First of all, I would like to note that since this notebook is under $10, I didn't expect much. Second of all, a list of the Pros and Cons are at the bottom, for quick review (in case you would not like to read the whole review).
I bought this book in the 'coffee' color. The color itself bears some resemblance to actual coffee, but is not as dark. The material catches the light in certain conditions, and the picture (of the product) shows that correctly. The material that the book is made out of is a man-made material that looks like leather (it is NOT LEATHER), but is really cardboard covered in a material that is kind of hard to describe - feels like cardboard (ish); on the inside it feels like a piece of felt that had most of the felt removed, and now it is not as soft but it is not hard. On the outside, the material is quite flat, shiny, and kind of boring. It feels plastic-y. If you look closely, you will see lines that resemble leather. The decal is a compass with lots of detail - it has the main 4 arms and some extra arms that are shorter. It looks like a compass rose you could find on a map, which is the point (I think, what else could it be?). I have seen some people (in the review section) having trouble that their decal is not aligned in the center, but I did not experience this problem. It seems that the company who is producing this notebook has stepped up their quality control, as mine was aligned correctly, and many others were aligned correctly (this data is based on what I have seen in the review section).
There are 2 flaps - one is the big one with the decal, and the other, smaller (I would say about 2 x 7, but I'm only guesstimating here) flap. The smaller flap has 2 diagonal holes (you must poke them out on delivery) - I think they are for holding your pen/pencil/writing instrument. There are also vertical holes. I don't know their function, though as speculated in the question section (it could be the review section) that it is for a wallet, or something like that. The idea that the holes are for a wallet is improbable, because things don't tend to stay in the vertical holes.
The bindings are simple, yet effective. The strap used to hold the notebook together (making sure the cover won't spring open) is the same material as the cover. It is effective, and it is the one that holds the steering wheel (?). The strap the holds the anchor is long enough to use as a book mark, but the anchor itself is too fat for that purpose.
Both trinkets are 'washed' (washed is a term that means to cover an object with a specific color so that gravity pools it to a certain place that makes it look worn - at least, that is what I know of it, I apologize if the definition is incorrect) to look like bronze or copper (more likely bronze) and are made of a metal (I don't know which metal). Sometimes they make noise if you are carrying it around.
Moving inside, the paper is connected to the notebook by a 6-ring binder clip. This means that if you wish, you can add more paper, or get refills if you run out of paper. Starting out, the notebook can hold more paper.
The paper itself is a tan color, and feels thinner (to me) than regular printer paper, but is more durable. The tan paper (I could say browned) fits in well with the nautical theme. I don't know where to get refills, but If you poke around enough, I'm sure you'll be able to find some (meaning I forgot the link, I have been to the page where you can get refills). I have no complaints with the paper.
Overall, this book is extremely good for just $7. While it does have its drawbacks (the material, strange holes..), it is great overall, and I would definitely recommend it.
Pros:
= $7
= Durable construction
= Good color - doesn't fade, to my knowledge
= Trinkets are nice - fits in with the nautical theme (Ship's Wheel, Anchor)
= Paper can be taken out or added at will
= Paper is nice quality
= Bindings are nice - they don't come apart, work well with the theme
= Compass decal is nicely designed - lots of detail
Cons
= The material that is made for the cover is plastic-y. Definitely man-made, and definitely NOT LEAHER (Don't be tricked)
= Anchor is too fat to be used for a book mark
= Might have a problem with the compass decal being off-center
= Strange holes that don't have a use (or completely known function)
NOTE: The notebook (as stated in the 'title' for the product) is 5 x 7 inches. This means that it is slightly larger than a mass-market paperback. I don't know if you plan to put it in your pocket, but it might not fit (depends on how big your pockets are)
| Manufacturer | EvZ |
|---|---|
| Brand | EvZ |
| Item Weight | 6 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 5 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches |
| Item model number | 799975431413 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Color | Coffee |
| Cover Material | Faux Leather |
| Material Type | PU Leather |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Size | 7 inches |
| Ruling | Plain |
| Sheet Size | A6 |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 799975431413 |
