G-SHOCK GMWB5000SS-2 50th Anniversary Release

The watch industry changed forever in 1974 when Casio released its first-ever wristwatch, the Casiotron. As the world’s first digital watch with an automatic calendar function, the Casiotron represented a ground-breaking shift in the industry, introducing digital technology into the realm of personal timekeeping. 50 years later, Casio celebrates its roots by releasing a set of models that pay homage to several Casio icons, one of them being the G-SHOCK GMWB5000SS-2. Inspired by the iconic GMWB5000 (which was in turn inspired by the very first G-SHOCK), the G-SHOCK GMWB5000SS-2 retains the original G-SHOCK form but elevates it with a full-metal exterior. Design elements such as the blue IP finish applied to the bezel top and gold vapor deposition on the dial’s perimeter pay homage to the original Casiotron while symbolizing the vastness of the sky and sea. Gold IP accents on the side buttons and the fluted pattern on the dial’s perimeter are also great details to notice.

The GMWB5000SS-2 boasts a robust suite of features that make it every bit a modern G-SHOCK. It connects to the CASIO WATCHES smartphone app for functions such as automatic time adjustment, reminders, and a phone finder, while maintaining all the usual G-SHOCK functions, easily viewed even with low light thanks to its Super Illuminator backlight. The watch is encased in special eco-packaging made from recycled materials and includes a cotton pouch for accessory storage, underlining Casio’s commitment to sustainability. It harnesses solar power to operate its functionalities, including Bluetooth connectivity and radio-controlled timekeeping (Multiband 6), ensuring precision and reliability. The DLC-coated screw-lock case back, engraved with the 50th-anniversary logo, coupled with its metal band featuring a bicolor finish and a “50th Anniversary” engraving, make this timepiece a true testament to the G-SHOCK’s longevity and iconic position in the industry.

Tactile Knife Co. Osprey

Some of the coolest and classiest gents folding knives have come out of Tactile Knife Company as they’ve expanded past making some of the best everyday carry pens you can buy today. With the release of their new Osprey, Tactile has entered new territory once again, and we like it. The Osprey is Tactile’s first dedicated fixed-blade outdoor knife, with an incredibly beefy full-tang construction featuring MagnaCut steel hardened to 63-64 Rockwell for the ultimate in modern cutting potential and edge retention.

The design language of the Osprey melds the shape of a rugged outdoor survival knife with the clean and minimalist gents’ aesthetic of Tactile Knife Company’s products. The 3.7” cutting blade features a clip-point shape with a well-defined tip for piercing and a slightly recurved belly that enhances its slicing ability. Last but not least, the small but pronounced patch of top jimping works in concert with the carefully shaped and chamfered ergonomic grip in the Richlite Micarta scales to provide substantial control over cuts big and small. The Osprey is the beefiest knife in Tactile’s stable yet, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.

RovyVon SL Series Multi-Function Safety Light

Renowned for their innovative lighting solutions, RovyVon takes illumination to the next level with the newly released SL series. This multi-function safety light packs a powerful punch with its 20 LED bulbs. The primary front light delivers up to 1000 lumens of cool white light, perfect for outdoor nighttime activities, while the secondary lights offer a high Color Rendering Index (high CRI), red light SL42 and SL44), and two 365nm UV LEDs (SL41 & SL43), catering to various lighting needs. The side lights, available in white and red (some models include blue), feature multiple modes like flashing and breathing, making them ideal for emergency use.

The RovyVon SL series is built tough, sporting a body made from high-quality polyamide materials with an impressive IPX8 impact and water resistance rating that keeps it functional, even in harsh conditions. This light comes with four independent switch buttons for simple and intuitive operation, a large 2500mAh battery that recharges in 1.5 hours via the USB-C, and a real-time battery indicator. It also comes with versatile mounting options, including detachable and adjustable clips, a magnetic base, and various clip types, ensuring easy and secure hands-free attachment in any location. So, whether for EDC, emergencies, or outdoor adventures, the RovyVon SL series multi-function safety light is designed to meet all your needs.

