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Hobonichi vs Stalogy🖤 | Honest Comparison, Paper Test & Which Journal Is Right for You?

Charlotte Niamh

15,318 views

If you've been wondering whether to choose a Stalogy or a Hobonichi, this video is for you!🖤

Since sharing my new Stalogy journal, I've had so many questions about how it compares to the Hobonichi, especially when it comes to the paper. In today's video, I'm comparing the Stalogy grid notebook and the Hobonichi grid notebook side by side, while also sharing why I decided to move from my Hobonichi Techo to the Stalogy for everyday journaling.

I'll be comparing, paper quality, fountain pen performance, ghosting & bleed-through, writing experience, and which journal I prefer and who I think each one is best suited to!

I hope this comparison helps if you're deciding between the two. As always, these are just my personal thoughts after using both journals, and I'd love to hear about your own experiences in the comments below!

I hope you enjoy and thank you for watching!🫶🏻

If you enjoyed this video, i would love it if you could like/comment, or subscribe!
Love Charl♥️

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Video Chapters📖
00:00 Hobonichi vs Stalogy
02:02 Why I Switched to a Stalogy
03:12 First Impressions - Hobonichi and Stalogy
04:42 The Paper - Hobonichi and Stalogy
07:10 Pen and Paper Test
11:38 Ghosting and Bleed Through
13:29 Which One Do I Prefer?
15:32 Final Thoughts
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Products mentioned:
• Stalogy Grid Notebook A5 - https://amzn.to/4pw5hQk
• Hobonichi Grid Notebook A5 - https://amzn.to/4fes280
• Midori A5 Clear Cover - https://amzn.to/4vyuV8h
• Hobonichi Techo A6v- https://amzn.to/4fes280
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#hobonichi #hobonichitecho #stalogy #journal #journaling #journalinginspiration #journalingsupplies #notebookreview #paperreview #fountainpen

20 Comments

@SandyBanks-vk5dl 2 months ago

I’ve used a STALOGY for two plus years and am very happy with it; price is one aspect, but most of my pens and inks do very well. A few inks will bleed or ghost, so I just don’t use them. It’s not a large number so I’m working with it. I’m not willing to fork out huge funds and get into the crazed state of mind about ordering so as not to miss out. This was a good review - great job.

@sentient.ball.of.stardust 1 month ago

I like to use my stalogy upside down so that the timeline is at the bottom where it doesn't feel like it distracts me or gets in the way of things.

@isolareads 2 months ago

Hobonichi is a bit out of my price range, so I got a Stalogy B6 Slim a while ago just to try the thin paper. I absolutely love the paper, but it took me a while to figure out how to write happily in it - initially I was trying to do the teeny-tiny writing within the grid, single spaced, and to me it looked terrible. 😅 I almost gave up on it, then I decided to try just doing my normal writing, double spaced, and very quickly got the hang of writing neatly in it. I use micrographic fineliners mostly, and the Stalogy seems to love them. I have two fountain pens, a medium nib 'good' one and a fine nib disposable, both write beautifully in it. Everything I've tried writes well in it, and I love how bright colours pop on this paper - I have pink and turquoise gel pens that look great in it. My B6 Slim has ended up a riot of colour and I love it. ❤

@liucbeier 2 months ago

Loved the video! I just bought my Stalogy, and I’m already so excited for it to arrive so I can write in it 😆😆 I got the B6 one because I thought it would be a nice middle ground between the A6 and the A5. As a tiny journaler, I’m still kind of scared of committing to an A5 😅

@alacalaska 2 months ago

have always wondered what’s the difference between these two books, thank you for sharing! xoxo

@juliegarilao5146 2 months ago

I love both of them but the Stalogy has a slightly larger grid (4mm for A5; 5mm for other sizes) that feels more comfortable for me vs the Hobonichi's 3.7mm~

@abolt2888 2 months ago

Great video thank you for sharing your tips. I love the way you've decorated the Stalogy😊. I have this Hobonichi grid journal and was wondering what clear cover you've used to protect it? I tried the A5 midori clear cover but as it's hardback I couldn't fit it over the journal. Do you use a codex midori one? ❤

@somnisprout 1 month ago

this was super helpful! I'd been considering a hobonichi notebook to replace my MD once I finish it (am looking for whiter paper) but I don't super love the colored grids and for some reason having the grid extend to the edges of the page mildly bothers me. I had completely forgotten about stalogy notebooks! between the grey grid, slight bit more feedback, and slightly faster drying time (I'm a bit impatient...) it seems like it might be a better fit for me! thanks for sharing

@bmeetsevil4878 2 months ago

I’m a fountain pen only user (fine and medium nibs) and I did not enjoy stalogy AT ALL I was really excited to try it but there’s too much fathering and ghosting and bleeding to a point that I don’t really find joy using it. I find myself having to pick and choose what pens and inks I can use and it just makes me sad lmao. But I also haven’t tried TRP, just Midori paper which I adore for fountain pens

@Stonewood345 2 months ago

This may be a bit of a strange question but I've heard that Stalogy notebooks smell really bad and some people can't handle the chemical smell of them. Have you found that to be true? Also how is the 'lay flat' of the Stalogy?

@dreamerlotus 2 months ago

I strongly disliked the paper in the Stalogy, I may have said it before, but it reminds me of the awful shiney toilet roll we had in primary school 😂. Paper is such a personal preference so I get many people will enjoy it.

I did enjoy the Hobonichi Tomoe River paper, but due to the cost of importing the notebooks I stopped buying them. Because of the cost I always felt so much pressure to keep up with the daily pages.

Much prefer a Midori MD notebook ❤

@nyek1246 1 month ago (edited)

I use the Hobonichi plain graph notebook as my journal. After realizing that I can’t really do the techo, I found that not committing to daily journaling is what actually makes it work for me. I’ve heard that Stalogy has somewhat less ink resistance, but it seems to vary depending on the person I watch. The 2025 TMR situation with Hobonichi is kinda the same problem hahaha, although with papers like these, some inconsistencies from page to page aren’t exactly shocking, tbh. I’m still really enjoying my Hobonichi A6.

The 5mm grid on Stalogy is what's keeping me from it, I have pretty small handwriting.

@aikoc9092 2 months ago

Would you mind telling where did you get your alphabet stamps from? Loved the comparison btw, I'm leaning towards the Stalogy because of the drying time

@Kathryn1809 2 months ago

So when you’ve filled your current Stalogy, what book will you buy for your next one, Stalogy or Hobonichi?

@of-storm-and-stone 2 months ago

What pen is that pink pen on your desk?

@UltimateXmas 8 days ago

Love the Stalogy but I only write/draw with mechanical pencil. So I'm not worried about fountain pens

@mirellecandeloro 1 month ago (edited)

Hi Charl, I'm writing while I'm watching - do you print your date stickers or do you buy it? And did you already tested tombow and ohuhu markers on them to see if bleeds through pages or just ghosted? I have both of stalogy and hobonichi notebooks. I bought them both when I bought my techo cousin in june, but I've never used the notebooks yet. I was waiting to decide from what I would use them. I think I'm close to start.. 😂 I also want to buy Midori notebook to try it, also because I prefer not having anything printed on the pages, but I prefer to have an edge around the grid. Waiting for the new releases from all brands to decide.