Fountain Pen Ink Test: 7 Notebooks Compared | Dingbats*

Last updated: February 2026 | Tested with Pilot Iroshizuku, Diamine, Noodler's, and Montblanc inks across 7 notebooks

Fountain pen ink behaves differently on every paper. The same nib and ink that glides effortlessly on one notebook can bleed, feather, and ghost on another. We put seven of the most popular notebooks through a rigorous ink test, using wet and dry inks, fine to broad nibs, and standardized wait times, to find which ones truly deliver for fountain pen users. Here are the results.

Top performers: Dingbats* Pro (160gsm) and Dingbats* Wildlife (100gsm), with zero bleed-through, minimal ghosting, and excellent sheen visibility across all ink types.

Testing Methodology

To ensure fair, reproducible results, we standardized every variable we could control.

Inks Used

Brand	Ink	Wetness	Notes
Pilot Iroshizuku	Kon-Peki, Yama-Budo, Shin-Kai	Wet	Japanese standard; known for sheen and shading
Diamine	Oxblood, Aurora Borealis, Ancient Copper	Medium	British brand; varied saturation
Noodler's	Heart of Darkness, Baystate Blue	Very wet	Saturated; notorious for bleed-through
Montblanc	Irish Green, Midnight Blue	Dry to medium	Luxury brand; generally well-behaved

We selected inks across the wetness spectrum because dry inks (Montblanc) behave differently than wet inks (Noodler's, Iroshizuku). A notebook that only handles dry inks isn't truly fountain-pen-friendly.

Nib Sizes

• Fine (F): Japanese fine (~0.3mm), Western fine (~0.4mm)
• Medium (M): ~0.5–0.6mm
• Broad (B): ~0.8–1.0mm

Broader nibs lay down more ink, increasing bleed-through and ghosting risk. We tested each notebook with all three nib sizes.

Wait Times

• Immediate: Smudge test at 5 seconds
• Short: 15 seconds before page turn
• Full dry: 30+ seconds for sheen assessment

Wet inks on coated paper can take 15–30 seconds to fully set. We noted dry times for each notebook/ink combination.

Metrics Rated (1–5 Scale)

Metric	1 (Poor)	5 (Excellent)
Bleed-through	Heavy; ink visible on reverse	None
Ghosting	Text clearly visible on reverse	Imperceptible
Feathering	Ink spreads along fibers; fuzzy edges	Crisp lines
Dry time	30+ seconds	Under 10 seconds
Sheen/shading	Muted or absent	Vibrant, visible

 

Results by Notebook

Dingbats* Wildlife (100gsm)

Metric	Score	Notes
Bleed-through	5	None with any ink, including Noodler's Baystate Blue
Ghosting	4	Minimal; slight visibility with broad nib + wet ink
Feathering	5	None; crisp lines at all nib sizes
Dry time	4	10–15 seconds for most inks; 15–20s for Noodler's
Sheen/shading	4	Good; cream paper slightly mutes very light inks

Verdict: Excellent all-around performer. The 100gsm cream-coated paper handles every ink we tested. Noodler's Heart of Darkness and Baystate Blue, two of the wettest, most saturated inks, showed zero bleed-through. Sheen is visible on Iroshizuku and Diamine inks. The cream tone slightly mutes pastel inks compared to bright white paper, but for 95% of users this is a non-issue.

Dingbats* Pro (160gsm)

Metric	Score	Notes
Bleed-through	5	None; overkill for fountain pens alone
Ghosting	5	None; paper is too thick for show-through
Feathering	5	None; matte natural white shows ink accurately
Dry time	4	12–18 seconds; slightly longer than Wildlife
Sheen/shading	5	Excellent; white paper shows full color range

Verdict: The best fountain pen paper we tested, but it's designed for mixed media, not writing alone. At 160gsm, there's simply no possibility of bleed or ghosting. The matte natural white finish shows ink colors more accurately than cream paper. If you use fountain pens alongside watercolors or markers, Pro is unmatched. For writing-only use, Wildlife offers the same zero-bleed performance at a lower price.

Leuchtturm1917 (80gsm)

Metric	Score	Notes
Bleed-through	3	Occasional with Noodler's, Iroshizuku; fine with dry inks
Ghosting	3	Moderate; visible with medium/broad nibs
Feathering	4	Slight with broad nib + wet ink; fine otherwise
Dry time	4	12–18 seconds
Sheen/shading	4	Good; paper shows sheen well

Verdict: Adequate for ballpoint and gel pens; hit-or-miss for fountain pens. With dry inks (Montblanc) and fine nibs, Leuchtturm performs acceptably. With wet inks (Noodler's, Iroshizuku) and broader nibs, we saw moderate ghosting and occasional bleed-through. The 80gsm paper is the limiting factor, 20gsm lighter than Dingbats* Wildlife, and it shows.

