I really love the look and feel of this notebook, but I just took it out the other day and noticed that large sections of pages are falling out. It seems like these sections were never bound with thread like the rest of the book and the pages had just been stuck in place this whole time. I'm guessing use of the book has dislodged them, leaving weird empty chunks throughout my book. :( I'm trying to glue all the loose pages back in place but it seems a bit futile.

UPDATE: I reached out to the company, voicing my disappointment, and they sent me a brand new journal. Let's hope this one holds up better! Changing my rating from 2 stars to 4 stars on account of solid customer service.

I found my first Traveler sketchbook (all the different colors are the same inside) in an art supply store. I fell in love with it with the first use! The paper is nice and white, smooth, but still has enough tooth to hold graphite, colored pencil and carbon pencils. It is smooth enough for fine ink drawings as well though there is some shadowy bleed-through with heavy applications of ink (so best not to apply ink to the other side). It will withstand light washes of ink or watercolor, but the pages will buckle somewhat. I found the paper to be strong, easily erasable, and the 8x6" size is just right for small sketches. I trace a 5x7" template to constrain my drawings toward the outer edge; this allows me to flatten the open sketchbook enough to get a good scan to keep digital copies of my work. I didn't realize at first that there was a pocket on the back cover until I had nearly filled my first sketchbook! The pocket is just the right size to hold my 5x7" template or small sketches or reference photos. The binding is sewn and lies fairly flat once you work the binding by pulling outward on the pages while bending back (gently). My original sketchbook had slightly lighter weight paper and could be worked at to lie flat easier than the newer ones, but heavier paper is a plus, so I'm not complaining ;)

I bought this same sketchbook (8x6 Pentallic Sketchbook) from a Ben Franklin's in 2014 and recently returned to find they no longer carry it. I'm so glad I could purchase another from Amazon.

SKETCHBOOK: My previous 8x6 Pentallic Sketchbook didn't have cover impression defects like the one I ordered from Amazon (photos included), but I really don't mind since I'll scuff up the cover with everyday use. This is one of my favorite sketchbooks because the pages are thick and, in my opinion, very high quality. There is barely any texture to the paper, which I prefer. The paper thickness and smoothness makes it perfect for writing and drawing.

PEN & INKS: I draw and color with Copics (outlining pens & Sketch brush markers), Crayola markers, and Sharpies (writing pens & markers), and many other pens/markers/pencils. Most of the pens I use for outlining and writing do not bleed through to the back of the page. The Copic Sketch brush markers bleed through, mainly because they use Alcohol-based ink. I've also used a quill pen with dipping ink that did not bleed through. Sharpie writing pens do not bleed through (photo of drawing), but Sharpie Markers probably will.

OVERALL: It will probably have some minor defects on the cover, but you're buying a sketchbook with great quality paper at a cheap price! If my new one is used up quickly, I'll be back for another.

I've bought two of these journals, and I absolutely love them both. I first bought a 6" x 4", Black journal and then I bought 4" x 3", Purple. I use the bigger one for journaling, notes, and doodles. I bought the smaller one with the intention of using it as one of those "What I Read" book journals. I knew it was going to be smaller than my other one, but when I received it I was still quite surprised by its tininess. That's absolutely not a problem though, and I actually really like the size. I might just by another one to keep in my purse for jotting down notes.

For a journal so cheap, I was initially worried that the paper would be thin and disappointing, but I was pleasantly surprised by how nice and heavy it was. I haven't had any problem with bleeding with the pens (ink and gel) I've used.

For those of you wondering if this works for watercolor... it does!! I read so many reviews of people ASSUMING it wouldn't work because of the paper's weight (which is a pretty silly thing to assume if you haven't tried it since these types of reviews prevent others from actually benefiting from this notebook for watercolor). I only read 1 or 2 reviewers who actually TRIED it and said it does work well with watercolors. I can attest that it does since I've now tried it for myself as well. It didn't even seep through the paper which is awesome. I love the feel of the paper :) I take this thing with me everywhere I go!