Logical Air Swing Notebook Review

If you’ve already read my review of the Logical Swing notebook, this review of the Logical Air Swing will feel quite familiar. The notebooks are nearly identical, with one key exception. What could that be, you ask? Read on to find out.

First Impressions

This is very much a no-frills notebook. It doesn’t look very impressive and feels a little flimsy, probably due to the thinner paper. The color of mine is a dull brown that is boring. Still, we’re about more than looks here, so let’s move past superficial impressions and take a closer look at what this notebook has to offer.

The cover is pretty boring

The Details

Here’s a look at the details for this notebook

• Pages: 60 (30 sheets)
• Paper Weight: 56gsm
• Binding: Stitch
• Page Style: Proprietary Lined/Dot/Grid layout (6mm and 7mm)
• Size: A5, B5

Ink-handling characteristics (A table with the following properties can be found at the bottom of this post)

• Sheen: Medium
• Shading: Medium
• Bleeding: Very Low
• Ghosting: Medium
• Feathering: Very Low
• Dry Time: Low

Other features

• Comes in other cover colors
• Cloth-like tape-bound spine
• Date space in top margin

Actual Use

Similar to the Logical Swing, this notebook has only one signature, which makes it somewhat difficult to use without it closing up. Since the paper is thinner, at least it is a bit easier to get it to lay flat.

Once you get the notebook open and start writing, you’ll start to notice differences between the “Air” paper and the “non-Air” version. This paper, the “Air” version, has a bit more texture to it. Instead of being smooth, it almost feels dry to write on. Even with wetter nibs and inks, it felt dry. I’m not sure that I like it. It also has Nakabayashi’s unique page layout.

Here’s a look at the page layout and top margin

Inside the cover you’ll find info about the page layout

This paper also shows off inks better, showing more sheen and the same amount of shading as the “non-Air” version. I didn’t observe any bleedthrough or feathering with this paper, which is another improvement. Ghosting is average and I would be fine using both sides of a sheet. Dry times are quite good.

Writing sample – Front

Writing Sample – Back

Conclusion

No-frill notebooks are a nice option to have, especially if they have good paper. They can be used by students for taking notes or at home for jotting down thoughts. The Logical Air Swing certainly doesn’t have any frills, but it does have good paper. With great dry times and good performance, this notebook would be a great option for anyone wanting an inexpensive notebook that can be used for just about anything. I personally don’t really like how the paper feels to write on, but you might love it. For the price, you might as well give it a try!

If you’d like a bit more information about how I test papers and notebooks, I wrote an article about my paper rating system.