Why my DISCBOUND Notebook is a GAME-CHANGER for Productivity. Better than a 6 ring binder

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

For my go current EDC backpack, which often includes carrying my lovely notebook, check this out kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4WQp3mpe5psias

[@mstb2023]

I discovered discbound notebooks about 5 years ago and I've never looked back (to binders or spirals). They are awesome and so customizable. The ability to fold it back on itself like a spiral notebook and the ability to move things around like a binder. AND the discs come in amazing colors. I love Levenger metal discs!!!

[@bitrudder3792]

I both love and feel addicted to the endless possibilities of disc binders. I'm not crafty, but I decided to make disc binders my grand experiment when I turned 60 (a few years ago). Totally satisfied the inner nerd that loves to research all the details about disc binders, page sizes, punches, holes, prices, ways to use them, pre-made pages, how to make my own pages, and how I like to integrate paper and digital planning, etc. Totally satisfied my artistic urge to color coordinate when I want, and to create something unique as I made or repurposed dividers with different materials and images, experiment with different labelling color schemes. I did mood boards ahead of time of how I would implement themes in different colored leather notebooks. I even satisfied the desire for a tiny bit of luxury by selectively shopping sales for the occasional special leather and/or accessory purchase. All of this opportunity to play has its downside, of course, lol. Thankfully, my digital planning keeps me on track most of the time, no matter where I am in a creative, aesthetic project! TIP - In my experience, my HP Work+Life dividers (granted, from a defective letter-size binder on a sale table) don't fully cover letter-size paper that has been punched with my Levenger punches. Not sure if this is true of other HP letter-size "Big" binders or non-defective ones. The "mushroom" hole is different enough between these two products that it might make a difference if you are "frankenplanning" between brands. TUL and Levenger feel very interchangeable to me, I haven't noticed a difference (thought they are slightly different). I didn't feel like Martha Stewart pages turned as well as others. So play with the products a bit before purchase, if you can, if this might affect how you use your disc binders. 🙂 (PS - I liked the dividers and my cosmetic updates so much that I ended up splurging on an HP Punch on top of my Levenger ones - and the BIG Levenger punch is AWESOME for going through cool materials to make covers and dividers as well!).

[@bestiefswlady5251]

@@bitrudder3792 I agree with you about the Martha Stewart things - I bought several of them on clearance from Staples a few years ago and it they seem to sort not move as smoothly. But disk bound planning sure is a blast with all of the options :)

[@Flatability]

A good comparison video. For me, as the owner of around 100 filofaxes, and 20 ARC ring bound planners, there is one reason why a filofax is the better option for me. If I'm out on the road, without a punch, I can easily use a pen to punch six holes in a blank sheet of paper, and then insert it into a filofax. IF I included a disc bound planner in my EDC, I would have to carry a separate mushroom punch. Having said that, I use disc bound planners in the office. Thanks for sharing.

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

thanks for sharing too! that's great you found a good system, each definitely has its pros and cons, I am still IN LOVE with my discbound notebook I put together :D

[@maryannemoll]

Discbound IS better. We can even invent weird paper sizes for it, and DIY our own covers. And the disc colors don’t even have to match. I love it. I even made a discbound wallet with laminated card holders. It’s on my channel. And so that the holes won’t degrade, Just use thicker paper, 100gsm and up. I use 160gsm on metal discs and it makes me feel so fancy.

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

damnnn that's some thiccc paper. I doubt regular printer paper would work well in a discbound, it would be "ok" in the ring binder I suppose but all my notebooks as an adult have been thicker paper.

[@abbylynn8872]

@@GadgetsGearCoffee regular notebook paper works just fine for discbound. I can lift up the notebook by one piece of paper. I've been discbound since 2013. Those were the days of punching paper with a single hole punch and slitting the stems by hand. I was too cheap to buy a punch since I wasn't sure I'd stick with it.

[@Flatability]

I'm discovering the same thing. 80gsm paper is just about doable, but 100gsm and up makes things so much better.

