My 2026 Notebook Setup: The Year of Practicality

Last year I didn’t stick to any specific notebook system and my organization (not to mention my personal well-being) suffered for it. I had thought that by moving from three dated Hobonichi planners to a more flexible undated system, I’d have more versatility, but as it turns out I do need more structure for the business side of things. Accordingly, I’ve added back one dated planner. The rest of my rotation will look similar to those who have followed me in the past, with a ring binder and a standard personal journal as my other primary daily drivers. I continue to use some e-readers for “junk paper replacement,” and a variety of single-purpose notebooks that will rotate in and out of use throughout the year.

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My Wonderland222 currently lives in this gorgeous leather A5 cover sent to me by British Belt Company. When I travel, I will likely consolidate with other notebooks and notepads in an A5 Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter.

Business Planner: Wonderland222 A5 Core (S) (“Stacked”)

I’ve already done a separate YouTube video on why I chose this particular planner, but to briefly recap, I needed more structure to track the T.G.S. business, including all the various moving parts surrounding website content, ordering product for the shop, general administration, travel, and more. I have so many different things going on right now that I need to be much more disciplined with my time, making the Wonderland222’s vertical weekly layout perfect for my method of time blocking. (“Stacked” refers to stacked weekends, meaning that Saturday and Sunday are a single column since I don’t fully plan-out either day.) This planner also contains annual and quarterly layouts, a Gantt chart/habit-tracking layout, monthly recap pages, and even 80+ blank pages at the back which can be used for more detailed daily planning if the need arises. I view the Wonderland222 A5 Core as offering most of the functionality of the A5 Hobonichi Cousin in a format that’s far less bulky.

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The black exterior with burgundy interior didn’t hurt either.

General Looseleaf Notebook: SPAD by Brelio A5 6-Ring Binder

I’ve usually kept some form of ring or disc binder as a working notebook, since much of my notetaking and writing lives on looseleaf sheets, and I like to be able to move notes around and organize them. I would have run it back for another year with my A5 Plotter, but when Lisa Vanness brought the Brelio brand back from Japan, I immediately gravitated towards this slightly more robust leather planner with - dare I say it - a more polished finish and larger rings. The integrated pen loop and four pockets sealed it, since it allows me to carry paper, index cards, and other accessories. Alongside my Wonderland222 Planner, I’ve used this notebook daily since mid-December.

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I love a clean, versatile dot grid format. The Mnemosyne has margin guides so you can lay it out as a planner or bullet journal if you so desire.

Personal Journal: Mnemosyne Hardcover Journal

My biggest regret from 2025 was the lapse in my journaling habit. I wrote far less in this A5 Mnemosyne journal than I would have liked, so it will stay in rotation and get finished. Because my personal journal contains things like stream-of-consciousness writing, random rants, and lists in addition to drafts and other longer musings, I like this journal to be more of a “commodity notebook” - something I’m not afraid to scuff up and get dirty. Once I finish this Mnemosyne I have a couple of Leuchtturm1917 notebooks lined up to take its place.

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Electronic Notebook: Remarkable2 E-Ink Tablet

For the past few years I’ve used a Remarkable2 to store larger pdfs and research source material for both personal/TGS projects as well as my legal practice. While I always prefer reading and writing on physical paper, the Remarkable2 gets “remarkably” close to the tactile feel of analogue while still offering the convenience of not lugging around a 300-page three-ringed binder when you’re doing an up-and-back-same-day business trip with four connections. Similarly, since I enjoy reading doorstop biographies and history books, I have a Kindle Scribe that I use for travel. I’ve also experimented with using both the Remarkable2 and Scribe for notetaking and journaling on airplanes, after a couple of semi-traumatic experiences of having physical pens roll off the tray table mid-flight or otherwise losing them in an airplane seat.

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Experimentation/Pen Show Notebook: Roterfaden TGS_25 A5-Slim

I’ve always kept a “scratch notebook” that I use to test pens and inks, draft posts, and otherwise just experiment and have fun. I usually take this notebook with me on vacations and to pen shows, and there’s no real set purpose. If I have a writing project that I want to do but doesn’t “fit” anywhere else, it probably goes in this notebook. Similarly, if someone offers to let me test a pen or ink, or asks me to demonstrate something for them at a show or meetup, I’ll pull out this notebook. Since early Summer I’ve been using our own Roterfaden TGS_25 cover, in the portable A5 Slim format.