Vosteed Hedgehog Aluminum

We’re big fans of Vosteed’s RSKAOS Titanium Knife and the recently released Vosteed Hedgehog is a smaller, lighter, and more affordable iteration of the premium folder. Needless to say, we love it already. Sporting a 2.99″ S35VN blade, the Vosteed Hedgehog promises exceptional edge retention and corrosion resistance. Its modified sheepsfoot blade shape with a lightly curved belly makes it perfect for slicing and cutting tasks. With an overall length of 7.11″, a handle length of 4.12″, and a weight of just 4.42 oz, it’s compact enough to leave plenty of room for other essentials in your pocket when closed.

It recently underwent an upgrade, and the new Hedgehog’s handle is crafted from 6061 aerospace-grade aluminum, featuring a hard-coated matte finish and a CNC-machined frag pattern that provides both enhanced control and attractive styling. The design includes precisely machined weight relief pockets to minimize user fatigue, along with double CNC chamfered corners for added comfort. It has several deployment options, including a back flipper, thumb stud, and fuller, all supported by a ceramic ball bearing system and a Top Liner Lock mechanism with an integrated button for intuitive closure. The result is a smooth, quick, and safe operation that makes the Hedgehog not only a practical tool but one that’s also tons of fun to use.

buy now ($139)

Stabby Labs The FN PEN 2.0

Designed to be the most robust writing tool in your EDC, the FN Pen 2.0 retains the sleek, discreet design of its predecessor but boasts new features that make it the ultimate tactical pen. Made from CNC-machined aircraft-grade aluminum, this pen is built to last. Its standout feature is the threaded bore, allowing for interchangeable tips. Whether you need the Penetrator Tip for metal scribing and ice breaking, the Graphite Pencil Tip for writing and sketching, or the Glass Breaker Tip for shattering tempered glass, the FN Pen 2.0 adapts to your needs.

Additional upgrades include a rubber eraser that cushions your thumb during strikes and doubles as a pencil eraser. The new custom-shaped magnet embedded in the eraser cap snaps perfectly over the tungsten carbide tip, providing a satisfying fidgeting experience and ensuring you never misplace the tip. With its enhanced versatility and thoughtful design, the FN Pen 2.0 is the ultimate tool for any situation.

Kizer Harpoon Mini

If you’re looking for a knife to take with you on your outdoor excursions this summer, make sure to take the newly updated Kizer Harpoon Mini. Made in collaboration with Maverick Customs in Kentucky, this smaller 3” version of their original Harpoon fixed-blade knife upgrades the blade steel to premium CPM 3V that can withstand outdoors, camping, and survival utility tasks like cutting through wood and tough material. The namesake harpoon-style blade shape has a well-defined point for piercing tasks, and a large curved belly for slicing, making this a good knife for skinning and meal prep in the wilderness.

We especially like the flat ground edge of the blade and the lack of a bolster at the heel, making the Kizer Harpoon Mini exceptionally easy to resharpen and maintain on a whetstone. The blacked-out coating also contrasts nicely with the yellow translucent PEI scales on the handle, which is on trend in the everyday carry knife space. The full-tang construction and sheath mean this knife is always ready for work, with no moving parts to fail, making this a great all-around fixed blade for everyday carry to pick up this summer.

LifeStraw Sip Reusable Stainless-Steel Water Filter Straw

Ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water is vital for maintaining good health, and the LifeStraw Sip Reusable Stainless-Steel Water Filter Straw – Package of 3 is designed to meet this need. Made from high-quality stainless steel and featuring BPA-free and FDA-approved silicone mouthpieces, these straws prioritize safety and durability. The innovative high-flow filter membrane uses a hollow-core membrane microfilter medium that effectively removes 99.999999% of bacteria and 99.999% of parasites, including E. coli and salmonella, as well as 99.999% of microplastics. This straw also uses a 0.2-micron pore-size filter that can purify up to 1,000 liters of water, meeting US EPA and NSF P231 standards and ensuring safe, clean, and drinkable water.

