PDA

View Full Version : 3.5"x5.5" Notebooks for Nock Co. cases (suggestions?)



tannie
October 16th, 2013, 07:42 AM
Hey all!

I've backed the Nock Co. Kickstarter project (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/637878316/nock-co-pen-cases-hand-made-in-the-usa) and some of the cases can hold a 3.5"x5.5" notebook like a Fieldnote. I don't have Fieldnotes and they look nice, but slightly expensive to get and not as fountain pen friendly as I'd like.

Right now I'd like to check alternatives for notebooks that would fit these cases and I have found the following:

- Moleskine Volant/Cahier (not friendly)
- Leuchtturm Jottbooks (should work)
- Clairefontaine Metric notebooks (yay)
- Banditapple Peewee (friendly, not much shading though)

Does anyone have more suggestions? I'd like to check out the options beforehand and perhaps try out a few before I get the cases.
I couldn't find another thread like this, but should I have missed it, please point me there. :)

Anyone else backed the project?

heath
October 16th, 2013, 08:25 AM
I asked to be 100% sure and it was confirmed that the Scout books fit. They are 3.5 x 5 so .5 shorter but they are much better paper. I did a review comparing them to Moleskine and Field notes on my blog if you want to check it out. The writing samples are at the bottom of the post. http://penpaperinkletter.com/scout-books-vs-moleskine-pocket-cahier-field-notes/

AndyT
October 16th, 2013, 08:41 AM
Hmm, Calepino (http://en.calepino.fr/s/20259_notebooks) maybe? I'm carrying one of these everywhere at the moment. They're rather nicely presented, but you won't want to use too wet a pen.

Really, unless accelerated drying time is a necessity, Clairefontaine are going to be hard to beat at European prices.

tannie
October 16th, 2013, 10:08 AM
Hmm, Calepino (http://en.calepino.fr/s/20259_notebooks) maybe? I'm carrying one of these everywhere at the moment. They're rather nicely presented, but you won't want to use too wet a pen.

Really, unless accelerated drying time is a necessity, Clairefontaine are going to be hard to beat at European prices.

I think I can deal with the drying time of Clairefontaine but they only seem to sell lined and graph in the smaller sizes. And I probably don't really _need_ blank or dot-grid... but I'd like it as an option, if it exists ;)

tannie
October 16th, 2013, 10:09 AM
I asked to be 100% sure and it was confirmed that the Scout books fit. They are 3.5 x 5 so .5 shorter but they are much better paper. I did a review comparing them to Moleskine and Field notes on my blog if you want to check it out. The writing samples are at the bottom of the post. http://penpaperinkletter.com/scout-books-vs-moleskine-pocket-cahier-field-notes/

Ah thanks! Those look useful too, having multiple lay-outs etc. The writing samples look good. I can handle some minor bleedthrough (and almost any amount of showthrough) and usually don't write with big wet pens. Looks good, I might order a set to try.

Thanks!

AndyT
October 16th, 2013, 12:04 PM
I think I can deal with the drying time of Clairefontaine but they only seem to sell lined and graph in the smaller sizes. And I probably don't really _need_ blank or dot-grid... but I'd like it as an option, if it exists ;)

I'm not so bothered about dots, but it was the lack of plain Clairefontaine versions which led me to the Calepinos. I wouldn't be surprised if they do make them (the range is vast), but the only small books with plain paper I can find are the cloth bound 96 sheet / 192 page ones which are about 12mm thick. Even then they're a special order and a bit large overall. Well, here's a link anyway:

http://www.bureaudirect.co.uk/clairefontaine-pocket-fabric-bound-notebook-110-x-170-pk-of-5/p3252

What's bugging me is that I'm positive that I've seen some Field Notes sized books from another manufacturer recently, but simply haven't been able to find them again. I'll report back if I do. :)

KrazyIvan
October 16th, 2013, 02:28 PM
Clairefontaine Life.Unplugged. I use one daily in a cover that was meant for Field Notes.

Cake
October 18th, 2013, 06:57 PM
Glad someone asked this question because I wondered this, as well. Thank you!

tannie
October 20th, 2013, 08:22 AM
I think I can deal with the drying time of Clairefontaine but they only seem to sell lined and graph in the smaller sizes. And I probably don't really _need_ blank or dot-grid... but I'd like it as an option, if it exists ;)

I'm not so bothered about dots, but it was the lack of plain Clairefontaine versions which led me to the Calepinos. I wouldn't be surprised if they do make them (the range is vast), but the only small books with plain paper I can find are the cloth bound 96 sheet / 192 page ones which are about 12mm thick. Even then they're a special order and a bit large overall. Well, here's a link anyway:

http://www.bureaudirect.co.uk/clairefontaine-pocket-fabric-bound-notebook-110-x-170-pk-of-5/p3252

What's bugging me is that I'm positive that I've seen some Field Notes sized books from another manufacturer recently, but simply haven't been able to find them again. I'll report back if I do. :)

Cool, would like to know.

I have indeed seen the larger plain ones but I think they won't fit. I have, however, no issue trying it out. I can easily get it her in the NL and if it doesn't fit at all I'll at least have that info (and will share it ;) )
I think 10x15 cm is a more easily available size here, which may or may not fit. I'll happily try it out :)

tannie
October 20th, 2013, 08:23 AM
Clairefontaine Life.Unplugged. I use one daily in a cover that was meant for Field Notes.

Ooh, those look nice!

biancac
October 20th, 2013, 08:25 PM
I just backed the project thanks to your post :)

I use these for work. They have been fine with LAMY cartridges, but I haven't tried any other richer inks on them yet:

http://www.wordnotebooks.com/

KrazyIvan
October 21st, 2013, 09:17 AM
The Word Notebooks are about the same as Field Notes. They are workable but a fine nib and dry ink works best with them.

AndyT
October 23rd, 2013, 05:41 PM
These (http://www.bureaudirect.co.uk/papelote-amok-pocket-notebook-set-of-2/p3677) popped up in Bureau Direct's newsletter today. A bit chichi for my taste, but it's another variation on the theme.

This set of notebooks (http://www.thejournalshop.com/scout-books-numbered-notebooks-box-set) is out of stock at the moment, but Scout is the brand I couldn't call to mind earlier in the thread. Sadly, all their other books are ruled one way or another (including music staves unusually enough) - sorry Tannie.

Tracy Lee
October 26th, 2013, 08:29 AM
I thought I would mention these, though they are 4 x 5.5 and may not work. I acquired them through Lost Crates. They are from Chronicle Books (push together and add dot com for the website). I found a TON of blank journals on this site, including lots of pocket size and mini sizes (like the brand Pocket Dept, which I also have). The paper is probably more conducive to a fine nib pen in the ones I picture here, no real way to know on all the others unless you try them. I thought it worth mentioning because of the variety and prices seemed reasonable and free shipping over $25 on regular orders (they have personalized items too, higher for free shipping). I have no particular affiliation with this site or these products, just offering up what I see in my library right now.

http://img.tapatalk.com
/d/13/10/26/u2u5a2a2.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/26/zu4y6eju.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/26/y5unu5ed.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/26/gu4ytury.jpg

Comparison of size of Pocket Dept journal with Field Notes
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/10/26/y2ege5et.jpg


Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk