The Appeal of the Pocket Notebook

Today, it's the following brands:

My first pack from the National Parks Series.

1. Field Notes;

2. The Unemployed Philosophers Guild;

3. Flying Spirit;

4. Rite in the Rain.

I have too many notebooks. They are primarily different sizes, with different paper grades, and formats: Lined, dot-grid, graph, and blank.

After trying numerous sizes from a variety of brands, I find that, as someone who can't be relied upon to write faithfully each day, the pocket notebook has taken a favoured place.

One of the brands that really appeals to me is Field Notes. I confess to being reeled in by the graphics - especially the National Parks themed covers - as well as the convenience of its size, and the interesting data on the inside back cover. Field Notes mostly are bundled in packs of three notebooks and, here in Canada, they are not readily available, as they are in their home country of the United States. I ordered from Wonder Pens in Toronto, and Amazon Canada, but received my first from Blesket Canada in Brampton. I was hooked after that.

Unfortunately, they are not great when using most fountain pen inks - unless you have a light hand, a fine or extra-fine nib, and a cooperating ink.

The Field Notes National Parks Series notebooks measure 3.5" x 5.5" with 48 pages (24 sheets.)

While in Victoria, B.C. recently, I came across the two (amongst others) pocket notebooks from The Unemployed Philosophers Guild. They are slightly smaller than Field Notes, but are sturdier, for lack of a better word, with stitching at the centre, instead of Fields Notes' three staples.

At the back of the Birdwatching notebook, there is a fold-out panel, though the Neverland Passport notebook doesn't have this feature.

The Neverland has some embossing on the front cover, though the Birdwatching doesn't. Either way, I love these notebooks and wish now that I had bought more while I had the chance.

Field Notes are printed in the USA and The Unemployed Philosophers Guild are printed in China.

My Field Notes National Parks have graph paper, while the UPG notebooks have both lined and blank.

Yes, I wish I had purchased more of these small notebooks, as I enjoy the whimsical and nostalgic feel of the designs.

I have yet to write in the UPG notebooks, so can't offer any information about fountain pen ink on the paper.

Measurements for the UPG notebooks are: 3 1/2" x 5" and contain 48 pages (24 sheets). 120gsm.

One of my other favourite pocket notebooks is the Flying Spirit line from Clairefontaine. These notebooks are stitched, have 48 pages (24 sheets) and are smaller than the UPG notebooks, measuring 7.5 cm x 12 cm.

The great thing about these notebooks, however, is the Clairefontaine paper, which handles almost all fountain pen ink very well. I use mine for notes about coffees, espresso, espresso drinks, and, while I should be utilizing a fountain pen on this paper - the best of all four - I prefer writing with the Blackwing 602 pencil and also the Blackwing 223.

Rite in the Rain All-Weather Universal No. 971FX-M

Lastly, at least in this post, is the Rite in the Rain All-Weather Universal notebook, No. 971FX-M.

I ordered these to try out the weatherproofing qualities and plan to keep two at our camp: One to keep in the boat, and one to keep in the cottage. The third one in the pack will be kept here at home.

These are designed mainly for pencils and, so far, they work very well with my Blackwings. They're tough little pocket books, have two staples at centre, horizontally lined, with vertical dotted lines. The pages are also numbered. The inside back cover describes which writing instruments will, and won't, work on the coated paper. These notebooks are made in the United States.

Measurements: 3.25" x 4.625"