Each 10” straw weighs just 1.8 oz (3 oz with its case), making it an ideal travel/on-the-go companion. The user-friendly design requires no batteries or electrical outlets, making it simple to use. The package includes three straws, each with a leak-proof carry case, adding convenience and protection. As a B Corp, LifeStraw ensures that every purchase helps provide a child in need with safe water for an entire school year, reflecting its commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vosteed Releases a Tala-Riffic Dino-Inspired Folder Knife

Vosteed continues its tradition of creating visually appealing, highly functional folders with unique mechanical features with the release of the Talarurus, or “Tala” for short. Designed by company co-founder Yue Dong, it takes the classic sheepsfoot blade and gives it a modern twist. The 3.03” 14C28N steel blade gently curves upward, enhancing its piercing capabilities while maintaining precision cutting power.

Opening the Tala is a breeze with its intuitive thumb disk, which functions similarly to a thumb stud but adds a distinctive aesthetic touch. This ambidextrous opener works seamlessly with the Crossbar Lock, making the knife easy to use for both left- and right-handed individuals. The handle, available in blue, black, green micarta, and white G10, is designed for comfort and prolonged use, featuring a finger choil and a reversible pocket clip for versatile carry. Lightweight yet durable, the Talarurus is a perfect blend of style and practicality, making it an excellent choice for knife enthusiasts and everyday users alike.

Run Wild Run with Merrell and Huckberry’s Agility Peak 5 in an Exclusive Colorway

Merrell has teamed up with Huckberry to launch the Agility Peak 5, their most agile trail runner, in an exclusive colorway inspired by the American West. Designed for versatility, this trail runner features a snug mesh collar and tongue, a lug sole that boosts ground contact by 50%, and an athlete-tested heel sling for maximum stability.

Performance-wise, the Agility Peak 5 excels with a FloatPro midsole providing top-tier cushioning, a rock plate for forefoot protection, and FLEXconnect grooves for enhanced ground connection. Its Vibram MegaGrip outsole and traction lugs ensure superior grip and debris shedding. Additional features include a protective toe cap, natural odor control, and a D-ring for gaiter attachment. With two sets of interchangeable laces, these shoes offer both style and functionality for any adventure. Whether tackling Death Valley trails or urban runs, the Agility Peak 5 is built to perform and impress.

Mission Workshop Unveils New Waxed Canvas Wallet & Utility Pouch

The Waxed Canvas Wallet and Utility pouch from Mission Workshop is an all-purpose organizational solution designed for the modern EDCer. Available in three sizes, the smallest (3.5” x 4.25”) serves as an ideal minimalist wallet holding just the right number of cards and cash, while the medium (5.5” x 7”) and large (7.25” x 8.75”) versions are perfect for chargers, cords, keys, or passports, alongside cash and cards.

These wallets are proudly made in the USA from 10.10 waxed canvas cotton and complemented with YKK Aquaguard zippers, ensuring they are secure, durable, and stylish. The waxed canvas cotton gains a rich patina over time, giving it a weathered look that only gets better with age. The Waxed Canvas Wallet & Utility Pouch is a great choice if you’re looking for an all-in-one organizational solution, and is available in three colors—brown, gray, and black.

The James Brand Stuns with Dual Debuts of the Chapter 2 Knife and Burwell Pen

The James Brand is out to set new standards with the recent release of the Chapter 2 folding knife and the Burwell click pen. Based on previous products that successfully showcased what The James Brand is all about, these latest iterations are evolutions of their predecessors, updating them by improving their designs and materials. The Chapter 2, an heir to the original knife that placed The James Brand on the map, now boasts a titanium frame lock design, a tip-up carry orientation, and an S35VN blade. This stainless steel blade, running on sealed ceramic bearings, ensures a fast, smooth, and consistent action. The new machined titanium pocket clip and the integrated steel lock face insert promise a lifetime of trouble-free use, all while maintaining the iconic form that made the Chapter a legend.

Similarly, the Burwell click pen is a follow-up to The James Brand’s Burwell pen. With its raw stainless and matte black PVD finish options on a slim diameter, the Burwell is easy to carry in-pocket, with its smooth clicker providing one-handed operation, even in wet conditions. A machined-in dot pattern ensures excellent grip and control, and the metal-injection-molded clip offers secure retention. Leveraging standard Parker-style G2 refills, the Burwell lets you choose from a nearly endless variety of nibs and inks, making it as versatile as it is durable. With these new releases, The James Brand continues to blend functionality with aesthetics, offering tools that are both innovative and timeless.

