My wife bought this for me as a Christmas gift and I am thrilled with it. Coming from a life full of Composite and Moleskine books, this was a welcome upgrade.I've only used it around the house and have not traveled with it yet, but it is working great for me so far. The leather is nice and hefty in my hands and feels as though it will last as long as I want it to. I do get the feeling that I will need to be careful to avoid scratches, though, but such is life and as long as it protects what's inside, I'll be more than happy. The latches are beautiful and secure well.My only wish would be to have a pen/pencil holder inside.I searched all over for a new planner/calendar cover. I wanted one that was refillable, so I could keep using it over time, and I wanted something sturdy. I loved the look of this online, and though it was more $$ than I wanted to spend, I figured it's a one time expenditure if it's worth it. And it is. The leather is soft and supple but THICK. I can tell it will wear over time, and become more personal. The 6 ring binder format is perfect, as I can get new inserts for it. And the expandable strap means I can shove way more in it than I probably should, including my phone. If I were a journaler, I'd buy another one to use for that.I purchased the smaller version of this journal for myself. When my son started sneaking his grubby teenage writer's hands towards it, I purchased this size for him. Both came beautifully packaged. I love the rich feel of the leather and how supple it is - real leather, not the plastic knockoffs. When you open the journal the covers stay open. They don't curl back on the pages as stiffer material would. Every time I pull mine out I get compliments on it. It's not very often any more that you find quality handcrafts. If you love the pull of the blank page, the lure of the journal just waiting for your words (even if it's just grocery lists) then you'll want to carry these with you.The journal itself exceeded my expectations. The leather is beautiful, it lays flat when I opened, the hardware seem sturdy. My frustration is that the whole punch I ordered which said it it was for most six ring binders does not space the holes properly for this paper Perhaps somebody out there has figured out where to get a hole punch, what kind, that will allow you to print pages punch them and insert them? Given that I hate my own handwriting, that was my plan :-)After reading the bad reviews I still ordered it. Reviews are very subjective and aren't always fair. I actually loved it! It's exactly what I expected and I love how you can refill more pages verses getting a brand new journal. I have to admit that inline to shop for different and unique journals as well... But for the price I paid, it justified. However, I wouldn't pay $100. And maybe that's why the others wrote bad reviews - cause the initial price is OVERPRICEDI've resisted writing in journals because I could never find one that fulfills my requirements. So many journals are one time use, which seems wasteful to me. I wanted one where I could add pages, move pages and doesn't look like an office binder. This journal is that and more. I carry it with me everywhere and in it I will document my first ever trip to Europe. The leather is supple and smells wonderful. The craft paper is smooth and takes the ink remarkably well, no smudges, no smearing. It fits perfectly in my purse. Do yourself a favor, invest the few extra bucks and buy this journal. If you love to write, you won't be sorry.Really great quality. Looks just as nice as the images. Great value for the price!Looks nice. Quickly breaks in and looks like an old friend instead of a new notebook.Any 6 hole A5 paper size will fit in this notebook. You don’t have to buy pre formatted papers I prefer dot ruled blank pages, I draw my own calendarsI rub a little leather lotion where a bit of the leather dye has worn away over the rings.