Paper Comparison - Brands, Whiteness & Initial Impressions

Below is the list of papers I am going to be using for the comparison ~ 15 in all.  I know this selection of paper brands isn't everything out there but it is a compilation of papers I had on hand, papers that were suggested and papers that Victoria sent me to add to my comparison!  Thanks Victoria!!  Just FYI the two most requested were Georgia Pacific and Neenah.

For the first part of the Paper Comparison I am only using "white" cardstock/index type paper.  (Note: I have a few different watercolor papers I'll be putting to the test later on.).

 Now you see why I put "white" in quotes.  I never realized how many shades of white there actually are until they are side by side!

The brands included in this comparison are (in alpha order):

Bazzill Basics - The Card Shoppe - Marshmallow 100lb

Canson Mixed Media Stock 98lbs

CC Designs - Copic Quality White 80lbs

Copic Xpress It 80lb

Crafters Companion Ultra Smooth Premium White 80lb

Georgia Pacific Cardstock (Index?) 110lb

HP Photo Paper - Glossy (coated) side

HP Photo Paper - Matte (uncoated) side

JudiKins MatteKote 

La Blanche Specialty Stamping Paper

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb

Neenah Exact Index White 110lb

Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper 

Simon Says Stamp Cardstock 120lb

Strathmore Smooth Surface Bristol 100lb

Brightness:

Now I have no actual scientific way to measure brightness of a piece of cardstock but to the naked eye in sunlight the whitest cardstocks were (in alpha order):

CC Designs

Crafter's Companion

Neenah 80lb CS

Neenah Index CS

Simon Says Stamp CS

The following were the yellowest of the whites:

Bazzill Marshmallow

JudiKins MatteKote

Strathmore Bristol 

Initial Impressions:

A few of the papers are coated - with what I'm not sure but the HP Photo Paper (glossy side), JudiKins MatteKote, La Blanche Specialty Paper and Ranger's Specialty Papers are all coated. 

La Blanche and Ranger's papers are extremely similar in look and feel.  

Copic's Xpress It cardstock is the smoothest/softest feeling cardstock.

Simon Says Stamp's cardstock is amazingly thick...love the feel of it.

Georgia Pacific's cardstock is a little rougher texture than the Neenah cardstock.

Neenah Classic Crest is 97 in brightness ($30 - 40.00 for 250 sheets) and  Neenah Exact Index is 94 ($10.00 for 250 sheets) - I honestly can't tell the difference - they look and feel the same to me.