Strathmore 500 Series Lined Writing Paper Pad, 8.5x11 inches, 50 Pages (24lb/90g) - Professional Artist Paper

So, a bit to touch on for context: I write notes, letters, lists, forms, cards. I collect pens and inks, loose paper and notebooks from all over the world. When I say I am picky about what I call 'good' paper, I mean it. Not that there is anything wrong with okay paper - most products fall squarely in the 'okay' category. This paper, though? It's good.Now I do say 'good' and not GREAT, or HOLY GRAIL, but it is very satisfying. At this price point, I don't think you will find many types of notebook or paper that isn't Korean, Japanese, or Taiwanese that comes CLOSE to this paper.There is a lovely texture to the paper. When you run your hand along as you write, it doesn't feel overly smooth, doesn't hold onto hand oils, and allows for a nice tactile grip so you can take your time with calligraphy or lettering.The thickness of the pages is darn near perfect. I have used oil based inks and water based inks with no problems other papers may have like pooling or soaking. I have used rollerball, fountain pens with various nib types and materials, fudosuke brush pens, and even dip pens on this paper, and all worked perfectly without bleeding through. There is no ghosting if letters when you write on both sides, even with black ink.Now, there are some things I don't prefer. The scent of the paper is a bit acrid to me. I wish there were thicker pads you could buy. If you use an ink with a slow drying time, you do need to be careful with this paper (especially if left handed!!), as the texture can hold moisture a bit longer. Washi tapes do not stick well. Folding (like for mail) can be a hassle as it doesn't fold in a way that is aesthetically pleasing (aka, it folds across writing lines, not directly on the line) which is a small thing for most -- but to me does make this less 'perfect'.All of that said, I will absolutely be keeping this paper around for writing nice notes, letters, and to scrapbook with. I wouldn't write a letter to like... A long lost relative or other super important thing. But I'll definitely give my little old lady neighbor a nice note when we swap garden veg with this paper. Or use it for the letter I give with my holiday gift for the mailman.This paper feels good, even to a snob. That's the best compliment I think you can give 🙂

Quality paper for ease with fountain pens.

Nice thick high quality paper. Not a cheap price but worth it.

My experience with this paper has been very good. My fountain pens have worked well with this paper. I haven’t had any of the issues mentioned in some of the other reviews. I will say that I use fine and extra fine nibs most of the time and I select my inks based on their performance with most papers. The people who talk up the European and Japanese papers are correct in terms of quality, but those papers generally don’t come in standard American sizes. So if you need US sized paper like this Strathmore, there are very few options. Fortunately, this pad is readily available and gets the job done. It is nice for letters and memos. The colors show well on this paper and I haven’t had problems with feathering. The folks who’ve complained, well I’d say if you want to use wet writing pens and inks have the good sense to not use paper with a high cotton content. Don’t blame the paper for your poor choice. If you want premium letter paper in a handy pad format, this is a very good choice. Highly recommended.

I purchased this on a whim. On the bright side it's readily available and inexpensive, especially compared to higher quality stationery pads like from clairefontaine, midori and Life. Unfortunately it doesn't show off shading or sheening at all, the paper is extremely absorbant and doesn't allow the ink to pool which is a prerequisite for these fountain pen ink effects. Most fountain pen papers have a water resistant coating to allow ink to briefly pool before being absorbed into the paper. Because this paper absorbs ink so quickly it also makes darker inks look black, which is frustrating. On the flip side, shimmering inks show up brilliantly, as do lighter colored inks as they effectively get concentrated into the paper.I'll personally be using this and maybe buying more. It's handy and readily available and shimmering inks look great.Also pro tip: standard a6 envelopes (for a5 paper folded in half) fits well in this. The envelopes I have are 4.25 by 6.25. I can fit 5 sheets folded in half but they're a bit of a squeeze. This should be fine unless you're hand writing your dissertation.

I use broad and stub nibs and pens that write ‘wet.’ Most of the papers recommended for fountain pen geeks are touted for being ultra smooth and lightweight, but for those of us that like fat wet lines, they just don’t work like they do for the extra-fine nib people. THIS paper does. It’s smooth without being overly coated and slippery - you can feel it, but the pen glides along with no skipping.There is no, repeat no bleed through. My super-wet Targa broad nib is slightly visible on the backside, but a Lamy stub is not. I had to hold the Targa’s point in place for 12 seconds, or go over a line 8 times, before there was any bleed through. The paper is a rich cream (and I would like a white option), and it has that rarest and most wonderful of formats, the dotted line, rather than a solid line. It’s faint but clear, and only on one side of the paper.This now my #1 paper, and I plan to buy a lot of it -- it's also available in a hard-bound 80-page journal, which I have ordered.

I almost regretted buying this because I traditionally wrote on unlined paper. Traditional lined notebook paper, the lining is too dark. this is very understated but still helps guide you in your writing. the back is not lined.the paper has a nice feel to it. It feels elegant, but not too heavy. I use a fountain pen, and the ink does not bleed through, and is absorbed and dries very quickly. I would highly recommend it!!