Best Pocket Notebooks of 2020

[@Ali-in8xi]

I used to purchase Moleskin notebooks; they weren't very expensive and were always easy to find locally in New York City. However, I had to search for an alternative once I got into fountain pens as the paper doesn't do well at all with the ink.

[@bevl4489]

The moleskine cahier have always been my go to, mainly for the cheap price and ability to get them at my local staples. I dont use my fountain pens on it though, I normally pair it with a fisher bullet pen

[@nootch6328]

Bullet pens are the best. Their refills are amazing and can turn a cheap disposable pen into an amazing one.

[@1996keanu]

It doesnt ghost?

[@bevl4489]

@@1996keanu nope

[@mathewTK94]

I am a maintenance engineer and I use the cahier as they are cheap and fit in my overalls pocket!

[@jamiewillis774]

I love the MUJI notebooks. Whilst I love good branding and design, like seen with the field notes and traveller's notebooks, I think MUJI capitalises on the aspect of having a minimalist, no brand design which I find is also aesthetically pleasing.

[@user-sj2zy7rx9t]

truuuuuueeeee

[@Ali-in8xi]

No doubt that any one of these notebooks would be convenient to have; personally, I've got to have a hardcover. Not only would I like my notebook to look good or unique even, I want it to feel substantial in my hands. The softcover just doesn't do it for me. My favorites are the Leuchtturm A6 (pair with a newly acquired Leuchtturm Drehgriffel ballpoint) and the more executive-styled Traveler's Company pocket-sized notebook (pair with a Parker Jotter Bond Street in black/gold). Can't go wrong with either. Thanks for the video!

[@jeremylince9307]

The Leuchtturm1917 has been my go to pocket planner for years now. Absolutely love them but that cotton paper strikes my interest.

[@TheHyggeHaus]

Big endorsement from me on Leuchtturm books!

[@bixby451]

Fabriano makes some great notebooks. My favorite pocket notebook is the Fabriano Finsbury A6.

[@fastandcurious]

I have become a fan of Jetstream multi pens by watching your reviews. As notebooks, my preferred pocket notebook system is x17 in A6, super quality, super affordable and ingeniously simple and functional multi notebook setup.

[@gloriavillanueva2913]

I prefer a hardcover pocket notebook. I switched to Rhodia and it holds up very well plus allows me to use my Fountain Pens.

[@dstdrummer]

No Rite In The Rain? I absolutely love their notebooks. I have so many of them and in like four different sizes. Great notebooks!

[@unsharpen]

I don’t love the plasticy paper. Bit yea it’s very useful around water and when you need something tough

[@dstdrummer]

@@unsharpen I agree about the paper. It’s kind of weird. But work outside about 50% of the time. So if it starts raining, I need that durability. I guess if that weren’t the case, I would use something different.

[@jakublulek3261]

I went quite basic and I use Oxford A6 pocket notebooks with good Rotring or Pelikan ballpoint. I like Optik paper that Oxford has, it is a bit expensive for what it is but they are available and take fountain pen or gel pen handsomely.

[@musicmaestro88]

Love my Traveler's Passport setup. Fits in my back pocket or cargo pocket. I did do a "custom" insert though (Tomoe 82gsm, 250 pages) because like you, it's too complicated w/ multiple inserts. I prefer a larger single insert that "should" last he whole year. I also have a (custom) 300 page dot grid book as well that I can't wait to use and I think it'll "certainly" take me through a year. I like the annual pocket book for easier archving. I'd love for you to review the Zequenz Color Collection A6- (a6 minus) and see what you think. Cheers.

[@JoeyPerezthethird]

I use the Leuchtturm 1917 now. And left 8 years of using Moleskine behind. The Leuchtturm 1917 is by far best in every category! Check it out when you get the chance.

[@unsharpen]

Good call. I like them.

[@dannysvinylrainbow4852]

Thanks for the video! Love the field notes with a leather cover and Pilot MP ballpoint

[@Olumin37]

If you could make a video talking about the best Slips/Cases/Etuis for fountain pens or nicer rollerballs/ballpoints that would be great. I have been looking for something to keep my Lamy 2000 in for a while now, and I’m not sure whether or not the original Lamy leather slips are any good.

[@unsharpen]

Great suggestion! basically a single pen case right?

[@Olumin37]

@@unsharpen Yea thats right. A case for one or maybe two pens.

[@BOH1995]

Look at Galen Leather, they have some really nice stuff.

[@SilverSeaOT7]

Love the Cahier notebooks in my travelers notebook. Muji also has a “high quality paper” notebook in A6, B6 and A5. The B6 is between $5-$6. The paper is amazing. I don’t use fountain pens often but the inexpensive ones I have do fine and mildliners are also amazing and do not show through. Ghosting is very, very minimal. They lay flat. The paper is very smooth with a tiny bit of tooth.

[@Wanis5000]

Review the wellspring flip note pad. I have been using mine for quite a bit and to be honest, it has been amazing with it.

[@unsharpen]

Thanks for the tip.

