Thank you for taking one for the team and taking the time to do a video. 😃 I was drooling over this binder for some time and unfortunately, I don't think I'll be buying one soon. I guess I'll stick to vintage for now.
I'm going to subject this binder to a long term test, because I suspect there are many viewers who would like me to do that. We will see how things work out over the coming months.
@@FlatabilityIt will be good to see how it fades over time but honestly I really only like it for the dashboard but even if I could find a brown dashboard for sale, it doesn't match any of my binders. For now, I'll pass.
Would love Filofax making the dashboard/ pen holder for the whole of their leather range as the elastic pen holder is so much better than when they make it in leather 😊
I wonder whether the Filofax people actually use their product? It seems to me they make them look nice at first glance, but actually using it you find it is subpar. It’s almost like an impulse purchase.
Yes, I wonder if there's anyone at Filofax that uses the products??? I watched a Franklin Covey video recently on a class they hold in productivity and using your planner and I remember the man that took the class said he'd been a long time planner user. It makes a difference I think!
That is such a good point! Even if the majority of influences within Filofax don't use a binder, I really should be a designated person who is tasked with the responsibility of long-term assessment of each model. Obviously I don't know whether that is the case, but I would like to think that there is some kind of long-term monitoring, which may help improve future designs. Let's all hope that is the case. Thank you for such an excellent point.
Happy to enjoy your review over a cup of coffee. If you keep it, would definitely like to see how it goes and how it holds up to wear and tear. I really enjoy reviews that show an unboxing and then month later reaction after use - but I realize those kind of videos take a lot of planning and a long timeline! Btw, I’m quite surprised regarding that material on the inside… although they may have been trying to create a flat writing surface. And I wish Filofax would sell the dashboards separately for those who want it. Obviously I like different features, but I dare to say that I like the Chester more than Heritage model! Thanks for sharing and have a great day!
I thought your review for the Chester was excellent. I’m going to keep the Heritage, but my intention is to sell the dashboard. Thank you for your feedback.
I am admiring the clean lines and the outside leather looks so nice. The flatability seems to have improved a lot just in the time to record this. (I’m commenting as I watch. Please don’t feel obligated to reply to each one.)
Thank you so much for this review Neil. This is one Filofax I have been conflicted about for a very long time! I love its simplicity and its purpose of getting back to Filofax's origin. However, I am still conflicted 😂😂 My conclusion, from watching this and other reviews is, you take the good with the bad! I'd love to stumble across one for an unbelievably good price under $100 so I could take the chance! Thanks though, absolutely loved this vid!!
Many thanks for your feedback, which I value highly. The price of a binder will definitely determine its value in terms of how one sees quality, so we all have to be careful not to directly compare binders from 40 years ago that, in real terms, would now cost many hundreds of pounds. I'm definitely going to use this heritage binder, as part of a long term test, as I think many viewers will be interested in any follow-up reviews. I'm so glad that you liked the video.
@flatability yes, what you say is very very right! I rewatched (AGAIN 😅) your review of the 4CLF7/8 (am I correct in also saying Winchester) just yesterday and I took extra notice of the approx price it would be worth now. Yes, value for money is such a personal thing really as we all have different expectations. I am very very much looking forward to some extra videos of your use of this one! 🐨🦘
Interesting. I have three, and I can tell you that the bullafo leather and premium leather feel so different that they could sell them as separate lines. Each feels quite different. I really prefer the buffalo leather, and only one has a really hard binder mechanism. I have wondered why they vary that much and thjnk it might be like musical imnstriuments. The same thing made with different wood or by a different craftsperson can have quite a different personality. I was hoping you would like it more.
Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate your views. I guess the problem I have is with the rings. My Heritage is currently lying empty on my desk, having moved the contents into one of my vintage slimline binders. I will find a use for my Heritage but, right now, I just need rings I can rely on, from both functional and aesthetic perspectives.
