Roterfaden Taschebegleiter B6 — The Smoke Blue and Honey color combination is among my favorites.

New Arrivals: Ro-Biki Passport Size and A5/B6 Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter Restock!

July 15, 2025

We may be on vacation this week, but we still have a bunch of new arrivals that we continue to work to get listed. Right before we left, we received a restock of A5 Roterfaden Taschenbegleiters in A5. While the four-clip versions sold out almost immediately, we continue to have stock of several classic three-clip A5 Taschenbegleiters with both suede and felt interiors, as well as a B6 version of the Smoke Blue and Honey Suede that has been a favorite.

In addition to the standard size Ro-Biki notebooks, we now have the Passport-sized Ro-Biki notebooks available for purchase, which are the same dimensions as the Traveler’s Company passport refills and feature wonderfully fountain pen friendly dot grid paper. Now available in 17 different cover designs!

Due to our travel schedule this week, please note that our brick-and-mortar shop is closed and will reopen the week of July 21. Online orders will continue to be processed and ship but may require an additional 1-2 business days beyond our normal time. Thank you for all your support!

Personal Journaling Setup, Part 3: Revisiting Pocket Notebooks

July 31, 2020

In the early years of this blog, I was a huge pocket notebook enthusiast and carried one with me wherever I went. Honestly, for a couple of years pocket notebooks served as my primary note-taking setup, even at work. But as my responsibilities increased, I needed something a bit more versatile (i.e., that contained more pages) to manage multiple projects and an at-times overwhelming number of tasks, and I gradually fell out of the habit of regular pocket carry.

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve spent a lot of time reorganizing my home office setup for what looks like a permanent work-from-home situation, and part of that process has involved going back through stacks of old notebooks, papers, files, etc. and determining what could be thrown away, what needed to be kept or archived, and whether I needed to change anything in my current workflow. As I read through years of old pocket notebooks, what struck me was how easy it was to remember things - even specific days seven or eight years ago - simply by reviewing short to-do lists and other notes I made for myself. Next thing I knew, a couple of hours had passed and I decided that I was going to pick the hobby back up.

2013-2015 were peak “pocket notebook” years for me. I miss having this informal “daily record,” and plan to pick up the practice once again.

Unlike traditional journaling or commonplacing, my pocket notebooks don’t have any set format, and mostly amount to a collection of short lists, reminders, and random stream-of-consciousness jottings. These notebooks essentially serve the same purpose as scratch paper, only I have all of my random musings gathered together in one place as opposed to scattered around my desk on post-its and the backs of old grocery lists. Here I’ve put together a set of links to various pocket notebooks and pocket notebook accessories I’ve used over the years, including many available for purchase in the TGS Curated Shop. Enjoy!

The TGS Patreon Program and sales through The Curated Shop are how I fund The Gentleman Stationer. Your support is greatly appreciated! Any third-party links here are NOT affiliate links and unpaid.

