If you’re considering the purchase of a Happy Planner, you might be wondering if Happy Planners are sturdy. In my experience, the answer to this question is YES AND NO. Happy Planners are sturdy overall, but there are some fragile components that are prone to breaking or becoming damaged.
Happy Planners are bound using a system of discs. The discs hold the paper, folders, dividers and other accessories surprisingly well — so in that sense, these planners are sturdier than you would expect.
Some Happy Planner discs are made of plastic, and others are made of metal. The plastic discs are not sturdy at all; they are extremely fragile and prone to breaking. The metal discs, in my experience, are quite sturdy and not prone to breaking. So your experience with the Happy Planner is likely to vary depending on whether you buy a planner with plastic discs or metal ones. I’d recommend buying a planner that comes with the metal discs. However, the metal discs and plastic discs are also sold separately. So if you do buy a Happy Planner with plastic discs, and one of the discs breaks, you can replace it easily.
Happy Planner covers are laminated. Overall, they are reasonably sturdy, but they are not indestructible. The first Happy Planner I got was damaged in shipping, and it arrived with a bent front cover. (The manufacturer, Me & My Big Ideas, sent me a replacement cover to make up for it.)
Overall, I think the Happy Planner is reasonably sturdy, and I am happy to recommend it to others. However, if sturdiness is a primary consideration for you, I would definitely recommend avoiding the Happy Planner styles that come with plastic rings, and buying one that has the metal rings. They cost a little bit more, but I think it’s worth spending the little bit extra to get a version that has the sturdier rings.
For more information, you’re invited to check out my full review of the Classic Happy Planner HERE.