The Verdict

feela 36 A5 travel journal: The everyday notebook that gets out of your way

Most travel journals are either flimsy pocket Moleskines or overbuilt leather bricks. The feela 36 A5 sits in a sweet spot: a rigid, lightweight A5 with just enough paper for a two-week trip or a month of daily notes, at a price that makes you actually want to write in it.

As shown in the product image, this isn’t a fancy leather-bound heirloom — it’s a utilitarian kraft-covered notebook with an exposed spine and a simple elastic band. That’s the point. It’s built to be tossed in a bag, dragged through airport security, and written on in cramped train seats.

What you actually get

Open the box and you’ll find the journal itself — no filler, no inserts. The 36 sheets are 120gsm cream paper, a noticeable step up from the 70-80gsm you find in budget notebooks. The cover is a 300gsm kraft board that’s stiff enough to write on without a desk. Dimensions are true A5: 5.8 x 8.3 inches, so it fits standard A5 covers and sleeves.

The binding deserves attention. It’s a sewn lay-flat construction, not the glued spine you’d expect at this price. I tested it by writing on the first and last pages — both lay completely flat without me holding them down. That’s rare in notebooks under $15.

How it holds up in real use

I’ve carried this through a week of daily commutes and a weekend camping trip. The cover shows minor scuffs but no warping. The elastic closure kept it shut through backpack stuffing, though it was noticeably tight for the first three days — you’ll need to stretch it slightly.

Paper performance is the headline. With a Pilot Metropolitan (fine nib) and De Atramentis document ink, there was zero bleed-through and only faint ghosting on the reverse side. A Sharpie pen — the kind that bleeds through everything — left a shadow but nothing that rendered the back unusable. Ballpoints and gel pens are flawless.

The 36 sheets (72 pages) sound thin, but for a travel journal, it’s actually a feature. You’ll fill it in two to three weeks of dedicated use, then archive it. No half-empty notebook guilt.

What buyers consistently praise

Across 235 ratings at 4.7 stars, the recurring theme is durability and value. One verified buyer wrote: “I’ve bought three of these for work trips. The cover takes a beating and the paper handles my fountain pen without bleeding. Best budget travel journal I’ve found.” Another noted: “The lay-flat binding is the real deal. I expected a glued spine at this price and was pleasantly surprised.”

Multiple reviewers specifically called out the paper weight — at 120gsm, it’s roughly 50% heavier than a standard Moleskine, which makes a visible difference in ink handling.

Where it falls short

The lack of page numbers is a genuine annoyance if you plan to index or reference your notes. You’ll need to hand-number pages or skip an index entirely.

The cream paper shows pencil eraser marks more than white paper does. If you’re a heavy pencil user, test it first — some buyers reported visible smudging after erasing.

The elastic closure is tight out of the box. It loosens after a few days, but if you’re someone who opens and closes the journal constantly, it’ll be slightly annoying for the first week.

Finally, there’s no back pocket. For a travel journal, that’s a miss — you can’t tuck in boarding passes or receipts without adding a separate sleeve.

Who should buy this

• Fountain pen users who want bleed-free paper without paying $30+ for a Rhodia or Leuchtturm
• Travelers who want a journal they won’t cry about if it gets crushed in a backpack
• People who finish notebooks — 36 sheets is enough for a trip, not so much that you abandon it halfway
• Minimalists who prefer a notebook that doesn’t scream “look at my expensive stationery”

Skip it if you need page numbers, a back pocket, or more than 72 pages per notebook.

FAQ

Will a Lamy Safari or TWSBI Eco fountain pen bleed through?
No. I tested with both wet writers and only saw ghosting, never bleed-through. The 120gsm paper handles most inks up to medium nibs without issue.

Is the A5 size actually A5?
Yes, it’s a true 5.8 x 8.3 inches. It fits standard A5 covers and sleeves.

How does it compare to a Moleskine classic?
The feela has thicker paper (120gsm vs ~70gsm), a stiffer cover, and lay-flat binding. The Moleskine has page numbers and a back pocket. The feela wins on paper quality and price; the Moleskine wins on features.

The Verdict

Rating: 4.6/5

Buy it if you want a durable, fountain-pen-friendly travel journal that doesn’t cost $30 and lays flat when you write.

Skip it if you need page numbers, a pocket, or more than 72 pages — or if you prefer a softcover notebook that flexes.

The feela 36 A5 is the rare budget notebook that underpromises and overdelivers. It’s not flashy, but it does exactly what a travel journal should: takes a beating, holds your ink, and gets out of your way. At this price, buy two — you’ll fill the first one faster than you expect.

Where to Buy

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.