Traveler's-Notebooks-Multiple-Refills.jpeg

Traveler's Notebook Tutorial: How to Connect Multiple Refills and Accessories

February 27, 2021

I’ve used the Traveler’s Notebook for years, and regard it as one of the best options for carrying multiple notebook refills inside a single cover. Want to carry a planner, notebook, and sketchbook together, with different papers? You can do that! While connecting multiple refills can seem tricky at first, it’s easy and intuitive once you get the hang of it. The general rule of thumb to remember: A primary refill secured to the notebook cover using the center elastic cord serves as an “anchor” for the entire system, allowing you to add additional refills and accessories using connecting rubber bands.

Changing out a single Traveler’s Notebook Refill is easy - just open the refill to the “staple page” and slip it under the center elastic cord. But most people will want to maximize this notebook system’s versatility. Read on to learn how to add mor… — Changing out a single Traveler’s Notebook Refill is easy - just open the refill to the “staple page” and slip it under the center elastic cord. But most people will want to maximize this notebook system’s versatility. Read on to learn how to add more!

Collect Your Traveler’s Notebook and Supplies

In order to assemble a Traveler’s Notebook containing up to three refills, you will need three things: a Traveler’s Notebook, your three refills of choice, and a package of connecting rubber bands. For this demonstration, I’m using a Passport size Traveler’s Notebook in “Camel” leather, but the process is the same for the Standard size. Here, I will walk through three different setups: a Traveler’s Notebook with two refills, a Traveler’s Notebook with three refills, and a Traveler’s Notebook with three refills plus accessories.

Clockwise from top left: Traveler’s Notebook Connecting Rubber Bands, Traveler’s Notebook Passport in Camel, Blank MD Refill (included in the Traveler’s Notebook Starter Kit), MD Paper Grid Refill, and Tomoe River (“Lightweight” Blank Refill).

Connecting Two Refills

To set up a Traveler’s Notebook with two inserts, attach the first to the notebook cover using the elastic cord, the same as if you were going to set your notebook up with a single insert. Take your second refill and place it next to the first, clos… — To set up a Traveler’s Notebook with two inserts, attach the first to the notebook cover using the elastic cord, the same as if you were going to set your notebook up with a single insert. Take your second refill and place it next to the first, closed spine-to-spine.

Next, open both notebooks to their respective centers. Holding the two covers together, as shown here, loop a connecting rubber band over both notebooks. In your original refill, the rubber band should sit alongside the elastic cord. That’s it!

A two-refill notebook is perfect for a planner + notebook setup.

Connecting Three Refills

To assemble a Traveler’s Notebook with three inserts, start by picking your three books and decide the order in which you want them to appear in the notebook. Place the first and third inserts back to back, and set the second one aside for the momen… — To assemble a Traveler’s Notebook with three inserts, start by picking your three books and decide the order in which you want them to appear in the notebook. Place the first and third inserts back to back, and set the second one aside for the moment.

Open the first and third refills to their centers, and using a connecting rubber band, attach them as shown above, similar to how you connected the inserts in a two-refill notebook.

Close the two refills, and set them face-down on the inside of the Traveler’s Notebook Cover, spine-to-spine and connected by the rubber band.

Gently pull the two notebooks apart, and pull the elastic cord up between the two refills. The connecting rubber band should be just loose enough to allow you to do this easily.

Slip your middle refill underneath the center elastic cord. There! You’ve now secured three refills inside.a Traveler’s Notebook!

Adding Accessories

Your Traveler’s Notebook is only limited by how thick you want it to be. In addition to three refills, connected as demonstrated above, I’ve included a PVC Zippered Pouch and a set of TRC Sticky Notes on my Standard Size Traveler’s Notebook.

Attaching the PVC Pouch is pretty easy. I simply slid the pouch underneath the refills through the main elastic cord.

I then attached the Sticky Notes to the PVC Pouch using another connecting rubber band.

The Sticky Notes insert is actually a slim folio, with a think PVC cover to protect your unused stickies. Open the folio and slip the connecting rubber band over the cover and the PVC pouch, much the same as you would connect two notebook inserts.

Traveler's-Notebook-Stickies-Accessories.jpeg

My current Standard Traveler’s Notebook is set up with three paper inserts and two accessories - in other words a total of FIVE refills + accessories. This obviously increases the thickness and weight of the notebook, but it also transforms it into … — My current Standard Traveler’s Notebook is set up with three paper inserts and two accessories - in other words a total of FIVE refills + accessories. This obviously increases the thickness and weight of the notebook, but it also transforms it into a powerful all-in-one tool.

