Explore the Best Types of Journals: From Field Notes to Seven Seas Crossfield

Hello, my fellow Journalers! Are you looking for a new favorite journal? Well, you’re in for a treat because today, we will explore my favorite types of journals. I’ve amassed quite a collection over the years, each with its own story and charm.

My love for journaling began when I was a little girl when I received a Christmas gift—a white diary with a shiny gold lock and its own tiny key. Oh, how precious it felt! Its faux leather cover was smooth under my tiny fingers, just waiting for me to fill its blank pages with all my little adventures.

I vividly remember one entry I wrote about sitting at the feet of my great-grandma as she sang songs to the whole family—songs she sang to her children on their front porch in the 1920s and 30s. My dad told me that night, as we were leaving, that I needed to write that moment down so I’d always remember it. Here I am, some forty-plus years later, telling you about it what I wouldn’t give to still have that little white diary.

Since then, I’ve filled up various journals, from inexpensive to “I can’t believe I spent that much money on a journal.” All you journal lovers can relate. We do love our notebooks and favorite pens. So below, you will find my ride or die! The journals I keep going back to and repurchasing and well a few that are on my wish list to try. Who knows maybe you’ll discover your new favorite!

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Different Types of Journals: What Matters Most

We all have certain likes and dislikes, when it comes to picking out journaling notebooks and it varies from person to person. There are several things that I personally look for in a journal.

Binding: The binding of a journal matters immensely to me. It needs to be sturdy yet flexible. I prefer a lay-flat design, which allows me to write effortlessly across the entire page. I don’t typically want a spiral bound if I’m writing journal entries. I love a beautifully stitched binding it adds a touch of elegance, and durabiltiy the functionality of the binding plays a crucial role in my choice.

Paper: Oh, the paper! It has to be just right. I lean towards thick (with the exception of the thin tomoe river paper), creamy paper that my pen can glide over smoothly, without any bleed-through. The texture and color of the paper also affect how the ink looks as it dries, which can transform the writing experience from mundane to magical.

Quality: Quality is non-negotiable. I look for covers that are touchable and durable—ones that can survive being carted around in my purse or sitting on a shelf. A good journal feels solid in the hands and promises to safeguard my thoughts and memories against the ravages of time.

Cost: While I have splurged on occasion, I am always on the lookout for that perfect balance between cost and quality. It’s about finding value, whether it’s a luxurious leather-bound book that feels like an investment or a simple, elegantly designed notebook that didn’t break the bank but still brings joy.

Purpose of Your Journal

Isn’t it fascinating how a simple journal can serve so many different purposes? Whether you’re capturing fleeting thoughts, meticulously planning your days, or unleashing your inner artist on the pages, each journal serves a unique role. Understanding why you want to journal in the first place is the first step in choosing the perfect notebook.

• Daily Reflections: If your journal is a sanctuary for thoughts and feelings, you’ll want something that feels intimate and welcoming. A lined or blank journal can be your confidante, inviting you to write freely and honestly.
• Bullet Journaling: For those who thrive on organization, a dot-grid journal is a game changer. It offers just enough structure for bullet points and layouts, without stifling your creative sparks.
• Sketching and Art: If doodles and colors dominate your journaling, look for journals with thick, quality paper that won’t let inks or paints bleed through. It’s all about letting your creativity flow without boundaries. Check out my favorite art journals here.
• Travel Journaling: For the adventurers, a durable, compact journal is a must. It should withstand being tossed into a backpack and handle a bit of weather. A sturdy cover and possibly waterproof paper are good bonuses.
• Learning and Studying: If you’re using a journal for study notes or to learn something new, opt for structured pages like ruled or graph. These can help keep your thoughts organized and your learning on track.

Choosing the right journal for your needs turns the simple act of writing into a personalized experience. It’s not just about the act of writing—it’s about creating a space where your thoughts feel at home. So think about what you really want to achieve with your journaling. It will guide you to the notebook that feels just right, turning every page into a little celebration of your life’s moments.

My Five Favorite Types of Journals

Below you will discover my top five favorite types of journals that I use from journal entries, to doodling to sketching these are my absolute favorites plus I added a couple I want to try out that I’ve heard great things about!