[@bitrudder3792]

Office Depot has now become OfficeMax I believe, but I remember getting coupons after every purchase and applying them to more product, including different weights of paper. I like the standard cheap paper for trialing pages that I've designed. It's also if I want it to be a keeper page but I know I'm gonna be super messy and write too many things on it. I can go back and create a proper memory page with the same design that I created. Another favorite hack is to repurpose product packaging That has nice sized glass plastic - I turn them into top-tab dividers for spreads when I want to see both sides at once! Sometimes the divider covers the entire page which is really elegant in my mind. And sometimes it's just bookmark size. They are wonderful for small purse/pocket size disc binders, because the glass plastic won't get damaged quite as easily as paper. That said, the HP style laminated covers can get dogeared damage from hanging out in a purse or tote. I try to make sure that I put them in my bags disc-side down, or put them in their own special pocket. For convenience I have purchased dividers pre-punched as well as made them myself. And I have made some really fat binders because I take a lot of notes on a lot of different subjects. No matter what the size of the note, I can punch them and put them in their own category using dividers and then go back to that category when I am ready to process those notes to create a project or make some decision, prepare for a trip whatever it is. It's a nice way to have those notes in a format that's easy to take with me on the go.

[@bitrudder3792]

I still have random sizes of paper at my house from a long, long time ago. So I've been punching them and putting them in to my notetaking binders, as long as they don't hang out any further than the top or the side. Free paper! I also use the back of junk mail like this, lol. I keep my stacks of scratch paper piled up in A filing cabinet.

[@abbylynn8872]

Anyone wanting to just try it out for one the go or a lister book.... Dollar Tree has the Jot brand ones in store right now.

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

For my Canadians, the paper is cheaper to buy directly through Amazon.com even with the shipping fee and USD>CAD conversion! You'll save ~10$ CAD! Link is in the description :) if it redirects you to amazon.ca, just copy the PRODUCT NAME into the amazon.com

[@JeffJacquesmd]

Hey Jess I'm a note taker and I usually write with fountain pens. I've focused on paper quality, feathering with ink, smudging, etc. Which led me first to Moleskine, then Rhodia and then to a series of binders that hold Tomoe River Paper. This is interesting. Thanks for sharing

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

I loved the feeling of the Dingbats but the the paper smudged with my Cross 0.7 gel ink pen. These papers are more "dry" which makes it less fancy feeling in some way, though it's way thicker, but the ink absorbs right away and it doesn't smudge and I'm so happy about that - I would argue gel is even more liquid than a fountain pen! (I wrote with one when I journal, used to sketch with one but now I love the gel for sketches and general note taking, it's been my go to pen the last 2 years for this purpose. I haven't used a Moleskine in a while and I've never tried a Rhodia but I'm not sure I can go back to a binder notebook again because of how I use them and have multiple subjects going but have no need to manage several notebooks (for now)

[@lookinglistening09]

Hi! I'm here because I'm considering reviving my Van Der Spek binder with Ray May's TR paper. I've been using Hobonichi planners and notebooks for a few years. Feel free to let me know any resources I may like; getting used to having rings back will take some time.

[@PartyUpLive]

I love the Discbound notebook and even made my own 4 ring Discbound for quick notes. I bought the Discbound hole puncher and sometimes mess around in Microsoft Word and design my own pages/templates.

[@claes-berend]

I fully agree on the disc bound system. Iuse a much thinner disk bound notebook, A5, hard cover, disks on top -for easier writing onboth pages. I take out the written notes once a week and store them in another disk bound notebook . That way I carry much less, heve lesse chance of losing important ideas and privacy information and then I have a second look at my notes in the flow and categorise them.

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

I either throw out pages or store them (loose leaf in a cupboard) in case I ever want to reference past projects I drew on my sheets :D it's a great system I love this notebook and everyone is always asking me about it cuz it looks cool too

[@rgrgertdfe]

I only bought a set of discs (small aliminium Atoma like) and 11 hole puncher and this is the best purchase of my life. I make the covers and inserts myself. I use personal size papers (so i can choose from many filofax printables) with only one piece of faux leather hard cover at the bottom. It just like a compact clip-board on my desk, always open and ready to work. I really love use this and have it about four years every day.

[@DanielGonzalezL]

I personally LOVE my King Jim Tefrenu notebook. It's basically a ring binder but without any rings at all in the middle, so it's super comfortable when it comes to actually writing things down :)

[@mmmccc777]

Excellent review, you have great energy while being very structured

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

You get it 😉 appreciate that

[@NorthlandDWJ]

@@GadgetsGearCoffee How would you compare to a journal notebook such as moleskin? Is it better because you can keep it flat and customize and organize the pages better? Do you keep and mini EDC journal or field notes for quick on the go note taking everywhere?