Traveler’s Notebooks and Accessories in the T.G.S. Curated Shop

All of the Traveler’s Notebooks, refills, and accessories pictured here are available for purchase in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. As an authorized Traveler’s Company retailer, we carry Notebook Starter Kits, MD Paper Refills, Planner Refills, Specialty Paper Refills, and Accessories, in addition to TRC Brass products such as pen cases, rulers, and clips. Please feel free to reach out through the site if you have any specific questions about Traveler’s Notebook products and how to use them. If you’re interested in reading further on my own Traveler’s Notebook setup, check out this recent post in which I walk through the standard setup pictured here.

An Old Favorite, Often Overlooked: The Quo Vadis Habana Journal

February 17, 2021

Maybe it’s the fact that this year represents my tenth anniversary of becoming a serious pen-and-paper hobbyist, but I’ve found myself going back through my stationery drawers and pulling out products I used to use a lot, but for whatever reason have set aside. One of these is the Quo Vadis Habana, which was my go-to daily journal/everyday notebook for about two years in the early 2010s.

Yes, that’s dot grid Clairefontaine paper!

Better known for their planners than their notebooks, Quo Vadis is distributed in the United States by Exaclair, alongside French stationery products from Rhodia, Clairefontaine, and Herbin. While the notebooks are made in the U.S., they use Clairefontaine paper, so it’s probably safe to assume there’s a relationship between the brands beyond distribution. Back when I first used the Habana as my primary notebook, they featured the exceptionally fountain pen friendly, white lined 90g Clairefontaine paper. At some point, they moved to an ivory paper that wasn’t as versatile, and the Habana notebooks started to disappear from fountain pen-oriented retailers.

Today, the lined Habana journals still use the “new” ivory paper, which is labeled as 85g Clairefontaine paper that doesn’t perform quite the same as the 90g paper found in Clairefontaine Classic notebooks. While it works ok with fountain pens, you’ll likely see spots of bleed-through with very wet nibs. That said, while I was placing a recent Exaclair order for the shop, I noticed that the Habana is now available once again with 90gsm Clairefontaine dot grid paper, bringing the Habana back onto my radar as a serious workhorse notebook option.

So What Do I Enjoy So Much About the Quo Vadis Habana?

At first glance, the Habana might appear to be a standard A5-ish notebook, but it has a couple of features that I enjoy in addition to DOT GRID CLAIREFONTAINE PAPER (which I don’t think I’ve ever seen before, so I’m excited). First of all, the Habana will lie flat on a desk. The softer leatherette cover, coupled with the sewn binding and 80 sheet / 160 page format, keeps the notebook flexible enough to stay open on its own. Second, the Habana measures slightly larger than your traditional A5 notebook, at 6.25” x 9.25, offering more writing space while remaining slimmer than most notebooks. When I used the Habana regularly, I had a pretty heavy travel schedule and prioritized a notebook/journal that easily slipped into a briefcase. The Habana’s soft cover and slim size was flexible enough to carry on the go, while remaining durable.

Dot Grid Habana Notebooks Are Now Available in The Curated Shop

Not only am I happy to welcome the Quo Vadis Habana back into my own personal rotation/recommendation list, but I’ve added the Dot Grid Habana Journals to the shop in both red and black covers. I started the store in order to feature quality products that don’t necessarily register on the stationery hype train, and while this one may seem about as boring as it gets, standard functional notebooks such as the Habana and the Rhodia Webnotebook fill core needs in the kit of any working stationery enthusiast. I may add additional colors in the future, and I’ll be watching the paper to see if Quo Vadis goes back to 90g on the lined version.

The Gentleman Stationer is an Authorized Retailer of Clairefontaine, Rhodia, and Quo Vadis products through the T.G.S. Curated Shop.

A Closer Look: Best Notebooks for a Commonplace Book

February 10, 2021

One of the new habits I've been trying to adopt in 2021 is keeping a commonplace book, which, to me, is a notebook that serves as a repository of notes, quotes, and clippings from books and articles I've read. There are many different ways “to commonplace,” in terms of how you organize your notes and index the information. Personally, I'm still experimenting with different techniques and plan to write more on this in the future, as it's become a bigger part of my everyday life and writing setup.

