Traveler's Notebook: Almost perfect

The Traveler's Notebook rides an interesting balance between form and function. It's an incredible case study of effective marketing with a clear target audience. But does that audience include artists like you and me?

EXTRA CONTENT

ARTBOOK 📚

SOCIALS📷

MUSIC

[ChromaMoma]

P.S. This isn't a sponsored video nor did Traveler's send me anything to review (can you imagine if they did and this is what they got lmao)

[hippopotamusbosch]

The perfect combination of paper, usability, aesthetics, etc is elusive. Half my notebooks, I just make myself.

[emiliarittenbach]

Okay long time travelers notebook user for drawing, I had some of the same issues as you and I wanted to share how I modified my kit to resolve those complaints. 1. I got a great 4+1 multipen from Uni Jetstream that has 4 ink colors and a mechanical pencil in it. It's wide enough that I can tuck it in the middle of an insert, close the notebook and put on the elastic band, and it will just stay tucked in to the notebook while stored. The pencil case insert gave me the same annoyance of the uneven writing surface, and just carrying one great tool OR accepting the seperate pencil case burden made this easier. 2. I carry a Clampy Penco brass clip as well as a shitajiki writing board (I use a traveler's branded one, but any a5 slim size piece of firm material works). By leaving the shitajiki in the back of the last insert and clipping the top of the notebook flat, I get a great firm surface across both sides of the notebook. These store well with the notebook, and keeping the clip on the long side of the notebook while in transit can keep my pen or even multiple tools held inside the notebook.

Both of these tips made the cons of the notebook manageable and the pros really shine through. I usually have a weekly memo insert for planning tasks and meetings, a personal sketchbook, and a sketchbook for client work. I had been carrying seperate sketchbooks and notebooks for each of these tasks previously, and the anxiety of "messing up" pages in large hardbound sketchbooks had kept me from sketching personally for years. The travelers notebook format of multiple inserts has helped me build a really robust sketchbook habit, and improve from maybe 60 pages of sketching a year to filling several inserts a month. I've also started making my own inserts! Thanks for making this video, I feel the bulk of people sharing Traveler's notebook content are using it for journaling and writing, so seeing other artists use it for drawing is awesome.

[heyceeb]

I love seeing artists pick these up to try, because I don't see it often in that area, and they're actually my favorite sketchbooks! I have a blue one that I've used exclusively as my sketchbook for almost six years now (and another passport sized black one as a sketch wallet)-- it's interesting that you mention all in one functionality and how you describe it, because that's the exact reason I initially got (and love!) mine, but the definition of "all in one" is actually different for me. I didnt pay much mind to the tools and accessories, but it was the multi-insert functionality of it that did me in. Prior to discovering this thing, I was usually carrying around a nice watercolor sketchbook, a midori md sketchbook, and a notebook for my graphic novel/cartooning work. Being able to keep all three in one package was a huge game changer for me. It was cool to see how you used yours and where you sat with it (and MD is my favorite paper, as well. If you haven't tried their cotton paper line, I highly recommend it).

[yuko]

from extremely rendered paintings, 3d work, beautiful mech drawings with great linework and much more .
Ken is a great artist all around, my inspiration, and he is at the point I want to be in art .
Thank you for these videos, you changed my life <3

[AlanoDantas]

I feel you. One thing I really like about the traveler's journal setup is how simple it is, to the point that before I bought one I decided to make one myself out of cheaper materials and now I just prefer to use my own instead of the original because I can customize it to my own needs and solve problems like the one you're having with the zip punch insert, like, maybe you can make one that flips over to get out of the way when you're drawing, I dunno, I feel like trying this now hahaha. Anyway, I kinda have a "anti consumerism" and "maker" mindset, plus I have ADHD so I really like tinkering with stuff that interests me, and for that, to stay out of the brands and try to make my own things feels way better than have the original. I love my own travelers notebook and try to make your own is really fun and easy.

[sarahperry]

“I sit in the awkward middle”
I need that on a T-shirt, a button pin and probably a lot of stickers. I feel like that describes me way too well.

[michicrj]

I really love the Traveler’s notebook - personally I don’t care about keeping my pens or anything inside it, I just use it and keep a low profile pen case in my bag. I have one folder add on for small paper scraps or stickers or whatever. My partner has one that he uses primarily as a planner/journal and he does just use one pen with it that’s always attached. I think it does have a lot of aesthetic appeal, which is important to me as it lends a certain joy to whatever I’m doing. Interesting video!

