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
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Leuchtturm1917 Hardcover Notebook, Medium (A5) Our pick | 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 |
| Size checked | Medium A5, 5.71 x 8.27 in | Flagship, 5.4 x 7.7 in |
| Pages | 251, numbered | 192 |
| Paper weight | 80 g/m² | 90 gsm, acid-free |
| Rulings | Blank, dotted, ruled, squared | Blank, ruled, dot grid |
| Binding | Thread-bound, opens flat | Thread-bound, opens flat |
| Extras | Table of contents, 2 markers, pocket, 8 perforated sheets, stickers | Cloth bookmark, 12 perforated pages |
| Book weight | 0.93 lb | Not published |
| Stated origin | Not stated | Made in USA |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Leuchtturm1917 Hardcover Notebook, Medium (A5) if
anyone who wants a long-lasting, well-organised everyday notebook.
Know before buying: 80 g/m² paper in the A5 size shows more ghosting with wet inks than the heavier paper in the other notebooks.
Pick the Baron Fig Confidant Hardcover Notebook if
writers who care most about paper feel and a book that looks good on a desk.
Know before buying: 192 pages is 59 fewer than the Leuchtturm A5.
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).