Field notebook replacements?

**Mod_wolves** · May 10th, 2013, 05:11 PM

There is a lot of info regarding field notebooks so I thought I'd try them out.

Turned out I wasn't a fan. The feathering and bleed through was just awful.
I haven't tried moleskine cahiers but if they're anything like their other products I'm staying away.

I've been looking around since and I've found two other makes around the same price and I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience?

First is scout books. www.scoutbooks.com/

Snazzy looking books with loads of designs. I especially like the look of them because they come with dot paper.
BUT it is recycled paper which I have heard isn't the best for fp's. also no mention of paper weight.

Second is the British notebook company. http://www.thebritishnotebookcompany.co.uk/index.php

Fairly new company with 80gsm paper. Not a huge amount of designs but they are new.
I personally like that they're made in the UK. Since to my limited knowledge there are no other companies in the UK involved in paper.
Sadly tho limited with orders as at the moment only sold on their website and a shop in Warwick.

Has anyone tried these or know of any others?

**inky** · May 10th, 2013, 09:24 PM

Hi Mod_wolves,

I use field notes all the time and have a couple of leather holders for them. I've found that for fountain pen friendly notebooks that are the same size you can't go wrong with the Basic Clairefontaine Life. Unplugged Staplebound Duo. Long name but it's a great notebook. It has 48 Sheets (96 Pages) and is a very white colored page. The best part about them is that they have 90GMS paper that is wonderful with fountain pens. The dry time is a little high as it's Clairefontaine paper but if your worried about bleed though and feathering, worry not with these. They are thicker then the field notes. About the thickness of 2 field notes put together but the same dimensions, complete with rounded corners. They come in 2 packs most places I've found them online.

I've heard of the Scout books but have never seen one or used one in person. My feeling is that they would be about on par with Fieldnotes. I don't really have anything to back that up with though, just a gut feeling.

**jacksterp** · May 11th, 2013, 06:17 AM

The "problem" with Field Notes is that they constantly change their paper composition as different series are released. You never know what type paper you'll receive and how it will take fountain pen ink.

**manoeuver** · May 11th, 2013, 08:40 AM

rhodia's got a very similar notebook. I get em for about $3.

**heraclitus682** · May 11th, 2013, 08:47 AM

Life Unplugged are awesome!

**dr.grace** · May 11th, 2013, 12:12 PM

+1 on the Clairefontaine. I always carry one in my pocket.

**KrazyIvan** · May 11th, 2013, 12:13 PM

Life unplugged is what I'm using in that form factor.

**caleath** · May 11th, 2013, 01:16 PM

Manover beat me to it.

**Mod_wolves** · May 11th, 2013, 04:21 PM

Where do you even get the rhodia ones from?!? I could do with them with my job!

**Zanshin** · May 11th, 2013, 04:50 PM

I found the same with Field Notes, dreadful paper.

I've been using Clairefontaine 1951 Vintage-style notebooks from bureaudirect and Oxford Pop-notes which have the excellent Optik paper. Both of these are very fountain pen friendly and similarly priced, the Oxfords being a little cheaper than the Clairefontaine but with fewer pages.

I also have a stack of notebooks I picked up in France last year, made by Esquisse and ludicrously cheap, about 95 Euro cents each, printed with grid line paper and work well with FPs.

I like the look of the British Notebook Company pads you mentioned, although they seem to be trying to come up a UK version of the Field Notes story, but £7.50 for a pack of three is a bit steep.

**KrazyIvan** · May 11th, 2013, 09:22 PM

The Rhodia notebooks are just a tad small for me. That .5 inch extra of the Life Unplugged notebooks is just the right size to grip in my hand and still write comfortably without a hard surface behind the notebook. Other than that, Rhodia paper is good.

**Bogon07** · May 12th, 2013, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by manoeuver

rhodia's got a very similar notebook. I get em for about $3.

The sticker on the cover looks like it is part of the book. It goes well with it.

These were really good with either the orange or black cover.
But now are hard to find in shops. Most now sell the Clairefontaine 1951 Vintage-style or life unplugged notebooks in twin packs slightly more expensive but you get more pages and a little more writing real estate.