Which is The Best Pocket Notebook?

A short look at three superb little pocket notebooks - which is my favourite?
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Cheers for now!
Mike

[@michellestephenson1680]

I’m so glad you’re recovered! The Apica is a nice little book. I have several in a drawer, purchased because I liked the colors. I should get them out the next time I need a notepad! Take care, and thanks for the tour of paper!

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for the wishes - all fine now! I think I'm going to have to get some more Apicas too. Lovely little notebooks.

[@Musicienne-DAB1995]

Good to hear you recovered. I am the opposite: I much prefer squared paper to lined paper, so the green hardcover pocket notebook would suit me well! Still a chronic biro user, so I might not be too worried by any bleed-through, though!

[@writerlywitterings]

No need to worry about bleed through, but ... you really ought to be using a nice fountain pen instead!

[@hazelpurls]

I'm glad you're better! The groups of paper in a book are called signatures (I have a fascination with book binding - though no time to spend doing it!) or at least they are called signatures when making the book - whether they retain that name in a finished book I'm not sure! I hope you enjoyed the pizza.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks, Hazel. That's really interesting. Of course, now you've told me that, I can find descriptions everywhere!

[@BooksForever]

Thanks for the time and effort you put into these informative and enjoyable chats on the various aspects of the writer's realm. I derive from these a healthy sense of well-being through a comfortable feeling of solidarity with a like-minded seeming fellow. Your videos serve as the friend I need yet likely don't quite deserve. Please continue, good sir! (PS. I'm a solid proponent of Apica notebooks; excellent quality at budget-friendly prices.)

[@writerlywitterings]

Many thanks for the comment, Kaspers - and yes, I love the Apicas too!

[@strawberrydolphin7324]

Good to hear your better

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad to be better!

[@simonmichaeltanner]

Really glad to hear you're better Michael! Like the retro look of the Apica. I've always liked the size and durability of the Moleskine hardcover too, but the paper performs disastrously with fountain pens

[@writerlywitterings]

I totally agree. The Moleskines were dreadful - but they have "professional" style notebooks now which are brilliant with fountain pens. I'm hoping that they'll put some of that kind of paper into their A5 notebooks before long.

[@mad0214]

My favorites are made by Write Pads in Baltimore.

[@writerlywitterings]

I haven't seen them this side of the pond sadly!

[@williamcrane1]

I’m glad that you are over COVID. Hmmm. Note books. I have scads of them - Rhodia, Midori Mnemosyne, Travelers, various sizes, stapled, glued, stitched - my wife’s second most used comment is “Another notrbook?” Her most used expression is “Not another fountain pen!” Delightful review as usual.

[@writerlywitterings]

Oddly enough, William, two days ago my wife was saying, "What do you mean you want another pen?"

[@johngrubb007]

So glad to see you are over covid. Not a pleasant experience I'm sure. As for the notebooks, I'm only familiar with the field notes and Apica from this group. I have stacks of notebooks waiting to be put in use and a few are Apica. They are wonderful little notebooks and I have both pocket-size, and A5 size. I love the cover design and the high-quality paper too. The prices on Apica are very affordable as well.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for sharing!

[@fossilimprint2954]

Lovely review and comparison, you gave me food for thought.

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad it was helpful! Let me know which you go to.

[@aprils.]

So glad you’re feeling better! I can certainly tell the difference in your demeanor.

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes! Thank you!

[@breadyegg]

I'm a big fan of the clairfontaine agebag notebooks. 9x14cm. Great paper, great price too.

[@writerlywitterings]

Good to know! Thanks for that!

[@Butterfly.Creations]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video!

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bryanfletcher-nz8229]

I use that Apica for recording currently inked pens. Using four lines I acknowledge 1) The Name of the pen and nib size, 2) Ink Brand and name of colour, 3) Date Inked and Date Cleaned, 4) a variating sample line going from slow waves to intense scribble across the line. This in fact rules off that entry, and I fit four entries per side. Very easy to read both sides as you say, the only other thing I do, is cut to fit a sheet of pink Herbin blotting paper which actually works as a book mark as well.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Bryan, and thanks. Great ideas.

