The Notebook Addict

Review: Field Notes Memo Pad

The classic style of the Field Notes Memo Pad really caught my eye when they first came out, and I was anxious to get them into my hands as soon as possible.  The ordering process was simple, and once they arrived, I was not disappointed.  Here are the quick and dirty specs:

- 48 page memo book
- 3-1/2" wide by 5-1/2″ tall
- Rugged three-staple saddle-stitch process
- Perfect 3/16″ (5mm) graphed paper
- Manufactured and printed in the U.S.A.

And the best part for me - the graph lines were brown!  For whatever reason, I had never noticed that prior to ordering, and was very pleasantly surprised.  It fits the design of the notebook perfectly.

Performance wise, the paper is really nice and smooth.  I broke out as many different pens as I had on me at the time and went to work:

Front

Back (sorry about the blur - I couldn't get a good shot for the life of me)

As you can see, there is no feathering or bleed-thru no matter which pen I threw at it.  I didn't have a fountain pen handy at the time, so I will need to test that out further.

The only real item I would like to see improved is the thickness of the cover.  It feels a little flimsy to me, but I will say it gives the notebook nice flexibility.  I would just prefer a more sturdy cover to take a good beating in my backpack or pocket.  Other than that, this pocket notebook is excellent.  Between it and the Doane Utility Notebook, I have my pocket size notebook needs covered.

Grab a three-pack of Field Notes Memo Books from the Field Notes Shop for just $9.95 - bonus goodies included!

Inside

Front Cover

Back Cover

Review: Doane Paper Utility Notebook

I am very fond of the Doane Paper legal pad, especially for my pen reviews, but when Chad Doane mentioned recently that he would be coming out with a pocket notebook in the Doane Paper style, I was really excited to try one out.  The Doane Paper Utility Notebook checks in at 3.5" x 5.5", which seems to be the standard for pocket sized notebooks these days.  Here are the rest of the specs:

Grid Size - .125” (.3175 cm) x .125” (.3175 cm)
Wide (Legal) Ruled Line Spacing
48 Pages per notebook
100 LB Cover Stock covers
80 LB Text Stock content pages
Rugged 3 staple saddle-stitch binding
Made in the U.S.A.
Custom Covers are available
Sold in packs of 3

The first thing I noticed about the utility notebook was how sturdy it feels.  Compared side by side to the Moleskine Cahier (64 pages) and the Field Notes Memo Book (48 pages), it is much thicker, as well as stiffer.  I've only had it for a few days, but it seems like it is going to handle knocking around in my backpack or back pocket better than the Moleskine or Field Notes.  But on that note, the notebook is hard to spread flat right now.  I am hoping that is it just the newness of it, and once I break it in, it will be just fine.

The Doane Utility notebook sandwiched between the Field Notes Memo Book (top) and the Moleskine Cahier (bottom).  Click all photos to enlarge.

Writing Samples - Front

The paper in the Doane Utility Notebook performed well.  Gel ink, ballpoint, and felt tip pens all did great.  The paper was smooth, and the grid lines provided a nice background no matter the color I used.  The best part about it was there was little to no bleed.  From the back side of the page, you couldn't even tell that I had written on the front.

Writing Samples - Back

Fountain pens, on the other hand, may be an issue.  I don't have any real fountain pens (I am going to order something nice for notebook testing very soon), but I do have a Platinum Preppy and a Pilot Petit.  The Preppy did fine, but the Petit bled through pretty easily, and my guess is that will be the case with most fountain pens inks.  I'll test it more once I get another fountain pen to try.

Fountain Pen - Front

Fountain Pen - Back

All in all, the Doane Utility Notebook is a great addition to the pocket size notebook field.  For me, it is going to replace my Moleskine Cahier and Field Notes as my portable notebook of choice.

Written Review (Done with Uni-Ball Signo DX 0.38mm Black)