is Field Notes OVERRATED?

[@WonderAboutUs]

I prefer plain notebooks, but I slip a piece of lined paper behind the pages on which I'm currently working. I love the effect - when I move the lined paper it makes my writing look super-straight without any lines.

[@GareTheBear]

ooooo I've never heard of that before. That's a great idea!!!

[@EriIrilli]

I have literally been trying to figure out how to get this effect for years. Thank you so much for sharing you have no idea how much this changes for me.

[@IvanRomero-ho8wv]

I used to buy Field Notes when they were $9.99 for the 3-pack. I stopped when they raised the price. I still have a lot of books so I'll use up my stock until they are gone.

[@GareTheBear]

I bet that was a nice time for field notes users! Good thing you stocked up!!

[@bryansammis998]

Before using mini-composition notebooks ( but after the Moleskine) I tried Field Notes. Yes, their quality. Yes, they’re a few dollars more . But, for me it was price, but more importantly LOGISTICS! I can only get Field Notes online. The mini-composition notebooks are easier to acquire from local sources. Dollar General, Dollar Tree, CVS Pharmacy are walking distance from my home. Walmart and Staples are within three miles.

[@GareTheBear]

Great point! Lots of ppl don't have access to the places that carry Field Notes. Online is great, but you can't always do it in a pinch. (Plus the others are way cheaper too, as you said🤣)

[@Rfpepe7295]

I would like to add that I like to buy as many things locally as possible . Even if it is Walmart, there are local people working there and I want to support them.

[@JoshStasio884]

​@@GareTheBear there are genetic versions of field notes many have more pages, i use those i got like 12 for 12 dollars

[@Omniczech]

Graph Paper enjoyer reporting in, I do really wish more places did a 6mm, and Field notes is even smaller than the usual 5mm that most brands do. The big perk is being able to write either landscape or vertical on the fly with base lines to keep your writing from drifting. Also I cannot imagine the hell of being someone who enjoys a near 1mm pen and trying to write into the tiny squares.

[@GareTheBear]

HAHA you're right about the 1mm pen in the tiny squares. I never thought about the writing in it sideways til you and others mentioned it. That makes really good sense. It's good to hear from a graph paper enjoyer!🫡

[@FrancetteFontaine]

I love my Field Notes! Beautiful paper and covers gives me more inspiration to always write and carry it everywhere. Very durable. I prefer Dots and Grid. I also use their 56 week planner. Life changing.

[@GareTheBear]

Awesome!! Writing in a notebook of any kind is life changing stuff. Glad you are able to experience that!

[@ajse_o]

I do really enjoy your videos! I got into Field Notes about 6 months ago, I’ve accumulated a lot of them and use one every 3 weeks. They do have a lot of beautiful editions. Regardless of being flimsy, they wear really nice and I think that’s what really attracted me to them. They could look beat up but still pleasing to look at. Thanks for giving them a try!

[@GareTheBear]

Hey, thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I agree they're wonderful little notebooks and I bet they'll wear in beautifully! Not 100% my cup of tea, but that's okay! I appreciate your support!

[@7775Kevin]

The thing about Field Notes is that it is an American company that does some wonderfully creative work. The kraft paper notebooks you reviewed are only the most basic product they offer. I have been a fan of Field Notes for years and have a great collection of all of the products they have released. Many different sizes and shapes of notebooks, calendars, planners, and artwork. They have a yearly subscription that ships out an original and well thought out set of books quarterly. They include a lot of extras in their shipments and they are a very friendly and responsive company. I am happy to support the work they do and I thoroughly enjoy the variety of products I've received from them over the years.

[@GareTheBear]

I have seen the great things they make! I adore the National Parks collection. I've been made aware before that the kraft books are the least durable and the other designs are better quality. I can confirm, and I'll have to make a separate video talking about the other I have now! I agree they're a GREAT company. I might become addicted to collecting the cool covers🤣🤣🤣

[@AmsNl2BcnEs]

Grid or dots all the way. I often turn mine sideways so lined is super annoying. Blank doesn’t feel like it’s value for money, plain paper is cheap and I nearly always have a folded sheet of A4 with me anyway.

