Comments on: Moleskine Alternative: C.R. Gibson Markings Notebooks

By: journalingarts

journalingarts — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:00:57 +0000

I tested the Markings journal along with the Moleskine and a few others. While the Markings journal is priced lower than most, the paper performed poorly compared to the others except when using a ball point pen. My fountain pen didn’t bleed through by the line skipped and I had trouble getting a consistent line because of a coating on the paper. Additionally, my roll pen and markers feathered and bled through the back of the page.

There is a huge header at the top and a smaller one at the bottom, so but only 1 less line per page than the Moleskine has. I’m not sure if the paper is acid-free or not, the label doesn’t say.

I wouldn’t recommend this journal if you use rollerball, fountain pens or markers or if quality is important to you.

By: steveax

steveax — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:41:54 +0000

The walmarts in my area usually have some of the markings journals but lately have not had the pocket sized ones… try Walmart in your area. or you can now order on the crgibson site as Ken mentioned above, but you will pay shipping of course

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 11:28:20 +0000

http://www.crgibson.com

The above link will get you to the place where you can order the Markings notebooks on line.

By: Andre Cox

Andre Cox — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 12:39:06 +0000

Prior to Dec 08, I had never heard of Moleskines, Markings or any other Journal for that matter. But after my last preferred (spiral) pad went out of production I needed something I would enjoy writing in, now most of my friends don’t understand this, (but funnily enough their wives do!!!) Anyway… after having tried the smaller Black & Red, which has nice paper but a horrible form factor, and after spending about an hour looking at various pads and journals I was intrigued by the Markings, I bought various sizes and went home to try them out.

The larger sizes have better paper, but the line separation is greater, which I noticed when I started to use them. I definitely prefer the smaller separation. Then onto to the web for some research, and that’s when I found out about Moleskine! I bought one from Amazon and they are available at the local Barnes and Noble. I’ve only found, these, Markings at Staples or on their website.

I do prefer the 8×5 Markings to the Moleskine.
On the Moleskin the imitation Leather, ‘by any other name’ is Plastic!!! so I prefer the Markings (60% leather) cover. The Moleskines feel slightly better bound, but the Markings are slightly cheaper.
I use Micron 01 pens, they bleed through on the Moleskine more easily on than on the Markings though I can get it to bleed through if i hold it for a few seconds! Therefore I feel the Marking paper is slightly better than the Mokeskine’s. The visual and writing quality is about the same.
I was using the superb Pental Graphgear 1000 sizes 07 and 09, but the Micron is now my writing instrument of choice, it definitely has a finer and more consistent flow than an V5, which bleeds through more easily, especially when correcting or crossing out.

I am using the 8×5 Markings pretty much exclusively now. I bought them, primarily for Maths notes/exercises, but enjoying writing in them, so I now have one at work, always in my pocket (smaller size). The smaller size I generally find too small, but the 8×5 won’t fit in my pocket!

I nip into Staples and purchase as many as I can, before they stop selling them! Of course I will have no problem using Moleskines as an alternative if they do, however, if they do stop making them I will hunt for a leather cover, 8×5 (approx), thin lined, with around 200 pages and with better paper then the Moleskine.

I must admit, having now used these (and the Moleskines I bought) I can see how people start getting a bit particular about their Journals/Writing pads and what they use to write with.

By: Mimsy

Mimsy — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:46:18 +0000

Did anyone have a special message in their notebook? I only came across this message when my binding came loose and in between the pages I see: “Whatever, I wasn’t going to be caught unaware, so I …down by the side of a somewhat overgrown laurel”

My youngest sister gave me one for xmas 2008. I love it! I write in it all the time.

By: simplyspoken

simplyspoken — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:26:58 +0000

Bought 8.5×11 Markings journals the past few years at Office Depot and loved everything about them: spiral, thick pages, hardcover, lined, wide elastic band, lots of pages. But OD no longer carries them and I can’t find this larger size anywhere! Target only carries the smaller size. Anyone seen the larger version? Nothing else measures up.

By: Ryan Ross

Ryan Ross — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:03:30 +0000

I’ve been using Moleskines for several years and watched the price rise with every blog about them (as we published hack after hack). Then like you, I stumbled across the Markings at Staples and bought two. I didn’t like them because I’m a Moleskine Quad guy and Staples only had lined versions. Then my dream came true when Target started carrying a quad version of the Markings. Fantastic! I’m still exploring (recently with a Piccadilly) but, except for the pure pleasure of tearing off the Moleskine’s shrinkwrap, I think the Marking is a sound buy. I’d love to hear criticism of them because I have been unable to deciphed why such a price difference between to two. I still buy an occassional Moleskine (because I can’t seem to help myself), but my stack of Markings is quickly multiplying.

By: lilian

lilian — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:02:06 +0000

i’ve already bought two and i’m going for the third one, my dad gave it to me last christmas i oved it i think i ruined the first one because i didnt knew how to use it but the second one looks awesome and is really helpful im a high school student , i want to be an artist so it really helps when i have great ideas for a new painting or drawing

hope you find it as wonderful as i do
see ya’

a mexican girl

By: Ryan J-W Smith

Ryan J-W Smith — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:56:15 +0000

Yes, the C.R. Gibson version of the classic Moleskin notebook is almost identical. In fact, both are made in China – no doubt by impoverished women and children working double-shifts in near slave-labour conditions. Isn’t ‘Free Trade’ great!?

I love these notebooks, but I refuse to buy another one until I locate someone who makes them in a country with real trade unions – which I guess counts out the USA too these days?

Where’s Gandhi when you need him…

By: Marcina Meekins

Marcina Meekins — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:45:57 +0000

I am looking for a Markings Spiral Journal the number on back of journal is MGM72-3291 or 8227257472