[jocelinkee]

Your videos remain some of the only videos I fully sit through and listen to every word of - when they come up on my feed I'm like oh! gotta make time to watch that. Gotta be sitting down and taking notes!! I love how much thought and research you put into everything, and your editing is fantastic (when the music changed at 8:11 I laughed out loud). This is such a great review!

[trueblue]

A few years ago I was really fixed on the traveler’s notebook trend but was afraid to spend 60€ (more or less 60$ USD) just for the cover, so I tried to make a cheaper version with a scrap of leather sold for a few bucks. It wasn’t perfect but give me a more in depth vision of the TN system. I agree that the plastic pockets insert is essential at least to hold on random ephemera and printed photos for future usage (if you aren’t looking for something fancy there are a lot of YT tutorials on how to make one). Never tried the pen holder but it looks kinda useless to me. Generally speaking for me it’s not a bad system but for it to function correctly you can’t bulk up the inside of the cover and so you need an extra pouch for pens and markers. Still, it’s nice to have it for a specific project (in my case it houses my anime journal) because it adds a little thrill every time I use it. Said that, my ugly duckling imitation will stay with me until it falls apart: 60€ is still too much.

[DL-idk]

You are right. You don’t need this if you’re using it just for one single purpose. No, you don’t need multiple inserts for a single function. If you just want something to draw, a sketch book and a pouch for other supplies should be more than enough.

TN is more for people who like to carry multiple notebooks for many different functions. Planning, common placing, quick sketch, note taking, etc. With this they can combine their EDC notebooks into one cover and reduce the load. Some are using it as a wallet and it works for them.

If you only draw, only plan, or only want to common place, don’t waste your money on this. This is for crazy people who have 1-5 different notebooks on them all the time depending on the situation. And yes, I am one of them.

[tereo]

taking out the pages sounds like a pro to me, way more comfortable and then put it back in the binder for protection

[leyshiro]

For me, I established a habit to write everything down. Shopping list, assignment deadlines, sudden inspiration, project planning, study notes. Before the travellers notebook I just jot down everything in multiple different notebooks to categorise my thoughts. I guess it’s a great way to bring about the ‘all in one’ for me.

[Belgarathe]

Great job nailing what it all about. Having it all in a single package that you can quickly grab and go. Most people I know don’t necessarily use that insert to carry bulging pens. Either they have a two the three pen slow that clips o the outside or use thinner pens. I’m not so much for drawing but journaling and keeping tracking of projects. What I love is that I can swap out inserts based on my needs. So if going on vacation would have different inserts than if I am heading into a meeting or just doing errands.

[ikuorub]

4:59 Out of topic but what is that bag you have there?

I've seen these notebooks everywhere and from what I've gathered these notebooks are more for recording events and more typical "diary/scrapbook" vs sketchbooks and other arts. It's not a bad thing but it's not for everyone. Plus they look so fancy that I personally wouldn't be comfortable scribbling on it all willy-nilly. 😅

[Pallethands]

Take 2 of their craft paper sheets and paste them with one side over lapping. The far edge can then be pasted to the sketch insert. Fold the insert and now you can pull out the sketch insert without removing it

[nawalismail]

Hi, maybe for your tools issue you can look for a book band pen case. It can double as the closing elastic too. Midori has just come out with a mesh book band pen case.

TN just seem to become cultish to me. I appreciate that more people are using and sharing how they using it online. Things just change once there become 2 ‘separate’ entites (Midori and Traveler’s company).

[katk]

Thanks for your content and the work you put in, it is so highly appreciated!

[Sypeth]

I use my TN for planning and journaling and I have only one pen with me at all times. I have a separate pen pouch for other pens, highlighters, washi tapes… that I use mainly at home or if I know I’ll need it on the go. I don’t think the clear pocket is to be used to store pens, as you showed, it clearly doesn’t work 😉
Depending on the use you can’t really swap a TN for a midori notebook as most TN users love being able to swith inserts depending on what they are doing. I have a monthly and a weekly insert and one I use for memory keeping and journaling and this is filled in within a month so I get a new one every month. Plus I make my own insert for habit trackers and the few things I need to track throughout the month.

[faedri]

Love this review out of all I've seen. Thanks!!