If you’re already carrying a good EDC pen, a pocket notebook is the next logical step. Often, it’s harder to find something to write on than it is to find something to write with. While browsing the site, you may have noticed more and more pocket notebooks showing up in EDCs. While it might seem like a trend, the truth is, lots of us rely on these little notebooks to write down critical information, notes, lists, and more. We’ve already outlined why you should carry a pocket notebook in general, but today we’re highlighting the 10 best notebooks worth carrying.
The Top 10 EDC Pocket Notebooks in 2017
Field Notes Expedition Edition
Standout Feature: Water-, tear-, acid-proof paper
Field Notes have achieved icon status. This popular brand of 3.5×5.5” pocket notebook has been around for years, and only continues to get more popular. Their Expedition edition features dot grid paper that’s actually closer to plastic. This unique writing surface will stand up to rain, shine, heat, cold, or whatever else you can throw at it. The bright orange covers make them easy to find while adding a pop of color to your EDC.
Rhodia Staplebound Pocket Notebook
Standout Feature: Silky smooth, heavy paper
Rhodia makes some of the nicest paper out there. It’s 90gsm (most copy paper is around 70gsm), acid-free, and features light violet ruling. If your preferred writing instrument is a fountain pen or rollerball, then this is the notebook for you. Bleed through and show through are a near impossibility, even with the inkiest of pens.
Word. Notebooks
Standout Feature: Unique To-Do List Ruling
If you’re the type who lives and dies by their to do list, Word. Notebooks are for you. Inside this 48 page notebook, you’ll find a unique bullet point at the beginning of every line. By adding a dot, circle, slash, or X, you can easily keep track of what you’ve accomplished, and what’s in progress. If all that’s too much to remember, on the inside of the front cover of every book is a guide to using their system. We like Word. Notebooks for the huge variety of colors and patterns you can pick from.
Public Supply Notebooks
Standout Feature: 25% of Profits Donated to In-Need Schools
You’re not just getting a well-made notebook with Public Supply. You’re giving back too—25% of profits are donated to schools in need. These sturdy stitch-bound notebooks are full of acid-free paper that’s thick enough to accommodate any kind of writing instrument. The minimally designed covers are easy on the eyes, and feature a spot to write in the subject of what’s inside.
Doane Paper Pocket Notebooks
Standout Feature: Grid+Lines Ruling
Doane Paper is known for their very own grid+lines ruling. It combines the best of both worlds: graph and standard lined ruling. The page is covered in a 0.25” grid with a heavier line every three boxes. Want to try it out before buying a pack? Doane lets you print out a sheet of their ruling on regular printer paper to get a feel for it.
Moleskine Cahier Pocket Notebook
Standout Feature: Simple and Classic
If you don’t need fancy rulings, built-in lists, or even text on the cover, the Moleskine is for you. These classic pocket notebooks have a black textured cover and off-white paper inside. Each book is bound with stitching for extra durability, and features 16 removable pages in the back for tear-and-share notes. They’re readily available online and in many brick-and-mortar stores, so if you run out, a replacement isn’t far away.
Rite in the Rain Notebooks
Standout Feature: Completely Waterproof Paper
Rite in the Rain notebooks allow you to do exactly that… write in the rain. These waterproof notebooks come in a variety of sizes and shapes, many of which are pocket-friendly. They play best with their own pens, but a standard ballpoint or pencil will write on these just fine.
Field Notes Pitch Black Edition
Standout Feature: Dot Grid Ruling and Blacked Out Looks
We already mentioned the Field Notes Expedition, but for all of you who don’t need to write in crazy conditions there’s the Field Notes Pitch Black Edition. Each pack of books includes three 3.5×5.5” notebooks — the ideal size for keeping in a pocket. This blacked out edition has black on black covers, black staples, and stealthy grey dot-grid ruling.
Mnemosyne N192A Notepad
Standout Feature: Lay-flat Wire Binding
Wire binding can be especially useful in a small notebooks. Since the pages fold over themselves, you can easily write on the front and back of each page. It also allows the book to lay nice and flat, making it that much easier to write no matter where you are. Maruman’s off-white paper is smooth, and plays nice with everything from ballpoint to fountain pens. The lined ruling is pretty straightforward, except every seventh line is bold. This adds some visual separation to the page so it’s easy to organize your notes.
Leuchtturm 1917 Pocket Notebook
Standout Feature: Full Size Notebook Features in a Compact Package
The Leuchtturm 1917 pocket notebook is more like a traditional premium notebook, only shrunk down. Inside you’ll find 121 pages of premium paper. There are 8 perforated pages in the back that tear out easily, should you have to write something down for someone else. You can keep track of your notes with the numbered pages and included book mark. There’s even an expandable pocket in the back cover to store business cards, a couple dollars, or more. At 4.1 x 5.8 in., it’s on the larger side, but that’s still not bad considering everything packed inside.
Which pocket notebook do you EDC, and what do you write in it? Let us know in the comments below.
