… and why I’m making the switch.
If you’ve heard of a bullet journal, chances are you’ve heard of a Leuchtturm as well. It’s that notebook with the name nobody can pronounce but everybody loves (except if you’re a Moleskine-loving German, in which case: “Hallo, wie geht’s?”). The Official Bullet Journal itself is made by Leuchtturm1917 (let’s just call it LT), which can make you wonder what all the buzz is about, right? Well let me tell you, when us-stationery-fanatics set our eyes on something, we’ll make any excuses to ourselves to get it! All those who can relate say “I want that notebook and I want it now!“.
Anyways, of course I was intrigued myself and of course I had to get it, and I’ve been using it as my BuJo for a while now. Fast-forward to a few months later when I was wandering aimlessly testing every-single-pen in the stationery shop, when I heard this voice behind me: “Hey, hey you, come check me out! Come touch me, feel my smooth pages, gaze upon my covers!“. Seriously, I’m telling you, that’s exactly how it went down. Who was that voice you ask? None other than NUUNA notebooks, of which I had never heard about or seen before. So I got closer and opened one of these lovely notebooks, and the thoughts that went through my head were: “if E=mc2 and the water freezes at -273,15K, then THIS NOTEBOOK CHANGES EVERYTHING OMG WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN WHAT IS THIS?“
Breakdown
So let me break it down for you in this table, and then I’ll get back with the reason why I started throwing my money at it and taking it home.
| Price | $19.50** | $33.37** |
| Leuchtturm1917 | NUUNA (‘Graphic L’) | |
| Dimensions | 145 x 210 mm (A5) / 5.7 x 8.3 in (A5) | 165 x 220 mm / 6.5 x 8.7 in |
| Cover material | Hardcover | Smooth bonded leather |
| Cover designs | Solid colors | Limited-edition prints |
| Number of pages | 249 | 256 |
| Lays flat when opened | ✓ | ✓ |
| Elastic closure | ✓ | ✗ |
| Paper weight | 80 g/sqm | 120 g/sqm |
| Paper color | Ivory/Champagne | White |
| Numbered pages | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dot grid size | 5 mm | 3.5 mm |
| Ghosting | Yes* | Minimal* |
| Bleed-through | Yes* | Minimal* |
| Index | ✓ | ✗ |
| Bookmarks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pocket in the back | ✓ | ✗ |
| Archival stickers | ✓ | ✗ |
* Ghosting and bleed-through greatly depend on the pens you’re using. Check here to see my supplies, or continue reading to see a pen test of all of them.
** Prices taken from official websites, though they vary on others.
So, why am I switching?
If you quickly scan through the table you’re probably thinkning “this girl’s crazy, the LT obviously checks more boxes!”. And you’d be right, I am crazy. But lemme explain myself.
Ghosting
So, the LT is known for how “details make all the difference“, and I’ll surely give it to them, they got their details down alright! I mean, they’ve got the Index, they’ve got the numbered pages, bookmarks, basically the perfect recipe for a BuJo-suitable notebook. It’s the reason why so many people love it and why I will continue to use mine (repurposed). However, throughout the months, I have to admit that the ghosting and occasional bleed-throughs started to bug me. Which was surprising to me because I don’t even use a ruler in my BuJo so that’s as non-perfectionist as I can get, but I just could.not.get.over.the.ghosting. So much so that if I happened to write a lot on a page I had to glue the next 2 pages together because the ghosting was just bugging me, you know? (Take a shot for every time I wrote the word “ghosting”).
Paper color
Next, let’s talk about the paper color: I’m a pure-white paper kind’a’gal. Like, the Rhodia Dot Pads have my dream-paper: smooth, white, thick (I’m still describing the paper here). So when I saw that the NUUNA had the same qualities, except EVEN THICKER, right then and there I was sold. Because I’m gonna be going through 256 pages in this notebook, I better damn well like the paper!
The Dot Grid
Ahh, yes… The dot grid. Best invention since the bullet journal itself. Subtle enough that you can barely notice them, yet really helpful for writing in a straight line or drawing tables, banners and things like that. Leuchtturm’s dots are 5mm apart, while NUUNA’s 3.5mm. For me, the smaller distance between the dots = more squares = more flexibility for me to draw banners, tables, etc. Also, it leaves more space in between the lines if you want to write or journal (which I do very often in my BuJo).