[@GareTheBear]

I never thought of how well grids works if you need to flip your notebook sideways! You definitely gave me another good perspective to see it from!

[@JosephDickson]

I keep one on me at all times in a stiff leather wallet folio. These are made in the US, using high quality paper, not something you see in this space very often.

[@GareTheBear]

I've seen their leather wallets/holders for them. They look really nice!

[@JosephDickson]

​​@@GareTheBear I opted to buy a passport wallet from Portland Leather. It's slightly smaller and I trim the back cover to fit.

[@GareTheBear]

Good to know! I've been wondering what companies are out there that make such things. Thanks for the tip!

[@jo-annel.wright2975]

Same same but different. I have leather travellers notebooks with multiple inserts. And like you one for every day carry so to my mind worth every penny.

I love all my Field Notes for writing my emotions, Daily plans,…

[@GareTheBear]

They're really nice for all those things! I'm looking forward to using my plain one for drawing

@@GareTheBear that’s great. Do it

[@GareTheBear]

That's the plan!

[@fridaserrano6611]

I prefer grid or dotted notebooks, because i get to do whatever i want or need with a tiny bit of structure if needed. I did find the cover quite durable, i carried my field notes in my back pocket and it held pretty well even when i was sweating. It would be amazing if it had more pages like a mini composition notebook but i think it's a solid EDC

[@GareTheBear]

Definitely solid! I think, too, it depends a lot on what you value in a notebook. Personally, I need a budget notebook with lots of pages. So that has a lot to do with my position when talking about my preferences. Still, a great notebook overall!

[@fridaserrano6611]

@GareTheBear i started in the journal community quite young and it was always a dream to use these very popular brands. Whoever, adult me has started to value the low cost of something like mini composition notebooks or similar for the simple concept of "with the price of this one I get to buy 'x' amount of composition ones, which means that I'll never run out of them (most likely) and I get to keep writing". So yeah, I consider these popular nice brands like a sweet treat in my collection.

[@GareTheBear]

Very well put! I'm with you. They're a treat, but as long as I get my ideas down I'm satisfied!

[@jo-annel.wright2975]

Yes. Dot grid is my favourite and grid is next. Then lined but a blank page is frightening to me... lol. I often print dot grid pages and scour the op shops for unused grid or graph school books. I have quite a stash now. When needed I create my own junk journal notebooks and use a nice card given to me as a cover. And I make a junk journal inside a birthday card as gifts too.

[@jo-annel.wright2975]

​@@fridaserrano6611 I am much more about how a book feels, functions and fits and cost is far less relevant to me. AuADHD. My note books along with coffee are my drugs of choice...lol. Sweetie just laughs when I do a 'show and tell' of my latest and said he wished he could like them as much. I said he has his tv which I could consign to the dump. Horses for courses?

[@kjvav8755]

I bought several packs of Field Notes a while ago and only use them for tracking finances. I don’t go through them fast but the do hold up in a leather cover I picked up for a good price. I’m stuck on the mini composition note books for the price and east of carry. They hold up for as long as I need them to and it is paper that works for my style. Good content and I’m looking forward to the comparison of all three styles.

[@GareTheBear]

I've heard a lot of good things about the leather covers! Thanks for tuning in! I appreciate it🫡

[@JaxsonHampton1]

I have an idea for another way you can compare these in part 4 how easy would it be to switch to one of these (if you wanted too)from your current pocket notebook like how well would you be able to just switch how seamless would it be if you did

[@GareTheBear]

Very interesting! It'd be tricky because of the way my EDC is set up. The pouch I carry everything in is the perfect size for my mini comp books, and field notes and others are too big to fit it. I think the fit would be rocky, but otherwise I bet pretty smooth!

[@SmokyMountainTech]

The printed covers are much sturdier. The “brown” cover field notes are a bummer but the national parks series cover is much better. I use about 6-7 a year but the craft paper isnt my favorite.

