Midori Tn Or Fauxdori - Worth It?

[SpecTP]

have you looked at Allegory Leathers? https://www.allegorygoods.com/all-products/?category=Notebooks

[bogiesan]

have you looked at Allegory Leathers? https://www.allegorygoods.com/all-products/?category=Notebooks

Allegory makes some nice stuff, quite expensive. They appear on MassDrop often where substantial savings can be had if they get enough orders. Probably worth the cost, most superbly crafted leather is worth what the artisans are asking. But Allegory do not offer a Travelers Notebook clone in their range.

[dapv]

Does anyone write with the Midori or Midori-style notebook covers with the right or left side fold under itself? If yes, can you please say a bit about that? Thank you.

[akrohn2010]

With mine, which I've only had for a couple days, the leather is too stiff to fold over on itself and still have a good flat writing surface.

 

Maybe it softens/becomes more flexible over time but I can't speak to that.

 

I've been amazed at how easily mine takes scuffs and marks - not disappointed per se, just surprised (Brown version). From those who have had one for a while: does it start to shine and develop a patina over time?

[Studio97]

I have a black MD TN. Plenty of scuff marks over the last year or so. Patina could take some years of use to show up and it may depend on how much skin oil the user may have.

Edited September 14, 2017 by Studio97

[dapv]

Quick anecdote regarding scuffs and patina. A friend of mine takes every new leather piece he gets (excepting Montblanc) and literally throws it at the driveway several times. Then he rubs it up with his hands for several days. He calls this the "baseball glove method" because it's similar to how we broke-in our baseball gloves when we were kids. I must say, his leather stuff does look good.

 

p.s. He simply prefers his Montblanc stuff pristine.

[DrDebG]

I have had my TN for a couple of years now. It is the black leather. At first, it seemed really stiff and I wasn't too thrilled with the outside feel of it. But it didn't take long for the leather to soften up, and the outside become quite supple. It does have some scuffs and "dents", but it really feels nice.

 

I have, upon occasion, folded the front cover under, but I don't care for the rolled feeling. Also, I have three refills in my TN, and everything comes loose when you roll the covers under.

 

As I said, I have three refills in mine - all 013 (Tomoe River) refills. I write in the center refill, with a refill in front and a refill in back. Having the three refills allows me to have all of the paper I need when I am traveling. The extra refills give additional rigidity so that I can easily write on both sides. When I finish with the center refill, I rotate the refills, putting the front refill into the center, the back refill in front and the written refill in the back. I have very small binder clips, in which I clip the front cover of the middle refill to the entire front refill, and the same with the back. I do that at the top and the bottom. I find that it lays flat very nicely that way without stretching the rubber bands all out of proportion. Taroko Design makes a very nice gridded plastic insert which you can insert behind the page you are writing on so that the grid shows through. The back side of the insert is blank. This gives a flat writing surface when I am writing with the TN in my lap. For me, this system works quite well, while still being compact and lightweight. I am also not into "decorating" my TN, although I have a small globe tied at the end of my ribbon which symbolizes my recent "round the world" trip (all work, no pleasure).

[dapv]

I very much appreciate the insights shared. Thank you. I do believe there is a TN in the near future.

 

Oh, one other question, do these smell like leather, or are there other than leather smells, e.g. chemical?

 

Kind regards.

[GranTorino25]

I recently got a TN too, to use as a diary. I got the caramel, and it sure does scuff easily! Not that I mind, and if you do mind there is some advice on one of the bits of paper that come with it, saying what to treat the leather with. I'm sure it will darken over time though, and become less obvious.

 

I definitely couldn't fold it over after a few weeks comfortably, and I don't feel the need- when I was looking into them, I was concerned that the knot would make a budge in the paper, but writing in the front and middle books (3 book set up) I haven't noticed anything at all! I haven't tried writing in the last book though, as that's a scribble book or back-up diary.

 

The leather smelt nice to me, it was a little strong early (oil more than chemical), but not overpowering like they warned. I like the smell on my hands after I've been carrying it!