Review: Midori Traveler's Notebook (A Man's Perspective)

The Midori Traveler's Notebook is a Japanese notebook "system," consisting of a leather cover and various "inserts" which can be placed inside in myriad ways to build a very customizable and personal notebook.
In this review, I'll be looking at the Midori from the perspective of someone who is interested in using it as a catch-all journal/notebook/sketchbook. We'll do a package opening, point out some of the important features, show ways in which it can be set up with various inserts, show you how I'VE set it up and how I've been using it, and finally, I'll give my final verdict.
Enjoy!

Midori at Goulet Pens:

Midori at Baum-kuchen:

The Spencerian-style lettering guide comes from "Ame's Guide to Self-Instruction," which can be found here:

The line guide:

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[vleek]

Love this. I know you call it a "man's perspective, " but as a female graphic designer who loves clean lines and uniformity, I too got extremely worried when I saw the community built around midori customization. Like you said; cool if you have the time and resources to turn it into a scrap book, but mostly overwhelming to me. Glad to see this more minimal approach from your review!

[philipculbertson]

I made my own travelers notebook slightly larger so books don't stick out. Being a leather worker, I sewed in a leather back pocket and used a leather/snap closure instead of the elastic band. I have been using mine for 18 months. I don't go anywhere without it. Even out to eat. I find I use it multiple times daily. I am happy to see another man using one!

[Kovacs]

I´m a woman and it is best review I´ve seen about Midori.

[firefly]

YES. Thank you so much for this. I had to wade through an ocean of washi-taped, stickered up, and yes, "bedazzled" Traveler's journals before finding this. Just what I was looking for. So much more beautiful the way you have it!

[mizzycutenezz]

"Artsy crafty women with long painted fingernails and lots of dangly jewelry." LOL!!!! Summarized 95% of the journaling youtubers I watch in a fragmented sentence.

[hajimesenpai]

Finally a review with less decorations!! Thanks for this!!

[AngeredPegasus]

The review I was waiting for :) I am a woman, and I use my journals to write only, no stickers, bullet whatnots or anything. The sobriety of this journal is very appealing, thank you for the thorough presentation.

[EmilyWiggintonC]

i watched so many of the frilly reviews and i was like "this is not what i want" your review is so clean and just what i was looking for and needed for my midori purchase

[LiaMahony]

OMG now i get it. HEAVENS I thought I was the only one who did not get the whole decorating thing. thankyou

[franckbynature]

Finally! Someone who's using a planner system that isn't pimped up to the eyeballs. I'm ADHD, so I could never have one of these really busy systems with so many things going on. I also tend to hyperfocus on tiny details, so there's always the risk that I'll spend hours decorating the planner without doing any actual planning, rendering the whole exercise futile.

[RayBlake]

This is the best Midori review I've seen. And I've seen many.

[HannahSaysRaaawr]

After watching loads of midori reviews, this is by far my favorite! Its brilliant to see how you're actually USING it without a massive explanation of how you have decorated it. And so your comment about all these people decorating theirs made me laugh so much.

[carasbritish]

As a non scrapbooky, crafty, washi taping, type of woman, I appreciated your review so much. Maybe I have adhd because having all that "stuff" in my notebook gets me kind of stressed. I love how simple you kept everything.

[becmort]

I had no intention of watching this entire video (I've had mine for several years and just picked up a second Midori notebook), but half an hour later I've reached the end. You did a fantastic job of presenting the notebook! I love your sense of humor and the fact that you're real about the Midori as an everyday notebook.

[TheHVermillz]

you're a savage for the breakdown of "scrapbook" videos hahah

[janjanisbored]

Your hand writing is absolutely stunning 😭✨

[katiedavisvids]

Hilarity! I love your description of the Midori Cult. I've been watching the videos about customising and stickering and beddazling with fascination. I can't look away. What a relief to watch a video without cutesy stickers and charms. I bought a 'fauxdori' on sale to see if I'd like the system and about 5 minutes after it arrived I ordered a Midori. Love your elastic customisation and I'll be using that in mine. Thank you!

[MotoMarta]

I'm just gonna say it, YouTube needs more manly man videos of stationary things.

[MyLifeMits]

A nice change from all the midori traveler's notebook videos out there.  I will admit, I tend to decorate my pages a bit, sticking in ephemera and pieces from my travels, but not one to stuff it with many notebooks. I usually just keep 1-2 + zip pocket and folder.  Great review and thanks for sharing :)

[AstonNv]

Awesome review man, this is how I envisioned myself keeping one of these if I got one. I was on the fence about it, but this convinced me to get the one I’ve been looking at for a while!