Posts filed under Notebook Reviews

Kokuyo Trystrams Field Sketch Book Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

While Field Notes certainly corners a lot of the market in the pocket notebook category, that doesn't mean the 3.5x5.5 inch format is the only player in town. There are plenty of other small pocket notebooks out there, and I'm already interested in larger formats in this category.

I've seen a few of these Japanese field notebooks on Instagram over the years, but they haven't really caught on in the US. The slightly taller format gives you about an inch of extra vertical writing space, so it's definitely worth a look if you're ever feeling cramped by the standard 3.5x5.5 format.

The Kokuyo Trystrams Field Sketch Book is a hard-covered notebook with 40 sheets of thin 3mm graph lined paper inside. The weight of the paper isn't listed, but I'd guess it's somewhere in the 70-80gsm ballpark. The notebook is 3.7 x 6.5, which is just a touch wider and a full inch taller than most popular pocket notebooks on the market today. This notebook is still easy to pocket and store in a bag, but that extra inch of vertical space is more useful than you might think.

The threaded binding is sturdy and easy to open and close. When first using the book, it doesn't like to lay flat or stay closed, but this gets better with a little time and use. After going through a few pages, my notebook easily lays open and stays shut.

The pages are simply grid lined with a 3mm spacing. It's a tiny grid, but it does the job. The lines are a dark gray and are very noticeable. I'd prefer a lighter ink or even a dot grid pattern instead, but it's not terrible. The pages aren't numbered and there aren't any spaces for a date or anything else. Very utilitarian!

The paper used in this notebook is pretty thin, which is great when it comes to the overall thickness of the notebook, but it also means you can't get away with using any nib and ink combo without noticing some pretty severe show-through on the back of the page. That's not to say it performs poorly — quite the opposite actually. This paper handles inks and nibs better than the standard Field Notes paper, but doesn't come close to something like Clairefontaine or Rhodia. If you're using a gel pen or pencil, you don't have to worry at all. Certain fountain pen inks and liquid rollerball inks will bleed through pretty bad depending on the ink formula. In most of my testing, the results are okay-ish and I'm fine with writing on both sides of the sheet as long as the ink I'm using doesn't show through too much.

The purpose of a portable field book is to be utilitarian, and you'll be fine with any properly matched writing instruments. Although, I am confused that Kokuyo chose to deboss "SKETCH BOOK" across the front cover, as this paper is hilariously thin compared to any proper sketch book paper. I know these terms can be used quite loosely, but just be aware: if you're looking for a sketch book that can take watercolors, this is not the notebook you're looking for.

With just 40 sheets, you'll get just about as much use out of it as any other pocket notebook, but this one will definitely take more of a beating, thanks to the resin hardcover. At just $5 a notebook, it doesn't break the bank either. It's a bit pricey compared to Field Notes, but remember that this notebook is a hard cover, has better paper, and is a little larger.

At $5, it's a great impulse buy to add to your cart to try out with your next order. The notebook comes in nine colors, so good luck picking out your favorite. This blue version I have is handsome, but I'm eyeing that Grayish Blue or Original Green for next time.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on May 18, 2022 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Kokuyo, Notebook Reviews.

The Paper Mind Mitsubishi Bank Paper Notebook Review

You had me at Bank Paper.

I first heard of The Paper Mind notebooks when their creator, Blake, reached out to share his new product, and set up a future ad spot to run on the blog. Turns out, I knew Blake already from his former stationery blog Unroyal Warrant. Blake’s Broadcast has taken over the blogging side of things for Blake, while The Paper Mind is scratching another creative itch he had.

As I witnessed during Unroyal Warrant’s blogging run, Blake exhibited exquisite taste. It should come as no surprise that his notebook creations follow along the same lines. The launch notebook, using Mitsubishi Bank Paper, was designed to be a premium experience, with a clean design, flexible stitching for lay-flat binding, and paper that is elite for fountain pens - all while being universally usable for all other types of writing instruments.