Grow Your Collection with Tactile Turn’s Nature Inspired Sprout Pen

Our friends at Tactile Turn have made some of the sleekest, precision-engineered EDC pens on the market, and their new limited-edition nature-inspired pen, the Sprout, reinforces why they are one of our trusted brands. The Sprout, inspired by the humble houseplant, borrows design elements from the Plantae kingdom, featuring a two-toned glossy green Cerakote on its tips, tops, and body with white accent screws and bolts, complemented by a terracotta brown clip with intricate laser-engraved foliage, infusing a touch of nature into your everyday carry, whether on your desk or on the go.

The Tactile Turn Sprout is built from titanium for superior strength and lightness and comes in four different models—Side Click, Bolt Action, Slim Side Click, and Slim Bolt Action— all available in Standard, Short, and Mini lengths to suit different user preferences, and compatible with a variety of popular ink refills. Each pack comes with a commemorative box and sticker, and domestic orders even include a custom seed packet as a nod to nature. The Tactile Turn Sprout is ideal for professionals who value form and function and is available until June 30th.

The Benefits of a Pocket Notebook

A pocket notebook is your repository for what’s vital in your life. From remembering phone numbers to keeping on top of your appointments to documenting the ins and outs of your life, you can do it all with a good everyday carry pocket notebook. While you can use your cell phone to do many of the same tasks, writing things down in a notebook is faster and more convenient. A pocket notebook doesn’t need a distracting internet connection to work, and you can keep on using it when the power is out and your batteries run dry. There’s no password needed to unlock a notebook, and instead of finding the right app, you only have to use your favorite pen or pencil and get suitable to the task at hand. Plus, writing on paper can feel more satisfying in practice than swiping or typing on a virtual glass keyboard with zero feedback. Writing engages you more than a cell phone; it can help you retain and act on that information in the future instead of forgetting it in your digital data trove.

How to Maximize Your Pocket Notebook Use

Everyone has their own system for note-taking, but a few pointers can help you get started on the right path. One way is to dedicate the first page or so of a notebook to a table of contents or quick reference list that can help you locate things more profound in the pages. Writing as neat as possible will also help you recall the information in the notebook more quickly, and ensuring you add important dates, phone numbers, and appointments legibly and consistently can help you maximize the value you get from having an everyday carry pocket notebook.

You could also learn shorthand, which will let you write faster in high-stress situations. Plus, with the decline of that skill in the modern day, shorthand can act as a bit of security through obscurity in case someone casually rifles through your notebook while you’re away.

Top Pocket Notebooks for Everyday Carry in 2024

The Best Overall Pocket Notebook: Midori Traveler’s Notebook [Buy]
The Best Pocket Notebook on a Budget: Field Notes Expedition [Buy]
The Most Premium Pocket Notebook: Hobonichi Techo Weeks [Buy]
The Best Pocket Notebook for the Outdoors: Rite in the Rain Top Spiral [Buy]
The Best Pocket Notebook for Fountain Pens: Apica Premium C.D. [Buy]

The Best Overall Pocket Notebook: Midori Traveler’s Notebook

The venerable Midori Traveler’s Notebook is our pick for the best overall pocket notebook. When picking out the right kind of notebook for everyday carry, it’s easy to focus solely on the paper inside. The Japanese Midori paper included with the Traveler’s Notebook is some of the best you can write with, primarily if you use water-based inks or fountain pens. But the Traveler’s Notebook is more than that because it also features a durable cowhide leather cover that accepts modular compact notebook paper refills of the same size. So, unlike spiral-bound school notebooks or smaller everyday carry notebooks that are stitched or glued shut, you can swap out the notebook refill once you run out of pages.

You can even use third-party notebook refills if the Midori paper isn’t to your liking or you have trouble sourcing it here in the United States. Along the way, the leather notebook cover will patina with age and the marks of daily use, making the Midori Traveler’s Notebook a buy-it-for-life pocket notebook so long as you don’t leave it behind on some travel adventure in the future.