Very useful review. I wonder what the leather actually is. Unlikely to be calfskin from India. The lining is definitely synthetic. I’ve always fancied one but other reviews have deterred me, seems the quality is superficial and they don’t last. It will be interesting to see how you get on with it. The flyleaf has also put me off; as others have noted the leather distorts when anything other than the skinniest pen is inserted in the loop. I know you’re not a fan of pockets (neither am I) but my guess is you will be a convert to the Original when you get round to reviewing one of those-if only for the perfect flatability.
Thank you for your detailed feedback. I appreciate that. I will certainly be putting this Heritage through its paces over the coming months. As this model is perhaps the closest (in form factor) to what I might choose to use personally, I’m keen to find out how it stands up to use as an actual working tool. Glad you found the review to be useful.
Yes, the inside of the cover is not leather and mine started to peel off around the edges after a few months of use (I've had it for about a year now). It is some kind of very thin synthetic material. Thankfully, the stitching is holding it together for now and doesn't allow it to peel off further. Not impressed. 😔 I had to train mine to lay flat too. I have the normal size rings and they were very hard to handle at the beginning as well (23mm without the Filofax logo). They have improved now, albeit not to an ideal level. Totally agree with your comments about the use of the flyleaf and the feel of the leather. Anyway, I love the simplicity of the Heritage and it is still my favourite of the current lineup. However, I would not buy it again at full price.
I totally agree. I like the form factor, so I’m prepared to accept the faults, but were it not for being part of a long term test for the channel I certainly would have returned it. I’ll watch out for any splits in the leather. Thank you for your detailed feedback. I appreciate that.
I have this Filofax as my everyday carry and I love it so much. I took the fly leaf out and I glued a notepad to the back flap because I can’t live without a notepad in the back😊 That does not happen to my thumbs so I think the tabs will loosen over time.
I have a Chester which I love, and was thinking this was a cheaper alternative. I really like the stitch-line down the spine, and the lack of strap, but not sure about the small rings in a Personal size though my Chester is an A5 with small rings, but bought for a specific purpose. The inclusion of the dashboard seems like an afterthought.
I love Filofax. And own a lot of new models but I stopped buying them as much as I used to because none of them compare to my Tejus. My most favorite newer model is the Holborn (blue). It has a pocket and zip pocket set up like the older models. It's the only one I use as much as the Tejus, but it will never beat it. 😊 Surprisingly, I find the basic Clipbook binder to be wonderful.
As someone mentioned earlier, the specification of the Heritage was changed a couple of years ago. Both my Personal Compact and A5 Compact are clearly embossed ‘Buffalo Leather’ and the quality seems to be superior (sorry!) to the current version. My A5 has the 15mm rings. I see it’s now sold with a 20mm mechanism. (Oh! And both my Personal and A5 Compacts lie flat too!)
Thanks for your detailed feedback. It’s an interesting binder. In the interests of wider curiosity, I’m going to continue with this one as a long term test. Despite the problems with the rings, I quite like the switch to larger rings, and I actually like the design., in the same way that I like my Guildford models, despite the appalling inferior “spray on” internal leather. Interestingly, the flatability of this Heritage is now improving, as I use this binder within an inch of its life.
I have a generic $37 binder from amazon that suffers from the same ring problems, it annoys me regularly as it catches the pages (it's currently my only personal size binder)... there's a statement there somewhere about the decline in production quality if Filofax's high-end products are frequently arriving with the same problems.
There’s an older Heritage on eBay at the moment, and it’s stamped “Buffalo Leather” and has a leather liner. That would seem to confirm that this is yet another model that the current custodians of the Filofax brand have degraded in quality. I know I sound like a scratched record, but the Original, which is made here using a single piece of superior British saddle leather, is in a completely different category to all the other modern Filofaxes in terms of quality, and the only one that remains worthy of the name.
I must admit that I do like the Heritage, despite the appalling quality of the rings. I haven't tested the "Original" yet, but it's on my list. Thanks for your feedback.
No. Plotter uses rings made by Krause, which are high quality. I have many binders with Krause rings, and they are all good, with none of the ring gaps and misalignment seen with other ring mechanisms.
I couldn’t believe that this binder was allowed to leave the factory like this. I’m hoping that things will become a little easier over time. I very nearly returned the binder to the shop, but I know that people will be interested in how things develop.
