Rhodia Webnotebook (AKA The Webbie) Review

Rhodia Webbie

I have finally gotten around to trying out and reviewing the Rhodia Webnotebook (AKA the Webbie). I held out until I could find the exact model I like: the A5 size, in black with blank paper. Thank you very much.

Rhodia logo on cover

The notebook has a subtle emboss logo on the leatherette cover but that’s the extent of the outward branding. Inside, the pages are a good quality creamy off-white (I wouldn’t go so far as to call it ivory as its lighter color than ivory, I think). The paper is 90g acid-free, pH neutral so it really is “good quality”. Each book is 96 pages and what I discovered is that I really can use both sides of the paper with 95% of the writing tools I use so that’s lots of writing space. There is also a black satin bookmark which is treated on the end so it won’t fray (this is a big thing with me!) so yeah! The cover also sports the vertical elastic like that other notebook.

Pocket in back

The back of notebook includes the requisite pocket to store loose papers.

Rhodia Webbie Pen Tests

I tested every pen in my daily carry bag (I know, I carry way more pens day-to-day then I actually need but better to be prepared and all that). For a larger view of these images, click through to Flickr.

Webbie pen tests

close-up of pen tests

This notebook definitely loves all my fountain pens and inks as well as my LePen collection. The fine, fine lines of the Coleto and Uni-Style Fit also worked well on the smooth paper.

More pen tests

I even got the Lamy with 1.1mm calligraphy stub on the paper with no issues with show-through or bleeding. Quite impressive.

Rhodia Webnotebook

From the back, no show-through at all. I didn’t test out a Sharpie because I didn’t have one handy but I so rarely use them in my day-to-day notes that it didn’t seem necessary. I address boxes with Shapries, I don’t take notes with them. I love using it with my new Kaweco Student EF fountain pen.

I had been hesitant to purchase the Rhodia Webbie because it is a pricier notebook than others ($32) but it clearly is worth the investment. I have never been able to use both sides of a sheet of Moleskine paper so I will get considerably more mileage out of a Webbie than the old Moleskine.

So.. I thought I’d share. Want to win a Rhodia Webnotebook? I have an unopened, brand new A5 blank webbie to give away. Leave a comment below and tell me what pen you will pair with your new webbie to qualify to win.

FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Friday, September 21, 2012. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Tuesday. Winner will be select by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please include your email address in the comment form so that I can contact you if you win. I will not save email addresses or sell them to anyone — pinky swear. Shipping via USPS first class is covered. Additional shipping options or insurance will have to be paid by the winner. We are generous but we’re not made of money.

(Thanks to JetPens for sponsoring this giveaway. Please support our sponsors and tell them “The Well-Appointed Desk sent me!“)

PPS: The mug shown above is from the fine folks at Folded Pigs, its the skull and crossed utensils tea cup.

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0 comments / Add your comment below

  1. Looks like a great notebook. I would love to see how my fav Staedtler triplus fineliners work on it. Currently loving the magenta color.

  2. That is a beautiful notebook. A tad better than the composition books I’m using right now! I’ve been looking at Rhodia notebooks lately and considering buying one. The paper quality sounds lovely.

  3. this is a good time to tell you how much I enjoy your blog!
    I have a new lumocolor permanent pen that is my new love. Never been enamored of a felt tip before. sharpies were always too “heavy.”

  4. I would use my Kaweco Sport (F) with Kaweco Sepia ink. (Boring I know, but I would alternate with my LAMY calligraphy pen in Schaffer black.)

  5. Thank you for this review, just when I was about to buy a notebook, and your comments have made my decision easier: Rhodia it is.
    How handy that you are doing a giveaway! 😀
    I’d love this, so .. let me see, I would like this so much so I can fill it with ink from my recently obtained Sailor SAPPORO. It’s purple. It’s beautiful. And it writes heavenly!
    Many greetings from Ireland!
    Anja

  6. I’d use my Esterbrook SJ inked up with Noodler’s Black. I only use black ink, haven’t quite gotten into the fancy colors.

  7. Oh, how I’d love to try a Webbie! The pen that would go perfectly with this is Waterman’s Serenite, the only pen that is filled with black ink (other than drawing pens). Thanks for the great review and generous giveaway.

  8. I would pair the webbie with my favorite pen, a Pelkan M205 Fine (and J. Herbin’s Ambre de Birmanie). Thanks for doing the giveaway!

  9. I’d use it with my beautiful, vintage, inherited from my Grandfather, wide-nibbed Parker 51 fountain pen filled with black ink

  10. I would write in it with a Danitrio Densho with a regular stub nib and Noodlers Heart of Darkness ink, but I am in the UK, so probably wouldn’t be eligible anyway. I started using the A6 Webbies when they were filled with 80 GSM paper. I think that yours is probably 90 GSM. The 80 GSM paper was better than the hideous Moleskine stuff, but still nothing to write home about. I stil have 3 or 4 A6s in the pile to use yet, but most of my notes tend to be taken in the A5 or close to A5 notebooks, especially notes at work for reference.

  11. I will pair the Webbie with a Pelikan M205 Duo with a cursive italic nib. It is a very smooth and wet nib and it would be wonderful to see it glide across those smooth creamy pages!

  12. I would love to give the Rhodia webbie a try with my Lamy Safari M Nib and the new J. Herbin 1670 Bleu Ocean Ink I just received.

  13. Oof, I’d probably pair it with my go-to TWSBI 540 – and maybe, if we delve into the realm of the future when I have a million dollars, filled with Noodler’s Air Corp Blue Black, straight from a gallon bottle!

  14. Thanks for the opportunity to win. If I do, I’d pair it with my trusted yellow Lamy Safari EF or my Retro 51 with a hacked Uniball Signo RT 0.38 refill.

  15. I prefer unlined pages, great that you selected this offering! Because the paper would capture the nuances of a fine and faintly flexy nib, I’d use my Namiki Falcon.

  16. Not just one pen for me as I am new to art and journaling and have no favorites. Okay, not many pens yet either! I am open to trying it all and love reading the comments for ideas!

  17. I would use my green Kaweco Ice Sport pen, medium nib, with J. Herbin Bleu Nuit cartridge. Although it sounds like I could use pretty much anything on this awesome paper!

  18. I admit I am a Moleskine person but I would LOVE to try a Webbie after reading your review. I will use my Lamy Safari Green fountain pen in it…the paper sounds awesome for it! Please enter me in your drawing! Thanks!

  19. I have just entered the world of fountain pens & will be getting a Lamy Safari EF! Definitely will use it with this awesome notebook!

  20. the webbie looks to be the perfect sketchbook!!!!!! of course no lines , , , ,look forward to giving it a try – have read that the paper is superb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  21. I would use the first fountain pen I have purchased as an adult–my Pelikano junior yellow fountain pen filled with blue ink…
    KaarenC

  22. The majority of the time I’d use my Lamy Safari with brown Waterman ink. However, I’d switch back and forth to some Platinum Preppy pens that I keep around for color variety. If I was feeling like a black ink, it would be my Sailor Candy which is kept with either black ink or their brown (which is more of a reddish/brown iodine color). But if I were to win, who knows what other pens would be in my daily round up by the time I received the notebook?

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