In both cases above, I used the same pen (Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen in size S), and same handwriting size.
If you’re unsure of whether or not this smaller sized dot grid would work for you, you could print out a 3,5mm dot grid on a piece of paper and see how you get along with it. (Got this awesome idea from a lovely fellow BuJo-er over on Facebook). Or you could just use a ruler, draw a 3,5mm dot grid and test away!
My thoughts on…
Index: The 3 Index pages in the LT were a bit limiting for me so I had to stop indexing the weeklies. I will make my own index pages at the beginning of my NUUNA, allowing as many as I feel like I need. Maybe even categorize the Index a little bit? I’ve got some ideas but who knows, I’ll keep you posted on that!
Numbered pages: The numbered pages on the LT is definitely one of its strong points. However, for the NUUNA I was thinking of numbering them as I go, and also create a color-coding system – I’ll keep you posted once I’ve figured it out.
Bookmarks: I like that the LT comes with 2 bookmarks, but I personally wasn’t using them as much I would’ve thought. I prefer sticky tabs, washi on the side of the paper, color coding on the edge of the paper or magnetic bookmarks. But you can always add bookmarks to any notebook.
Dimensions: NUUNA is slightly larger than A5 – more space to write about shenanigans, mmhm!
Cover Patterns: I mean, come on… I couldn’t get over them! And the edge coloring of the pages? YES, love!
Cover materials: The LT’s covers are made to last use and abuse, so if you plan on taking it everywhere and getting it in/out of your bags, then the hardcover is a solid choice. My BuJo stays at home at all times (I carry a smaller notebook for on-the-go, more about that soon), so the leather covers of the NUUNA are great as well. They feel very smooth and soft, but they are still sturdy enough to last through the notebook’s lifetime.
Pocket in the back: Again, I wasn’t using the pocket in the back, but it’s a really nice feature to have if you store your receipts or any loose paper.
Prices: For me, investing a bit more money in a notebook that I love is worth it, since I’m gonna be using them for a long period of time. Both notebooks are great and I believe both deserve their price tag.
Conclusions?
So which would I personally recommend? (And here’s where I’ll make your decision super-difficult, I’m sorry) Both. They’re both awesome, and I will continue to use, love and demolish them both.
But to recap and just put it simply: if you don’t mind ghosting and you want to use the notebook as a BuJo, then the Leuchtturm is definitely more convenient, due to all the added details. If however, paper quality is top priority to you, then Nuuna will definitely fill those needs.
So if LT and Nuuna ever had a baby, it would be the perfect notebook. Until then, we just have to make do.
What I WOULD recommend is going through the comparison table and seeing which of them checks more boxes for YOU and YOUR preferences. Either way, you do not have to invest in either of these, because all you really need is a notebook and a pen.
Anyways, I’d love to hear you guys’ experiences. Which notebooks do YOU use/prefer and why? *grabs popcorn*
Let me know what notebooks you want to see compared next! ♥
Thank you for your great and detailed article.
I’m from Germany and on my way to my first BuJo, which I’ll start in January.
I’m glad I did a lot of research BEFORE I made some decisions on ordering my first notebook(s).
But at last I coluldn’t decide between my two research-winners and will see which will become my BuJo and which will serve some other purposes.
First I ordered a Nuuna Graphic L and I was very happy about your article, that I read after my order. But second I ordered some kind of your:
“if LT and Nuuna ever had a baby, it would be the perfect notebook.”
It#s the Pro Version of the “Scribbles that matters” in B5 (not A5!).
It’s only available in black at the moment. But it combines all the good features you mentioned:
It’s hardcover in vaux leather, has 100gs/m2 paper with comparable (when not even a bit better ghosting-resistance), one Key- and three Index-Pages, two bookmarks, a pocket in the back, 201 numbered pages and a penloop at the spine.
It has the 5mm dot grid like all the others. But because it’s B5 there’s more space and freedom than in a real A5.
