#32

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Well… this post has made me realize my Field Notes purchasing has gotten out of hand. Making decisions tonight on what to keep and let go. If anyone wants to try Field Notes based on this thread (and is in the US) PM me. I’ll be giving away/mailing out at least 4. Two Expedition the orange one in the top left (waterproof paper, pens aren’t great on this, pencils are good). As well as two Cold Horizon, the blue ones in the top left.

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#35

I’ve got one and my only complaint is that perhaps it’s too nice. If a notebook’s not a bit tatty I get stage fright. Luckily, I’ve had it kicking around the bottom of my bag for a few months now, so it’s a bit bashed up and now more likely to be used.

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#38

Just a polite note to remind you all that this thread is specifically for Field Notes love and the process of using them, and while it’s ok to veer a little to one side or the other, discussing significantly different notebooks (thread/perfect bound, non-pocketable) or other brands in specific is very much outside the topic and spirit of the topic. It’s fine to love Leuchtturm and other brands, but this is not the thread to discuss that love in specific. Thanks! :heart:

#39

There seems to be a lot of love for discussing notebooks and writing on paper in general, so maybe I’ll start a new thread and move some bits over if that’s okay?

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#40

What makes Field Notes different? I’m not familiar and when I see these things I just see a moleskin notebook.

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#41

I’ve written extensively across several posts above about many of the factors, the others you might have to discover for yourself. They have a nearly cult following for those who really love them, and they’re nothing at all like a moleskine or any of the other common journals. A quick summary of many salient points:

  • Slim, slim, slim. Only 48 pages. Easy to fit in a pocket, jam into an overstuffed backpack, or slip into a portfolio.
  • Simple paperfold and staple binding means they can be sat on without damage, repeatedly. They’re surprisingly durable.
  • Cheap. A 3-pack is US$10 or thereabouts. You don’t need to treat them like precious cargo. Fill 'em up. Move on.
  • They’re not a “journal”. They’re a pocket notebook. They’re for living in the present, storing small but important things, being lived in and on and with. Not taken out just once a day or used as a massive strategic planner (though many people do love them for exactly this - a microplanner).
  • A dedication to materials, techniques, and styles of printing that aren’t really in vogue anymore, along with
  • A highly creative assortment of themes, variations, and other special editions (which often push the boundaries of the techniques or re-use obsolete ones in a special way)
  • A team that celebrates what makes a country great. I don’t even live in the US and they’ve found a way to translate the good aspects of the culture into something simple, useful, and timeless.
  • The abandonment of the “modern” fetish. They’re almost the opposite, an attempt to go back to simpler mental times, a reflection of an ancient practice. They’re not trying to be cool, they’re trying to be fun without losing the purpose. All the other notebooks are either fashion statements or utterly boring. Field Notes tries to strike a balance, and plays with that balance every new edition.
  • Plus print geeks love their transparency on production technique, paper choice, and other fun aspects.

I could go on, and I’ve probably not even captured half of other people’s favourite things about them, and perhaps some of the things I’ve written don’t resonate with others for whom many other things do. They’re deeply personal. That’s part of what makes them wonderful.

Yes, please that would be lovely. I don’t want to dampen the enthusiasm on the generic subject, but that’s definitely not what I want to discuss here.

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#42

so funny I have done the same thing with most of mine

#43

A post was merged into an existing topic: On Longhand, Note-Taking, Paper &c

On Longhand, Note-Taking, Paper &c
#44

Would editing the title to “Field Notes™ Love and Process” in the title to make it clear what this threads about? Or does it feel icky?

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#46

It’s well-made but dramatically less substantial than a Moleskine or other spendy perfect-bound notebook. It begs to be written in and used. It is informal, ever-present and a joy to hold. And it doesn’t mind if you also have a Moleskine on the side for Big Ideas.

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#47

This is me exactly. Eventually I start using them, each for a separate project, but quickly lose track of which is which(or where the needed one is) and then they all end up with random notes for different things.

I’m far too unorganized.

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#48

I have a bit of Field Notes problem. I’ve had the subscription for several years, to the point where I have more books than I might need for years to come. Also sadly, I never write down stuff as much as I intend to, especially for creative endeavours, possibly due to my poor penmanship and scattered thinking (although, had never considered indexing before, which…shame on me? Will start making an effort towards that end). I plan to cancel the subscription every year, but when time comes figure that a) it isn’t an exorbitant cost for me, and b) they’re so pretty. But next renewal for sure!

Unmentioned above, but whomever they outsource their branded pencils and ballpoint pens from, they make in my opinion the greatest version of each. My wife adores the clicker pens, we got an extra supply just because we were stealing each other’s for a while. And the round, no. 2, non-lacquered wood lead pencils are perfect for weight/shape/comfort. We have one resting at every place we might write something down in the house, I’m sure I pick one up at least once an hour.

I use the notebooks a lot for mundane work things, the reporter’s pad is especially great for taking notes during meetings.

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#49

Was just over in this thread Pocket Operations: A portable book of drum machine patterns which is an amazing resource in and of itself.

But I really liked the way the patterns were depicted, and that the author was nice enough to provide blank templates at the end. I was on my way to print the the PDF when I realized the templates are just grids… my Field Notes (for the most part)are all grids… for a 16 step pattern you’d need 16 + 1 cells to be able to contain the steps and type of drum.

I am very happy with this coincidence…

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#50

I’ve just finished up a year long subscription (to the UK…) from Field Notes. I use mine purely as a pocket based take everywhere notebook, mainly to stop me looking at my phone to jot things down (as soon as I look at my phone I forget why I picked it up).

Given that I only get through about one notebook a month, the subscription has given me enough for 2 years use, and though the current edition is very pretty, there is only so much Americana that a non-American can handle!

Well now, let’s just compare ink drawers and see who really is the biggest FP nerd shall we… :stuck_out_tongue:

Anyway, in fairness to Field Notes, the properties of paper required to make them work with modern nib sizes and inks would end up with too many other sacrifices, their choices would be:

  • increase the paper weight, but that would be detrimental to their compactness, or
  • coat the paper (e.g. like Tomoe River and Rhodia), that causes the ink to dry on the surface and therefore not ‘feather’ or ‘bleedthrough’, but at the expense of increased dry times for all inks, and coated paper isn’t that nice to write on with pencils either.

I think if one was really desperate, it would be possible to find a nib and ink combo that would work, but I’m not sure if it would be a very fun combo. Personally I think you can’t beat a good wood-cased pencil with a Field Notes notebook. Either a Blackwing (any core) or a 2B Mitsubishi Hi-Uni for me. Kutsuwa Stad pencil caps are great for keeping pencils in your pockets too.

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#51

20 characters of I absolutely love this!

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#52

I carry a mini pilot mechanical pencil nowadays. Field Notes in my back pocket, mini pencil in front pocket.

Lots of Mirado Black Warrior wood pencils floating around my world.

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#53

Just ordered a three pack because of this thread.

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#54

I used to be really into field notes ® and for a pretty long time would always carry one around with me and make notes about everything.

At some point I started being bothered by the way carrying them in my pocket messed up the covers - and started holding them in one of the ‘traveler’s notebook’ cases midori make. I figured out I could squeeze like three notebooks into the small case - and started trying to do some complicated system where I would use different notebooks for different things…

Predictably this all just made me write less and carry the notebooks around less often - and in hindsight messed up covers and incoherent note taking is the best thing about these books.

This thread has gotten me back into carrying one around in my pocket. Thanks ya’ll

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#55

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OHNTVC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 if you are into mechanical pencils try this one out

my goodness the lead lasts forever and the mechanism that allows it to stay sharp is just fantastic

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