Why I Prefer Bullet Journal Classic vs Edition 2
I was one of the lucky ones. My husband ordered the new Bullet Journal for my Christmas present, and I couldn’t wait to use it. (Though I actually did have to wait because shipping was delayed for a month.) Still, I was fortunate to be getting one at all — the Edition 2 has been sold out since December.
For those of you eager to get the latest and greatest version, this article may help to ease your FOMO.
Though the new edition is beautiful and very well-made, it has a couple of serious flaws that make it not as functional for me as the Classic edition.
First, though, here’s what the new edition does well:
- It has faint markings on the pages allowing you to divide the page nicely without guessing. They call this the “Smart Grid,” and it is a useful feature, except for one fatal flaw, which I address below
- It comes with stickers for the month/days — I love this feature!
- The larger margins on the page are aesthetically pleasing
- The thicker paper really does prevent bleed-through
- The grid lines on the inside cover. These are helpful in laying out your pages, eliminating the need for math calculations
There are other features that I found to be not particularly valuable or helpful.
- The pocket guide in the back pocket. It just makes the whole thing bulkier. I read it once and then didn’t need it again. It’s pretty though, so I don’t want to throw it away, and I keep it there “just in case.” It adds a “bump” to the end of the page, which affects the flat writing surface I prefer, so I really need to get up the gumption to remove it.
Then there are other features that are just downright annoying or unhelpful:
- It’s bulky. You can tell in the picture, Edition 2 is about a half-centimeter larger than the Classic edition. It’s also more stiff. It feels less “friendly” somehow and takes up more space in my purse. It doesn’t feel as user friendly. It’s more formal, like an elegant dress, when for my bullet journaling, I really just want something like a comfy pair of jeans (that’s how the Classic feels in my hands). I feel more pressure to make my pages “pretty” using the new edition
- The lines for the Index pages are gone. I miss them. The Index used to stand out — it was an obvious table of contents. And now it’s just another page, with a very faint title announcing that it’s the Index. Which brings me to the deal-breaker…..
- The type is so faint, it’s almost invisible. Even for those with younger eyes than mine, I can’t imagine anyone can easily read them page numbers or titles. I can understand the dots being super light so as not to interfere with the content being written. But why are the page numbers so light? And the titles? And the Smart Grid? Even with my glasses, I cannot see these. So instead of seamlessly transitioning from writing a note to recording its page number in the Index, I have to squint, hold the journal in bright light, and sometimes even GUESS at what page number is being shown. The whole point of the Bullet Journal is the grid and page numbers (to me, anyway). Otherwise, I can just buy a cheap knockoff journal.
Here’s a comparison of a page from both, taken in the same exact light, same time, same location on my desk:
Although aesthetically, I prefer the lighter dots, in practice, they are quite difficult to use. The page numbers are even worse.
I am hoping that the font intensity will improve with the next iteration of the Bullet Journal, as this new edition is really lovely, and I’ve become accustomed to the Smart Grid and nicer margins. If the dots were just a *little* darker and the page numbers *much* darker, this new Edition would be almost perfect. (Adding the lines back to the Index would be the icing on the cake.) I could learn to live with its stiff and bulkier weight. I just need to remember to recycle that pocket guide! Until then, my vote is with the Classic.
