Recommend the best pocketable notepad

[DigitalAR]

Am wanting to wane away from my iPhone dependence.

Apple notes are used heavily on my phone and would like to move to something I can have with me in my
Pocket.

I’ve tried the Moleskine brand and it’s cool But I feel even an Office Depot notepad would suffice.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Am wanting to wane away from my iPhone dependence.

Apple notes are used heavily on my phone and would like to move to something I can have with me in my
Pocket.

I’ve tried the Moleskine brand and it’s cool But I feel even an Office Depot notepad would suffice.

To my mind, both Rhodia and Leuchtturm1917 - I've used and still use both - make considerably better quality notebooks than does Moleskine.

 

[chown33]

Here's an earlier thread with some replies regarding note pads:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/need-help-with-concentration-staying-focused-and-mental-calmness.2213019/

Relevance will be determined partly by the size of your pocketses.

Personally, I use:
- 1.5" x 2" postit-note clones
- 3" x 5" bulk notepads (Staples or whatever)
- a dozen or so 3" x 5" index cards held together with a small binder clip

The first 2 are on my desk; the 3rd is portable.

I started doing the 3x5 index cards after a couple times at the beach when my 3x5 notepad got wet, and ruined most of the pad. With index cards, it's easy to limit the water risk by taking fewer cards.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Moleskin is overpriced; I'd say try some cheap notepads from Office Depot or any regular store and see if it suits your needs. If you want something more fancy, you can try out their slightly more expensive offerings.

I remember Barnes & Noble used to sell some semi-fancy notepads for a decent price, I don't know if they still do it anymore though.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Moleskin is overpriced; I'd say try some cheap notepads from Office Depot or any regular store and see if it suits your needs. If you want something more fancy, you can try out their slightly more expensive offerings.

I remember Barnes & Noble used to sell some semi-fancy notepads for a decent price, I don't know if they still do it anymore though.

I agree that Moleskine is over-priced, nevertheless, to my mind, it used to be worth the price if you valued being able to write on really good quality paper.

My concern with Moleskine (which is why I no longer use them, and use either Rhodia or Leuchtturm1917 instead) is that the quality of the paper they use (which used to be excellent) has - in my opinion - deteriorated, or disimproved, since the (original) firm was sold in 2016.

 

[maflynn]

better quality notebooks than does Moleskine.

That's disappointing. I feel an actual paper notebook has advantages over a phone/tablet and I was looking at Moleskine myself

 

[Nhwhazup]

That's disappointing. I feel an actual paper notebook has advantages over a phone/tablet and I was looking at Moleskine myself

Just curious why the preference for an actual paper notebook? I love the pen to paper note taking but like even better the pencil to iPad writing. I can do anything I want in GoodNotes and search the handwriting to find something. I am an old Franklin Covey gal and love the pdf version for the iPad. I use it for all of my note taking. I have the 11 inch Pro iPad so it’s not going to fit into a pocket but also have a great carry case.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

That's disappointing. I feel an actual paper notebook has advantages over a phone/tablet and I was looking at Moleskine myself

Agree completely about the advantages conferred by actual paper notebooks.

I use them all the time.

That is why I recommend either Rhodia or Leuchtturm1917; I've used (and use) both, and find both to be excellent.

Personally, I prefer Leuchtturm1917, - but both are excellent, - while Rhodia more closely resembles what Moleskine (which has the brand recognition, agreed) used to be like.

However, - and this is just a personal opinion - I used to use Moleskine, they were excellent, but I came to the conclusion, or I thought, or felt, that the quality of the paper used in their note-books had declined in recent years.

A few years ago, I mentioned this in the century old, family run, pen store (a casualty of Covid, alas, I'm devastated, I loved that place, full of advice, knowledge and experience and expertise), and authorised Mont Blanc dealer where I used to buy my Mont Blanc pens (which is where I used to buy my note-books, as well), and they agreed, explaining (quietly) that since the takeover (I've since looked it up; it occurred in 2016) the standards (of the paper used in Moleskine notebooks) had dropped.

They recommended that I use either Rhodia or Leuchtturm1917 instead.

 

[AJK13K]

Am wanting to wane away from my iPhone dependence.

Apple notes are used heavily on my phone and would like to move to something I can have with me in my
Pocket.

I’ve tried the Moleskine brand and it’s cool But I feel even an Office Depot notepad would suffice.

Try Field Notes.

 

[maflynn]

Just curious why the preference for an actual paper notebook?

For me, its better organization of my ideas and thoughts. I also find I retain and remember more, because the act of writing helps my memory retention. I can easily flip back and re-review my notes. Plus for me, it requires some discipline to think what I want to save and write, not just cutting/pasting or typing. Its more proactive in that sesne.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

For me, its better organization of my ideas and thoughts. I also find I retain and remember more, because the act of writing helps my memory retention. I can easily flip back and re-review my notes. Plus for me, it requires some discipline to think what I want to save and write, not just cutting/pasting or typing. Its more proactive in that sesne.

Well said.

And your (excellent) post is precisely the reason - are precisely the reasons - why friends of mine (some of whom are former students of mine) who teach at third level are (re) introducing - and strongly encouraging - students to take actual handwritten notes during lectures and seminars, rather than writing their notes into computers or iPads.

I've always taken notes by hand no matter where (or the level) of the meeting; it encourages thought, memory retention, and discipline; above all, it encourages understanding, because your brain has to process the information before transcribing it.

 

[Nhwhazup]

Well said.

And your (excellent) post is precisely the reason - are precisely the reasons - why friends of mine (some of whom are former students of mine) who teach at third level are (re) introducing - and strongly encouraging - students to take actual handwritten notes during lectures and seminars, rather than writing their notes into computers or iPads.

I've always taken notes by hand no matter where (or the level) of the meeting; it encourages thought, memory retention, and discipline; above all, it encourages understanding, because your brain has to process the information before transcribing it.

Absolutely taking notes by hand is great for all that you said especially retention. I always took meeting notes by handwriting. However, using the Pencil on the iPad offered the same handwriting but also made those notes easily searchable. The best of both worlds.

 

[Nhwhazup]

For me, it’s better organization of my ideas and thoughts. I also find I retain and remember more, because the act of writing helps my memory retention. I can easily flip back and re-review my notes. Plus for me, it requires some discipline to think what I want to save and write, not just cutting/pasting or typing. It’s more proactive in that sesne.

I totally agree with you. For me the Pencil to the iPad keeps the hand written notes but also makes them quickly searchable. Notability and GoodNotes are the best apps for note taking for me. As you can see, I’m an old Franklin Covey gal 😁

 

[KaliYoni]

I totally agree with you. For me the Pencil to the iPad keeps the hand written notes but also makes them quickly searchable. Notability and GoodNotes are the best apps for note taking for me. As you can see, I’m an old Franklin Covey gal 😁View attachment 2170564

I‘d say your very legible handwriting is a big help in writing notes by hand! I think a lot of people who type to take notes do so because they have trouble reading what they wrote later.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Try Field Notes.

Agreed, they make great products.