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I Can't Stop Writing in my Field Notes Pocket Notebook

John's Studio Notebook

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Why I cannot stop using Field Notes notebooks. These simple 48 page memo books inspire me to write significantly more than other pocket notebooks.

There is a particular satisfaction in finding a notebook that just works. For me, these pocket notebooks have become the standard for capturing thoughts on the move. Their slim profile means they slip easily into a jacket pocket, ensuring I never miss an idea while walking through East London or traveling further afield.

Integrating an EDC notebook into your day changes how you interact with your surroundings. It encourages a more deliberate observation of the world, turning fleeting moments into something permanent. Whether I am drafting notes for a new book or just recording observations, the convenience of this format keeps me coming back to them time and time again.

Subscribe for more reflections on my writing practice, and let me know in the comments what you carry for your daily notes.

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Chapters
0:00 Field Notes Intro
1:14 Great for Travel
2:04 Field Notes vs Leuchtturm 1917
2:51 Easier to fit into your pocket
3:18 Field Notes Price in UK
4:33 Field Notes are addictive
5:14 Is A River Alive Edition

I'm a writer and film-maker based in East London. My books include: This Other London - adventures in the overlooked city, Welcome to New London - journeys and encounters in the post Olympic city, The Black Path, and Confessions of a London River Hunter will be published by Three Imposters on 9th November 2026. My main YouTube channel is @JohnRogersWalks where I explore London and beyond. I've been writing for over 35 years and have been on YouTube since 2006. I hope to share some of this experience with you on this channel.
Here I am in conversation with author Iain Sinclair at Hatchards Bookshop Piccadilly about my book, Welcome to New London John Rogers and Iain Sinclair in conversat...

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20 Comments

@GareTheBear 3 days ago

Love this one John! I totally get the inexplicable draw towards field notes! There is a mix of branding, style, feel, fun, and function among many other factors. It's always enjoyable to go on about field notes and watch others do the same!

Thanks for the mention!🤝

@Stampistuta 1 hour ago

I’ve been using them for well over a decade at this point, I’ve tried others but the Field Notes books are my favourite. Im lucky to have them stocked nearby in Fred Aldous who have a store in Manchester, theres also a lovely shop in Keswick that stocks them.

@scottperriam6216 2 days ago

UK Field Nut here. Currently have around 250 packs. I use them every day, but I also collect the limited editions. Happy to send you a care package of singles so you can try some of the older editions 🙂

@imjustken1991 1 day ago

I use Flame Tree mini notebooks - £6 for a pack of three in Waterstones and they have such a huge range of cover designs

@crduncan70 1 day ago

I love the idea of these - but in reality I find them expensive, feeble papered, badly wearing American junk. I understand that many love them, but I just don’t get the hype. I like Japanese Midori or Italian Ciak notebooks for what it’s worth - although they’re not really comparable.

@FrankWinkle 1 day ago

I use the Moleskine ones. Pack of 3 is £8.99 from Ryman's stationers. Choice of finishes and paper. I use the plain paper but there's also lined or graph.

@johnwelch2224 4 days ago

Field note certainly having an attraction John they certainly draw you in being so handy and easy to use

@TheOkazakiGuy 1 day ago

What a wonderful video. Subscribed! I have always liked Field Notes for the same reasons you say. There is just something about them. I had a subscription to them for awhile. I live in Japan, so I paid a bit for the delivery fee, but it was worth it. I do tend to use the Campus memo books a lot. I love the A6 size, or even down to B7, and they work great with fountain pens which is a nice bonus, but there is just something about Field Notes that keeps drawing me back.

@markjlacey 4 days ago

Coincidentally I started writing in one of those Robert MacFarlane field notes last month. I had planned to just jot down the odd observation and keep with my larger notebook. However, much like you, I got hooked writing in it. Just started my second field notes today. I enjoy the smaller size, it is easier to flick back through and find something than in a large notebook. Plus it's just so satisfying to write in. My handwriting hasn't gotten any better though. All the best, John.

@az55544 4 days ago

There are videos to make your own. Would be an excellent meetup project.

@ChrisMatallana 4 days ago

I LOVE Field Notes. I started using them at the start of the pandemic and haven’t gone back. I use them as my “main” driver - they are definitely addicting. I pair mine with leather (mainly) covers, and it just increases the joy.

@OhHeyItsAnthony 2 days ago

03:33 you can also find them at The Brokedown Palace on Shoreditch High Street. It's an outdoor wear and equipment shop.

@williamrobinson7435 4 days ago

Thing is, you can easily get a Field Notes into any pocket, and if it's in your pocket, then that's the one you're going to write in. But they do also have either a nice tactile cover, or a great design, like the river set. For people who are serious about frequently written notes in prose, I don't think they're too dear. Quality psychometrically pre charged writing gear comes at a price!
Silvine does not float my boat. Nice one John! ✨🌟👍

@heidismit5261 4 days ago (edited)

John! Nostalgia. It looks very much like a pre war cahier. And I think that maybe the pay off you get from a nicely filled notebook. I find it very satisfying writing on the last page. So you can start afresh in no time. And that is also lovely. Because I am gifted all my notebooks and cahiers, I hardly ever have to buy a new one. Sometimes I leave a notebook half empty. Just to have the lovely experience of starting a new one.😂

@BDMidg 9 hours ago

You might have noticed Field Notes are bad with fountain pens. That is their great disadvantage.

@Ted_12K 4 days ago

I’m a big fan of Field Notes for its size and cool themes, but I don’t care for the type of paper, and it can get expensive over time. I also love GoodInkPressions pocket-size notebooks with 68 or 52 gsm Tomoe River paper—the thinner paper means more pages than FN, but they are “custom” orders and the wait time is long. Recently, I spent about $200-300 USD on tools to make my own pocket notebooks: a paper chopper, saddle stapler, and Radius trimmer. Now, I make them in small batches. I just buy 300 gsm card stock for the covers and pick any paper I want, sometimes getting creative with my Circuit by debossing and foiling them. It also helps me use them more often because I can make them quickly.

@tonyaparham2654 4 days ago

I love them as well and I justify the expense (because even $15 for three notebooks is a bit steep) by compariing writing (my art) to what painters do. A notebook habit of $20 a month is very cheap compared to what I would spend on paint, or pottery, or glass for stained glass making.

@EdwardIglesias 4 days ago

I was going to link this thew last time. The creator makes a strong argument for making your own field notes. Not only is it cheaper at less than a dollar/pound a piece, but you can make it with any paper/cover combination you like. It also lets you choose between stitching and stapling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYn8PBWR2lg

@robstruble 3 days ago

There is a je ne sais quoi about Field Notes, something charming and also practical, that calls to me. But, BUT, I don't care for the single-signature style of binding (not just in Field Notes, but Travelers Notebook inserts, etc). In any variation I've tried it, it seems the worst of all worlds to me 😂 it doesn't lay flat well, it's not as nice to thumb through (it wants to jump to the middle or the end), etc.

@petergoddard1960 4 days ago (edited)

Never had a field notes brand. I've had Lochby (which are lovely Tomoe River 68gsm) but just as expensive as FN's. I use the Cahier pocket, 60 pages stitch binding (not those shite staples) , much cheaper and great unless you use wet fountain pen ink. I buy them in bulk. I use a Pentel Gel 0.7mm in blue/black or a Rotring Pencil 2B. There's so much choice, but the FN size is just so perfect. These Pocket notebooks are essentially disposable, but I cant bring myself to throw ideas away. I number the pages and run the index in the back by turning the book upside-down and when the notes meet the index, the book is full.