In 2006, Aaron Draplin, created Field Notes as an homage to pocket notebooks found at full-service gas stations.
Since then Field Notes has been the leader in the pocket notebook space. They’ve created unique and limited series notebooks. From their antique map series to their national park series, they continue to iterate on what many considered a boring space.
We’ve gathered up our favorite Field Notes series and sizes to make your selection easier.
Before you buy
Oftentimes we hear the cost as an objection to Field Notes. That’s understandable. They are more expensive than generic notepads and other competitors. But you get what you paid for. The notebooks are durable and well-constructed. Unlike generic and cheap notebooks they will not fall apart.
We can not tell you how many generic notebooks we’ve had to put back in the drawer before all of their pages are filled because the spin broke and pages began falling to the floor. Not cool!
The notebooks
Field Notes creates several different sizes of notebooks. And they fit into two core categories each with its own sizes and bindings.
Pocket-sized
The pocket-sized notebook is where Field Notes started. It’s likely one of their most popular sizes as it’s the easiest to carry and requires a little process. Just throw it in your pocket and pull it out whenever you want to remember something.
The pocket-sized notebook can fit in most front pant pockets or back pockets. Thanks to the notebook’s quality they can withstand daily wear and tear. We’ve filled countless pocket-sized Fields Notes notebooks with ideas and notes long before the cover or spine failed. We can not say the same for generic notebooks.
The pocket-sized notebooks are 3.5” x 5.5” in size. Their pages range from plain to graph to dotted and of course ruled.
We prefer the graph because it makes drawing easier in our opinion. And you still have lines to write on. But to each their own. Test them out to find the perfect fit for you.
Large notebooks
Field Notes large notebooks range in types more than pocket-sized. We’ll
They offer a Steno book, Front Page notebook (like what beat reporters use), side-spiral binding, and the larger normal notebook.
The large notebook comes in a 4.75” x 7.5” for the side spiral and the normal notebook. The Steno notebook is 6” x 9”.
And the notebooks come in similar ruling types as pocket-sized notebooks.
Field Notes use cases
There are many use cases for Field Notes other than simply logging ideas and notes. Field Notes creates several custom notebooks for specific use cases.
Here is our favorites:
- Memo book
- Notebook
- Gaming
- Outdoors
- Planner
Memo book
The memo book is Field Notes’ bread and butter. The memo book comes in many colors and several rulings (e.g., graph, plain, ruled).
At only 3.5” x 5.5”, they are perfect to slide into your pants pocket or fit in the pouch of your pack.
Notebook
Fields Notes’ notebook is a larger version of the memo book at 4.75” x 7.5” in size. The notebook size is perfect for journaling, managing your personal todos and projects, or collecting notes from a day.
We’ve used these notebooks to organize our bullet journals and thematically for specific projects. They are just as sturdy as the smaller memo books and can withstand lugging around in a pack.
Gaming
The gaming series is a lot of fun to document your gaming experiences and make notes throughout the game. Also, how many times do you start a game and forget to have paper? With the Field Notes Gaming series, you can keep notebooks with the games.
- Character notebook
- Game master notebook
- Monster/Encounter notebook
Character journal
The Character journal includes 64 double-sided pages to describe each character in detail. Instead of using scraps of paper or a journal lying around, you can log them in your Character journal and never forget your storyline.
The journal is not too small or big, at 4.75″ x 7.5″ it’s a perfect size.
The journal’s pages contain fields for game information, character data, and level-by-level notes.
Game Master journal
The Game Master is ideal for anyone running the game. With 64 double-sided pages, you have plenty of space to describe and log your gameplay. Similar to the Character journal, the Game Master journal measures 4.75″ x 7.5″ in size.
The journal includes fields for game information, campaign data, and notes.
Monster/Encounter journal
The Monster/Encounter journal is a fun journal to document your gameplay for personal purposes or to recount your play strategies. There is plenty of space to describe your encounters with 64 double-sided pages.
Similar to the Character journal, the Game Master journal measures 4.75″ x 7.5″ in size.
The journal includes space to design 15 challenging and unforgettable encounters.
Outdoors
The Field Notes Expedition is their waterproof and rugged notebook. Similar to their competitor Rite in the Rain, the Expedition series can withstand a rainstorm and a spilled glass of water.
You can even write on the pages wet similar to Rite in the Rain.
The notebook comes in an orange plastic cover that helps it stand out from drab outdoor backgrounds like leaves and twigs.
Planner
The Field Notes Planner utilizes a side-spiral binding to allow the planner to lay flat open on a desk without being held open. And the spirals are sturdy so they will not bend while jostling around in your backpack.
The planner is 4.75″ x 7.5″ in size which gives you plenty of room to plan your week and jot down useful notes during your day. The planner houses up to 56 weeks’ worth of content.
Specialities, because why not
Field Notes creates special notebooks with some being limited editions. Subscribe to their limited edition program to receive them.
Our favorites are:
- Left-handed
- National park
Left-handed
This is a fun version, especially for lefties. Left-hand writers are forced to adapt their writing habits to fit their right-handed counterparts. From writing left to writing and using desks with only a writing space on the right hand, they’ve always been at a disadvantage. Until now.
Field Notes left-handed notebook is a lefties dream. They open opposite to the normal version to accommodate how a left-handed writer takes notes. We’ve not personally used one as we’re all a bunch of righties.
National Park
Field Notes created a National Park series showcasing iconic illustrations and photographs of the United States’ gorgeous National Parks.
They are an excellent addition to anyone visiting the park. And they make tremendous gifts for anyone interested in parks or collecting cool things.
What makes a Field Notes notebook special
Fields Notes takes pride in making quality and durable notebooks. They are not in the business of creating the cheapest notebook. Their mission is to create a notebook that lasts through being used. They do not cut corners when it comes to creating a notebook meant to last the test of time.
Cult following
To say Field Notes has a cult following is putting it lightly. They have a big enough following they create a limited edition series for their subscribers.
The amount of die-hard Field Notes enthusiasts in this world is mind-blowing. Heck, visit a coffee shop and ask everyone what their favorite pocket-sized notebook is. We bet over half respond with Field Notes. And it’s either because they are a user or they’ve heard of them and used them before.
Alternatives to Field Notes
There are several alternatives to Field Notes. The two that come to mind are:
- Moleskine notebook
- Rite in the Rain notebooks
Both competitors have their own perks.
Moleskine notebook
Moleskine notebooks are known for their hard binding and make an excellent journal. They offer a smaller pocket-sized notebook but it’s not their forte in our opinion. They make an excellent journal-sized notebook that will stand against any competitor including Field Notes’ larger notebooks.
Rite in the Rain notebooks
The Rite in the Rain is a direct competitor to the Field Notes Expedition series as both allow for you to write on paper in the rain.
Frequently asked questions
What are Field Notes good for?
Field Notes check many boxes. They are excellent to keep in your pocket for a quick note, in your bag as a journal, on your desk as a planner, and on your shelf as a keep-sake and collectible item.
How durable are Field Notes?
Field Notes are crafted with care. They can withstand the daily wear and tear of being carried in your pocket or in your backpack. You’ll fill them with notes and ideas before you wear the cover off them.
Why are field notes so popular?
Field Notes are popular because they solve many different problems from their small memo books to their larger journals and their collectible National Parks series.
Wrapping it up: Fields Notes review
We hope this helps when deciding on which Fields Notes to purchase for your day-to-day or your next excursion. No matter what you have planned, Fields Notes is there to capture what you don’t want to forget.