The Best Pocket Notebook on a Budget: Field Notes Expedition

The Field Notes Expedition is a happy medium in the pocket notebook space, as it provides three practical 48-page dot-graph notebooks at a reasonable price. The Field Notes Expedition is also a quality notebook, not a cut-rate dollar store deal. Field Notes prints and manufactures each notebook here in the United States, and they source from local Midwest artisans to get their waterproof 84 GSM Yupo synthetic body paper. The paper is also tearproof, making this a notebook you don’t have to worry about getting wet in the rain or out in the great outdoors. You can opt to carry one of the three notebooks at a time or dedicate a notebook for different kinds of notes or different parts of your everyday carry loadout.

The Most Premium Pocket Notebook: Hobonichi Techo Weeks

The Hobonichi Techno is one of the community’s favorite planner notebooks, but the Weeks version stands apart both for its different, slimmer profile and its focus on providing a weekly view of your upcoming appointments and engagements. The Weeks is noticeably slimmer and taller than the standard A5 and A6 Hobonichi Techno planner, and it’s the same size as a Japanese checkbook. While you’re probably not carrying one of those around, it does mean that it can fit in more pockets than not.

Most of the page spreads in the Weeks are dedicated to showing you each week with the days on one side and a dedicated note-taking space on the other. There’s a monthly view and additional reference material; the blank grid dot area allows for general notes. This is my pocket notebook calendar because it works better than the myriad of cloud app calendars on my phone that I ignore because of notification fatigue. If you want to write more notes than the Weeks provides, there’s also a Mega version of this notebook, which has more fountain-pen-friendly paper for your convenience.

The Best Pocket Notebook for the Outdoors: Rite in the Rain Top Spiral

Rite in the Rain’s durable top spiral notebooks are trusted by first responders, outdoor enthusiasts, and military users to provide a weatherproof writing surface to plan operations and make critical observations without the risk of the paper disintegrating after getting wet. The top spiral is also made to a higher standard, so it won’t bend or twist out of position like the old-style reporter’s notebooks you might be used to. The Polydura notebook cover material is tough but flexible, so it won’t be uncomfortable in your pockets, especially if you carry a pocket notebook at the rear. The all-weather paper is entirely wood-based, so it’s completely recyclable and much friendlier to the environment when you’re done using it. While the waterproof paper makes it a challenge if you prefer water-based ink pens and fountain pens, it handles ballpoint and pencil lead just fine.

The Best Pocket Notebook for Fountain Pens: Apica Premium C.D.

Apica notebooks are especially friendly for anyone who carries a fountain pen in their everyday carry. The company has been making these notebooks since the start of the last century when everyone used fountain pens. And while they’re more prevalent in Japan than elsewhere, plenty of everyday carry stationery aficionados love using fountain pens. And even if you don’t carry that kind of pen, the special silky smooth paper is a joy to handle and use even with ballpoints, gel pens, or pencils.

The acid-free Japanese paper each notebook comes with can handle the wettest fountain pen inks without smearing, feathering, or bleeding through the page, as you might experience on pocket notebooks that do not have fountain pen users in mind. One thing to note: the Apica notebooks are functionally the equivalent of the school composition notebook in the United States, except with much higher quality paper.

Our Other Recommendations

Stalogy Editor’s Series 365Days A6: If you want to carry a pocket notebook planner but are not a fan of highly structured calendar pages that become useless if you don’t use them throughout the year, the Stalogy Editor’s Series 365 A6 pocket notebook is a great choice. This pocket notebook can operate as your chosen calendar because you can configure the grid pages to show any time you want. You can also use the notations at the top to denote days and months of the year. You can also forego using those features entirely and just use the Staology 365 as a regular notebook; the choice is all yours. [Buy $13.45]

Maruman Mnemosyne N192 B7: The B7 size of this compact lined notebook gives you 50 sheets of white acid-free 68gsm paper in a compact spiral-bound package that doesn’t take up a lot of space in your pocket and is amazing to write on. Another stand-out feature of this Maruman notebook is that each page features micro-perforations, making it easy to neatly tear out pages for handing out to others or for quick reference later. [Buy $4.98]