[@GareTheBear]

Ohhhh, good to know!!! I'll have to get some of the printed ones and check it out for myself

[@jo-annel.wright2975]

I used fieldnotes with the brown coverfor my my notes diary. Yes they got shabby even in a leather travellers notebook and I have been known to stitch the book back together when they failed at the staples. All the fun of paper crafting...

[@chlonley]

1:00 I like this quote a lot

[@GareTheBear]

An absolute BANGER of a quotation🔥🔥🔥

[@marshall1oo627]

If you haven’t already, you should try Midori notebooks. Their paper is some of the nicest you can get in notebook form and it isn’t crazy expensive

[@GareTheBear]

I think I've heard of these before. I'll have to go do a little research! Thanks for the tip!

[@carriebartkowiak]

Except midori loves that paper color that screams "My cat peed completely SOAKED this book in pee, but it's dry now, so I may as well use it, right?" :)

[@GareTheBear]

🤣🤣

[@Eugensson]

Yamamoto Paper Ro-Biki is also awesome. Their kraft paper covers are waxed, and feel so awesome.

[@havefunbesafe]

You know how to sketch and draw! Very nice.👍🏼 Field Notes are my favorite.❤️Those covers wear really nice over time…big win for me.

[@GareTheBear]

thanks!!! I can't wait to see how they are long-term!

[@rosvw3517]

I’m a die-hard Field Notes fan. I’ve tried a myriad of other notebooks and none are as interesting or fun to use. Yes, the Midori and other brands have better paper, especially for fountain pens, but I prefer a PaperMate Ink Joy gel pen with the FN brand. Moleskine is not what it used to be and the paper is abysmal. I wish Dingbats made a similar cahier style, and Clairefontaine makes Flying Spirit, which blows them all out of the water. The first thing I do with my Field Notes notebooks is a good strip of Scotch tape along the spines. Pays off in the end. lol.

[@GareTheBear]

Seems like you've got a pretty good idea about all of these!!! I'll definitely keep the field notes tape thing in mind!🫡

[@Christopherdiornguyen]

Field notes is not overrated but there are some parts I do agree with you ☺️.

[@AmsNl2BcnEs]

Harsh ?

[@Christopherdiornguyen]

@@AmsNl2BcnEs it’s an inside joke haha

[@AmsNl2BcnEs]

@@Christopherdiornguyen ah ok. Usually would expect someone to put (jk) after such a post. *shrugs*

[@GareTheBear]

Right on!🤣 Didn't have to change the comment, man it's all love!

[@GareTheBear]

No biggie!🤣

[@IsabellaPabst]

Duuude, before you mentioned that you had to label them I actually thought these labels came with the notebooks lol. They look good :) I really liked the labels 😊

[@GareTheBear]

Haha, that's awesome!🤣 They ought to have them marked on the outside somehow! Thanks!

[@IsabellaPabst]

@@GareTheBear They should collab with you tho 💪🏼

[@GareTheBear]

That would be SICK!🔥🔥🔥

[@bedhead-studio]

I've never tried field notes but i've been thinking about trying them, so I appreciate this video. Honestly, grid paper has my heart. I must be cooked though, because I typically use a 1.0mm pen. I even use it on my Hobonichi cousin that has a 3.7mm grid.

[@GareTheBear]

Yeahhh the thick tip is rough for the small grids🤣 BUT I still say they're worth a try! If you wanna give em a shot, you could even use my link and support the channel!

[@LewisLittle66]

I use A6 (and A5) notebooks by Clairefontaine and they are so much better quality than Field Notes, especially for fountain pens.

[@GareTheBear]

Interesting! I'll have to look em up! Thanks!

