The 14 Best Journals of 2024
Whether you’re new to journaling or dedicated to daily writing, the right vessel can motivate you to express yourself and remember important details. While your run-of-the-mill composition notebook might get the job done, the best journals are the perfect size for your goals, have plenty of not-too-thin paper with a good binding, and feature a nice layout. We considered hundreds of options to narrow it down and spoke with Neil Chase, creative writer and filmmaker, and Ally Fallon, author of The Power of Writing It Down, for expert insight on what to look for when shopping for the right journal.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/moleskine-classic-expanded-notebook-soft-cover-large-5-x-825-ruledlined-black-400-pages-e89eeb41e5954fe98a378ae274f332ca.jpg)
-
The pages are buttery smooth.
-
The pages aren’t perforated, making it challenging to tear them out.
Moleskine is one of the most beloved journal brands for its vast collection of minimal notebooks with high-quality paper and covers. The Moleskine Classic Expanded Notebook is our top choice and comes highly recommended by Fallon. This journal has 400 pages (almost double the regular edition), with a buttery smooth texture that makes it easy to draw, write, or scribble. We especially like its lightweight feel, elastic closure, ribbon bookmark, and interior back pocket—plus, it has options for plain, dotted, squared, and ruled pages. You can also choose between a soft, bendable cover or a hard cover.
If you like to tear out the pages of your journal, it may be a challenge to do so with this one since they aren’t perforated. However, this is hardly a dealbreaker considering all its other great qualities. If you’re in the market for a high-quality journal with plenty of pages at a reasonable price, this Moleskine is for you.
Size: 5 by 8.25 inches | Pages: 400 pages | Lined: Optional
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/paperage-lined-hardcover-journal-5186779443ed4bb2b1ee1440701a7a0c.jpg)
-
It comes in 20 colors.
-
It doesn’t lay as flat as other journals.
If you want an affordable journal without compromising quality, we recommend the Paperage Lined Hardcover Journal. This journal has a water-resistant cover, an inner expandable pocket, a ribbon bookmark, an elastic closure band, and a sheet of sticker labels.
Best of all, you can choose between 160 or 252 ruled pages and 20 solid colors. Keep in mind that this journal doesn’t lay as flat as other journals when you leave it open. However, it stays flat while you write, and all its quality features make it an excellent value.
Size: 5.7 by 8 inches | Pages: 160, 252 pages | Lined: Yes
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/leatherology-a5-standard-journal-81e8fe98733048ada1490b2c0382cd62.jpg)