MUJI Passport Memo: The MUJI Passport Memo provides a passport-sized notebook that can fit in passport wallets and your pocket. They make great companion notebooks as you travel and are great for quick notes on the go without taking up too much space. Each color of the notebook denotes the kind of ruling (or lack of it) inside, with my favorite being the red one, which is blank. While they’ve been more challenging in the United States as Muji has pulled back from the market, you can still find it from third-party retailers when they have them in stock. [Buy $11]

Moleskine Cahier Pocket: The Moleskine Cahier Pocket notebook is many an everyday carry stationery enthusiast’s first foray into quality paper. It’s a durable ruled notebook with sturdy cardboard paper covers and a heavy-duty stitched spine. Because you can write on the notebook itself, it’s easy to label the notebook based on its contents, and you can refer to those marks later if you keep them around after you fill them with notes. One thing to note, however, is that Moleskine paper tends to feather and bleed when you use fountain pens, but users of other writing tools will have a lot to love when they carry a Moleskine notebook in their pocket. [Buy $14.81]

LEUCHTTURM1917 Hardcover Pocket: If you’re tired of having the cover of your pocket notebook rip, bend, or wrinkle after daily use, the LEUCHTTURM1917 pocket notebook has a hard cover that will stand up to the test of time. This will, of course, make it far more rigid compared to the other notebooks on this list, but if you’re willing to pay the price of having a more inflexible notebook in your pocket, you might just be able to keep at it with this notebook for longer than something made to less exacting standards. [Buy $18.50]

What to Consider When Choosing a Pocket Notebook

With the wide range of pocket notebooks available for everyday carry, there are many things to consider when adding one to your ensemble. We’ll review some essential considerations, like size, paper quality, binding, rules, materials, and price. There’s likely not a perfect notebook that will hit everything you need, but being armed with the knowledge of what’s out will get you a head start on your search for the best pocket notebook for you.

Size and Portability

To be a good pocket notebook for everyday carry, it has to fit in your pockets. It would be easy to leave it there, but you should also consider the space the rest of your everyday carry takes if you’re dedicated to pocket-only carry. You can opt for more “pocketable” notebooks instead that are slightly larger (beyond A5 size) than what you can manage, but then you’ll need to consider how you’ll carry that notebook around. A notebook that has to be in a giant bag might be less portable in your eyes, and you’ll end up either not using it or leaving it at home when you forget it in the wrong bag.

Paper Quality

If you’re just entering the stationery enthusiast space, it might be challenging to appreciate what good quality paper can do for you entirely. However, each notebook we discuss in this guide has much better paper than the college rule and composition notebooks you might be used to from your time at school. This higher quality paper will also feel much more likable and be an intangible plus to carrying a quality everyday pocket notebook.

When you are more particular about high-quality pens, you will fully benefit from good paper, especially if you carry a fountain pen regularly. The water-based inks of fountain pens have a hard time on poor quality paper that’s either too porous so the ink bleeds through and smears or too scratchy, giving strange feedback as you write that makes it unpleasant to use. Another consideration is the “weight” of the paper and how it relates to quality. This weight is often expressed in grams per square meter (gsm); strictly speaking, a higher number means more heavy-duty paper. While this might mean a sturdier paper, quality is a bit more than just the thickness or durability. You have to consider the color, ink-bearing capability, and whether it has acid or not for long-term archival, among many other factors that will be highly personal at the end of the day.

Binding Type

A notebook is a paper collection bound to be more beneficial than carrying around a stack of index cards or loose-leaf sheets. How it’s bound can dictate how you use the notebook and its durability. The common ways a pocket notebook can be bound include the standard spiral bound style, which uses metal wire through holes to hold the paper into place. These benefit from being easy to lie flat and remove individual sheets compared to the other binding styles, even if the pages are not perforated, to ease the process.

More traditional book-style bindings follow, with glue binding and stitched binding being common. These have a similar opening and closing experience as a small pamphlet or paperback book and offer more rigidity. The downside of this style is that you compromise the integrity of the overall binding of the pocket notebook once you start ripping pages out. Stapled notebooks function like notepads, but the ones made for everyday carry tend to have higher quality paper and more durable stapling to stand up to daily pocket carry. Completely modular notebooks like the Traveler’s Notebook or ring binder styles are made accessible to swap new paper in and out as you need, but they can be more flimsy than perfect bound or switched book-style spiral notebooks in the process.