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My system may not be the most efficient, but hey, I’ve got shelf space for all those notebooks.

Other Notebooks

I keep a variety of single-purpose notebooks for specific projects that I don’t engage with on a daily basis. Most of these don’t travel with me, live at my desk or on my bookshelf, and play very specific roles in my workflow. I have a few Plotters, two of which are used to organize ink swatches and paper samples, and another that I am using to organize research and ideas on a longer-form writing project. I use a William Hannah A5 as a paper tasting and paper sample reference journal. I have various Filofax notebooks that I use as archives and to organize research on topics of interest that I have followed for years. I tend to print a lot of online articles and read/annotate them in physical form, hence the large archive.

Tune in Next Week to “On the Paper Trail…”

Lisa Vanness and I are collaborating on a YouTube and Podcast project titled “On the Paper Trail…”, the first episode of which is slated for release sometime next week (or sooner). We’ll be discussing our respective 2026 Notebook Setups in more detail, as well as providing a general introduction to the project and answering reader/listener questions. You can subscribe to the YouTube Channel, and we will also be setting up an RSS Feed for those who wish to listen in a podcast app.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can always come talk pens in person at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee, open from 1-6pm Thursdays and Fridays and from 10am-6pm Saturdays.

Complementary Notebook Systems and Stationery: Yamamoto Bullet Jotters

Of all the notebook systems, planners, and related products on the market, what I really appreciate is a brand or system that doesn’t lock you into a specific format, allowing you to experiment with different types of paper and to mix-and-match refills. It’s a big reason why I like flexible cover-based systems like the Lochby Field Journal series, the Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter, and binder and disc-based systems that you can really unlock by buying a hole punch and using whatever paper you choose. In my Notebook Systems 101 workshops that I’ll be holding at the upcoming D.C. Pen Show next week, how different planner and notebook systems interact and complement one another will be a major topic of discussion.

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To that end, I wanted to spotlight a new product from Yamamoto Paper: The “Bullet Jotter,” which is a Personal/Bible-sized notepad holder that can be used as a stand-alone product or as a companion to a Bible-sized binder from brands such as Plotter. This small portfolio measures roughly 4.5” x 7.2”, lies completely flat, and holds two pads of Bible-sized paper (one pad of Soliste and another of Sheep Clouds Bond are included). You can use the notepads as is, and the paper can also be hole-punched for filing, as shown below in my Plotter.

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I used a Carl/Plotter hole punch to add the sheet of Sheep Clouds Bond to my Bible-size Plotter.

Yamamoto, a Japanese paper distributor, has sourced six different Japanese papers to fit the Bullet Jotter (or to use as individual notepads). In addition to the Soliste and Sheep Clouds Bond, there are pads of Sanzen Tomoe River, Canopus, Meringue, and Slight White. Some of these already have been made available in Yamamoto’s sampler packs and A4 looseleaf sets, but Canopus and Meringue are new papers that I look forward to exploring.

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As of this morning you can get the Yamamoto Bullet Jotter, refills, and plenty of other Yamamoto papers in our shop. We’re somewhat frantically trying to get a ton of new inventory listed before the D.C. Show, and these might come with us. Please note that we are open today (Saturday) for in-person shopping, and will be open Thursday for limited hours before closing next weekend for D.C. You can keep track of updated hours here.

TRAVELER's Notebook vs. Yamamoto Ro-Biki: What's the Difference?

Since I’m becoming something of a notebook system specialist (Check out our new resource here!), I sometimes get questions about how the different systems compare to one another. While the Traveler’s Notebook is the most widely known “tall narrow” notebook format, there’s another option out there: The “Ro-Biki Note” series of notebooks from Yamamoto Paper. Online photos can create the perception that these two systems are related and/or interchangeable, and that’s not necessarily the case. Here are a few key differences:

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The Ro-Biki canvas cover is actually more of a wrap. It ships with a velcro strap that not only closes the cover but also allows you to secure pens and other accessories in the outside pocket.

• Different Measurements. While both Traveler’s Notebook and Ro-Biki are the same height (8.25”), the Traveler’s refill notebooks are roughly 4.25” wide, and Ro-Biki notebooks are 3.75” wide. This means that Ro-Biki notebooks will fit in a standard-size Traveler’s Notebook cover but a Traveler’s refill will be too wide for the Ro-Biki canvas cover (unless you trim the Traveler’s refill down).