Field Notes Archival Wooden Box. I finally added a Field Notes Archival Box to my personal collection, which let me get these stacks of filled notebooks off my bookshelf and into some discernible order. The set comes with dividers that you can use to organize your collection (I went with organization by years), as well as a Field Notes “band of rubber.”
Field Notes Pocket Notebooks. I carried Field Notes exclusively for years, but as I moved into larger format notebooks, and didn’t use as many, I allowed my subscription to lapse. I’m still working my way through what I’d call a “backlog,” and the unused pocket notebooks pictured in my . That said, if you’re in need of Field Notes, or a new pocket carry enthusiast looking to stock up, I now carry the full line.
Write Notepads Copper Anniversary Edition Pocket Notebooks. For fountain pen enthusiasts who don’t want to carry anything else, it can be hard to find a pocket notebook containing paper that will hold up to any pen or ink you can throw at it. These Write Notepads pocket notebooks will do the trick (plus they still fit in the Field Notes Archival Box).
Lamy Pico Ballpoint Pen (via Vanness Pens). Lamy makes one of my favorite pocket ballpoints of all time, the extendable Lamy Pico. Not only does it have a great refill, but the pen itself is comfortable to write with for extended periods of time - rare for a ballpoint this compact. Read my review here.
Caran D’Ache 849 Ballpoint (via T.G.S. Curated Shop). With Retro 51 supposedly winding down operations later this year, which company will replace Retro as your go-to source for fun, reasonably priced pens that work for most people? Caran D’Ache is certainly trying, having released a steady stream of special editions in their 849 Ballpoint. This pen grows on you, and I personally love the fact that the barrel features a hexagonal shape reminiscent of a woodcase pencil.
Rotring 800 Mechanical Pencil (via Pen Chalet). For those who prefer a mechanical pencil, if you’re looking for pocket carry I’d recommend going with something that features a retractable tip. The Rotring 800 generally takes the same shape and build as the legendary Rotring 600, only the retractable pipe means that you won’t stab yourself in the leg when you sit down. Read my review here.
Retro 51 Tornado Rollerball (via Goldspot). In my experience, liquid ink rollerballs tend to bleed and feather on the same level as fountain pens in pocket notebooks, but if you enjoy quirky limited editions you can’t get much better than the Retro 51 Tornado. The sad news is that Retro 51 is closing up shop by the end of the year. Before then, be sure to check out Goldspot’s exclusive “Pizza” Exclusive Limited Edition!
CW&T Pen Type-B. Looking for the ultimate in high-end pocket carry? Consider adding a CW&T Pen Type-B to your rotation. This deliberately “over-engineered”, indestructible masterpiece of industrial design features Pilot’s Hi-Tec-C needlepoint gel refill, and could almost certainly be the last pen you’d ever need. (Not that it would be. We all know how that works.) Read my review here.
Pokka Pens. Or perhaps you’d prefer a pen that you don’t have to worry about losing. Designed as an easily replaceable version of the Fisher Space Pen “Bullet” Pen, the Pokka sells in packs of three in a wide range of fun colors. I have these scattered all over my house, in my car, and even one on my keychain (look for these new accessories soon).
Schon DSGN “Pocket Six” Fountain Pen (via Schon DSGN). Last but not least, pocket pen impresario Ian Schon has added a fountain pen to his lineup of everyday carry writing instruments. He’s currently offering an “online pen show” of sorts, with the Pocket Six available in a wide range of cool colors. Stay tuned for my review of this epic new addition to my pocket writing arsenal, coming soon.

The Best Paper For Everyday Writing, Part IV: How Do People Actually Use Pocket Notebooks?

April 19, 2020

As I’m writing this, I realize that I’ve been working from home for more than a month now. The change has been easier on me than some, I imagine, because I tend to work remotely 2-3 days a week under normal circumstances, and of course nearly all of the work I do on TGS happens in my home office. But moving between workspaces regularly can be disruptive, and what happens, in my experience, is that I end up with notebooks, loose notes, electronic documents, books, and other project materials scattered in different locations. What I’ve enjoyed, for a change, is having a single location with a single set of tools that allows me to get a sense of what I’m using, what I’m not, and to further refine preferences. What’s the one thing that’s fallen by the wayside? Pocket notebooks.

The two closest things to true “pocket notebooks” that I’ve been using regularly are the Write Notepads PUR-bound pocket notebooks and the Kunisawa “Find” hardcover notebooks, which I strongly suspect are white-labeled Kokuyo Sketch notebooks. The p… — The two closest things to true “pocket notebooks” that I’ve been using regularly are the Write Notepads PUR-bound pocket notebooks and the Kunisawa “Find” hardcover notebooks, which I strongly suspect are white-labeled Kokuyo Sketch notebooks. The paper and covers (other than the colors) are nearly identical.