Ruling Type

How the pocket notebook pages are designed profoundly influences your use. If you write in dense paragraphs, traditional line-ruled paper will work best to keep everything organized and help you maximize the space on the page. Technical drawing and math users might prefer grid-style paper because it helps structure work better, especially if you make tables and graphs regularly. An in-between style is dot-graph paper, which gives you the ability to draw the structured squares when you need it but otherwise keep the page less cluttered. An utterly blank notebook gives you complete freedom, and it’s the best for free-form notes and drawings. This style might work best for you if you also like to write bigger than most college and even wide-ruled papers.

Another consideration is whether a notebook has calendars for days, weeks, and months. If a notebook is primarily made up of those pre-defined spaces, it might limit the freeform note-taking potential of it. You should choose the pocket notebook with the features and design that you

Cover Material

The cover material of a notebook affects its overall durability and your satisfaction with bringing it along for the ride. The most basic pocket notebooks have paper covers, which keep the weight down but are subject to ripping or bending during use. Paper covers will also not handle getting wet, and alternatives such as leather and polymer will not be able to handle it. Leather covers offer traditional quality and a nice feel in your hand. Whether you like that they might scratch and patina over time is up to you. Polymer covers offer some of the best resistance to getting wet but tend to be more rigid in your pocket, making the experience potentially uncomfortable. Polymer covers can also feel a bit cheap compared to other alternatives, but that’s often a matter of perception versus reality, as plenty of excellent everyday carry pocket notebooks feature that design element.

Price

Pocket notebooks tend to be relatively affordable, but nearly everything on this list will be far more expensive than more generic stationery store school notebooks. For the increased price of a quality everyday carry pocket notebook, you get higher quality paper that can handle things like writing with fountain pens. They tend to have archival quality paper that won’t fade or yellow with time, which is essential if you’re writing notes or thoughts down for the years to come.

FAQs

What is the best notebook size for a pocket?

A5- and A6-sized notebooks are about 4” tall and make the best pocket notebook size. You’re not going to want to exceed your pocket size to keep things the right size, but carrying a notebook that might fit in a jeans back pocket might not work for the days when you’re wearing something else.

Should I carry a pocket notebook?

You should carry a pocket notebook because of the convenience of quickly writing essential things down without fiddling with technology. Using a pocket notebook might be more helpful in remembering and retaining the information you write down.

What are the tiny notebooks called?

The tiny notebooks are called pocket notebooks. They can also be considered micro-sized notebooks and mini-notebooks. Some spiral notebooks of this size are sometimes called reporters or evidence books from law enforcement.

What do you write in your EDC notebook?

What you choose to write in your pocket notebook is entirely up to you. For something this small, important dates, appointments, phone numbers, addresses, and quick math are some of the best use cases for carrying a pocket notebook.

Are there environmentally friendly options for pocket notebooks?

Some environmentally friendly pocket notebooks use recycled paper and post-consumer materials to create a more sustainable everyday carry experience. Some notebooks also feature a modular and replaceable feature that means you can keep using the notebook and swap out the pages instead of buying an entirely new product when you’re done.

How long does an average pocket notebook last with daily use?

Assuming your pocket notebook has 50 pages, you can dedicate a page daily to your essential writing. That will give you more than a month of use, but your mileage may vary.

Are there waterproof or weatherproof pocket notebooks available?

Rite in the Rain makes some of the best waterproof and weatherproof pocket notebooks, and we suggest one in our guide. They feature highly water-repellent paper, and the binding and covers match the weather.

Can a digital note-taking app replace a physical pocket notebook?

If you can stay dedicated and use it, a digital note-taking app might replace the functions of a physical pocket notebook. We submit that having a physical notebook has benefits like no internet connection or power to work. Physical notebooks are cheaper than a thousand-dollar cell phone, but your mileage may vary.

How We Picked

Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.

What is Everyday Carry?

Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily life. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.

Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise in the industry and familiarity with design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.