is so neat! I also agree with Annie’s point about handwritten notes helping to train the memory. I tend to type most of my notes for speed, but having seen your post, I’m inspired to take more handwritten notes!
Thank you Mhari! I have been coding a lot more recently and for most of it handwritten notes are not that practical but the most important things I learn I write them down. Good luck on your handwritten notes journey!