Midori Traveler's Notebook

[KrazyIvan]

I like the look of the Brain Pocket - but searching the web, it seems to have disappeared. Do you know if they're still in business? The Midori looks great, I have to admit, but it's a heck of a lot of cash for a slice of leather with elastic bands!

 

It was made for me by Flickr user Toku_Chan. Her profile page: http://www.flickr.com/people/sukimacafe/

 

It looks like she still makes leather goods but I am not sure of the Brain Pocket specifically. It might be a little difficult to communicate without Google translator, unless you know Japanese. I was able to understand and she understood me but communication was slow.

 

Thanks for that. I've taken the easy approach and made my own now, using a large off-cut of old leather and staining it brown. Works for now with a Rhodia thick pad inside it, so I'll keep going with this for now, but thanks!

 

I am looking at doing the same thing. We have a Tandy Leather shop here but it is on the opposite side of town. I need to find an excuse to go to that side of town.

[Susan3141]

I bought the passport-sized Midori for a trip to Ireland, and now it's my all-purpose calendar and notebook since it fits so easily in my purse. I love it.

 

Midori with a Pilot Sesenta VP (special edition, like the Decimo, it's smaller and lighter than a regular VP). I attached an Oberon Celtic charm to the band.

 

 

Hi suzyq2463,

 

Is that a regular size Midori pen clip attached ? If so, do you think it could also work with a regular VP? Thanks! Beautiful look with the Oberon charm.

 

It's the regular size (I think the other size only allows you to attach the pen by the pen clip). The leather stretches, so it should probably fit a regular size VP though you may find it snug to begin with. My Sesenta fit perfectly at first, but now I use the clip to make sure it doesn't slip out.

[Florenze]

Thanks very much for the info!

 

 

 

I bought the passport-sized Midori for a trip to Ireland, and now it's my all-purpose calendar and notebook since it fits so easily in my purse. I love it.

 

Midori with a Pilot Sesenta VP (special edition, like the Decimo, it's smaller and lighter than a regular VP). I attached an Oberon Celtic charm to the band.

 

 

Hi suzyq2463,

 

Is that a regular size Midori pen clip attached ? If so, do you think it could also work with a regular VP? Thanks! Beautiful look with the Oberon charm.

 

It's the regular size (I think the other size only allows you to attach the pen by the pen clip). The leather stretches, so it should probably fit a regular size VP though you may find it snug to begin with. My Sesenta fit perfectly at first, but now I use the clip to make sure it doesn't slip out.

[RudyR]

I bought the passport size in black. I had just received some Field Notes notebooks and they fit perfectly. I have three Midori notebooks loaded in mine. Love the look and feel. I like the rustic quality, but for $60 (includes extra notebooks), I'd better love it.

 

Deb

 

You didn't have to trim at all? I've been wondering about using my Field Notes with the Midori passport but since the cover is advertised as being 4.1 x 5.3, I thought I would have to trim my notebooks to fit. Does it have any overhang at all even during use?.

[Heliotrope]

My lovely wife bought me a regular Midori travelers notebook from the Goulets just recently. It's ousted my usual diet of Rhodia webnotebooks. There are a few reasons.

 

http://s12.postimg.org/6d9p8dpnx/image.jpg

 

First, the bizarre size works really well if you're not always at your desk. It's much easier to use than a larger book on a lap desk on the couch. This is even more true at the small tables in a coffee shop. I found that I can keep it open beside my (small) laptop to write from a handwritten outline without taking up a whole table. I thought the size would be confining but instead it has freed me to write in contexts which would have been uncomfortable with a larger book.

 

Next, the fact that I can fit three books in it has made my carry much smaller. I like to keep journals for each of my two large work projects, plus a personal journal. Instead of three webbies, this means one travelers notebook. The bag is much lighter, and I have all the notebooks I need without having to constantly switch them up from my bag.

 

Thirdly, the choice of paper is pretty good. I love Triomphe and Rhodia, but appreciate the slightly more absorbent papers for the notebook to decrease drying time. I have used both the Banditapple Carnet and Midori notebooks -- I suggest to get a couple of each and see which you like! Next I am going to cut down a thin Leuchtterm A5 to 11cm thin to see how that works in the midori.

 

Lastly, it looks like Indiana Jones would own it. The rugged leather quickly acquires a patina of surface scratches that suggest a much more rich and exciting life than it's had. You'd think I had mysterious secrets in it, rather than software design sketches and my thoughts on corporate meetings.