One thing I have thought a lot about (unsurprisingly) is which notebook works best for my style of notetaking and commonplacing. There are a range of different factors to take into account, but for me the key considerations are (1) paper versatility, meaning that the paper works well with a wide range of writing instruments; (2) portability, meaning that the notebook can move with me, not only when I travel but also when I change work locations; and (3) archival options, meaning that the notebook will hold up to long term storage and can easily be organized for posterity - after all, one reason to organize reading notes in this manner is to be able to go back and look things up later. I don’t feel like this is mere “gear obsession.” Rather, by finding a system that works for me on the front end, I will have a consistent set of notes that will be easy to reference for years to come.

Write Notepads Hardcover Notebook. My current commonplace book lives in one of these lined A5 hardcover notebooks from Write Notepads. Lined paper typically isn't my preferred ruling, but ultimately (1) the paper quality and (2) the ability to store a durable hardcover notebook over the long-term won out. I can't emphasize how great these notebooks look on a shelf, and the sturdy binding will ensure they last a long time. While I’m happy with this notebook, the downside is size, as you end up having to carry an extra hardcover book with you - not a minor thing if you’re like me and prefer to read physical books as opposed to using e-readers.
Traveler's Notebook. Though I’ve enjoyed the Write Notepads Hardcover Notebook, I'm considering moving my commonplace book inside my Traveler's Notebook, likely to a 128-page, "Lightweight Paper" refill. The paper quality on this refill is excellent, and while it's not labeled as such, I assume it is Tomoe River paper. Why move to a Traveler's Notebook? Portability and the ease of having all of my various notes, planners, and journals under one cover, but separated into different refills. I also use one of the PVC zippered pouches to carry some Book Darts linemarkers, and if you use sticky notes, there's even an insert for that! The downside to Traveler's Notebook inserts would appear to be the ability to archive them, but the availability of refill binders, each of which holds five used Traveler’s Notebook inserts, may solve this issue.
Nanami Paper Seven Seas Writer or Crossfield. If you exclusively use fountain pens, and/or want a notebook with as many pages as you can cram into it, Nanami Paper’s Seven Seas series offers nearly 500 pages of Tomoe River Paper. This A5 notebook also fits many standard leather covers, including those sold directly by Nanami, and the stand-alone notebook is durable enough to withstand a long "shelf life" after it's filled. You'll want to keep up on your indexing as you go, however, as 500 pages will hold a LOT of notes.
Index Cards, or Alternatively, Pocket Notebooks. Ryan Holiday, who writes The Daily Stoic website and has published several books, is a big proponent of commonplacing, and he also uses an index card system that's incredibly versatile, especially if you plan to use your reading notes as research for a book or another larger writing project. (Obviously, index cards are much easier to organize by topic than notes in a notebook.) The downside to this system, at least for me, is storage, since it requires a large box (or boxes) to store and index the cards. I also see how one could utilize this system with pocket notebooks, if you don't fancy the idea of carrying loose cards with you on the go. Field Notes pocket notebooks are relatively inexpensive, and you can file them away by topic using the Archival Box with included dividers.

And finally, something different...

Day One Journaling App. I’ve actually started to use two tools for commonplacing: a physical notebook and the Day One app on my phone and computer. Basically, I use a notebook if I'm taking notes on a book or magazine article that I'm reading in physical form, and I use Day One to collect links, book recommendations, and quotations from articles that I'm reading on my phone, tablet, or computer. If you haven't used Day One, it was originally designed as a journaling app but can also serve as a flexible notetaking or commonplacing tool for organizing information using dates and tags. While I don’t necessarily encourage anyone to go entirely paperless because I believe there are concrete benefits to thinking “offline” and writing things out by hand, this app is very deep, with lots of functionality.

UPDATE: A Late Addition….

I don’t recall exactly where I picked this tip up, but sometime during 2020 I started sticking “library pockets” in the back of my books, that I would use to hold index cards for notetaking while I was traveling or reading. I’d later transcribe my notes from the notecards into my commonplace book. The habit has stuck (especially for books I can’t or don’t want to annotate or mark up), but I WAY over-purchased library pockets, and accidentally ordered more than a hundred of them. I don’t want to just throw them out, so I’m giving them away. If you order a notebook from the Curated Shop (hopefully for commonplacing but it’s not necessary), I’ll throw in a couple of these pockets, free of charge. The promotion will last until I’ve exhausted my excess supply. (Just to be clear, you’ll receive two pockets per person, per order, not two pockets per notebook.)

Disclaimer: This post does not contain affiliate links, though I have chosen to stock many of my favorite items in the T.G.S. Curated Shop so that I can sell them directly. Sales through the Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program are how I support the site.