I’ve never been a heavy user of pocket notebooks - at least, I’ve never been able to justify having a subscription. I might go through 3-4 per year. While I always have a pocket notebook on hand, it’s mainly used to keep track of lists, expenses, and random thoughts I have when I’m out running errands or commuting. Now that I’m not doing those things regularly, I lean much more heavily on hardcover or spiral-bound notebooks, as well as reporter-style notebooks for list-making. While I’m sure that I’ll eventually go back to pocket notebooks at some point, the traditional Field Notes-style three-staple notebook will probably never form a core part of my workflow, mainly because I don’t find them durable enough to survive for 3-6 months in pockets, bags, car glove boxes, etc., which is about how long it takes me to use one. Instead, I suspect that I’ll gravitate more towards different forms of stationery that are still portable, but perhaps a bit more versatile in layout and certainly longer-lasting. Here are five pieces of “pocketable” or “portable” stationery that I’ve been using recently, and likely will continue to use going forward.

It’s surprising that what I’ve enjoyed more than anything are reporter-style notebooks, which I find draw on the best of pocket notebook portability and combine it with just the right amount of space to make the format useful for everyday work.

Kokuyo Sketch Hardcover Notebook. I’ve actually been using what looks like a white-labeled version of this notebook from Kunisawa, but I LOVE the long and narrow format, to the point where it might be one of the best pure “utility” notebooks I’ve ever used. Not only is the hardcover extremely durable, but the paper works extremely well with most pens and inks, the grid ruling is versatile, and the longer format perfect for logging things and listmaking.
Write Notepads Reporter Notebook. I’ve become such a huge fan of Write Notepads paper that I’ve basically made it my default “house paper” and even started selling it in the TGS Curated Shop. Their Reporter Notebook has become my default “desk jotter,” sitting to the side of my keyboard when I’m working on the computer and often accompanying me around the house or out on the porch when I need a change of scenery. Reporter’s notebooks are designed to be used standing up, and the sturdy chipboard covers offers more support for actual writing than your standard pocket notebook.
Field Notes “Front Page” Reporter Notebook. Field Notes took one of their limited edition releases, “Byline,” and turned it into a standard item, now called the “Front Page." In terms of reporter notebooks currently on the market, the Field Notes “Frontpage” is well-designed with decent paper, though if you’re a heavy fountain pen user you’ll probably prefer the Write Notepads version.
Write Notepads Pocket Notebook. If I do reach for something that could reasonably be called a true “pocket notebook,” it would be one of the Write Notepads PUR-bound notebooks. The covers tend to hold up better over time than Field Notes, and the binding holds more pages than your typical three-staple variety. The current “Copper Anniversary Edition” contains exceptional fountain pen friendly paper. Less than $12 for a three-pack of notebooks of this quality make these a steal, IMHO.
Nock Co. DotDash Spiral Pad / Write Notepads Dot Grid Steno Pad. If you need more space for writing than a pocket or reporter’s notebook can offer, consider a steno pad. Both Nock Co. and Write Notepads offer quality, durable steno pads containing good paper with a versatile ruling. While I wouldn’t stay that I use steno pads regularly, I keep a stash of them on hand because they make excellent notebooks for thinking and doodling.

When you need more space to work than what a pocket or reporter’s notebook can offer, but still need to maximize portability, consider a steno pad (shown here compared against a Write Notepads reporter notebook on the left).

Takeaways and Further Reading

Going forward, the bulk of my “portable writing” will likely take place in some combination of the Kokuyo Sketch and the Write Notepads Reporter Notebook, though I’ll maintain at least one traditional pocket notebook to carry in my pocket or glove box once things return to a semblance of normalcy. While the first two items on this list represent my own personal preference, any of the five featured here will serve you well in getting actual work done in your day-to-day routine.

Those interested in reading further on the different types of paper I recommend should check out the previous installments of my “Everyday Writers: Best Paper” series, Part I: Best Hardcover Notebooks, Part II: Top Five Slim Softcover Notebooks, and Part III: The Best Spiral Notebooks. I envision this as a five-part series, so stay tuned for the next installment in which I’ll look at legal pads, looseleaf, and other miscellaneous stationery.