Seven Seas Crossfield Tomoe River Journal

The Seven Seas Crossfield Tomoe River Journal is hand’s down one of my favorites. It’s a standout choice for journalers who love Hobonichi’s tomoe river paper, and especially those who use fountain pens. Here’s why this journal is so well-regarded:

Quality and Design

• Tomoe River Paper: Known for its exceptionally smooth texture, this paper is a dream for writing. It’s thin (think Bible pages) yet durable, which means it can handle a variety of pens, particularly fountain pens, without bleeding or feathering. It’s like magic, considering how thin the pages are! I personally love the sound the pages make when I flip through my journal.
• Smythe-Sewn Binding: This traditional bookbinding method involves sewing the pages of the journal together in sections. The result is a highly durable binding that not only adds an elegant touch but also allows the journal to lay perfectly flat. This is particularly beneficial when you are using both sides of the ultra-thin Tomoe River paper.
• Versatile Page Styles: Catering to a variety of preferences and uses, the Seven Seas Crossfield is available in dot grid, blank, and lined page formats. Whether you’re drafting intricate layouts, sketching, or writing, there’s a style that suits your needs. The dot grid offers subtle guidance for both writing and drawing, while the blank pages provide a clean slate for unstructured creativity, and the lined pages are ideal for those who prefer traditional writing spaces.

Aesthetics and Functionality

• Minimalist Cover: The cover is simple and understated, it is flexible, tough, thin water-resistant coated-fabric and comfortable in the hands while also being sturdy enough for travel. I decorated my cover and also keep it in a beautiful, buttery soft leather folio that I purchased from Sojourner.
• Compact and Lightweight: Despite having as many as 480 pages, the journal remains surprisingly portable due to the thinness of the Tomoe River paper, making it easy to carry around.

User Experience

• Page Quantity: Offering plenty of space with its high page count, the Seven Seas Crossfield is perfect for extensive journaling, note-taking, or drawing without the bulk typically associated with thicker paper.
• Ink Handling: The paper’s quality shines, particularly with how it handles ink. Colors appear more vibrant, and the slight delay in drying time allows the ink to showcase its full character and sheen.

Life Noble Notebook

Oh, the Life Noble Notebook—it’s like a secret luxury and one I continue to repurchase! If you haven’t tried this one, you are missing out. Here’s why this little treasure is something special:

Exquisite Paper Quality

• Butter-Smooth Pages: The paper in the Life Noble Notebook is divine. It’s a smooth, creamy delight that fountain pen users will fall in love with. The ink sits beautifully on the surface, making your writing look as good as it feels.
• Thickness and Texture: Despite its silky surface, the paper is surprisingly sturdy. You can pen down your thoughts with various writing instruments, and it handles them all with grace, showing minimal bleed-through and ghosting.

Classic and Elegant Design

• Understated Elegance: This notebook exudes a classic charm with its simple yet sophisticated design. It doesn’t shout for attention but rather whispers class.
• Stitched Binding: The Life Noble Notebook features a sturdy stitched binding, known for its durability and ability to open flat. This traditional binding method not only enhances the notebook’s resilience but also allows for a seamless writing experience across the entire page.
• Cover: The cover might not be flashy, but it’s made to last and feels lovely in your hands.

Versatility and Functionality

• Variety of Formats: Whether you prefer plain, ruled, or grid pages, the Life Noble Notebook has you covered. Each style is thoughtfully laid out to maximize your writing space and suit your specific journaling style.
• Ideal for Various Uses: It’s perfect for daily journaling, project planning, or even light sketching. This notebook is a workhorse disguised in elegance.

User Experience

• Smooth Writing Experience: Every page turn and every line written in this notebook feels like a small luxury. It’s so smooth; your pen just glides across.
• Portable and Practical: The Life Noble Notebook is just the right size to be portable without compromising on writing space. It’s easy to carry around, making it an ideal companion for your daily adventures or quiet moments at a café.

Leuchtturm 1917

The Leuchtturm 1917—now, this is a journal that can truly do it all, and it’s easy to see why it’s popular! Whether you’re deep into bullet journaling or just love writing your thoughts day by day, this notebook handles it all.

