Rhodia dotPad No.16 - The Orange Notepad That's Perfect for Fountain Pens

I splurged on this one because the color caught my eye, but after pairing it with my Montblanc fountain pen, it's become the notepad I reach for most often to jot down ideas and organize my thoughts. The bold orange cover, the dot grid, and the convenience of tearing off sheets — it turned out to be far more practical than I expected.

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📊 Quick Info

Item	Details
Brand	Rhodia
Price	From about $6~ (varies by size)
Paper	80g ivory/white · 5mm dot grid
Binding	Top staple-bound · micro-perforated (easy to tear)
Features	Minimal fountain pen bleed-through · fold-back cover
One-line review	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ A daily notepad that pairs beautifully with fountain pens

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✨ 3-Line Summary

• 👍 Best thing: Almost no bleed-through even with a fountain pen, and sheets tear off cleanly one at a time
• 👎 Downside: Since it's a tear-off pad, it needs separate handling if you want permanent storage
• 🎯 Recommended for: Fountain pen users, and anyone who jots down and organizes ideas/notes casually

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📸 Product Gallery

The bold orange cover that Rhodia is known for. This is the dot-grid (dotPad) version.

Placed next to the pen, you get a real sense of the scale. It's just the right size for a desk.

With a wide range of sizes, colors, and bindings (stapled/spiral), it's easy to pick one for any purpose.

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🔍 My Real-World Experience

Almost no bleed-through, even with a fountain pen

Once you start using a fountain pen, you become sensitive to paper quality. It's stressful when ink feathers or bleeds through to the back. Rhodia's paper is smooth yet holds ink well, so even when I press down with a fountain pen, there's almost no bleed-through on the back. I use it with my Montblanc 145, and the pairing is genuinely excellent.

A tear-off notepad means no pressure

Thanks to the top binding with micro-perforation, you can cleanly tear off one sheet at a time. Jot down an idea, tear it off and toss it if you don't need it, keep the ones worth saving separately — this "write and tear" flow really suits organizing your thoughts. There's none of that "what if I mess this up" pressure you get with a proper notebook.

The dot grid offers just the right amount of freedom

The 5mm dot grid isn't as restrictive as ruled paper, yet it still keeps your handwriting and diagrams neatly aligned. Whether you're writing a list or sketching a simple diagram, the subtle dots act as a gentle guide, and they barely show up when scanned, keeping things clean.

Above all, the color is beautiful

Honestly, the reason I first bought it was this orange color. Just having it sit on my desk lifts my mood, and it makes me want to reach for it often. Things you use "because they're pretty" tend to be the ones you end up using for a long time.

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🤔 Downsides

Not meant for permanent storage

Because it's a tear-off pad, it's a bit awkward for keeping important records bound together long-term. You'll need to develop a habit of scanning or transferring anything you want to keep into a binder.

Pricier than an ordinary notepad

Compared to a typical composition notebook, it's on the pricier side. It's understandable given the paper quality, but if you think of it as "just a scratch pad," the cost might feel like a lot.

The cover is a bit thin

The coated card-stock cover is sturdy enough, but it doesn't have the same solid, substantial feel as a leather-covered notebook. If you toss it roughly into a bag, the corners can get worn.

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📋 Product Features (Hands-On Evaluation)

• Paper quality (fountain pen compatibility): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Convenience (tear-off sheets): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Design (color): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Long-term storage: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

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🛒 Before You Buy

✅ Recommended for

• Fountain pen users looking for paper with no bleed-through
• Anyone who jots down ideas/notes casually and likes tearing off sheets to organize
• Anyone who wants even their desk accessories to look good

❌ Not recommended for

• Anyone who prefers writing continuously in one bound notebook for permanent record-keeping
• Anyone for whom the cheapest possible scratch paper is enough
• Anyone who wants a sturdy hardcover notebook

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🎯 Final Verdict

The Rhodia notepad is one of those things I "bought for the looks and fell for the practicality." Paper with no bleed-through even with a fountain pen, the convenience of tearing off sheets one at a time, and just the right amount of freedom from the dot grid — it's genuinely well-suited for casually pouring out and organizing ideas.

Because it's a tear-off pad, you'll need separate handling for permanent storage, and it costs more than an ordinary notepad — both worth keeping in mind. But if you pair it with a fountain pen, you'll definitely notice the difference in paper quality.

If you've started using a fountain pen like a Montblanc, I'd definitely recommend giving Rhodia a try as its paper companion. Like me, you might find yourself thinking, "why didn't I discover this pairing sooner?"

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Source: Rhodia dotPad No.16 (Goulet Pens)