Office & Desk · Head-to-head
Leuchtturm1917 Hardcover Notebook, Medium (A5) vs Baron Fig Confidant Hardcover Notebook
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Notebooks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Leuchtturm wins on page count, organisation features and the most complete specification sheet in the category. The Confidant has better paper and a nicer cover, and it is the one to choose if paper feel matters more than page count.
Leuchtturm1917 Hardcover Notebook, Medium (A5)
Buy it251 numbered pages, a table of contents, two markers and a flat-opening thread-bound spine, with every format fully specified.
- Leuchtturm1917 publishes dimensions, page count, paper weight and book weight for each format: Medium A5 is 5.71 x 8.27 in, 251 pages, 80 g/m², 0.93 lb.
- Numbered pages, a blank table of contents, two page markers, a gusseted pocket, eight perforated sheets and a sticker set for labelling.
- Thread-bound so it opens flat, on FSC-certified, slightly chamois-coloured paper, in blank, dotted, ruled or squared rulings.
- 80 g/m² paper in the A5 size shows more ghosting with wet inks than the heavier paper in the other notebooks.
- At 0.93 lb for the A5 size, it is a noticeable weight in a bag.
- Personalised notebooks are final sale.
Baron Fig Confidant Hardcover Notebook
Buy itA clothbound, thread-bound notebook with heavier 90 gsm acid-free paper, made in the USA.
- Acid-free fine-grain 90 gsm paper, heavier than the Leuchtturm's A5 paper, with 7 mm ruling or a 5 mm dot grid.
- Clothbound hardcover, thread-bound, opens flat, rounded corners and a cloth bookmark.
- Flagship size is 5.4 x 7.7 in with 192 pages, and Baron Fig states it is made in the USA with free 30-day returns in the US on non-limited products.
- 192 pages is 59 fewer than the Leuchtturm A5.
- No numbered pages, no table of contents and no back pocket.
- No book weight is published.
Side by side
| Leuchtturm1917 Hardcover Notebook, Medium (A5) | Baron Fig Confidant Hardcover Notebook | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who wants a long-lasting, well-organised everyday notebook. | Writers who care most about paper feel and a book that looks good on a desk. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Leuchtturm1917 Hardcover Notebook, Medium (A5) - 251 numbered pages, a table of contents, two markers and a flat-opening thread-bound spine, with every format fully specified. Choose the Baron Fig Confidant Hardcover Notebook instead if writers who care most about paper feel and a book that looks good on a desk.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Notebooks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).