Notebook Review: Darkstar Collection

November 8, 2017

I've followed UK-based Darkstar for the past couple years on Instagram, watching as they've experimented with different sizes, paper, and covers in order to refine their notebook design. They now seem to have settled on two main products: a Pocket Notebook that's 14.5cm x 10cm (slightly smaller than A6), and a larger "Adventure Notebook" that's 20cm x 14.5cm. Today I'll take a look at the Pocket Notebook in the "Shine Star Black" color scheme, which Darkstar recently sent over for review.

For an extra £0.99, you can add one of these neat elastic belly bands, which will come in handy if you carry multiple pocket notebooks around with you.

When I first saw these notebooks in person, "Field Notes Night Sky" and "Pitch Black" first jumped to mind, primarily because all these notebooks feature black covers with reticle grid paper. There are, however, two key differences between the Darkstar and Field Notes products: minimal branding and paper weight. I love that Darkstar limits their cover design to the single "Shine Star" logo, which lends the notebook a sophisticated and understated look - great for working professionals who may not be able to get away with carrying "Dime Novel" or notebooks with shiny holographic covers into meetings.

It doesn't show up as much in this photo, but the "Shine Star" logo is black foil-stamped.

The 100gsm paper that Darkstar uses is high quality, feels nice to write on, and as far as most pocket notebooks go, works fine with fountain pens. Darkstar states on their website that the paper "will stand up to a range of writing instruments from Blackwing Pencils to Broad Fountain Pens," and that's not inaccurate - the Shine Star notebook contains 54 pages of good paper that's very usable with most fountain pens while keeping to a very fair price point. That said, you all know I have an extremely high standard for labeling something "fountain pen friendly," which is "zero bleedthrough", and I did experience some pinpoint bleeding on the reverse side of a page. If you only write with very wet broad or stub nibs, and insist on using them in your pocket notebooks, you may have some trouble if you want to write on both sides of the page.

For this writing sample, I used a Montblanc 146 with a medium stub (Robert Oster Fire & Ice), a medium TWSBI 580 (Diamine Deep Dark Red), a Schmidt .6mm rollerball refill, and a Pelikan M800 with a fine cursive italic. All of these pens are relatively wet writers that I wouldn't typically use in a pocket notebook, but I wanted to push the paper to its limits. While I did experience some pinpoint bleedthrough with the stub and the TWSBI, the finer nibs and rollerballs didn't bleed or show through. Nothing feathered on the Darkstar paper, which is a big plus.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I can see these Darkstar notebooks getting some serious use in the future. Since I carry and use my notebooks at work, I tend to gravitate towards sturdy, more understated books (i.e., solid and/or subtle cover designs) over some of the more intricate offerings like those that Field Notes has released in recent quarters. I can appreciate those from a design perspective, but something along the lines of the Darkstar Collection notebooks better suits my day-to-day needs.

You can purchase Darkstar Collection notebooks directly from Darkstar's website. The pocket notebooks are priced at £6.99 for a three-pack (approximately $9.20 US), and the larger "Adventure Notebooks" are sold in packs of two for £7.99. In addition to the basic black, the notebooks come in orange, red, and yellow. Darkstar offers free global shipping on orders over £20, so it's worth your while to stock up.

Disclaimer: Darkstar sent me the notebooks featured in this review for review purposes, free of charge.

Paper Review: Engraved Notebooks by Crane & Co.

October 11, 2017

One of the United States’ premiere stationery manufacturers, Crane & Co., has decided to get in on the notebook game, and graciously sent me some samples for review.

The large A5-ish notebook compared to the smaller, pocket notebook.

As you would expect from Crane, the presentation is outstanding. Crane & Co. makes luxury stationery, and if you decide to pull the trigger and shell out the money, they make every effort to give you what you pay for. I have several sets of engraved Crane correspondence cards that I use on occasion, and it’s excellent stationery that is pleasant to write on, has held up over the years, and will take any fountain pen or ink you can throw at it.