• Different Paper. Both brands use excellent paper that works well with a wide range of writing instruments - including fountain pens. Traveler’s Company mostly uses Midori MD paper for its standard refills (both companies share the same corporate parent), while also offering a wider range of options including watercolor, sketch, and ultralight Tomoe River paper. For the Ro-Biki notebooks, Yamamoto has chosen a soft cream-colored paper that I’ve seen identified as either “Chiffon Cream” or “Soliste” (which is one of the select papers in Yamamoto’s latest round of A4 packs). Again, both brands use good paper and this will come down to personal preference.

• Different Build/Aesthetics. Traveler’s Company uses a cord-based system to hold the refills inside a basic leather cover that closes with an elastic band. The Ro-Biki is a bit more unique, in that Yamamoto has commissioned a cotton canvas cover that incorporates a zippered case and pockets along the outside. If you enjoy the Ro-Biki paper and notebook dimensions, you might find that the Ro-Biki also offers more built-in functionality out of the box, though this comes at the expense of customization. Those looking to avoid leather might also prefer the Yamamoto option.

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I might take a Ro-Biki to the beach next week, since I can take it to the pool and down to the water without worrying about water getting splashed on leather.

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Sorry, some of my writing had to be blurred here, for personal reasons.

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Ro-Biki notebooks attach to the canvas cover by sliding the back cover of one notebook into a pocket, and then attaching additional notebooks to the “anchor notebook” using two supplied rubber bands, which are very thin and unobtrusive. Oh, and can we also get a shout-out for reticle grid? It’s one of the more underutilized rulings, IMHO.

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Regardless of which stationery pouch I’m carrying, I have post-it notes, stamps, and document flags with me.

Takeaways and My Personal Thoughts

Traveler’s Notebook and Yamamoto Ro-Biki Note are different products that I suspect will appeal to different users. Traveler’s Notebook is more of a truly customizable system/system techo, while I’d characterize Ro-Biki as a notebook with a bit of built-in functionality in the canvas cover (which may be perfectly adequate for many users). Update: I’ve published a YouTube demonstration of me setting up the Ro-Biki, plus a size comparison with the Traveler’s Notebook.

Personally, I love Yamamoto’s Soliste paper, and I’ve enjoyed using one of the Ro-Biki reticle-grid notebooks for testing. This was enough to make me grab one of the covers for myself, as I already have Soliste hole-punched in my Plotters for general writing and the Ro-Biki Note paper has the same soft feel to it. (I’d love to confirm whether these are indeed Soliste notebooks - stay tuned.) Whatever paper it is, it’s handled all my inks quite well, and it makes me want to keep writing with it.

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As of today, we have Yamamoto Paper Robiki covers and Robiki-Note notebooks in stock, and of course we continue to offer the full Traveler’s Notebook lineup and the new similarly sized Lochby Voyager Journals. Come see us in-store this week, starting tomorrow and Friday from 1-6, and Saturday from 10-6. Next week (July 13-20) we will be on vacation so get your shopping in before then!

Plotter Walkthrough: How I Use My Plotter Binders (Video)

This one’s been a long-time coming. Readers have been asking me for more notetaking and organizational “technique” content, which I’ve discovered is pretty hard to do here on the blog. It’s much easier to show people how I use various notebook systems, and in-store customers have remarked that my store demonstrations and explanations would make compelling video content. I’ve previously done similar videos on Roterfaden and certain of the Lochby cases. Today I walk through three of my Plotter binders, including the Mini 5 (Pocket-size), Bible Size, and Standard A5. I’ve also written some about what Plotter is and how I use it, but in this video I actually flip through all of the notebooks and talk about the accessories and how they each fit into my workflow. I’ve also added Chapters so that you can jump to the specific notebook you want to hear about, but please do listen to the intro because it does provide a general overview of Plotter and the overall role it plays for me.

Note: We are not Plotter retailers, and have no affiliation with the brand other than that we enjoy using their products. I will note that many of the items we sell (including looseleaf papers and paper pads from Midori, Clairefontaine, Yamamoto Paper, Nakabayashi, and Iroful) can be trimmed and/or hole-punched to use in Plotter and other notebook systems, which is actually how I personally use much of the paper I consume.