 

 

What a great picture! Love your penvelopes, too. Lately I've been using a couple of the Midori passport refills in an actual passport cover that I had around the house. But your photo makes me want the regular size Midori cover. And a boot brown penvelope (mine is black crock). I was also concerned about the unusual shape of the regular Midori. Thanks for your perspective!

[sjs]

What a great picture! Love your penvelopes, too. Lately I've been using a couple of the Midori passport refills in an actual passport cover that I had around the house. But your photo makes me want the regular size Midori cover. And a boot brown penvelope (mine is black crock). I was also concerned about the unusual shape of the regular Midori. Thanks for your perspective!

 

The boot brown penvelopes match the brown Midori very well. I like taking the Penvelope 2 the most. You can cause a stir pulling out a penvelope 13 to write in a notebook one third of its size.

[nicholasyeo]

I must say, TR notebooks are pretty friendly but not the smoothest paper. I still like them alot though!

[BillZ]

I have the Pelle small journal. Paper is iffy. I have read that the Midori refills will fit with no alteration. I was all poised to order until I read that in all of the various manifestations of configuration the pages are perforated! How easy is it for pages to come out accidentally. I carry some Moleskine cahiers for perforated pages. I would like my travel journal to be permanent. For that reason,I am hesitant to buy. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[RPB]

Dont forget the Bandit Apple Carnet refills for the full size TN, they are very good and take FP ink well for what I use in them. Cheaper by far than Midori inserts.

[hedera]

I have the Pelle small journal. Paper is iffy. I have read that the Midori refills will fit with no alteration. I was all poised to order until I read that in all of the various manifestations of configuration the pages are perforated! How easy is it for pages to come out accidentally. I carry some Moleskine cahiers for perforated pages. I would like my travel journal to be permanent. For that reason,I am hesitant to buy. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Only the sketch paper refill (nr 012) is perforated: all the others (kraft, lined, grid, blank, extra thin) are not.

 

Hope that helps!

Edited April 6, 2013 by hedera

[Heliotrope]

What a great picture! Love your penvelopes, too. Lately I've been using a couple of the Midori passport refills in an actual passport cover that I had around the house. But your photo makes me want the regular size Midori cover. And a boot brown penvelope (mine is black crock). I was also concerned about the unusual shape of the regular Midori. Thanks for your perspective!

 

The boot brown penvelopes match the brown Midori very well. I like taking the Penvelope 2 the most. You can cause a stir pulling out a penvelope 13 to write in a notebook one third of its size.

 

 

Great minds think alike! I will probably pick up a Penvelope 2 in boot brown pretty soon and a brown Midori from the Goulets.

[Heliotrope]

In a video on the Goulet's site, Brian says that Midori's MD paper is not perforated and the DP paper has perforations (not micro perforations). In the same video, Brian tears out a sheet to demonstrate how the perforations perform. In the passport size, refills 001, 002, and 003 are listed as perforated. Passport refills 005, 006, and 007 are listed as not perforated. In the regular size, only refill 012 (sketch) is listed as having perforations. The video is on the Midori notebook page on Goulet's site.

 

Goulet's Video

 

I am currently using both the Midori passport 002 (grid) and the Banditapple handy lined notebooks. Both perform very nicely with all the pens that I have tried, even flex pens (including Noodler's Konrad). I find that shading is nicer in the Midori, probably because of the white paper. Banditapple is off-white. The Midori paper is thinner and more flexible. There has been no bleedthrough, but there is some shadowing. Not enough to cause a problem when writing on the back side of the paper. I only really notice it when the back side is blank. The Banditapple has thicker paper and feels heavier duty and more firm overall. There is no bleedthrough or shadowing, even with the flex pens.

 

I am leaning towards liking the Midori just a bit more becuase of the white paper. I don't carry notebooks in my pocket, so I haven't tested the durability, but it seems that If you plan to carry in your pocket with no cover, the Banditapple would probably be a better choice.

 

Hope this helps.

[timjthomas]

So, does anyone use their Midori Traveler for work -- instead of personal journaling? I work in an office and use a notebook every day, but wonder how well the Midori might work.

 

Just looking for others thoughts.

 

Thanks. . .

[gsalazar]

So, does anyone use their Midori Traveler for work -- instead of personal journaling? I work in an office and use a notebook every day, but wonder how well the Midori might work.

 

Just looking for others thoughts.

 

Thanks. . .

I would suggest buying a Banditapple or a Midori filler to test out whether you like the form factor. Personally, I find it good for occasional notes or if I'm travelling, because the narrower width means I can seat it on my lap and write without it flopping about. But, I like a larger sized notebook for desk writing.

[EKE]

I'm sitting in the airport on my way back from Berlin, having used my passport Midori for the last week here. I think it's great. The size is perfect, fits in the coat pocket, and I actually do carry my passport in it. I love the vintage look and feel of the thing.

