Best Notebook Size For Taking Lecture Notes?

[ICantEvenDecideAMajor]

Hi all!

 

So I've used and loved B5 sizes, which is 7in.x10in, (179x252mm). I think these are just awesome sizes for taking lecture notes for STEM majors, which need ample space for diagrams and such (I write in cursive, so skip every other line). But lately I'm looking for a good leather slip cover for my notebooks (I LOVE THE FRANKLIN CHRISTOPH ONES), but they only have those in international A sizes. So what are your thoughts, A4 or A5? Would regular midori traveller size work?

[ICantEvenDecideAMajor]

Oh and just so share my love, I adore the Apica B5 notebooks to death! Both the basic and the premium; I actually like the basic a bit better for the faster dry time but both are divine. Nice, thin paper, not the Clairefontaine white-in-your-face that literally scares me...

[jimhughes]

Midori Traveller/Faux Dori's probably wouldn't work The Leather Cover is 8.7" x 4.9". The Notebook insert for it is 8.3" x 4.3". B5 Average, stateside, is 9.84" x 6.93". if you go to etsy. You can search for Midori/Faux Dori Covers. several artisans do special orders. A FPN Member source is Fenner Crafts, Inkleaf Leather, GFeller, and Mike Young( my1963, on FPN), IIRC. Fenner and , Mike in UK but ship intlly. Gfeller and Inkleaf are stateside and also ship intlly. I highly recommend all 4, and own many of each artisan's products. Usual disclaimers apply.

[ICantEvenDecideAMajor]

Midori Traveller/Faux Dori's probably wouldn't work The Leather Cover is 8.7" x 4.9". The Notebook insert for it is 8.3" x 4.3". B5 Average, stateside, is 9.84" x 6.93". if you go to etsy. You can search for Midori/Faux Dori Covers. several artisans do special orders. A FPN Member source is Fenner Crafts, Inkleaf Leather, GFeller, and Mike Young( my1963, on FPN), IIRC. Fenner and , Mike in UK but ship intlly. Gfeller and Inkleaf are stateside and also ship intlly. I highly recommend all 4, and own many of each artisan's products. Usual disclaimers apply.

Very good info, I'll certainly look into those! Are there any other comericially available manufacturers that make leather covers?

On a side note, what size do you guys (especially students) use for long session note-taaking? A4? A5? I have not experimented with these and would like to know how you feel about them size wise.

Edited April 3, 2016 by ICantEvenDecideAMajor

[ridiculopathy]

I agree with you; B5 is the perfect size for notes. I initially tried A5 but it was too small--too much page flipping when reviewing/looking something up. If you don't find a B5 solution, I'd go with A4.

[Octo]

European B5 is close to American composition notebooks. Perhaps comp notebook covers might fit if thickness is ok.

[DrDebG]

Truthfully, I did all of my graduate coursework on US sized composition notebooks with a grid format. So much easier to copy equations and chemical formulas.

 

That said, I would NOT recommend a Midori Traveler's. It is just too small. I love them for journaling and for . . . Traveling, but not for long periods taking notes.

 

I would highly recommend going with a large sized notebook. I just ordered my husband three of Franklin-Christoph Firma Flex notebooks in the A4 size. He loves them, and he prefers the grid configuration even though he uses FPs.

[OCArt]

I'm sure that you are already familiar with the Cornell note system but just in case:

http://coe.jmu.edu/learningtoolbox/cornellnotes.html

and video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtW9IyE04OQ

 

Of course you would need to use a loose-leaf notebook or have your own book bound at an office supply store but you could then use a fp-friendly paper like the vaulted HP laser jet.

[sakayume]

For B5, I think Midori MD does a goatskin cover and there's also Porco Rosso/Hertz leather, both available on rakuten. I like the B5 size too. A5 is much too small while I find A4 a bit too big to comfortably carry around in a bag.

[PaganArcher]

If you're unable to find a suitable cover, send me a PM. It's been a while since I made a notebook cover, but I have some oil tan kicking around and I'd be willing to try my hand again.

[jkingrph]

It's been 50 years now, but when I was in college I used a quality looseleaf paper by National Blankbook company, then at the end of a semester bound then with Acco metal binders and heavy cardstock covers Seven years later I was overseas in the USAF and my sister followed my lead and went to pharmacy school, she used some of my notes and the somehow dissapeared.

[dogpoet]

Another +1 for the Midoris being too small.

I really like the B5 format myself, but if that size is working for your lecture notes (very long time since I was in university myself, bear in mind), and you can't find a B5 binder you like, I'd suggest switching up rather than down. An A5 notebook is going too feel too cramped after getting used to writing on B5, and you can get A4 pads (or even just refills) anywhere. Unless you're using a bag that's leaving you particularly cramped for space, I'd go for A4 myself (and, indeed I did, back in the early '90s, though that could be taken as a bias at work in this context).

[gryphon1911]

I've given up on specific notebooks honestly. While I have no issues with the paper, I am not a fan of the spiral bound ones - the wire gets in my way.

 

Instead, I've taken the approach of making my own lined papers or templates and using a 3 ring binder.

 

So, if you like the HammerMill, HP, or other type papers - make your own and have it 3 hole punched or get a bunch line printed and have a place like Staples create a notepad out of it.

 

I created all these to my liking in Word, but anyone here can feel free to use these template PDFs for their own purposes.

 

All pages are ready for double sided printing.

 

7mm lined pages

krauthammer_lined_7mm.pdf

 

Meeting notes cover

meeting_notes_cover1.pdf

 

Meeting notes with drawing area

meeting_notes_draw_area.pdf

 

Meeting notes extra pages

meeting_notes_extra_pg2.pdf

 

TO DO List

TO DO LIST.pdf

Edited April 5, 2016 by gryphon1911

[ICantEvenDecideAMajor]

Thanks all! I settled for the Life Noble Note faux leather cover B5 in the end; figured I'd save the money for pens... I decided to not save up for a Platinum Izumo and move the saved pennies into getting a Franklin-Christoph with a Masuyama nib; should be interesting! Heard bad things about the Platinum presidents nibs anyways.