What Would Be A Great Pocket Notebook To Carry Around? Able To Write With A Fountain Pen On It?

[fezz4734]

I wanted to buy a pocket notebook, I like the idea of writing whatever comes to mind or whatever I have going on in my head. I like to carry the one I bought recently today in my back pocket and it seems a little big or thick is maybe the word I'm looking for. It's size is 3.5 x 5.5 which is a relatively good size. It is a Marking by C. R. Gibson and I pretty much like it, it's shy of 200 pages and would like to try out one with maybe some fewer pages. I am waiting for a Lamy Safari in the mail to write on this and while I wait I'll be using my Jetstream pen. Any suggestions for my next one or a better one that can be used with a fountain pen?

[Uncial]

I really like Paperblanks and I have to say that I have never had a bad one, although I think some people had problems with early ones. I love the paper in them and they have such an array of designs and formats that you will always find something you like.

[byggyns]

Field Notes

 

They are 3.5 x 5 and have 48 pages of good paper. I've only gotten show-through or bleeding with very wet ink / nib combos. With my drier nibs, I can easily use both sides of the pages. They come in multiple paper formats: lined, blank, grid, & dot, and have several different cover options.

 

I carry 4 of them bound together in a Midori-style cover system that I made myself.

 

I would stay away from the Moleskine cahiers of this size. Their paper is much less FP friendly.

[WilsonCQB1911]

I'm a big pocket notebook user, and my choice is Clairefontaine staple-bound. Check Goulet, as they carry a wide range of them. I use the ones that are 3 x 4.75. They are smaller than a Field Notes-type, just enough to make them that much easier to carry. If you prefer the Field Notes size, they have those as well. The paper is great, unlike Field Notes. They never bleed, show throw, and I can use both sides.

[Paddler]

I made a leather cover and tooled it with my own design. I make the refills from Wausau's "Astroparche" paper. It has 64 pages and fits in my shirt pocket. A refill lasts about a year for me.

[yogalarva]

I don't know how widely available they are, but Fabriano EcoQua are nice little staple bound books. I got a pack of 4 from a local art supply store for under $10 and the paper was quite fountain pen friendly (some show-through, but no bleeding or feathering). It looks like they have 64 pages, of which the last half are perforated. The covers are pretty sturdy too, for being some sort of thick paper.

[The Good Captain]

I've a few, of various makes. Moleskine, Leuchtturm and Clairefontaine are my favourites. Haven't finished the Rhodia yet.

My biggest problem is forgetting to take one out with me...

[carlos.q]

I tried Field Notes and was disappointed with some feathering and showthrough.

A great little notebook (though pricey) is the Clairefontaine Basic Roadbook. You not only get 64 sheets of 90g white Clairefontaine paper but also an elastic to close the 3.5x5.5 notebook.

Now I'm using the more economical Basic Clairefontaine Life Unplugged staplebound 3.5x5.5 notebooks. They have 48 sheets of 90g white Clairefontaine paper, but no elastic.

[sotto2]

fezz: I think you'll have fun in your notebook search. That's what it's all about here. I have settled on Exacompta 3.5 X 5" notebooks with a rugged cardboardish cover. The paper is very smooth and nice to write on with a FP, although the pages are not so thick so there is some show- and bleed-through. It's of no consequence to me because the paper surface is so pleasant to write on.

Edited March 4, 2014 by sotto2

[shudaizi]

I'm the same. Clairefontaine Classic Staplebound (side) in 3 x 4.75. They fit in my shirt pockets with my pen so always "at hand". Used for to-do lists, phone numbers, email addresses, restaurants friends recommend, movies to watch, books to read, etc.

 

I'm a big pocket notebook user, and my choice is Clairefontaine staple-bound. Check Goulet, as they carry a wide range of them. I use the ones that are 3 x 4.75. They are smaller than a Field Notes-type, just enough to make them that much easier to carry. If you prefer the Field Notes size, they have those as well. The paper is great, unlike Field Notes. They never bleed, show throw, and I can use both sides.

[Moshe ben David]

After reading all the ups and downs of members' experiences with Moleskine, I picked up a 3 pack of Piccadilly notebooks at Barnes & Noble. I've found they work well with my pens. Mostly M nib; mostly Waterman inks. A few F nibs. My Parker 51 is a F nib I load with Quink Permanent Blue-Black. As I said, all performed fine.