 

I've also become a big fan of the Midori paper. It is thin, yet there is no bleedthrough with my medium nibs. I think it has excellent texture, with just the right amount of tooth. Very nice.

Edited April 7, 2013 by EKE

[BillZ]

I have the Pelle small journal. Paper is iffy. I have read that the Midori refills will fit with no alteration. I was all poised to order until I read that in all of the various manifestations of configuration the pages are perforated! How easy is it for pages to come out accidentally. I carry some Moleskine cahiers for perforated pages. I would like my travel journal to be permanent. For that reason,I am hesitant to buy. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Only the sketch paper refill (nr 012) is perforated: all the others (kraft, lined, grid, blank, extra thin) are not.

 

Hope that helps!

 

That helps a lot! When I looked at various vendors sites all od the types seemed perforated. Now I feel as though I an try one or two out.

[TMac]

So, does anyone use their Midori Traveler for work -- instead of personal journaling? I work in an office and use a notebook every day, but wonder how well the Midori might work.

 

Just looking for others thoughts.

 

Thanks. . .

 

I have the same question. I am currently using Banditapple Carnet notebooks and find the paper extremely fp friendly.

 

I love the look of the Midori, And can see how it is perfect for writing while on the move. I'm love to hear if folks are using it in an office setting.

[hedera]

I have the Pelle small journal. Paper is iffy. I have read that the Midori refills will fit with no alteration. I was all poised to order until I read that in all of the various manifestations of configuration the pages are perforated! How easy is it for pages to come out accidentally. I carry some Moleskine cahiers for perforated pages. I would like my travel journal to be permanent. For that reason,I am hesitant to buy. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

Only the sketch paper refill (nr 012) is perforated: all the others (kraft, lined, grid, blank, extra thin) are not.

 

Hope that helps!

 

That helps a lot! When I looked at various vendors sites all od the types seemed perforated. Now I feel as though I an try one or two out.

 

 

I can only talk about the regular size though; as someone mentioned upthread, the passport size has several perforated refills (I've only used the regular size TN).

[ObserveClosely]

How many people have the traveler's notebook and what size and do you like it? What kind of paper do you use with it.

I have three Traveler's: two regular size and one Passport size. I use them interchangeably, depending on what I am in the mood for carrying. I mostly use them for sketching, but also for work meeting notes, journaling, lists, everything. I have made a rigid insert that fits around all my paper refills. The insert gives me a rigid base for sketching (when I am working on my lap) and a place for the pen holder, so the pen rides semi-inside the notebook and inside of the elastic.

 

I really like the Traveler's. They have some kind of a mystical aura that makes them feel quite great in your hand.

 

Of all the Midori-supplied refills, I use only the Kraft refill. The paper has a crinkly charm when used with wet media (such as watercolors or gouache) and the paper color is good.

 

All the rest of my refills I make myself, using the sketching papers that I am used to. It is SUPER easy to sew up a Midori-sized refill from any paper that you have around, since you don't have to include a cover. I never have to lament the quality of the paper I use.

 

A few possibly useful Midori links:

-- Traveler's photo pool on Flickr (see how folks 'round the world use their Traveler's)

-- Review (and comparison with the Pelle) by GourmetPens

-- my Midori page is here

[maryannemoll]

So, does anyone use their Midori Traveler for work -- instead of personal journaling? I work in an office and use a notebook every day, but wonder how well the Midori might work.

 

Just looking for others thoughts.

 

Thanks. . .

 

I use my regular-sized Midori both for wotk and for personal purposes. I love it! I was able to bring a smaller bag everyday because of it.

 

For work, I just printed out the office directory (because I do not want to store it on my phone).

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f40/maryannemoll/IMG_7711.jpg

 

And the Chronodex is for both work and personal appointments and tasks.

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f40/maryannemoll/IMG_7712.jpg

 

I also use the zippered pocket as a wallet.

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f40/maryannemoll/IMG_7722.jpg

 

I shared photos of how I customized my Midori here.

 

I purchased everything from this wonderful seller in Japan.. They have the regular-sized Midoris for only 3,360 JPY or about 35 USD), and the passport-sized Midoris for 2,940 JPY or about 29 USD. They are have the lovely camel-colored passport-sized Star Ferry special edition for 3,300 JPY or about 34 USD.

 

I would have bought the Star Ferry edition myself, but I have too much to put into the notebook that I opted for the regular-sized brown one instead. I missed the special edition camel-colored regular-sized one a few years ago.

Edited April 8, 2013 by maryannemoll