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

@@NorthlandDWJ keep in mind my answer is subjective. I have had Moleskine before and pocket journals. I like the paper on Moleskine better overall, maybe some nicer papers exist on the disc but I didn't bother to look it's nice and thick but I like how it feels with the pen more on Moleskine but my disc papers also don't smear at all so it's good. I like that I can be organized, it's good and bad. I am more precious and careful in some ways using the back side but then can also just open to any page to write then move the paper so I don't lose my thought but on Moleskine I just open to the next free page and use it freely BUT then when I want to organize and keep a few pages only it gets messy. So pros and cons on use. For when I travel I use this amzn.to/43AxKbt to jot everything very freely of places I go, itinerary, anything and everything. I do use the discbound notebook flat and 180 degrees often.

[@cussot]

While watching your video (10:00), I realized you could flip a notebook and write on the lefthand page upside down. I might do that with my next journal - I'll use all the righthand pages, then flip and use the remaining pages. Gee, I'm excited to try it. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

you sure can! though that would drive me nuts lol though what I started doing is random loose leafs instead of throwing them out cuz the back side is unused - I know keep it for scraps and put an X on it and then flip it so the clean side is facing me (right side of the notebook) for meal planning cuz I throw those out when I finish using the page

[@MrsRemi]

The 180 pivot sold it for me, I was not really gonna look into discbounds up until then!!

[@TF8ase]

Thanks so much for that. I've been looking at either system for a notebook for ideas and such and it was a really excellent summary. Thanks so much😊

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

which one are you getting in the end and why?

[@julienotsmith7068]

I have a discbound everything journal and I love it. You can use fountain pens on the paper, no bleed through.

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

bleeding through the paper would just depend on the paper itself and seeing as discbound paper are usually thicker, less so a problem for sure

[@benjaminnafziger8737]

Great review! Exactly the information and level of detail I have been looking for.

[@DL-idk]

I use many different things for many different purposes. I LOVE discbound system because I can literally punch random sized paper/cards and bind them together with a few loose discs. They’re small and flexible. You don’t even need to mind the distance between the dics. Just stay consistent within the binder and it’s going to work (but I do care about the distance because I will take them out and put the small pieces into bigger notebooks. I have this weird brainstorming system that requires me to be able to move small pieces in and out and about a bigger notebook. Rings can work technically, but I’ll have to open and close the binder a million times and it’s much easier to just remove the paper instead). But I don’t like the feeling of having discs sticking out in my pocket (because I’m paranoid and believe that they will get caught into things), so I prefer rings and bond books when I’m out and about. Yes, you can put your discbound books in a cover. But they tend to be clumsy and less pleasing to carry around. Rings can also be clumsy, but there are also slimmer designs out there if you look hard enough (and have the budget because they usually aren’t cheap). The best “system” for archiving though is still your good old bond book IMO. Rings and discs are both at a huge disadvantage when it comes to things that I want to keep in the long run, especially when I want them to stay exactly in the original order and looking nice on a shelf. Bond books is the winner here. No brainer.

[@hubey]

Never heard of discbound. Today I learned; and learned well due to your concisely potent tuition. Thanking you! 🙏😊

[@Weissklangi]

I use the disc bound for everything. My bullet journal, garden journaling, my sticker collections, archive. just everything I need to store and journal in it. I go with 120gsm paper and aluminum discs. The best stationary I invested in, also have the big punch, bought in 2017 online from the brand staples. Use it still. I love that I can just make every size I want.

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

by far my favorite notebook still to this day :) that and my little travel journal amzn.to/4dxGtjp

[@iconindexsymbol]

Someone at work wanted a memo binder for secret Santa this year. I looked around and ended up getting a Filofax pocket notebook and an extra refill for $20. I never used one before, but I think I’ll get one for myself. Happy holidays, Jess!

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

if you get yourself one of these notebooks, please use the links but more importantly, come back and share your experience! (even if you go for another notebook altogether)

[@a-muse6567]

I just received one as a gift and was wondering how in the heck I was going to write in it. I found the most useful tip in your video starting at the 9:37 mark. So thank you! Before I found your video I was ready to give up and now I am excited to use it!

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

love that glad it helped! you mean the tip to use it 180 degree? out of curiosity what issue were you having?

[@tron103]

THANK YOU! this is exactly what I was looking for and didn't know the name: DISC BOUND.

[@ellyschmidt6926]

new follower - love all your videos! I actually use the rocketbook. It is a reusable notebook: Take notes, scan the page and store it on your pc, phone, cloud etc and then clean the page. It works quite nice for simple note taking in class for example and without the material clutter of a lot of paper ^^

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

I've seen the remarkable and someone asked me to review it

[@barbra429]

Will you be reviewing it?@@GadgetsGearCoffee

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

@@barbra429 they don't send products for reviews and I don't think I'll be getting myself one

[@barbra429]

Thank you.

