Journals are our passion, and we understand the importance of delivering a thorough and uniform review each and every time.
As as journal enthusiast or buyer, most of the information you come across online is advertising information, designed for the purpose of making sales. Our mission is to assume ownership of every journal, by carrying them with us for a week and putting them through everyday use as if they were our own.
In every review you will see an image gallery. We have included a healthy mix of ‘Official Images’ which are marketing images from the journal company, and ‘Our Images’ which have been taken by us during the review. This is clearly reflected in each image title.
In most cases we purchase the ‘review journal’ as an ordinary customer, without the journal company knowing their product is going to feature on our site. We see this as a service to journal enthusiasts and potential buyers alike!
Our Review Method is as Follows
1. First Impressions
This is our favorite part and includes our first thoughts after receiving and unwrapping the leather journal. It’s also how you you might expect a friend or colleague to react the first time they glance across the table at your leather journal.
2. 1 Week Review
We carry the leather journal with us and use it every day for one week. It’s packed in our laptop and sports bags, brought to cafés in the morning, taken to business meetings, and even on weekend getaways! The leather journals are put through their paces, and used in everyday situations where you’d expect them to deliver.
3. Conclusion
Our final thoughts on the leather journal including aspects we enjoyed and areas for improvement. We also mention the kind of buyer we feel this product is most suitable for.
Rating Criteria
Every leather journal is reviewed using our 5 key criteria, and awarded a value score out of 10. The average of these 5 scores allows us to provide an overall product score for each journal.
See a brief explanation and examples of our rating criteria below:
1. Quality
The overall look and feel of the product, such as materials used, workmanship, stitching, paper feel and packaging.
2. Features
Everything included to make your life easier, such as envelopes, pockets, card holders, pen holders, adjustable closure straps and more.
3. Usability
Is the journal easy to carry around and use on a day to day basis? Do the features deliver on their intended purpose?
4. Charm
Style components that make the journal attractive, fascinating and delightful. This is according to both our opinion and that of others we come across in our daily travels.
5. Value
Is the journal worth the retail price?
OVERALL
The overall point score (out of 10) as an average of the 5 Key criteria above. This will indicate the journal’s ranking in our current list of Top 10 Leather Journals.
Finally, it’s important to mention that if a journal no longer remains in our Top 10 List, you can still access it’s review further down our Top Journals page.