Midori Traveller's Notebook Overview
So there was some talk in embodiment about the Midori Traveller's Notebook, and I'm dusting off my barely-even-used-anymore livejournal to throw in my two pence. And some photographs.
Basically the Midori Traveller's notebook is meant to be a customisable notebook "system". It's very lightweight, especially when compared to, say, the Hobonichi, which is getting a lot of buzz right now, or a moleskine, but this is partly because it doesn't have nearly as many pages (which is why I mainly use mine for assorted notes, rather than day to day journalling). My other issue with the Traveller's notebook is that it doesn't lay flat unless you coerce it :/ I like my notebooks to lie down when I tell them to - but that's by the by.
They have many kinds of books available, including yearly diaries, as well as attachments that wrap around your book (or books) and are held into place by the centre straps. I have seen business card holders and zipper pockets amongst the "attachments" available. Of course, these are partly to keep you paying, once you've bought into the whole Traveller's notebook schtick. What you pay for the set is basically just for the leather cover.
Behind the cut are a some pictures of my set-up. I apologise in advance for the photographs. My bedding doesn't lend itself well to photography at all >_<
I've had my Traveller's notebook for about a year and a half, but I haven't been carrying it recently as I've filled up my lesson-planning notebook, which is what I've been primarily using it for. This is the pocket/passport size, so called because it's big enough to fit a passport in it! The larger version is a narrow A5 - the same height as A5, but not as wide. Both sizes come with a little canvas bag, but the leather is meant to "age" and gain personality with use. You can also switch out the closure bands.
Price-wise... I'm buying all my fun stationery things in Japan. The books are relatively cheap for brand goods - I recall them being about ¥325? - but it's the cover you pay for. The starter set - leather cover, one book, and extra bands - is somewhere between ¥2000 and ¥3000.
I have three books in mine, which is about all you can fit before they start poking out in strange angles. Which is fine if that's what you like/you like chubby notebooks! Also a look at how the notebooks are attached. The centre elastic "string" running vertically through the centre book is a part of the cover. The brown one running horizontally is actually an elastic band (Midori do their own branded ones and yes I bought them, I'm a sucker XD But regular rubber bands or thin hair bands also work) that is wrapped through the centre of the outer volumes. Once you assemble the outer two, put the middle one between then and slide the lot through the cover's loop, it all holds in. You can also see that the edges of the cover are reinforced to hold up to everyday wear and tear.
I've been using my Midori to keep track of various stuff, including my lesson outlines. The paper for the regular notebooks is relatively thin, and fountain pens have tended to bleed and ghost through in the past when I have used them, so I've tried to stick to biros and gel pens. They do okay, but you can see how thin the paper is just from these small photos.
In this book (which has slightly-nicer paper than the others!) I've been writing poems I like. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff too. Photobucket said it rotated the picture, but it seems to still be on its side for me... XD
The back and dismantling, forgive my chipped nails. Everything just slides right out from the centre band, which you can see is quite thin...
You can see the rubber band running through the centre of the book. The middle book is not actually being held to the other two by anything, now it's out of the cover.
And the dismantled book.
That's about it! If you have any comments or questions, feel free!
Basically the Midori Traveller's notebook is meant to be a customisable notebook "system". It's very lightweight, especially when compared to, say, the Hobonichi, which is getting a lot of buzz right now, or a moleskine, but this is partly because it doesn't have nearly as many pages (which is why I mainly use mine for assorted notes, rather than day to day journalling). My other issue with the Traveller's notebook is that it doesn't lay flat unless you coerce it :/ I like my notebooks to lie down when I tell them to - but that's by the by.
They have many kinds of books available, including yearly diaries, as well as attachments that wrap around your book (or books) and are held into place by the centre straps. I have seen business card holders and zipper pockets amongst the "attachments" available. Of course, these are partly to keep you paying, once you've bought into the whole Traveller's notebook schtick. What you pay for the set is basically just for the leather cover.
Behind the cut are a some pictures of my set-up. I apologise in advance for the photographs. My bedding doesn't lend itself well to photography at all >_<
I've had my Traveller's notebook for about a year and a half, but I haven't been carrying it recently as I've filled up my lesson-planning notebook, which is what I've been primarily using it for. This is the pocket/passport size, so called because it's big enough to fit a passport in it! The larger version is a narrow A5 - the same height as A5, but not as wide. Both sizes come with a little canvas bag, but the leather is meant to "age" and gain personality with use. You can also switch out the closure bands.
Price-wise... I'm buying all my fun stationery things in Japan. The books are relatively cheap for brand goods - I recall them being about ¥325? - but it's the cover you pay for. The starter set - leather cover, one book, and extra bands - is somewhere between ¥2000 and ¥3000.
I have three books in mine, which is about all you can fit before they start poking out in strange angles. Which is fine if that's what you like/you like chubby notebooks! Also a look at how the notebooks are attached. The centre elastic "string" running vertically through the centre book is a part of the cover. The brown one running horizontally is actually an elastic band (Midori do their own branded ones and yes I bought them, I'm a sucker XD But regular rubber bands or thin hair bands also work) that is wrapped through the centre of the outer volumes. Once you assemble the outer two, put the middle one between then and slide the lot through the cover's loop, it all holds in. You can also see that the edges of the cover are reinforced to hold up to everyday wear and tear.
I've been using my Midori to keep track of various stuff, including my lesson outlines. The paper for the regular notebooks is relatively thin, and fountain pens have tended to bleed and ghost through in the past when I have used them, so I've tried to stick to biros and gel pens. They do okay, but you can see how thin the paper is just from these small photos.
In this book (which has slightly-nicer paper than the others!) I've been writing poems I like. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff too. Photobucket said it rotated the picture, but it seems to still be on its side for me... XD
The back and dismantling, forgive my chipped nails. Everything just slides right out from the centre band, which you can see is quite thin...
You can see the rubber band running through the centre of the book. The middle book is not actually being held to the other two by anything, now it's out of the cover.
And the dismantled book.
That's about it! If you have any comments or questions, feel free!