Last Call for "Old" Tomoe River? The Galen Leather Everyday Book

January 9, 2021

Over the summer, the pen community learned that the company responsible for manufacturing Tomoe River paper was changing its manufacturing processes, which would result in the “new” Tomoe River having a different feel than the current version of the ultra-thin, fountain pen friendly paper that many of us have come to know and love. For the record, I have not had the opportunity to compare the new paper side-by-side with the old, but if you’re interested in reading about the differences, I would refer you to these posts by Yagan at Macchiato Man and Daryl from Atelier Musubi. From what I can tell, Tomoe River paper will continue to be fountain pen friendly, but with a different texture (more tactile), a slightly thicker page, and a less pronounced tendency to showcase sheen on certain inks.

Each Everyday Book comes packaged with a leather blotter and writing guides, which can be used to create a ruled page by placing the guide sheet behind each page of Tomoe River Paper.

That said, as the title of this post implies, it’s still possible to get your hands on the old version of Tomoe River paper. Both Galen Leather and Atelier Musubi have large stocks, and have indicated that they will continue to use the old version until their supplies are exhausted. Today, I will take a look at Galen Leather’s leatherbound “Everyday Book,” a 200 page/400 sheet notebook that features the blank, 52gsm white Tomoe River variant and is an excellent choice for those looking for an unlined Tomoe River notebook or journal.

For pretty much every Galen Leather product I have owned, I’ve opted for the brown “Crazy Horse” leather. I love how brown distressed leather looks as it ages, especially on a book. The leather cover manages to be thin without feeling flimsy, and the flexibility allows the notebook to open and lay flat. While the Everyday Book contains blank pages, it ships with lined and grid writing guides, as well as a leather blotter in case you need to close your notebook before the ink dries. (Tomoe River paper is known for its relatively long dry times.)

Tomoe River paper is beloved for its thinness, demonstrated here by comparing the 200-sheet Everyday Book (middle) against two other notebooks (Write Notepads Hardcover Notebook and Life x Kleid Noble Note) that contain around 100 sheets of differen… — Tomoe River paper is beloved for its thinness, demonstrated here by comparing the 200-sheet Everyday Book (middle) against two other notebooks (Write Notepads Hardcover Notebook and Life x Kleid Noble Note) that contain around 100 sheets of different paper.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Galen Leather has rapidly expanded their product offerings from leather notebook covers and accessories to include notebooks, desk accessories, and portable writing boxes/desks. I’m a huge fan of Galen Leather, including this notebook, and have used their products for years. You can purchase the Everyday Book (or “Everyday Blank Notebook” as it’s sometimes called) directly from the Galen Leather website. The A5 leather notebook starts at $36, with A6 and B6 sizes also available for $24 and $29, respectively. Some colors and sizes are currently sold out, possibly due to a run caused by those stocking up on old Tomoe River products before vendors have to move to new stock.

A Note on Tomoe River Paper Alternatives

Personally, I won’t be stockpiling “old” Tomoe River paper. It doesn’t sound as though the new paper will be any different for my purposes, as I actually prefer slightly thicker, more tactile paper, and don’t pay much attention to ink sheening or shading. For those interested in reading further about other fountain pen friendly papers that I enjoy, be sure to check out my series, “Best Paper for Everyday Writing.”

Disclaimer: Galen Leather sent me the notebook pictured in this review free of charge, for review purposes. I have not been otherwise compensated for this review. This post does not contain affiliate links.

The Best Paper for Everyday Writing, Part III: The Best Spiral Notebooks

April 16, 2020

Welcome to Part III of my ongoing series, "Everyday Writers: The Best Paper for Everyday Writing," in which I've been taking an extended look at the different types of paper I use in my daily life, with a focus on work. When it comes to office supplies - as in, supplies that actually get used in the office - the traits I value most are (1) versatility and (2) cost effectiveness. You can't get much more versatile or cost effective than the traditional spiral notebook.

Some people love spiral bindings and others hate them. Lefties complain about how the binding gets in the way and hurts their hand, and even righties aren't immune to this problem if, like me, you always write on both sides of the page and wind up with a right-sided binding when you flip the notebook. Personally, the ability to fold the notebook over and easily tear sheets out even if the pages aren't perforated outweighs any inconvenience. I also appreciate the fact that a spiral notebook lays flat and, now that companies have started to make notebooks in "landscape" orientation, can fit perfectly underneath the keyboards most of us use for our daily work.

