Have you heard of bullet journaling? The life-planning method has been trending on social media in recent years, but if you haven't cottoned onto the craze yet, don't worry! We've got you covered with all the essentials and reviewed some of the best bullet journals available in 2024.
With nearly five years of bullet journaling under my belt, I've explored a plethora of journals, pens, and mediums. Now, I'm pooling together my expertise to identify the crème de la crème of bullet journals. I've rigorously tested various brands with an array of writing and art tools so that you don't have to.
Hand-picking five standout journals, I've subjected them to thorough examinations, considering factors like construction, features, and value for money. Today, our focus is on the Scribbles That Matter Dotted Journal. Stick around to discover if it earns its spot as a top contender among the best bullet journals!
Jump straight to:
- Summary
- How we tested
- Scribbles That Matter Dotted Journal review
- Where to buy Scribbles That Matter Dotted Journal
- Our verdict: should you buy the Scribbles That Matter Dotted Journal
- Looking for more bullet journals?
Summary
If you're bored of plain journals and want to spice it up, the Scribbles That Matter Dotted Journal is a great choice! It's more expensive than other journals on test, but you get plenty of features, high quality 160gsm paper, an included fine liner, a protective sleeve, and loads more.
- Buy now from Amazon (£19.97 | $19.97)
How we tested
Five points were available across five critical categories: construction, writing tools, art tools, features, and value for money.
Each bullet journal underwent comprehensive testing with a diverse range of writing tools, including fine liners, gel pens, and brush pens, as well as various art mediums like watercolour and acrylic. I considered factors such as binding style, available sizes, cover material, page count, and included features such as page markers and pockets.
I also looked for internal features like a 'belongs to' page, key, index, pen test page, and page numbers. I factored in the price and overall value for money in the final scoring of each journal.
Scribbles That Matter Dotted Journal review
Key features
- Paper gsm: 160 (120 available)
- Number of pages: 150
- Size: A5 (B5 Pro version available)
- RRP: £26.97
Construction - 4/5
The vegan leather cover of the Scribbles That Matter Dotted Journal is imprinted with their iconic design, and available in a range of colours. Although I'm not a massive fan of the patterns, which are perhaps geared more toward a younger audience, you can opt for their Scribbles That Matter Dotted Journal Pro edition, which offers a plain colour finish.
Both of these journals are constructed with sewn binding and come in either 160gsm or 120gsm paper options, with 150 sides in each. I liked that the journal comes with an elastic closure, two satin ribbon page markers, and a reinforced pocket at the back for paper and stickers.
Writing tools - 5/5
Most of the pens I tested held up well, with the exception of the alcohol-based markers, which I mainly included for comparison purposes.
The Staedler fine liners, Pentel gel pens, rollerballs, and fountain pens showed no signs of feathering, ghosting, or bleeding. If you're not familiar with these terms, take a look at our buyers' guide.
The Pentel water-based brush pen ghosted a little bit onto the other side of the page, but compared to the Sharpie and Promarker alcohol-based markers, it was barely noticeable.
Art tools - 5/5
I was very impressed with the finish of the art mediums I tested. There was no bleeding, ghosting, or feathering from any of the paints, and just the slightest paper degradation when heavily diluted with water.
Features - 4/5
The Scribbles That Matter Dotted Journal features a 'belongs to' page, key, index, and pen test page. It also has page numbers, which is a handy addition, but not any centre marks for finding the middle of the page easily.
However, it does come with a ruler that's handily measured up with ratios for creating different spreads. It also comes with a Scribbles That Matter fine liner tucked into the elasticated pen loop, which is useful.
Value for money - 4/5
Overall, I scored the value for money at 4/5 because at £26.97, it's quite expensive and offers fewer pages compared to other books. However, it comes with its own fine liner and a measuring ruler, which, while more complicated to use than the Yop & Tom grid guide, is still functional.
I appreciate that the cover has a slight flex to it while still being hardback. I'm not a fan of the colour or print of this edition, but other designs are available. The paper quality is excellent, there are plenty of handy pages, and it also includes a protective sleeve for storage once filled.
Where to buy Scribbles That Matter Dotted Journal
- Buy now from Amazon (£19.97 | $19.97)
Our verdict: should you buy Scribbles That Matter Dotted Journal
If you want to stand out and make an impression, the Scribbles That Matter journal is a great choice! Artists and anyone keen on making use of the 160gsm pages and handy ruler for making themed spreads will love this journal.
You pay extra for the reputable brand, high quality, included fine liner, and protective sleeve, but if you're looking for a more budget option, we have plenty on test!
Looking for more bullet journals?
If you're still browsing for bullet journals, check out our comprehensive guide to the best bullet journals for a full list of the journals on test.
