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Fountain pen ink is wonderful until it bleeds through the page and ruins the other side. Heavier paper is the fix, and the Leuchtturm1917 120G Edition is built around it. It takes the familiar A5 hardcover notebook format and swaps in thicker, smoother paper for pens and markers. If you write with ink or sketch in a notebook, it is a worthwhile upgrade.
Who makes it
Leuchtturm1917 is a German notebook maker based in Geesthacht. Its range covers classic notebooks, bullet journals, planners and pens, and the 120G Edition sits alongside its classic A5 Medium notebook.
What the 120G Edition is
The 120G Edition is an A5 hardcover notebook made with 120 gsm FSC-certified paper from Germany. Leuchtturm1917 describes it as a notebook for fountain pens, markers and writers who like ink to behave, with extra smooth paper and low show-through.
The company explains that adding the right filler gives the paper very low transparency, so writing is not visible from the back, and that roller pressure during production gives a smooth surface that is gentle on pens. You can choose ruled, dotted with dots set 5mm apart, or blank pages.
- A5 format, 145 x 210 mm, hardcover.
- 203 numbered pages and a blank table of contents.
- 120 gsm FSC-certified paper made in Germany.
- Two bookmarks, a gusseted pocket and an elastic band.
- Thread-bound so it opens flat, with a sticker set for labeling.
Why it is cool
The 120G Edition is cool because it keeps everything people like about the A5 format and fixes the one complaint ink users have. Numbered pages and a contents page make it easy to find old notes, and the heavier paper means you can use both sides of every sheet.
It is also cool for mixed use. The company says the edition is a good choice for anyone who combines writing with sketching and drawing, which is how many people actually fill a notebook.
Who should buy it
Buy the 120G Edition if you write with fountain pens, use markers or sketch alongside your notes. It suits journaling, project notebooks and bullet journal setups. If you mainly write with ballpoint or pencil, the classic Leuchtturm1917 notebook with standard paper may be all you need.
120G Edition at Leuchtturm1917
Leuchtturm1917 120G Edition A5, ruled
Leuchtturm1917 120G Edition A5, dotted
Living with it
The first week tells you more than the product page. Pay attention to whether you reach for it without negotiating with yourself, whether it creates new friction and whether it still feels like the right size for your actual day. Good gear disappears into routine. Average gear keeps asking for attention.
Also give the setup a fair chance. Charge it, break it in, remap it or condition it before deciding it is wrong. Many of the best everyday objects feel slightly awkward on day one and obvious by week three. That adjustment period is part of owning something built for repeated use rather than a one-time unboxing.
If you already own a cheaper version of the same idea, do not run both forever. Use the better one for a month and store the old one. The comparison becomes honest only when the new object has to carry the whole job.
The practical test is simple. If you reach for the thing without thinking, and if it still feels right after ordinary weeks of use, it belongs in the small group of tools worth keeping. That is the standard behind this recommendation.
Care is the last piece. Wipe it, charge it, oil it or empty it the way the maker suggests. Objects that are easy to maintain stay in rotation. Objects that are annoying to maintain quietly get replaced by whatever is nearest.
Finally, judge it against your real week rather than an ideal one. A product that only shines on perfect days is less valuable than one that survives messy Tuesdays, travel mornings and late work nights without drama.
Want to build your writing kit? Read our best notebooks worth buying guide, our best fountain pens guide and our Lamy pens explained. For more, visit our desk and EDC hub.