[@JBFire97]

Still love my Travellers note book. I do like the amount of variation on the Field Notes series and the various cover designs. As you say very pocketable. Thanks as always.

[@writerlywitterings]

Same here! Traveller's Notebooks are great and very convenient. My only issue really is that they can be a little too tall for certain pockets. The Apica has the advantage (for me) that when I'm walking the dog , it fits into my trouser pocket perfectly. The Midori tends to stick out a little too much, and can get wet, knocked, and otherwise damaged!

[@JBFire97]

@@writerlywitterings I believe they make a smaller size, not sure of the dimensions? Have a lovely weekend!

[@rajkumar-yt1me]

It's beautiful writing experience with pockets notebooks

[@writerlywitterings]

I do agree. They are so convenient!

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

Still use my Travellers Notebook quite often , not as a sketch book but just as a going out in the field notebook in my bag, useful for taking notes when videoing railways , another good review Mike, but will not be buying anymore notebooks for a while as I have too many already, thanks for an interesting presentation

[@writerlywitterings]

How can you have too many notebooks? Not possible!

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

@@writerlywitterings Hi Mike, the problem I have is I live in a 2 bed flat, no garage, no loft, my study looks less than half the size of yours 12’ x 9’, the study is the 2nd bedroom, I have two desks, one for iMac ( bloody thing, but that’s another story ) and one for Windows Desktop which is also my Ham Radio Desk, chest of drawers with Printer, 4 Really Useful Plastic Towers which house my Lego Bricks and other items, 2 x 2 drawer filing cabinets, tumble dryer, 2 sewing machines and a Overlocker, 5 bookcase 7’ tall , 6’ wide and around the other two walls another 15 shelves, of course I could find space for more notebooks but they would add more clutter to what’s already there, mind you Clare has gone to stay with her daughter this week at Stone, her daughter is the manager of a high class charity shop, she often finds pens left in donated items and she told me on Sunday she has quite a few fountain pens in her desk drawer, so when she drops Clare off later this week she’s going to let me have them, Will I be lucky, CS, Mont Blanc, Visconti, ?, who knows what she will unknowingly drop in my hands, until I came across your channel I had never owned more than a couple of Parker FP’s, now I have several different ones, anyway hope you are enjoying your day…Mike aka Poggy

[@JosephDickson]

I use that Field Notes ruler more than any other.

[@writerlywitterings]

Ah, well, the best ruler you can have is the one that's to hand!

[@mojavejoe190]

I’m a big Kokuyo paper fan. The campus B5 notebooks may be the best value in paper.

[@writerlywitterings]

I'll have to try one . I don't have one (yet)!

[@jamesaritchie1]

I really dislike Field Notes. It has too little paper for the price, and it isn't nearly as fountain pen friendly as I want. I haven't tried the Kokuyo, and probably won't, simply because I'm more than content with what I already use. Apica paper is simply one of the best papers out there, and doesn't cost much at all for what you get. I use three sizes, and all three are fantastic. I've tried pocket notebooks of all sorts and brands, and none of them beat Apica for my needs. That said, Exceed, which is a Walmart brand, has a 3.5x5.5 hardcover pocket notebook with a pocket in back, an elastic to keep it closed, and has two marker ribbons. The paper is 100gsm, very fountain pen friendly, there's a lot of it, and the price is just under five dollars. It's owned by a company in Georgia, and the owners actually listen to customers. It comes in blank, dot grid, and lined. I use the blank ones as fountain pen friendly sketch books, and the lined ones for all sorts of things. I still use a lot of the Apica notebooks, but the Exceed notebooks, in both the pocket size and an A5 size, fill several uses that were problematic before. Oh, yes, one other thing. It didn't take long at all to make a leather cover for the Apica notebook. I don't always use it, but it really helps when I have one that I don't want to look like I dug it out of a dumpster.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for that, James. I am with you on the Apica. I'll have to see if I can find an Exceed somewhere - it's not a name I've seen in the UK. And I like the idea of a leather cover for the Apica, although I doubt I'll get round to making one for myself!

[@nrstooge]

Rhodia also makes a pocket sized notebook that is good and inexpensive.

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes, I do have some of their cahiers and notebooks, but I have found the notebooks to be variable in terms of ability to cope with fountain pens. Some have been great - others utterly useless!