I’m waiting for them to arrive and don’t know which I’ll choose. 🙂
But I wanted to say thank you and introduce you to the SCM B5.
I whish you all a happy christmas and a good BuJo-Year 2019.
Greetings Carina
Thank you for this! I want to buy my first bullet journal so I googled for people who rated theirs and this is great!
I’m definitely gonna buy the Nuuna 🙂
Oh noooo! I just bought an LT to start my first bullet journal. I took it out of the plastic and loved everything about it….until I started a pen test on the last page. I’m so disappointed. The ghosting is terrible! Apparently all of the pictures of bujos online skip pages, because there is no way they can be using Tombows or color in anything without ghosting! I guess I’ll have to fill out my 200+ page LT before I can justify buying a Nuuna. Thank you for this post, at least now I know there is something better for my next one!
Ugh, I just started my first bullet journal and am using a Rhodia for the paper quality. It’s excellent and I like it a lot, but I think I would like the Nuuna even better–for the smaller grid, bigger size, and whiter paper. Thank you for the detailed information! I don’t understand how so many people aren’t bothered by the ghosting in the Leuchtturm–it was an instant dealbreaker for me.
Glad I found this. I’d not heard of Nuuna before today. I’ve been working on a hybrid dot grid and it sounds somewhat similar to the Nuuna spacing. Basically I’m looking for something like the Leuchtturm with better paper and fewer thrills…but I was also looking for a better price. Maybe it can’t be done, but I’m going to keep trying.
Your reviews are AMAZING. Just the right enthusiasm and information I have been trying to search for for weeks. Now to find me a Nuuna without paying the same price of the notebook for shipping. 🙂
Haha, that makes me happy to hear! 😀 Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave the sweet comment! <3
I’ve been wanting a LT for a while now and my mum was going to buy me one for Christmas but they were all sold out everywhere she looked but she came across a NUUNA so bought that instead. I’d never heard of it before but I’m glad she got it because I love the stark white pages! I’m assuming it’s anew change but it also has page names, index, and the pocket in the back! Still no bookmarks or elastic fastener though but I’m happy to lose thousr for the paper quality and colour 😊
Great review, Cristina. I’m a bujo newb so can’t wait to go with your latest recommendations. Love following you on IG, and am heading there now to enter the giveaway for the Nuuna. Whoot! Thank YOU!!
Debra, thank you for your support and for stopping by my blog as well! Best of luck in the giveaway! ;D
Just entered your ig giveaway and wanted the LT, but after this post I want to try the nuuna! I’m totally a paper quality girl, hate the bleeding/ghosting and love smaller dot grid. I’m not hung up on the index or numbered pages, I’m writing and doodling my entire life in these books, it won’t kill me to number the pages. Thanks for this!
Thank so much for entering the giveaway, Leesha! I love both notebooks for different reasons, but if I had to choose, I’d go with the Nuuna as well 😀 I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you, thanks so much for stopping by!
Thanks to your post in FB BJJ group and reading your blog post, I just purchased a few (don’t judge).
Even though I like certain things about the 1917, my BuJo looks crowded. I totally agree with you on the overcrowding. Even though the dots in the 1917 are larger, I find that my print/penmanship is more forced together. Plus the bleedthrough/ghosting is really turning me off. I can’t deal with a messy notebook. Eager to see how this new notebook works for me. Thank you again.
Hi Sun Rise! 😀 I’d be the last person to judge on that purchase heheh! I really hope you’ll enjoy them! So far they’re working amazing for me and the absence of ghosting warms my heart 😀 I mean, just knowing that I can do whatever I want without consequences on the next page is awesome!
Hi Chriss
I think a Nuuna will be my next one but I now need to find a leather notebook cover to hold it in (currently sporting a Start Bay Notebook Cover) – I put other little books in the cover as well for fonts and doodling! Any suggestions welcome (UK) but happy to pay international shipping because I am slightly mad! Love your blog – one of my favourite feeds on Instagram too – Jane (aka @crafthippy) 💖
Hi Jane! So happy to see you here as well! I was searching everywhere for a cover as well, since it’s not the standard A5 size it was pretty much impossible to find! So I went on Etsy and I ordered a really cute cover and asked the seller to make it custom size. It’s not leather because I prefer switching my covers more often and leather ones get SO expensive! The name of the shop is Lunabluebags (she’s from Ireland), and she was really helpful and professional! She also said she’ll be happy to give me a coupon code for my IG followers, so once I receive it I’ll post more all about it!