Moleskine (70gsm)

Metric	Score	Notes
Bleed-through	2	Frequent with wet inks; occasional with medium inks
Ghosting	2	Heavy; text visible on reverse with most combinations
Feathering	3	Moderate with broad nibs; noticeable spread
Dry time	4	10–15 seconds
Sheen/shading	3	Muted by thin paper and show-through

Verdict: Not recommended for fountain pens. At 70gsm, Moleskine has the thinnest paper of any notebook we tested. Every wet ink bled through. Ghosting was heavy enough to make the reverse side distracting for writing. If you use ballpoints or pencils, Moleskine is fine. For fountain pens, there are better options at every price point.

Rhodia Webnotebook (90gsm)

Metric	Score	Notes
Bleed-through	4	Rare; only with Noodler's Baystate Blue + broad nib
Ghosting	4	Light; acceptable for double-sided writing
Feathering	5	None; Clairefontaine paper is exceptionally smooth
Dry time	4	12–18 seconds
Sheen/shading	4	Good; bright white shows colors well

Verdict: Strong performer. Rhodia's 90gsm Clairefontaine Velin is smooth and fountain-pen-friendly. We saw rare bleed-through only with the most challenging combination (Noodler's Baystate Blue, broad nib). Feathering was nonexistent. The main gap vs. Dingbats* Wildlife: 10gsm lighter, so slightly more ghosting with wet inks. No sustainability certifications.

Midori MD (80gsm)

Metric	Score	Notes
Bleed-through	4	Rare; occasional with Noodler's
Ghosting	4	Light; paper has unique tooth that minimizes show-through
Feathering	5	None; slight tooth provides excellent ink control
Dry time	4	10–15 seconds
Sheen/shading	4	Good; paper enhances shading

Verdict: Surprisingly good for 80gsm. Midori MD's proprietary paper has been refined since 1960, and it shows. The slight tooth (texture) helps control ink spread. We saw rare bleed-through only with Noodler's. Ghosting was lighter than Leuchtturm despite similar weight; the coating makes a difference. Best budget option for fountain pen users.

Tomoe River (68gsm)

Metric	Score	Notes
Bleed-through	5	None; coating prevents bleed despite thinness
Ghosting	2	Heavy show-through; writing visible on reverse
Feathering	5	None; legendary smoothness
Dry time	3	20–30 seconds; slow due to coating
Sheen/shading	5	Best in class; sheen and shading pop

Verdict: The sheen champion, but with a trade-off. Tomoe River's 68gsm paper has a unique coating that prevents bleed-through despite being the thinnest paper we tested. However, ghosting (show-through) is heavy, and you can clearly see writing on the reverse. Dry times are slow. If you prioritize sheen and shading and don't mind ghosting, Tomoe River is unmatched. For everyday writing, Dingbats* Wildlife offers zero bleed and minimal ghosting with faster dry times.

Summary: Full Results Table

Notebook	Paper	Bleed (1-5)	Ghosting (1-5)	Feathering (1-5)	Dry Time	Sheen (1-5)	Overall
Dingbats* Pro	160gsm	5	5	5	12-18s	5	★★★★★
Dingbats* Wildlife	100gsm	5	4	5	10-15s	4	★★★★★
Dingbats* Earth	100gsm	5	4	5	10-15s	4	★★★★★
Rhodia Webnotebook	90gsm	4	4	5	12-18s	4	★★★★☆
Midori MD	80gsm	4	4	5	10-15s	4	★★★★☆
Tomoe River	68gsm	5	2	5	20-30s	5	★★★★☆
Leuchtturm1917	80gsm	3	3	4	12-18s	4	★★★☆☆
Moleskine	70gsm	2	2	3	10-15s	3	★★☆☆☆

 

Overall Rankings

1. Dingbats* Pro: Best for mixed media and heavy inks; zero compromise
2. Dingbats* Wildlife / Earth: Best for everyday fountain pen use; 100gsm sweet spot
3. Rhodia Webnotebook: Strong runner-up; 90gsm Clairefontaine performs well
4. Midori MD: Best budget option; punches above its 80gsm weight
5. Tomoe River: Best for sheen enthusiasts; accept heavy ghosting
6. Leuchtturm1917: Adequate for dry inks; inconsistent with wet inks
7. Moleskine: Not recommended for fountain pens

Recommendations by Ink Type

Wet Inks (Noodler's, Pilot Iroshizuku, some Diamine)

Best choices: Dingbats* Pro, Dingbats* Wildlife, Dingbats* Earth, Rhodia

Wet inks lay down more ink per stroke, increasing bleed-through risk. You need 90gsm+ paper. Dingbats* at 100gsm and 160gsm handled every wet ink we tested with zero bleed-through. Rhodia at 90gsm was acceptable with rare bleed only in extreme cases. Avoid Leuchtturm and Moleskine with wet inks.