[@brianexplores285]

Welcome back to restored health. Drink plenty of green tea. That Apica paper is wonderful. Maybe my favorite.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, Brian - I did try green teas a while ago, but found them too bitter for my taste. Sticking to fermented black teas now! Thanks - and I agree on Apica!

[@leebyrd1434]

Is she a Ridgeback?!? Love her! Yes I do!

[@writerlywitterings]

She certainly is - the bounciest, friendliest Ridgeback I've ever owned!

[@jameswall5758]

Thanks, Michael. Will get an Apica notebook. But did you say you got it from Cult Pens? Can’t see it there but the Journal Shop do stock them

[@writerlywitterings]

No, not Cult. This was sent to me from a friend in the US, so I can't recommend anyone as a supplier, I'm afraid. Journal Shop do seem a good supplier generally, though. Best of luck!

[@johnnyragadoo2414]

That William Hannah notebook looks nice. I don't like overly thick notebooks. I also don't like running low on paper. Circa notebooks have been a good compromise. I print my own blank pages on heavy stock and I've got a Circa punch. Are the Williman Hannah ring notebooks compatible with Circa punches?

[@writerlywitterings]

Sorry, I haven't seen a Circa page so couldn't say. However, you could send me a page and I'll test it for you, if you like. Alternatively, ask William Hannah to send you a sample page and see whether it fits?

[@johnnyragadoo2414]

@@writerlywitterings You, sir, are a true gentleman. I sent a PDF of a Circa page, but I may have gotten the answer with a quick Google search. I found a page that said William Hannah ring notebooks were compatible with Staple's Arc system, which is said to be compatible with Levenger's Circa. Personal stationery can be much more than mere ego. Imagine you're taking a course, or writing a novel. A variant on Cornell note format can be useful. One area on a sheet can be your cumulative notes on a topic. Blank space lets you amend. Back at your computer, you can update your cumulative wisdom, reprint the sheet, and have a nice, living, notebook. Be well. I enjoy your witterings!

[@markcohen5094]

The heavier Field Notes papers like 70lb, found in the America the Beautiful, or Shelterwood both take fountain pen ink better.

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks, Mark. I will see if I can get a copy of one of them.

[@lware1]

What do you carry the TN and thick sketch book in while out walking the dogs?seems bulky for pocket if not walking in a coat in cold weather. In summer how would you carry? In a pocket or bag or hand?

[@writerlywitterings]

I have a couple of small bags for just that reason. When I'm out with the dog, I tend to be out for two hours, so a decent bag is pretty essential!

[@Outandaboutwithpoggy]

@@writerlywitterings Do you still use your Maxpedition Jumbo, I have one but hardly ever use it much preferring my Billingham photo bag with the insert removed

[@daytonagreg8765]

If I may ask, What did you use to color your sketchbook? Thank you, Greg -MD, USA.

[@writerlywitterings]

HI, Daytona, I tend to use watercolours. I always try to have a small paintbox with me and a water brush, so when I see something that appeals, I can just grab them and do a quick sketch!

[@dominikamalia]

Nice video and got me curious about who you are... I subscribed. But I'm not sure why you said, that 105mm x 148mm is an 'odd size' - it is simply DIN A6 - which is regular standard size in Europe. I myself got in love with the B6 format since I got to know it and it was really difficult to get it around here for a while (still is not a common one and I place my orders in specialized shops)... 😊 Wait, aren't you British? According to the Wikipedia Map (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_size#/media/File:Prevalent_default_paper_size.svg) it's a regular size in the UK as well, no? Will check out more of your channel now. ☺ Greetings from Sweden.

[@dominikamalia]

I love the Apica Brand really.

[@writerlywitterings]

Greetings from a wet and windy Dartmoor, Dominika. I love your music, and I've subscribed to you too. Yes, I'm British, but the Apica size seems just a little different from the sizes I'm more used to, such as the Moleskine sizes. It is likely just because I'm so used to B6 and other larger sizes, and these smaller ones are not so common on my desk! Either way, many thanks for the comment (and the music) and I hope you enjoy some of the other videos too. All best wishes.

[@mokane99]

Two "signatures," not sets.

[@writerlywitterings]

I don't understand?