Better than Field Notes?
I put to the test notebooks purchased from Waterstones produced by Flame Tree Publishing
Waterstones Notebooks - Passport size by Flame Tree Publishing
I love being able to write notes in a notebook, and to have one small enough and practical to use as an EDC (every day carry) is important to me. When I make videos for my YouTube channel, Roland’s Travels, having the ability to easily read notes is important, and that’s where size matters. Too small, and it becomes too fiddly; too large, and it’s a struggle to carry a notebook, especially when they don’t fit in a pocket. Holding a larger book whilst carrying a camera, even a small one, is a juggling act.
Even when not making videos, it’s great to have a practical notebook to jot down thoughts, record things that need looking up later, and so forth.
Everyone, it seems, online raves about Field Notes. If you’re not aware, these are passport-sized notebooks, 5.5 in (13.97cm) tall and 3.5 in (8.89cm) wide. They contain forty-eight pages and come in a variety of cover designs. The plain ones here in the UK are for a pack of three, and the lowest price I have seen is £10.00.
I like to look around bookshops, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that Waterstones stocks an alternative. Sets of three mini-notebooks produced for Flame Tree Publishing (printed in China). They come in a variety of cover designs, literally quite arty. I chose a pack of three based on artwork by Vincent Van Gogh, and they cost just £5.99, with the additional bonus that they contain 64 pages.
Unlike the stapled Field Notes, these are stitched, which should make them more durable. The covers are flexible, and with rounded corners, the notebooks should keep their appearance when used. The flexible covers make them ideal to fit in the back pocket of my trousers and not impede sitting down.
A nice touch by the maker is a space to write one’s name on the inside cover, and on the inside rear cover, there is a description of the painting on the cover. The Flame Tree Publishing website shows that they have quite a range of covers available if you wish to buy them directly. Currently, £5.99 per pack.
The writing paper is lined on the left side and blank on the right, ideal for those who like to draw as well as write in their pocket notebook. The paper is cream rather than white and is a nice weight. The paper is smooth and, of course, being a lover of fountain pens, I have tested the page with wet ink. It passed using my Parker fine nib and blue Quink ink. There was no feathering or bleed-through to the other side.
I am now going to put a notebook through its paces and will resume this story and then publish it for you to read… Back in a flash!
I’m back!
Several weeks have passed and I am finding these notebooks to be good. I now use one as my ‘new word’ book. When reading, if I come across a word that I don’t understand, I jot it down in the notebook, look up its meaning, and then note that down. It means I can have this book at hand to review words that I would otherwise forget if I didn’t make a note. Writing words and definitions like this helps me a lot. Simply looking up words, I often forget the meaning, and whilst helpful at the time, doesn’t have a long-term benefit. With this method, it does help me remember the meaning of words better, and is also a useful reference to go back to for extra memory retention.
The notebooks are standing up to wear and tear with the quality flexible cover and rounded corners helping a great deal. I am sure over a longer period of time they will be resilient in use.
Why not put them to the test? They can be bought online or in-store from Waterstones or directly from Flame Tree Publishing. For clarity, I purchased these notebooks, and have no connection to either Waterstones or the publishers.
Let me know in the comments if you have used them, and how your thoughts about them.
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