 

From all the discussions on FPN, it appears that many of the notebook makers do not always use the same paper stock, which may be part of the problem I'm sure. You might want to also browse some of the threads on the Paper and Paraphernalia forum as well as the Paper and Paraphernalia Reviews and Articles forum; assuming of course you have the time

[Ted A]

I don't know how widely available they are, but Fabriano EcoQua are nice little staple bound books. I got a pack of 4 from a local art supply store for under $10 and the paper was quite fountain pen friendly (some show-through, but no bleeding or feathering). It looks like they have 64 pages, of which the last half are perforated. The covers are pretty sturdy too, for being some sort of thick paper.

 

I agree. I've found these to be quite good, especially at the price.

Field Notes are hit and miss. Sometimes they use excellent paper and other times not. And then a year or so ago they did the paper that would only take pencil.

Rhodia & Clairfontaine are good but pricy.

Moleskine is a one side only and if the pen is wet its one side of 2 sheets.

 

I favor the thinner notebooks because then if you get one that doesn't work well it you don't have to put up with it for too long. And I tend to wear them out quickly in my back pocket. So more pages might not survive to the end.

[fpconverted]

I wanted to buy a pocket notebook, I like the idea of writing whatever comes to mind or whatever I have going on in my head. I like to carry the one I bought recently today in my back pocket and it seems a little big or thick is maybe the word I'm looking for. It's size is 3.5 x 5.5 which is a relatively good size. It is a Marking by C. R. Gibson and I pretty much like it, it's shy of 200 pages and would like to try out one with maybe some fewer pages. I am waiting for a Lamy Safari in the mail to write on this and while I wait I'll be using my Jetstream pen. Any suggestions for my next one or a better one that can be used with a fountain pen?

moleskin and clairfontaine note books are great and I do believe they come in smaller pocket sized.

[brewsky]

Big pocket notebook advocate here. Used to rely on rhodia pocket notebooks. Theyre a little thick for my taste so I switched to field notes grid lined. Love them

[da vinci]

I believe Red n Black make a tiny note book. You may also want to check out the Banditapple Carnet.

[Octo]

If there's a Barnes and Noble near you, check out their Ecosystems notebooks. The small ones that come in packs of three might suit you. They are about 1/4 inch thick and have flexible covers, so not too uncomfortable in your back pocket.

 

Here's a link. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ecosystem-ruled-set-of-three-essay-books-ecosystem/1026427407?ean=9781607363392

 

Disclaimer: I'm just a customer.

Edited March 5, 2014 by Octo

[eviltwin]

I tried Field Notes and was disappointed with some feathering and showthrough.

A great little notebook (though pricey) is the Clairefontaine Basic Roadbook. You not only get 64 sheets of 90g white Clairefontaine paper but also an elastic to close the 3.5x5.5 notebook.

Now I'm using the more economical Basic Clairefontaine Life Unplugged staplebound 3.5x5.5 notebooks. They have 48 sheets of 90g white Clairefontaine paper, but no elastic.

One thing I don't like about my Roadbook is that it has a glued binding and no pocket in the back. Niether are that big of a deal, but when when considering the price they seem rather expensive for what you get. I also have a Paperblanks which I rather like but is a little too flashy for carrying around at school with me. The Paperblanks bleed with a flex nib but not too terribly much. If you also use pencil don't get the Clairefontaine.

[Prolix]

I always have an Apica CD-7 in a pocket. They are tiny, cheap, lay flat, and have great paper. They have a bunch of sizes, so if you have bigger pockets than mine, there are options:

 

http://www.gouletpens.com/Apica_CD_7_Notebook_p/ap-cd7.htm

[WirlWind]

Anything from Rhodia or CF should be fine.

 

You can probably get a Rhodia webnotebook (a webby) in the size you want.

[Water Ouzel]

Another vote for the Banditapple Carnet. Seems happy with just about every pen and ink combination we have around the house. And the price is pretty good, $5.50 or less, depending on size, from Goutlet pens. You can get a free sample from Banditapple at https://banditapple.typeform.com/to/hGarLH, if you want to try it.