Many of my notebooks have been trashed due to spilling a drink on them or leaving them on my porch during a rainstorm. Sadly, both have happened numerous times.
Rite in the Rain notebooks solve this and are one of the few all-weather notebooks.
It’s magic. The notebook not only can withstand rain and water but you can write during a downpour. I have not had the need to write in the rain since my first job out of college.
We take a closer look at the Rite in the Rain notebooks and how you can use them as your next EDC notebook.
Before you buy, ask yourself these questions
What do I plan to use the notebook for?
The Rite in the Rain notebooks is helpful for logging notes and ideas outdoors. They’re also useful for those who are more prone to accidents.
We have a buddy that swears by them because they are knocking over drinks or placing their notebooks in their cup’s condensation circles constantly. You’d think they’d learn but to each their own.
Where will I use the notebook?
The Rite in the Rain notebook is top-notch if you find yourself making notes outside. The notebook ensures your ideas and thoughts are protected regardless of what mother nature has planned.
Three Rite in the Rain Notebooks
We’re going to cover our top 3 favorite Rite in the Rain notebooks:
- Rite in the Rain Top-Spiral Notebook
- Rite In The Rain Side-Spiral Notebook
- Rite in the Rain Mini-Stapled Notebook
Rite in the Rain Top-Spiral Notebook
The Rite in the Rain Top-Spiral notebook is an excellent quick notebook. Keep it in your back pocket and don’t worry about smashing the spirals. Pull it out and flip open the top with one swoop of the hand.
And even if you wanted to keep it in a side pocket or in a pack, the Wire-O Binding will retain its shape.
It’s the classic beat report notebook style.
And as with all Rite in the Rain notebooks, your notes will not erode when they get wet.
Specs:
- Sheet size: 3″ x 5″
- Pages: 100 pages
- Pack: 3 pack
- Cover material: plastic
- Ruling type: squared
Pros:
- Fit in the side or back pocket of your jeans
- Durable spiral rings to survive being lugged around in a pack or sat on
- Perfect for quick notes and ideas
Cons:
- Not ideal for journaling
Rite In The Rain Side-Spiral Notebook
The Rite in the Rain Side-spiral notebook is 2 inches taller and wider. While it’s not the best candidate for a pant pocket, it is an excellent journal that you can carry in your day pack to and from work.
It can sit open to a page on your desk for easy referencing and journaling.
The notebook includes the same Wire-O Binding as the above. So you can throw it into your pack without stressing that it will be crushed and unable to flip to a page.
Specs:
- Sheet size: 5/8″ x 7″
- Pages: 64 pages
- Pack: 1 pack
- Cover material: plastic
- Ruling type: squared
Pros:
- Durable spiral rings to survive being lugged around in a pack
- Expand on your ideas and make them come to life
- Ideal for journaling and planning
Cons:
- Unlikely to fit in your pocket
Rite in the Rain Mini-Stapled Notebook
The Rite in the Rain Mini-Stapled notebook is the smallest of the three we’re covering. The stapled side makes it thinner. The smaller one makes carrying it in your side pocket more comfortable.
Significantly fewer pages than the previous two notebooks as well. But as we all know, the more you carry a notebook the higher likelihood you’ll misplace it.
Specs:
- Sheet size: 3 1/4″ x 4 5/8″
- Pages: 24 Pages
- Pack: 3 page
- Cover material: plastic
- Pattern: squared
Pros:
- Small and thin – carry it anywhere
Cons:
- Only 24 pages
Rite in the Rain offers more
We couldn’t stop with our three favorite Rite in the Rain notebooks so we’ve included several other products from Rite in the Rain that we love.
- Rite in the Rain Durable Plastic Clicker Pen
- Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Mechanical Pencil
- Rite in the Rain Kit: Tan CORDURA® Fabric Cover
- Rite in the Rain Copier Paper
Rite in the Rain Clicker Pen
Sometimes other pens do not write well on Rite on the Rain, especially when it’s raining or the pages are wet. We prefer to carry a Rite in the Rain pen when using a Rite in the Rain notebook.
One thing I noticed myself doing is writing harder on Rite on the Rain notebooks when I was using a generic pen. Which often resulted in indentions on the other side of my writing forcefully. The Rite in the Rain pen eliminated this for me.
But by no means is a Rite in a Rain pen required to write on a Rite in the Rain notebook. It’s just a preference here at Epic Pockets HQ (likely from my first job out of college).
Rite in the Rain Mechanical Pencil
Sometimes your notes and ideas are not permanent. And you’d like to be able to correct or edit them in the future. The Rite in the Rain pencil gives you this option.
Similar to the pen discussion above, I’ve noticed not all pencils take to the Rite in the Rain paper. Some just don’t stick and require the same problem as above – forceful writing which leaves indentions in the paper.
Generic pencils also struggle to erase on the Rite in the Rain paper. The Rite in the Rain pencil has no problem writing on their paper and even erasing with nearly no trace.
Rite in the Rain Kit: Tan CORDURA® Fabric Cover
The Rite in the Rain Kit is an excellent deal for anyone interested in the 4.625″ x 7″ top-spiral notebook. The kit also includes a weatherproof pen.
The kit includes a CORDURA® cover.
Not familiar with CORDURA®? CORDURA® fabrics are made from reclaimed pre-consumer waste materials that have been recycled into high-quality yarns.
Frequently asked questions
What is Rite in the Rain paper made of?
Rite in the Rain paper is a wood-based paper. Rite in the Rain uses DuraCopy which is a waterproof, tear-resistant paper. The paper is made for extreme conditions and underwater use.
Check out the Rite in the Rain team torture test their notebooks:
What can I use to write in the rain?
You can write on Rite in the Rain paper with any pen, pencil, marker, or crayon. Based on our experience, their pen and pencil work best.
They recommend you write with:
- Any weather: Rite in the Rain pen, pencil, crayon
- Dry: ballpoint pen, permanent marker
What pens work with Rite in the Rain?
You can use almost any pen to write on Rite in the Rain paper. We’ve had better success by writing with their pen. We don’t write as forcefully with their pen as we do generic pens. But test it out yourself to see what works best for you. Ballpoint pens also work when the paper is dry.
Rite in the Rain also has a few words to share:
Is Rite in the Rain Made in the USA?
Yes, Rite in the Rain notebooks and pens are made in the USA.
Alternatives
Two of the biggest alternatives to the Rite in the Rain are the Moleskin and Field Notes notebooks. Both are excellent notebooks in their own right. The Moleskin notebooks can not withstand extreme conditions such as rain or even an accidental spill of water.
Check out the Field Notes Expedition series for a waterproof notebook on par with the Rite in the Rain.
Wrapping it up: Rite in the Rain
We hope this answers all of your Rite in the Rain questions. They are excellent notebooks and the company makes durable products.
If you choose to write in the rain, don’t leave your Rite in the Rain notebook at home.