[@TheRubeeRose]

I've just found your feed. Wow, this is just what I want to use! I've never used disc-bound before. I prefer 2 hole-punching (I have the best ever 2h punch that I've had for over 40 years, and I love it that much), I might punch "twice" and get 4 holes. I Journal, so I will create my own spine/cover and pages. Have just subbed!

[@selenawolf2466]

...i missed the Beetlejuice happy box (when i promised myself I'd switch to disk if i could get a Beetlejuice one) so now I'm gonna make my own 😅 im one of those people with stickynotes, scraps, tiny notebooks, etc everywhere 😅😅 disk will be so much easier. Knowing i can throw whatever notes i want in this, then pull them out and put them in another book if needed.

[@fx6893]

On your affiliate link for the rings, there are four sizes available: 24, 28, 32, and 38 mm. Which size are you using in the video?

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

24mm, I updated the description thank you ! what an oversight I forgot to put that in, no one else has asked me so far!

[@michaelbaker5070]

I bought a TuL notebook they are great

[@sofiawren]

Letter size disc binder for me!! Then I can just print pages and add them, so great.

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

@@sofiawren are your pages thick? I have a hard time seeing how well this would work with regular thin printing paper

[@sofiawren]

@@GadgetsGearCoffee I have different widths of paper and paper quality. I wouldn’t print on thin paper if it’s something you want to keep forever and ever because some tabs on the side do bend a little. But it is doable for throw away or temporary stuff. But yeah the old printer I have is totally fine with thicker medium grade paper. I’m not talking card stock. The paper I like using right now is 89 g/m, 24 lb for a pack of 200. I don’t recommend 75 g/m, too thin for long term use but like I said I have it so I use it for temporary notes.

[@sofiawren]

@@GadgetsGearCoffee I should say also I don’t lay it folded so only one side shows that much, there is more danger doing that of things getting messed up

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

@@sofiawren 90gsm would probably the minimum I'd go with

[@zidnyknight3611]

Thanks for info, if u find good quality binder ring, please share it

[@ticktacktick]

I loved discbound notebooks until I had enough of the sheets flying out when turning the pages (I used the Filofax notebook that has a discbound system cause it was the closest thing to a regular notebook). Now I ordered a rings planner from Temu (aka cheap) - nothing fancy just the rings and a simple cover (no pockets or pen loop or cover closure, nothing) and i plan to use it as a reference for my german learning (grammar and such). I’m excited to use a rings planner for the first time.

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

with thick papers, I rarely have issues with pages coming out and when they do it's just 1 mushroom hole I can pop back in. Ultimately it's whatever works for each person :) it's so individual

[@ticktacktick]

@@GadgetsGearCoffee it’s definitely personal, that I agree with 100%! the Filofax paper was really thick, though, so that was not the issue. Anyway, I since got my hands on a ‘smart ring’ MUJI notebook, which is like a spiral notebook but it opens like a binder, I find it the best option so far.

[@wilneedheart]

@@ticktacktick the muji "smart ring" is amazing - I can't believe how easy it is to open the pages.

[@lorraine4186]

@@ticktacktick could u give me the link?

[@terezap3927]

Does someone know if the turning of pages work well if you have an A4 size and a normal paper, like for printing, not a thicker paper, please? To get a firmer dot grid paper in my country seemes almost impossible - or very expensive, because even the thin one has a quite ridiculous price 🤦‍♀️

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

printing paper will not work well - IMO

[@abarakat2241]

Thanks Jess for this thoghrough video, how is it in terms durability when carrying it or tossing it in a bag?

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

have had no problems at all, still looks brand new. Have also just put a label on the front of my disc notebook to easily identify the front. Love it, also get compliments on it all the time

[@abarakat2241]

@@GadgetsGearCoffee sorry I meant, ever got the ring’s detached or cover removed or so?

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

@@abarakat2241 oh no never, the cover is quite thick. The only issue I have I addressed in the video where sometimes a page will bend a little where the disc hole is on the paper but it happens pretty rarely. I feel I've had more issues with papers ripping or coming out of ring binders than I do with discs. Especially if you don't overfill the book and turn the pages properly and get thick enough paper

[@democrazy69]

I tried to find a discbound hole punch with 8 holes at a time, for A5, but couldn't find one. I did find one with 12 holes for about $90USD, and it's not clear if that would work cleanly for A5. Because of that I'll stick with rings. It's just too much hassle to punch all those sheets a few holes at a time, and keeping it all lined up.