Crane sent me one sample of each of their notebook designs.

My notebooks arrived in Crane's signature navy blue box, carefully wrapped in tissue paper, just as my correspondence cards did. The notebooks themselves feature several attractive engraved cover designs, and I received one of each of the following: “Engraved Starfish on Beach Glass,” “Engraved Queen Bee on Pink Blush,” “Engraved Vintage Airplane on Espresso,” and standard “Notebooks” in both a medium A5 and smaller pocket. Apart from the engraved covers and the fact that they contain Crane paper, the design of these notebooks should appear familiar: Both the A5-ish version and the pocket-sized notebooks contain 48 pages, feature rounded corners, and are “saddle stitched,” which is just another way of saying that the pages are folded over and stapled through the cover (like Field Notes, Word, etc.). All Crane Stationery is made in the U.S.A.

Let me start by saying that the 24 lb., 100% cotton-rag “Crane’s Crest” paper used in these notebooks is extremely tactile, with a hint of tooth, and offers a very pleasant writing experience. The cotton-rag paper also does a fantastic job of containing feathering, even with the wettest fountain pen nibs. When I first saw the rag paper with all those fibers, I expected fountain pen ink to feather like crazy - I shouldn’t have worried, as the paper performed fantastically in this regard. I was a bit surprised, however, to see pinpoint spots of bleed-through and show-through on the back of the page.

Certain low-maintenance inks, such as Waterman blue in my Edison Glenmont with a gushing broad 14kt nib, had no issues. However, as I tested out different pens, including a Montblanc 146 with a medium stub (Robert Oster Fire & Ice), a Visconti Homo Sapiens with a Masuyama needlepoint (Montblanc Burgundy), a Pelikan M800 with a Masuyama Cursive Italic (Franklin-Christoph Spanish Blue), the same didn’t hold true. I even had a hint of bleed and show through with a rollerball refill, though you have to look pretty hard to see it.

Granted, as you can see in the photos, this is far from terrible bleed-through that certainly wouldn’t prevent me from using both sides of the page, and it doesn’t impact the functionality of the notebook. Some might file this away as a minor annoyance and not care or think twice about such things. But, as I’ll discuss further below, at the price point Crane is asking for these notebooks, I personally don’t believe it’s unreasonable to expect absolute perfection, especially when those of us who don’t mind paying a lot for stationery tend to use fountain pens, and the pens and inks I used to test the paper weren't anything crazy in terms of width or wetness. While the paper performs relatively well for 24 lb. stock, and Crane was probably limited to using 24 lb. paper in order to constrain the thickness of the notebook etc., I can’t help but wonder how Baron Fig has figured out a way to make it work using similarly textured paper in the Vanguard and Confidant, while at the same time keeping to a lower price point. A luxury stationery company like Crane shouldn’t necessarily compete on price, but when you’re pricing the product this high, it raises expectations in terms of versatility and performance.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

As with most Crane products, these notebooks are high-quality and beautiful, but expensive. The “Notebook” engraved 5.5" x 8" (A5-ish) book, which is my favorite of the bunch, costs $12 for a single 48-page book. The smaller, 4” x 6” notebook runs $9 for a single 48-page pocket notebook. That’s steep, and if I’m going to pay this much money for high-end stationery, I personally expect to see no bleeding or even show-through. I’m sure Crane will find a market for these notebooks in Crane enthusiasts and the gift market - probably the intended targets - but the price point likely prevents them from becoming a “daily driver” for most people.

You can purchase these notebooks directly from Crane & Co’s online store. Since I do love the look and feel of Crane’s paper, I’d be interested in seeing whether they release a larger notebook or journal with the 32 lb. stock and more pages. Based on my past experience with Crane stationery, I’d gladly pay a premium for that.

Disclaimer: Crane & Co. sent me these notebooks free of charge for review purposes.