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Fingers Were Meant to be Inky

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Rhodia Pocket Size Side-Stapled Notebook Review

The Rhodia Pocket Notebook laying on a surface. This view shows the front logo and the two-staple saddle stitch binding.

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This is Part 9 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Rhodia Pocket Size Side-Stapled Notebook

Introduction:

Rhodia is not an unfamiliar name for most of you reading this blog. In fact, if you’ve used fountain pens for more than a day, you’ve probably come across the name Rhodia on every blog you’ve visited. This notoriety is well deserved: Their paper is excellent and they’re fairly inexpensive.

I think Rhodia is probably best known for their top-bound A4 and A5 notepads (especially the much-heralded DotPad notebooks) and their hard-bound Webnotebooks (a.k.a. Webbies), which resemble the famous Moleskine Classic Hardcover…except for the paper that’s actually fountain-pen-friendly. But in addition to these more famous products, Rhodia makes

… Read More

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Muji Grid Notebook Review

A single Muji A6 Grid Notebook showing the black cover and binding tape

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This is Part 8 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Muji Grid Notebook (A6)

Introduction:

I have to say that despite seeing their name on many occasions and in many venues, I’m pretty unfamiliar with Muji and their stationery offerings. They seem to fly under the radar, but I’ve only ever heard good things about their pens and notebooks.

A classy, simple take on The Little Black Book, this little A6 wonder impressed the heck out of me with its performance. Is it worth carrying around an an EDC pocket notebook? Well…if I told you now, it would ruin the surprise. Keep reading for the juicy… Read More

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Rosetta Notes Pocket Notebook Review

The Rosetta Notes pocket notebooks mixed three-pack fanned out: Wine (DotGrid), Chocolate (Blank), and Black (Ruled)

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This is Part 7 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Rosetta Notes Pocket Notebook

Introduction & About the Company:

Rosetta is the house brand of the fine folks over at iPenStore. Although currently an online-only stationery dealer, iPenStore is a fourth-generation family business that first opened in Chicago in 1932 as the Evers Office Supply Company. Over the past several years, iPenStore has released a number of products under their Rosetta name, including pens (fountain, rollerball, and ballpoint), pencils & leadholders, and… Read More

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Scout Books Pocket Notebook Review

An image of the three Scout Books pocket notebooks and brand card from one three-pack of notebooks

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This is Part 6 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Scout Books Pocket Notebook

Introduction:

This series is all about the collision between the Fountain Pen and EDC worlds, and finding the notebooks that are most appropriate for fountain pen users who want to write on the go. The perfect pocket notebook handles ink well, never feathers or spreads, showcases shading and sheen, dries immediately, and is durable. That notebook is hanging out in Imaginary Land with Sasquatch and Nessie… Read More

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Kokuyo A6 Systemic Refill Notebook Review

A photo of the Kokuyo Systemic A6 Notebook Refill, showing the front cover, thickness, and binding

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This is Part 5 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Kokuyo Systemic Refill Notebook A6

Introduction:

I know, I know. I’ve already heard from some of you that A6 shouldn’t be considered a “pocket notebook.” I have pretty average-sized pockets, and an A6 fits in almost all of them. The only ones it won’t fit into are the shirt pockets with a built-in, stitched pen pocket…but Field Notes doesn’t fit in there, either, so I say A6 is fair game. And that’s a good thing, because this unassuming little notebook is quite the… Read More

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Newton Pens Eastman Review

Close shot of the Newton Pens Eastman Fountain Pen, showing the black-finished Bock nib and gentle contours of the section

Something a little different…a little special…a little “oh yeah!”

Newton Pens Eastman Fountain Pen

Price: $225.00
Nib: Extra Fine (Bock)
Filling System: Cartridge/Converter (Standard International)

A Different Approach:

This will be a slightly different type of review for me. Up to now, the pens I’ve reviewed have been mass produced in factories, rolling off well-oiled production lines. But this pen is different. It’s as much a piece of art as it is a tool for writing. So you may notice that I’m using different terminology for some sections and not assigning scores.

About Shawn Newton:

Tucked away in the rolling hills of Pendom lies a cozy little hamlet where wildly talented (and sometimes eccentric) artisans sit in their basements, garages, or workshops, transforming various slabs of raw materials into fine writing instruments with their bare hands…and typically with machinery that consists of sharp things that rotate at high speeds. One of these wizards is Shawn Newton, and the pen I’m reviewing is his Eastman model. If you’re unfamiliar with Shawn’s work, you need to drop by his website or his Instagram feed and check some of his amazing work.

An image of the Newton Pens Eastman Fountain Pen, uncapped, with the pen laying down and the cap standing up behind it

Shawn is a former art teacher turned full-time pen maker (see what I did there?) who’s made quite the name for himself in the pen world. He has developed a number of different designs and you can work with him to build a customized pen out of any material you want. His work is highly regarded for its beauty, uniqueness, and functionality. And as if creating beautiful writing instruments wasn’t enough, Shawn has also devoted himself to… Read More

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Fabriano EcoQua Pocket Notebook Review

Two four-packs of Fabriano EcoQua Notebooks, one in warm colors, one in cool colors.

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This is Part 4 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Fabriano EcoQua Pocket Notebook

Introduction:

Despite the dearth of decent options available in most US office supply & big-box stores, there are actually a ton of companies out there producing interesting, high-quality paper products in a range of shapes and sizes. Some companies are very prominent and well known (Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Leuchtturm), while others fly under the radar. One of these lesser-known gems is Italian stationery wizard… Read More

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Nock – DotDash Pocket Notebook Review

Three Nock Co. Nikko Blue DotDash pocket notebooks, fanned out.

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This is Part 3 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Nock DotDash Pocket Notebooks

Introduction:

Nock Co. is a small company in Atlanta, Georgia: a collaboration between bag/everyday carry (EDC) designer Jeff Bruckwicki and pen blogger/podcaster Brad Dowdy. Although Nock is mostly known for their (rather awesome) pen cases, they also produce a small range of paper products intended to be both great for EDC and friendly for fountain pen users.

In this review, I’ll be taking a look at their Nikko Blue DotDash pocket notebook. One thing to note… Read More

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Field Notes – Original Kraft Pocket Notebook Review

Mixed three-pack of Field Notes Kraft notebooks, fanned out, with the belly band on top.

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This is Part 2 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Field Notes Original Kraft Pocket Notebooks

Introduction:

When it comes to pocket notebooks, Field Notes doesn’t really need much of an introduction. They’re basically the gold standard against which other 3.5″ by 5.5″ notebooks are measured. Field Notes began as a partnership between graphic designer Aaron Draplin and advertising designer Jim Coudal back in 2007. They were inspired by the hundreds, if not thousands, of small, promotional memo books distributed to farmers by agricultural and farm equipment companies throughout American history.

Although Field Notes has their permanent production editions of pocket notebooks, they really made a name for themselves with their

… Read More

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Story Supply Co – Edition 407 Pocket Notebook

Three pack of Story Supply Co. Pocket Staple Edition 407 notebooks with the belly band. Side Shot.

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This is Part 1 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Story Supply Co – Edition 407 Pocket Notebook

Introduction:

Story Supply Co. is a small stationery manufacturer in York, Pennsylvania, founded by Vito Grippi and Gabriel Dunmire. Initially they set out to develop a line of pocket notebooks that were fountain pen friendly and filled some gaps in the larger notebook market. But knowing that there were a million companies already making pocket notebooks, they knew that they needed to… Read More