[@judyofthewoods]

The 12 hole punch will do any size paper from A4 down to the size that takes two discs for a mini notepad. All you have to do is line up the paper symmetrically along the punches. The slider gauge should help. If it doesn't have a mark for A5 you can add add one or use a piece of tape to mark it. A4 will take 12 discs, A5 takes 8 and A6 takes 6 discs.

[@YuliyaAnts]

Thanks for your video! It’s so useful. Could you tell me the diameter of the disks in your notebook? 24 or 28?

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

I had it in the description if I recall

[@YuliyaAnts]

@@GadgetsGearCoffee I found, thanks!

[@AlexGarvin-fw2ri]

Does anyone know what the minimum amount of sheets for the disc binder to be stable?

[@katsmith8263]

I don't agree. The discs demand thicker paper, which I don't have the access to, so it doesn't work for me

[@ammovette]

Nice review! Thanks!👍

[@artisticNEEN]

Can you please tell me where did you get it and what brand is this?

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

hey! all the purchase links are in the description so you can build your own (same as video)! I also included a link for an already made one though it will not be the same as what I have in the video

[@theninthcloud]

I loved mine. The only downside is that the metal rings used to scratch my laptop, so I stopped using it.

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

The rings? On a plastic case laptop? So far on my Macbook I haven't noticed that but I also don't carry them stacked long. In my bags the laptop is in its one compartment

[@thelifeofjools8384]

The world (or maybe just us men) has/have been crying out for an alternative and intelligent perspective on gear....👍well done you....Top notch ! So... I'm interested in your perspective on traveling with the disc-bound setup... Part of the allure of Filofax or other ring setups, are the zipped pockets, flaps and other storage spaces for documents, receipts, travel tickets, currency...etc. I've tried ring/Filofax ...heavy...and the covers are overly large because of course they have to cover more distance, due to the ring size... I switched to Disc-bound A5 and A6 so far... But I'm missing the "Swiss army knife" appeal of Filofax....with pockets and zipped envelopes etc. I'm interested in your opinion...your take on document organisation and note taking whilst traveling.... Best wishes from the UK....your channel is a breath of fresh air 👌👍

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

First off, I am glad to hear that 😊 I didn't initially factor that in but then realized most of my viewers and my topics of interest actually are with men 😅 so it's nice to hear it's a "difference" that's appreciated! Thank you for the kind words. As for the pockets and zipped envelopes, you could get them from Staples (they carry their own version of discbound notebooks). With the set up I have linked, the cover is actually wider than it is tall. I currently have Staples dividers in there where the tabs protrude BUT it doesn't protrude from the covers! And they have envelopes too! amzn.to/3JhRnNM amzn.to/3Jfw5Ak

[@thelifeofjools8384]

@@GadgetsGearCoffee Ah I see...the Arc system... perfect, I didn't realise all that was available for discs....thank you ! :) 👍

[@astranger448]

These discbound notebooks are super ubiquitous here. They sell the budget variants in every supermarket in a huge range of sizes and colors. Upmarket variants like leatherbound can be found in stationary shops or online. And there is a (costly) punch to add your own pages to your discbook. I don't use anything else.

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

where do you live that they are that abundant? I definitely do not see them often where I live (Canada)

[@astranger448]

@@GadgetsGearCoffee Belgium. They have been around here since the 50's. They might even have been invented here but i'm not going to bet any money on that. I love them to pieces ;-)

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

​@@astranger448 ahhh Belgium, if it's anything like how Germany is with engineering then it's no surprise!

[@Flatability]

@@astranger448 I use Atoma Belgian disc bound books. Apparently 80% are sold in Belgium and 20% are exported to other countries. I'm a big fan of Atoma.

[@micaylab1]

Which size of discs holds 200 sheets?

[@GadgetsGearCoffee]

not a set rule and depends on the thickness of the paper, the 38mm will hold a lot here -> s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DevrYnZ

[@DYNABIKE1]

Cool - -- - !!

[@PatchworkPirate]

Discbound is not for me. Good on those who can use it and not lose so many pages. :(

[@maeliizquierdo6951]

Try "the happy planner" they sell notebooks and planner with disk bound system. LOTS OF OPTIONS. You can buy different size disk and multiple covers and dividers