Our 4 Most Ordered Notebooks vs. 7 Brutal Tests – Let’s See Who Wins!

Not all notebooks are built the same. Some are made for style, others for sustainability, and a few claim to handle anything life throws at them. So, we decided to put our four most popular notebooks to the ultimate test — seven everyday challenges that push flexibility, durability, and ink performance to their limits. Without further ado, let’s find out which notebook truly stands the test of time and several harsh handling.

Introducing The Bestsellers From Our Collection:

• Recycled Notebook – Eco-friendly and affordable, made for sustainable-minded users.
• Promotional Notebook – Great value, lightweight, and perfect for giveaways or company events.
• Moleskine Notebook – The premium classic with a cult following for its sleek design and smooth paper.
• Stone Paper Notebook – This innovative newcomer is crafted from crushed stone, renowned for its toughness and water resistance.

The 7 Brutal Notebook Tests

We pushed each notebook to the limits through seven practical and slightly painful tests to measure real-world performance. From bending to water spills, we covered it all.

1. Bending Test: Flexibility & Shape Retention

How well do you think each notebook will handle daily bending, bag tossing, and general abuse?

• Moleskine: Bends smoothly and snaps back into shape, thanks to its handy elastic strap.
• Promotional: Flexible and holds its form fairly well.
• Stone Paper: Stiff and firm, barely bends at all.

🏆 Winner: Moleskine – flexible yet resilient.

2. Durability Test: Vigorous Writing

We pressed down hard while writing to see which notebook could take the pressure.

• Stone Paper: The strongest — no marks or dents.
• Moleskine: Smooth pages with minimal impressions.

🏆 Winner: Stone Paper – rock-solid (literally).

3. Rip Test: Page Strength

We tore few pages from each notebook to gauge the effort required.

• Stone Paper: Nearly impossible to rip.
• Moleskine: Tough, needs effort.
• Promotional: Tears with moderate strength.
• Recycled: Rips most easily.

🏆 Winner: Stone Paper – untearable might be the right word.

4. Scratch Test: Cover Durability

We scratched each cover to simulate wear from bags, pens, and daily handling.

• Moleskine: Flawless — not a mark in sight.
• Recycled: Also resistant to scratches.
• Stone Paper: Minor marks appeared.
• Promotional: Noticeably scratched.

🏆 Winners: Moleskin and Recycled – tough on the outside.

5. Smudge Test: Ink Drying & Smearing

We wrote and immediately swiped across the ink.

• Stone Paper: Smudged the most.
• Recycled, Promotional, and Moleskine: Clean and smear-free.

🏆 Winners: Recycled, Promotional, and Moleskine – quick-drying champs.

6. Water Resistance Test: Ink & Page Reaction

We spilled water on the pages (because coffee happens).

• Stone Paper: Paper stayed firm, though ink blotted at water spots.
• Recycled, Promotional, Moleskine: Pages absorbed water slightly and crumbled a bit.

🏆 Winner: Stone Paper – structurally waterproof, even if the ink isn’t.

7. Ink Through Test: Ghosting & Show-Through

We checked how much ink bled onto the reverse side.

• Stone Paper: No bleed-through at all.
• Moleskine: Minimal ghosting.
• Promotional: Slight shadow visible.
• Recycled: Most show-through.

🏆 Winner: Stone Paper – perfect for double-sided writing.

The Final Verdict: Which Notebook Wins Overall?

Each notebook shines in its own way, but here’s how they stack up:

💡 Best Overall Value: Recycled Notebook – affordable, sustainable, and solid all-around performance.

Why Businesses Trust Cubic Promote?

With years of experience supplying branded notebooks across Australia, Cubic Promote has helped thousands of companies choose the right fit — whether for client gifts, conferences, or employee welcome packs.

From eco-friendly options to premium notebooks that leave a lasting impression, we make branding simple, stylish, and practical.