[@paperspeaksco]

I would have also added the Kokuyo Sketch Book for its sturdy cover and the smallest grid out there on any paper

[@alexblue6991]

Having a note book has saved me from losing work holidays when my boss thought I was on holiday but I was working elsewhere and said I had used all my days off all I had to do is look at my notes and tell him whare I was working and what job I was doing and also helps to explain expenses when questiond months afterwards I had purchased something for work

[@justinh3741]

You sound just like me with notebooks. I don't *need* so many notebooks but I buy different kinds and qualities just because I love pocket notebooks. I have two brands I use on a daily basis that get used and abused that I didn't see you mention, but might be of interest. One is the Word. brand notebooks. They have the same quality, size, and style as the Field Notes books with similar paper, but they have a unique layout specific to them. Awesome for bullet point writing and lists, for example I use them to keep track of purchases and tracking numbers. Second one I recommend highly is one that most people don't see outside the military, but they are readily available, are the Skilcraft Memoranda notebooks. Same size as the Field Notes and just as pocket friendly, but WAY more durable. They are designed to go in the pockets of military, so take that as you will. They are bound like a book and don't really lay flat, but the paper is good and I found them to be fountain pen friendly enough. They come in different sizes, but the Field Note size has a National Stock Number of NSN2220078. I have a ton of them and love em.

[@unsharpen]

Great suggestions. I know skilcraft but their notebooks are new to me. Thank you!

[@justinh3741]

@@unsharpen No problem. Skilcraft also has a full size spiral-bound notebook with paper made from sugar cane that's really FP friendly as well. I use them almost exclusively now.

[@TweakMDS]

Some good candidates for fountain pen users: Best binding --> Flexbook Adventure Notebook A6: These are good fountain pen friendly paper and open up surprisingly well. Best paper --> Clairefontaine Age Bag 9x14cm: My very favorite paper in a good travel size. Best allround --> Leuchtturm 1917 A6 (any version): Slightly less amazing paper, but over all really good quality notebooks. I prefer the A5 hardcover in this style though.

[@jordanquinley2471]

No mention of Doane Paper?

[@unsharpen]

Haven’t used doane in years! I remember it being a bit too absorbent for me taste.

[@peterlinfield8707]

You say the red Silvine notebooks are expensive in the States. Wow! In the UK you can buy them for as little as a quid. The most expensive place to buy them is Amazon. Someone is ripping you off pal. The paper is excellent quality. I use a fountain pen and there is no bleed through the paper. (Please see my subsequent comment below.)🙂

[@unsharpen]

Sadly the project size is no longer made but the other sizes have gotten easier to find and cheaper.

[@Truth72500]

Blackwing notebooks are my favorite

[@BOH1995]

Have you ever looked into Write Notepads & Co, I am always on the search for the perfect notebook/paper & pen. I think I've found my pens of choice with the Twsbi Eco & with Write Notepad Co I have found some great notebooks in all different sizes etc & they have just now released a legal pad I can't wait to get my order in for a few of those.

[@unsharpen]

This is a new company for me. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@denisewoodell7543]

Are these like journals ?.and what's the best small/carry in pocket kind ?

[@unsharpen]

I like the hobonichi ones

[@GeauxRilla]

Which has the most pages?

[@rickbar123]

Are the Silvine books the same size as the Field Books?

[@peterlinfield8707]

6.2 X 3.7 inches 160 X 95 mm

[@fossilimprint2954]

Thank you for this comparison, would you change anything if you were to make this sort of video today?

[@unsharpen]

I have a few styles I’ve found that I would like to talk about but I’m still pretty happy with this list.

[@kamenriderblade2099]

Where's a good place to find the Midori MD paper pocket notebook for a good price?

[@GeauxRilla]

Amazon

[@Copilot1204]

I got 3 moleskin cashier's for $7 I just use them for notes and songwriting

[@DavidHdz8]

At a Marshall's I found a 6 pack Cahier journal set for 12 dollars.

[@llywrch7116]

I like the Moleskin Cahiers because while the paper is good to very good quality, the cardboard covers signifies to me that the notebook is not precious so I have no reluctance to use it.

[@HardcityRaindrops]

Shocked you don’t have any log n jotters

[@unsharpen]

That one is new to me. Thanks

[@rajkumar-yt1me]

I like this pocket notebook with good writing thing

[@amaxamon]

i think when a ms is sewn it's called "saddle-bound". I never use those little notebooks but always look very attractive in the store LoL but I know I'll never use them.

[@unsharpen]

oh thanks for the note. I think you are correct!

[@robdunn2029]

Good recommendation for the Silverline thanks. Luckily I can get them from the UK but even then they ain't cheap. Get what you pay for I guess.

[@peterlinfield8707]

Try The Range. Less then a quid. @ April 2024.

[@jpolar394]

This is just from personal experience, Field Notes is worthless by itself. To make it worth it's money you MUST have a cover on it. Leather is great, but it might be expensive for some, A very close second is Rite In The Rain except they don't make the same size as Field Notes and their price is slowly creeping up, BUT their papers are not stapled they are glued and last much longer.

[@unsharpen]

I didn’t include my rite in the rain because the paper isn’t good for all pen types.

[@jpolar394]

@@unsharpen .......Rite In The Rain is excellent for hot and humid days, Field Notes are worthless for those days.

[@unsharpen]

Quite correct. You are dealing with tougher conditions than I am!

[@aronbanon1606]

i love the #LUmiy

[@aldenfalkofficial]

awesomee , #newsubscriber

[@unsharpen]

Thanks for the sub!

[@johnmonk66]

They are all blank, stop buying notebooks and start filling them

[@unsharpen]

Counterpoint: I’m not going to show notebooks fill of private notes in a public setting.