Kyokuto Cambridge Notebook
-Handwritten Review-
Specs:
- 8.6″ x 11.0″
- 7mm Lined Ruling
- 62 sheets (124 Pages) of grey-tinted paper
- Heavy cardboard covers
- Brass-colored spiral binding
- $16.50 from JetPens.com
Review Supplies:
- TWSBI Mini – Fine Nib
- Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun Ink
- Various other ink / nib tests
Handwritten Review Pictures:
Notes:
Being a fan of Kyokuto paper, I knew I had to try out this awesome looking notebook as soon as I saw it. Loaded with 62 sheets of 7mm rule, grey-tinted paper, the Kyokuto Cambridge is definitely a solid notebook. The covers are ultra thick cardboard, and the brass colored spiral binding nicely compliments the mustard-colored covers.
Appearance and Construction:
The heavy stock covers of the Kyokuto make it very easy to write anywhere due to their rigidity. It’s easy to write while leaning on your lap without bending the book, allowing for good pen control on a flat surface. The front of the book is decorated with a crest that reads “For young men of Great Britain” – I couldn’t resist, being that I am of English heritage (the name “Jelley” is very english, derived from the name “Giles”).
There’s a really cool looking index page at the beginning of the book as well. The brass binding both looks great, and functions well. I’ve been carrying it around in my bag, and no bending of the wires and the pages are easy to turn. It’s a solidly built notebook that will definitely hold up to some abuse.
Performance and Feel:
The paper in the Cambridge notebook is great. It’s smooth with just a slight bit of texture. It’s an absolute pleasure to write on with my Lamy 2000. The paper is slightly better than that in the Kyokuto FOB COOP I do my ink reviews in. There’s no bleed or show through and the ink dries on the page relatively fast. I like it.
Color and Ruling:
The paper in the Kytokuto Cambridge is unique. It’s got a greyish tint to it, and it feels almost like newspaper underneath your writing hand. The ruling is 7mm apart, and with 33 lines per page, there’s a lot of room for writing. While there’s only 62 pages, the paper is usable on both the front and back, and with the large amount of lines per page, you can get a lot of words down in this notebook. The actual ruling is nice and subtle, not getting in the way of your writing. The light ruling mixed with the grey tint make the Kyokuto Cambridge easy on the eyes. No complaints here!
Pros:
- Paper is very fountain pen friendly
- Awesome design
- Solid construction (heavy covers)
- Unique grey tinted paper
Cons:
- At $16.50, it’s expensive
Overall Thoughts and Recommendation:
If you’re looking for a well-behaved large notebook with some really nice paper, then definitely consider the Kyokuto Cambridge. It looks great and it’s definitely durable. The heavy covers make writing anywhere possible. At $16.50 there are a lot of options available, but I’m happy with my purchase and would definitely pick another one up when this one is done.
Gallery:
Related Reading:
edjelley.com - Fountain Pen, Ink, and Stationery Reviews 
Hi Ed, the Cambridge looks a well made quality notebook. Am I correct in saying the sheets do not appear to be microperforated? If you’ve tried the wirebound Black ‘N Red, how would you say it compares in terms of sturdiness and paper quality to the Cambridge?
No perforation, that is correct.
The Black N Reds were inconsistent for me, some were great, and some had completely different paper. That made me stop buying them (I was ordering online). The BnR was a bit thicker from what I remember, but the heavy cardboard covers on the Cambridge are far more sturdy than the plastic on the BnR.