But besides that, there are a lot of shops on Etsy that sell leather covers, and they can surely do custom sizes to fit the Nuuna and whatever else you’ll want to fit inside 🙂
I love your genuine excitement in this post while being concise and informative!
Thank you, I appreciate that! The excitement was real that day hehe 😀
So awesome! I ordered one today. I laughed about the “noone knows how to pronounce Leuchtturm” – I’m german 😉 But I do not know how to pronounce Moleskine 😀 Still like them.
Only Thing I’ll miss in the Nuuna are the Bookmarks. But you had great ideas about them. So that will be okay.
Can’t wait for now Posts on your Nuuna!!! 🙂
Lots of Love from Germany
– salatblatt23bujo (Instagram) –
Hey Svenja, thanks for stopping by my blog as well! If you’ll find that you really miss the bookmarks, you could make some on your own! 😀 You know that little gap between the cover and the spine of the notebook? You can insert a ribbon in there, glue it, and voilla. 😀 And you could make as many as you need. <3
I hadn’t heard about the NUUNA notebook before I saw your photo on Instagram. Right now I’m using a notebook from a bookstore meant for doodling and such, wherefore the paper quality is amazing; but, it does not have a dot grid. I was planning on buying a leuchturm1917, but when I saw your photo on Instagram, I changed my mind. The NUUNA is perfect for me, since I like to be very creative when bullet journaling. I use colours, stickers, washi tape and all sorts of things, I like creating my own index since I am the only one who knows how I like it. Therefore the NUUNA is perfect, and I actually bought one of the internet a few days ago, that should arrive in the next couple of days (hopefully). I’m looking forward to beginning a new adventure with the perfect white paper, so I’d like to thank you for introducing me and your other followers to the ideal notebook! Thank you, so much. I owe you big time!
That makes me so happy, Camilla! 😀 I also really needed to feel like my BuJo could take ANYTHING I throw at it – doodling, bunch of text, watercolors, and who-knows-what-else-I’d-come-up-with! That’s why thick, white paper is top priority for me. I share your thoughts on the Index as well, and I was even thinking of doing some color-coding/categorization/something to make it easier to find things when it gets filled up 😀 Anyways, thanks so so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! I owe you for this as well, and I hope you’ll come visit again soon!
Sorry, I totally the missed your dot grid paragraph the first time I read it. I found it the second time. Thanks!!
Hey Gina! I’ve just now uploaded a picture (below ‘The Dot Grid’ paragraph) where you can see how the line spacing looks like in both cases. Hope this helps and thanks so much for stopping by!!
I’d like to hear more about the dot grid being smaller and how that effects you. I really like the size of the dot grid in the LT but would love to have white thicker paper, so I might switch, but the grid size concerns me…. I’d hate to find it hard to write. Or maybe I would be using up two grid heights to write one line? Hmmm…
I love my LT because I do use the pocket in the back for my stencils and notes. And honestly numbered pages are nice. But each of us has to find what works for us 🙂 I found the Cross Jotzone journal at the Tuesday Morning Store ($9.99 with a Cross pen, normally $30 according to TM) and bought two because my Facebook Bullet Journaling group had alerted me to these and they are the perfect size for tracking, church journal, book review journal, etc. But I love reviews of journals used by others because it opens me up to new possibilities. I went to Amazon’s page for Nuuna and felt their description most lacking (no number of pages, lined or grid?) so your review needs to go on Amazon’s page ASAP.
Nancy, thanks so much for stopping by! I love hearing about new notebooks for the same reasons. And of course, the added features and details on the LT is what’s made it so popular! If it had the same quality paper as the NUUNA, it would be (almost) perfect for me! 😀 The Nuuna’s are more popular in Europe because they’re a German company, so most of them that are sold on Amazon.com are from resellers (which is probably why they lack in descriptions).
Do you also use the LT as a BuJo? What pens do you use with it, and do they ghost?