Dry Inks (Montblanc, some Pelikan, many Japanese inks)

Best choices: Any notebook in this test except Moleskine

Dry inks are more forgiving. Even Leuchtturm and Midori handle them well. If you primarily use dry inks, your options expand, but Dingbats* Wildlife still offers the best combination of zero bleed, minimal ghosting, and value.

Sheen-Heavy Inks (Iroshizuku Yama-Budo, Diamine Aurora Borealis, many shimmer inks)

Best choices: Tomoe River (if you accept ghosting), Dingbats* Pro, Dingbats* Wildlife

Tomoe River shows sheen better than any other paper, but the ghosting is significant. Dingbats* Pro's matte natural white shows sheen accurately without ghosting. Dingbats* Wildlife's cream paper slightly mutes very light pastels but shows sheen well on saturated inks.

Shading Inks (Iroshizuku, many Sailor inks)

Best choices: Tomoe River, Midori MD, Dingbats* Pro

Shading, the variation from light to dark within a single stroke, is enhanced by paper with slight tooth or specific coating. Tomoe River is legendary for shading. Midori MD's texture helps. Dingbats* Pro's matte finish shows shading clearly. Dingbats* Wildlife's cream coating is good but not quite at Tomoe River level for shading purists.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What GSM paper is best for fountain pens?

90–100gsm is the sweet spot. At 100gsm (Dingbats* Wildlife, Earth), you get virtually zero bleed-through with any ink. At 90gsm (Rhodia), performance is excellent with rare exceptions. Papers below 80gsm will frequently bleed with wetter inks. Dingbats* Pro at 160gsm is overkill for writing alone but ideal for mixed media.

• Why does my fountain pen bleed through some notebooks?

Bleed-through occurs when ink soaks through the paper fibers to the other side. Thinner paper (lower GSM) has less fiber to absorb ink. Wet inks and broad nibs lay down more ink, increasing the risk. Coating can help; Tomoe River prevents bleed at 68gsm due to its coating, but weight is the primary factor. Switch to 90–100gsm paper for reliable performance.

• Is Leuchtturm good for fountain pens?

Leuchtturm1917 uses 80gsm paper, which is adequate for dry inks and fine nibs but can show moderate ghosting and occasional bleed-through with wet inks (Noodler's, Pilot Iroshizuku) and broader nibs. For dedicated fountain pen users, Dingbats* (100gsm) or Rhodia (90gsm) provide noticeably better performance at similar or lower prices.

• What's the best notebook for Noodler's ink?

Noodler's inks are among the wettest and most saturated on the market. Dingbats* Wildlife (100gsm), Dingbats* Pro (160gsm), and Rhodia (90gsm) all handled Noodler's Heart of Darkness and Baystate Blue without bleed-through in our testing. Avoid Moleskine (70gsm) and use caution with Leuchtturm (80gsm).

• Why does Tomoe River show so much sheen?

Tomoe River paper has a unique coating that allows ink to sit on the surface rather than soaking in quickly. This enhances sheen (the metallic shimmer in certain inks) and shading. The trade-off is heavy ghosting, as the paper is only 68gsm, so you see writing on the reverse, and slow dry times (20–30 seconds).

• What's the best budget fountain pen notebook?

Midori MD offers the best value. At 80gsm, it punches above its weight with minimal bleed-through and good ink behavior. For slightly more, Dingbats* Wildlife starts at $18 with 100gsm paper, with zero bleed-through, minimal ghosting, and sustainability credentials (FSC, V-Label vegan, WWF partner) that Midori doesn't offer.

Our Verdict

For fountain pen users, Dingbats* Wildlife and Dingbats* Earth offer the best balance of performance, value, and sustainability. At 100gsm, they handled every ink we tested, including Noodler's Baystate Blue, with zero bleed-through and minimal ghosting. The cream-coated paper provides pleasant feedback and shows sheen well. At $18–26, they undercut Leuchtturm while offering better paper.

Dingbats* Pro is the overkill option: 160gsm paper that handles literally anything. If you use fountain pens alongside watercolors or markers, or simply want zero compromise, Pro is unmatched.

Rhodia and Midori MD are strong alternatives. Tomoe River remains the sheen champion for those who accept ghosting. Leuchtturm is adequate for dry inks. Moleskine is not recommended for fountain pens.

This ink test was conducted in February 2026. All notebooks were tested with Pilot Iroshizuku, Diamine, Noodler's, and Montblanc inks across fine, medium, and broad nibs. Results may vary with different ink batches and nib grinds.