[@jo-annel.wright2975]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Notebooks are one of my things so by default content creators talking about notebooks are my people... I was twice gifted a three pack of fieldnotes. I used them to create my annual week to a page notes diary. I inserted extra pages by cannibaliseing a sacrificial fieldnotes. I have used up all six just this year, 2024. Officeworks have dot grid moleskin no-s cahier online so ordered three pack to trial for my notes diary. The extra pages as mentioned means I won't need to insert any to make up the 52 weeks. I have three River Song fieldnotes and passport travellers notebooks from Alguild on Etsy. One for my everyday carry. One for my campervan. One for random notebooks. I do create junk journal style notebooks for custom inserts in each of my travellers notebooks. I am also considering trimming the stitched 96 page A6 notebooks I got from the cheap shop to fieldnote size. I don't Bullet Journal per se but if memory serves me it was the wedge between me and my complacency with the collins A5 week to an opening school diary I had been using for decades. I did try commercial diaries many times but the last one I bought was a notes diary with the week on one page and the other page dedicated for notes which calmed my farm for some reason. I have never seen one in my shops since then hence the fascination with accounts that help me try to perfect my travellers notebooks as well as personal, home and life's organisation.

[@GareTheBear]

Hopefully you have enjoyed the videos my friend! Thank you for sharing your thoughts as well!🙏

[@fanartfanatic4345]

IDK if this matters but. I always make mine from scratch like home made and stuff. I guess I like how i can choose how Big or small or thine or think i can get my note book. It gives me a lot of freedom that comes with it.😅

[@GareTheBear]

Absolutely love that! I've been wanting to do the same! Can't wait for that project to happen finally, very soon!

[@applejuice-4706]

I would love to see that!

[@GareTheBear]

Stay tuned👀

[@jo-annel.wright2975]

Same here. Along with watching videos of bullet journals, life planners, travellers notebooks, notebooks comparisons junk journalling is fascinating. Putting them all together to suit oneself is a learning curve, frustrating and calming. The Complete package.

[@Carsonial]

I love using the grid for my weekly planner

[@GareTheBear]

It's great for something like that! It makes it easy to section things off and make boxes and such!

[@andrearivera6168]

I never used Field Notes until I won a contest from @Carsonial. I decided to write my movie and book reviews in mine. I really enjoy writing in them but probably won't purchase any because of the price point. I'm on a strict budget and don't have much wiggle room. So I'll continue using my mini composition books and will continue being satisfied with them.

[@quintym7090]

I would love to try field notes once but in Europe there are more expensive than the Moleskine Cahier once’s 😅😅

[@GareTheBear]

Yeah I've heard that they're crazy expensive over there! That's unfortunate!

[@Sannuka]

Hiiii. I like the music on the video. ❤❤❤

[@GareTheBear]

Thank you! Glad you like it!

[@thelittledojo]

I prefer Field Book from Amazon, better quality, 5 pack much cheaper per book.

[@GareTheBear]

I've heard those are good!!!

[@Mimlou]

Yes, they are overrated. I just use a $1 notebook from Walmart. Works beautifully, and holds gel ink much better than Field Notes

[@GareTheBear]

The cheapos work particularly well with gel! I agree!

[@EnWeh1980]

Great music 🎹😍 And again an interesting comparison 👍

[@GareTheBear]

Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed!

[@kims5137]

Graph paper!

[@GareTheBear]

📈📈📈

[@jo-annel.wright2975]

Dot grid... lol

[@andrewcurtis4907]

Overrated and overpriced. The cheap knockoffs - some of which existed before FN even started - are better. The only reason to have FN is if you're going to collect all the different covers and keep them all when you've filled them

[@GareTheBear]

Definitely a common take! I really love all their different covers. Fun to collect, but you can definitely get cheaper if you're not into the collecting!

[@jo-annel.wright2975]

Another reason is fieldnotes is American. We have some Australian notebooks with higher prices. User pays is valuable thinking. Cheap mass produced means higher carbon footprint, possibly slave factories and lost local jobs. Everything has hidden costs that trickles from one generation to the next even our notebooks. GTD: generational transmitted debts?

[@Pauli-m9k]

Yes.

[@milesknightestrada3286]

Irrelevant question.

[@GareTheBear]

All love here! Thanks for watching!🫡

[@FrancetteFontaine]

I love my Field Notes! Beautiful paper and covers gives me more inspiration to always write and carry it everywhere. Very durable. I prefer Dots and Grid. I also use their 56 week planner. Life changing.