I use both the A4 and A5 Clairefontaine notebooks, which feature a sturdy wire binding and relatively durable covers. Clairefontaine’s thicker paper also stands up better to the wear and tear of a spiral binding, and I’ve noticed fewer sheets coming… — I use both the A4 and A5 Clairefontaine notebooks, which feature a sturdy wire binding and relatively durable covers. Clairefontaine’s thicker paper also stands up better to the wear and tear of a spiral binding, and I’ve noticed fewer sheets coming loose over time.

Because they aren't designed to look nice on a bookshelf, spiral notebooks also tend to cost less than hardcovers (though decent paper will still be much more expensive than the $0.25 drugstore notebooks we used in school). While you do sacrifice durability and a nicer appearance, I tend to use my spiral notebooks for tasks that require “disposable” paper: brainstorming, testing pens, jotting review notes, and - for the day job - notes that may need to be torn out and shredded for confidentiality purposes. If you use your notebooks in the same way I do, this paper doesn't need to be the most fountain-pen friendly, further helping to reduce cost, and both Doane Paper and Studio Neat make excellent spiral notebook options if you can tolerate a little bit of bleedthrough with wider nibs and/or wetter inks.

Clairefontaine Side Wirebound Notebooks. In terms of versatility, my longtime favorite spiral notebook comes from French paper company Clairefontaine. Before they were widely available in the United States, I used to lug suitcases full of these notebooks back from France whenever I visited, which would be enough to get me through the year or two between trips. These spiral notebooks are available in A4, A5, and B6 sizes, as well as in single or 4-subject format. While I prefer the Seyes or "French" ruling, Clairefontaine also makes graph and lined paper. Those looking for dot grid will have to go with Write Notepads or Rhodia.
Write Notepads Spiral Notebooks. Last year, Write Notepads revamped their spiral bound notebook offerings to include more fountain pen friendly paper, which is among some of the best I've used. I also appreciate the more subdued cover design, which not only makes these exceptional notebooks to use at the office but strongly resembles something you would see in a midcentury office supply closet - and that's a good thing! Write Notepads makes a dot grid version, and also added a lined "Landscape" notebook that fits well in the space on your desk below the keyboard.
Rhodia Spiral Notebooks. Over the years, Rhodia seemingly has replaced Clairefontaine as the "standard" fountain pen friendly paper recommendation. And the brand has a lot to offer: It's widely available (often found in local art supply stores), relatively inexpensive, and high quality. Personally, while I don't dislike Rhodia, and use their A5 and A4 pads extensively, I find Clairefontaine and Write Notepads paper to be more consistent. I do love that Rhodia makes spiral notebooks with microperforated sheets that can easily be removed.
Doane Paper Idea Journal. Of all the notebooks on this list, the Doane Paper Idea Journal offers the best value proposition, with 100 sheets/200 pages of Doane's signature "Grid+Lines" paper. As remarked above, Doane Paper isn't as suitable for fountain pens as some of the other options on this list, but generally handles fine and extra-fine nibs well enough. The bigger question for many people is whether the somewhat quirky paper ruling meets their needs. Personally, I love it, especially for sketching out flow charts or detailed lists where I want the option to write very small.
Studio Neat Panobook. Finally, this last entry is perhaps the most specialized. Specifically designed to fit beneath an Apple keyboard, Studio Neat’s “Panobook” is a landscape or "panoramic" notebook that's a bit narrower than the Write Notepads version. Since it also features dot grid paper, you can change the orientation of the Panobook and use the notebook vertically, transforming it into an extra-large steno pad or reporter's notebook. Like Doane Paper, the Studio Neat Panobook isn't the most fountain-pen friendly option out there, but if you're judicious with the nibs and ink you use, it should be workable.

I really wish every notebook came with the option of French or Seyes-ruled paper. You can check out my full review here.

Takeaways and Further Reading

If I had to stock my office with two choices, they would be the A5 Clairefontaine French-ruled notebook and the Write Notepads dot grid spiral, because the paper works the best for my style of writing. I love these two versatile rulings, and not only does the paper in both notebooks handle pretty much any fountain pen nib or ink, but it also works well with rollerballs, gel pens, ballpoints, and, of course, pencils. With perforated pages, they would be absolutely perfect, but I guess you can't have it all.

If you haven’t already, don’t miss the first two installments of my “Everyday Writers: Best Paper” series, Part I: Best Hardcover Notebooks, and Part II: Top Five Slim Softcover Notebooks.