Since my last update in January, I’ve finished one Moleskine Sketchbook and just started a new one. For my daily journaling and catch-all notebook, I’ve switched from a squared Moleskine to my lovely blue linen-covered Bindewerk dot-grid notebook. I’m enjoying being able to use my fountain pens more on this sturdy paper, though I miss the smooth feel of the Moleskine paper. I continue to use my Nolty 2018 diary as a log book and planner, and I’ve moved my list-keeping to that notebook instead of doing it all in the daily journal. These are my 3 daily use notebooks.
What I’ve just added to the mix may not end up being a notebook, really. After years of not all that enthusiastically observing the Midori Traveler’s Notebook from afar, in recent weeks I started to think I’d like to give one a try as a wallet. I considered getting a “fauxdori” that would hold Field Notes-size notebooks, but then I happened to catch a good price ($29!) on Amazon for the Midori (or technically “Traveler’s Company”) version. (As of this writing, the dark brown passport size is as low as $28 but the prices fluctuate. Also, some customer reviews think the low prices mean these are counterfeit, or somehow of lesser quality. I can’t say for certain but mine seemed just like other MTNs I’ve seen elsewhere that were presumably authentic. If it’s fake, it’s a good fake.) I loaded it up with some inserts that would hold the contents of my wallet, but I’ve gone back and forth about keeping the included notebook in the cover. It adds some bulk, and I also couldn’t figure out what I’d write in it! My other notebooks cover all my needs for jotting various things down, and they’re just as handy as my wallet is. So for now, my traveler’s notebook is technically not a notebook. It may not be my wallet forever either, but I’ll live with it a bit and discuss its pros and cons in a future post.
In addition to these, there are a few other notebooks I use occasionally, as noted in the previous “using now” post but the ones I’ve detailed here are those I use and carry everyday.
I enjoy reading about other people’s experience with notebooks and journals. I used to struggle with different types of notebooks too, and I tried many digital journals as well, my main issue was that I love the paper and digital apps can never give me the the satisfaction that paper journal can give. Now am working on something that might be the blend between the two, its a paper journal that comes with a mobile app to enable you to attach items and keywords from the mobile to each page of the journal. Am still not on production yet as am an individual and can’t afford mass production, so am planning a campaign on kickstarter, if my campaign was a success and I went to production, I will be happy to send you a sample unit for testing it and get your thoughts about it.
Purchased one of those Passport Midoris, thanks.
BTW, a few years ago an American company Pelle produced a Passportesque journal I particularly loved for its portability. But alas the company did not last and I’ve been left hunting around for correct refills.
Have you heard of this company and are you aware of a supplier of correct refills?
I don’t have it right in front of me right now but my memory tells me it’s slight bigger than Midori Passport.
I actually reviewed a Pelle passport size travelers notebook in 2012. I don’t have mine in front of me either but Midori passport size refills should fit in it, and Muji offers some inexpensive notebooks in a similar size that could also work. Unfortunately I can’t find that size on Muji’s online store, so you’d need to go to one of their shops in person.
I might have bought my Pelle *because* of your review, now that I think about it.
I have it in front of me:
11 cm wide x 17 cm length
Roughly 5×6
I’ll check the passport when it comes, but something tells me it was too small.
I’ll let you know…
I’m unsure how to post a picture, but the Midori Passport Traveller is substantially smaller than the Pelle, unfortunately. It’s funny. it’s not enough “passport” size, to be honest.