We are supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Our brick and mortar shop will be open Thursday and Saturday this week, and this Friday by appointment. Typically we have regular Friday hours, but I need to finish upgrading some displays and plan to take the afternoon to do that work. Come see us on Saturday and check out the new look!

Searching for the Perfect Personal Notebook: How Does the Lochby Field Journal Mini Compare?

I’ve been thinking about notebooks even more than I normally do (and that’s a lot). Why? I’m in the middle of reading “The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper” by Roland Allen. This book has received a lot of attention in our circles, and for good reason. Though I’m still in the middle of the read, so far it’s a fairly comprehensive account of the role notebooks have played in human intellectual life over the centuries, and not just the work of artists, writers, and scientists, but merchants, businesspeople, and everyday readers and thinkers looking for a place to keep track of their thoughts. As someone who’s incapable of separating thinking from writing by hand, I bought this book immediately, and its given me many, many ideas for how I can better use my notebooks in my everyday life in a more systematic fashion so that I don’t lose track of ideas and merely preserve my own thoughts for posterity. You can expect to see more written on this book in the future, and some of the concepts already have popped up in recent posts on notetaking and related tools I’m experimenting with.

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I use a lot of notebooks. My Plotter A5 serves as my main “working notebook.” I also keep an informal journal, which is a standard notebook that I write in regularly, as well as a Midori 5-year Diary that serves as a daily log. (You can read more about this setup here.) What I would love to find, however, is a functional smaller notebook that’s portable enough to take with me everywhere, yet still large enough to use for meaningful writing. The 3.5” x 5.5” pocket notebook, made popular by Field Notes, is the gold standard for many. My issue with Field Notes? They fall apart with heavy pocket carry unless you add a secondary market cover, and sometimes I wish I could easily carry multiples because they make great single-subject notebooks to rotate through depending on which project has your attention.

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I find that the Field Journal Mini feels the best with two or three notebooks loaded into it. Four will fit, but it’s somewhat bulky and makes it difficult for the notebooks to lie flat when writing.

So is Lochby’s latest release, the “Field Journal Mini”, a possible solution? I took one of the covers with me on this past weekend’s trip to the NYC trade shows, and came away impressed with both the size and functionality. For those unfamiliar with the Field Journal layout, it’s a waxed canvas cover that includes four sets of cords, allowing you to carry up to four slim notebooks bound together “Traveler’s-style.” The larger A5 Lochby Field Journal has been around for years, and has proven to be one of the most enduringly popular item in our shop and at pen shows. Presumably in response to customer requests, Lochby recently released the “Field Journal Mini” designed to fit pocket notebooks.

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The front cover features one single pocket and two card slots.

I personally like the Field Journal Mini A LOT - maybe even more than the A5 version. I currently have mine set up with two notebooks and index cards tucked into the back inside pocket. The front cover has smaller slots for cards, receipts, post-its, and more. While not traditionally “pocketable,” the Field Journal Mini slips easily into the outside pocket of a bag, and will probably fit a larger coat pocket. A full-size pen fits into the elastic pen holder, and won’t extend past the cover, which is an issue that makes smaller notebooks somewhat awkward to carry with a pen attached. All of this made the Field Journal Mini an excellent trade show notebook.

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Lochby has also modified the aluminum closure - it’s lighter and not as bulky. Often with Lochby products there is a short “breaking in” period where the canvas loop needs to stretch and soften a bit for the hook-and-loop system to work easily, but I didn’t experience that at all with the Field Journal Mini.

I found it somewhat fortuitous that the Field Journal Mini was released just as I rediscovered index cards. While I don’t see myself carrying more than a couple of pocket notebooks at any given time, I’m happy to fill the rest of the binder up with index cards. 3x5 cards slip easily into the back and front covers. When I’m done with the cards I can then transfer them into a card filing system or discard them if they don’t have notes I want to retain long-term.

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Lochby prices their products competitively, and this one is no exception. The Field Journal Mini is priced at $49, and comes in Lochby’s three standard color combinations of Brown/Honey, Navy/Tan, and Black/Tan. Each Field Journal ships with a Lochby 68gsm Tomoe River refill (pocket-notebook sized), and additional refills are available for purchase separately. I wanted to test these out for myself before I ordered a lot of them for the shop, but I’m impressed and will likely place a larger order in the coming weeks. As of now we still have a handful available.

Thank you for reading! The Gentleman Stationer is supported by the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to visit our in-person location, you can view directions and up-to-date hours here.