As I alluded to at the top, I am a bank paper fan. As a self-professed Pen Addict, I have an enormous amount of paper types and styles at my fingertips. If I were to pick one paper out of the entire lot to be my one and only, it would be bank paper. I enjoy it that much.

I went through many reasons why in my Life Bank Paper Review, and the same holds true for The Paper Mind version. In fact, it is the same Mitsubishi Paper Mill Three Diamonds paper that is used for both products. The only product difference between the two is the binding.

The stitched binding, in 12 signatures for each 192 page notebook, allows for ultimate flexibility. Combined with the paper cloth cover, the notebook lays flat on any surface, or can fold back on itself without damaging the spine for use cases that may require it. Even if I don’t use this notebook in that manner, I like the soft setup for better portability in a bag or backpack, while remaining sturdy enough to take a beating.

I’ve been using the lined version of the notebook that Blake sent me a few months ago for product reviews. You will see a sampling of pictures here that you may have seen previously. That I choose this notebook for pen and ink testing reviews should tell you how highly I think of it.

The Bank Paper notebook also comes in a blank page format. If I could wishcast other formats for the future, I would love a 5 mm grid version, and would settle for the universally more popular dot grid format. One can dream!

Build, quality, and design-wise, this notebook is in a class that few other similar products reside in. It’s up there with the Apica C.D. Premium and Musubi Bank Paper notebooks in my personal rankings, and I would recommend it to users looking for a similar high-end experience.

At $35, it is not cheap, but fairly priced. Taking into account the all of the parts that make up the whole, it seems right, and I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up a blank one the next time they appear in stock. Or, maybe I should test out the recently released Gmund Blocker Paper notebook for another interesting writing paper experience.

(The Paper Mind provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on May 9, 2022 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Paper Mind, Notebook Reviews.

Kokuyo Field Sketch Book Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

Usually I like a hardcover notebook when the notebook is large and needs the extra structure to keep it in line. A hardcover on a pocket notebook seems odd--but it's brilliant.

The Field Sketch Book from Kokuyo offer all the marvel of Kokuyo's fantastic paper in a compact but durable package that's perfect for taking on the go. I am a constant pocket notebook user--they're bound scrap paper for me, and I can fill one in a week, easily. But this one has some special features that nudge it into its own category of use, and it's an essential category.

The cover is made from firm resin board that is quite inflexible. It's stronger than heavy cardstock and more closely resembles the hardness of a hardbound fiction book, but it's as thin as cardstock, and very lightweight.

Inside are 40 sheets of Kokuyo's lightweight 3 mm grid paper that is so fine it looks like it will melt if ink is applied, but instead it holds up to almost any ink you throw at it. All liquid inks did well, even in a wet flexy nib, with no bleeding or feathering and almost no show-through. The only ink that bled was the notorious Sharpie.

While I typically use a cardstock pocket notebook like Field Notes for my everyday use, this hardcover version feels great in the hand. At 3.7" x 6.5" it is a little taller than a typical pocket notebook, and that plus the hard cover means it's not great in the back pocket. This notebook will never take on that telling curvature of a well-used back pocket Field Notes. But one thing it is ideal for is being its own surface. Often, when I'm making the kind of note that goes in a pocket notebook, I'm not at a table or desk--I'm on the go. The closest thing I have to a writing surface might be a shopping cart handle or my knee. Having the sturdy hard cover on this pocket notebook means I always have a writing surface when I make my notes. Which is why I've picked one to be my official convention notebook, where I'll be taking notes on panels and readings all day. Its slim profile will make it easy to keep on hand whether I'm shoving it in a tote bag between panels, or in my fancy clutch for the formal evening events.

These have won me over in a big way. I'll keep putting my cardstock pocket notebooks through the wringer every day, but this slim and sturdy $5 workhorse will perfectly meet my needs when I need something just as small, but with more structure and 200% better paper.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Sarah Read and filed under Kokuyo, Notebook Reviews.