However I must disagree about specific brands...
"Moleskine is losing market share to companies like Leuchtterm because the quality of their products (especially the paper) has been in steady decline."
UK: Leuchtterm notebooks cost an arm and a leg here as do Rhodia.
Generic A5 sketch books in arts supply shops cost around £5 for 80 sheets of acid free 100 g/m^2 paper signature bound in boards or £2 for stapled 20 sheet booklets with cardboard covers. Not as trendy as Moleskines but very serviceable and pen-proof - you can even paint in them (by design).
Truly. I can't wait until I fill up my last of two moleskine notebooks that were given to me a few years ago. The paper is barely better than Mead or Staples-brand writing pads though the binding and covers look nice. Leuchtterm, Rhodia, and even Black and Red are all better paper and have more durable bindings.
The only thing this shows me is that it makes me carry around another couple things (an expensive notebook and pen) and offers worse performance for the things I use the Note 3 for anyway.