I've been using Moleskines for years now.  I've heard about them prior to my use, but I always thought, like many, it's all hype and can't really be that good.  When I was in London, I found myself wandering throughout Europe much and thinking about things that were too personally valuable to forget, so, being lightweight and easily portable, I bought the smallest version of the Moleskine notebook.  It was a price well paid, as the notebook has lasted to this very day, and only needs some black duct tape on the spine from cracks (I've beaten it up pretty good).