Versatile and Thoughtful Design

• Dual Purpose: I’ve used the Leuchtturm1917 both as a bullet journal and for regular journaling, and it excels in both roles. The slight structure of the dot-grid or squared pages is perfect for creating lists, tracking habits, and planning out your week. At the same time, the clean layout provides a blank canvas for expressive writing and personal reflections.
• Page Features: With numbered pages and a blank table of contents, organizing and finding your entries becomes a breeze. It’s these thoughtful details that make the Leuchtturm1917 not just a notebook, but a true companion in your daily life.

High-Quality Build

• Binding: The Leuchtturm1917 features a durable hardcover and is thread-bound, ensuring that it lies flat without any effort. This kind of binding is perfect for an uninterrupted writing experience, whether you’re jotting down a quick note or settling in for a long journaling session.
• Paper Quality: While slightly thinner than some other premium notebooks, the paper is remarkably ink-friendly, reducing bleed-through and feathering, which is essential when you’re using pens and markers of various ink densities.

Practical and Aesthetic Pleasures

• Variety of Colors: Available in a rainbow of colors, this notebook can match your mood or your style with ease. Whether you’re into understated classics or bright pops of color, there’s a Leuchtturm1917 that’s perfect for you.
• Size Options: From pocket to desktop sizes, whether you need something portable to carry around or a larger size for extensive planning, there’s a size that fits every need.

User Experience

• Adaptable: The beauty of the Leuchtturm1917 lies in its adaptability. It meets you right where you are in your journaling journey—ready to adapt whether your day calls for structured bullet journaling or free-flowing expression.

Midori MD Notebook

Step into the quietly confident world of the Midori MD Notebook—a true minimalist masterpiece that whispers quality and simplicity. This notebook isn’t about frills or show; it’s about the pure joy of writing, housed in an understated, clean design that focuses solely on enhancing the user experience.

Uncomplicated Elegance

• Sleek Design: The Midori MD stands out through its lack of ostentation. The cover is simple, often just bare cardstock, which feels both organic and intentional, inviting you to focus on the content rather than the container.
• Subtle Details: Aesthetic touches like the exposed spine stitching—an homage to traditional bookbinding—add a touch of sophistication without overwhelming the notebook’s overall simplicity.

Superior Paper Quality

• Paper Perfection: If you’ve ever written on a Midori MD, you know that the paper is something special. Designed to be feather-resistant and bleed-proof, it handles everything from fountain pens to pencils with grace, making every pen stroke a satisfying experience.
• Lightweight Feel: Despite its durability, the paper is remarkably light, meaning your notebook remains portable even when filled with your thoughts and dreams.

Functionality and Flexibility

• Versatility in Use: Whether you’re sketching out a new idea, bullet journaling your next big project, or capturing the quiet moments of your day, the Midori MD adapts to your needs. Its pages are inviting and versatile, suitable for a variety of writing practices.
• Binding That Bends: The thread-bound pages lie flat, making it easy to write across two pages seamlessly—a small but critical feature for uninterrupted writing.

Pure and Personal

• Customizable: The Midori MD is like a canvas. The plain cover inspires personalization—whether you keep it pristine or dress it up with stickers and sketches, it becomes uniquely yours over time.
• Range of Sizes and Layouts: Available in multiple sizes and page layouts (blank, lined, or grid), it ensures there’s a Midori MD perfectly matched to your journaling style.

Field Notes Notebook

Field Notes notebooks are the unsung heroes of my daily carry—a little bundle of practicality just waiting to capture life’s big and small moments. Their compact size and rugged charm make them ideal companions for anyone on the go, and they’ve been an invaluable part of my journey in more ways than one.

When my husband was undergoing cancer treatment, a Field Notes notebook was at my side through every appointment and chemo treatment. Its discreet size allowed me to jot down important details and thoughts without feeling cumbersome. Each page hold notes of the cancer journey, treatment protocols, doctor’s observations, ephemera, and my own personal reflections—this is by far one of my most treasured journals to date.

For lighter travels, Field Notes shine just as brightly. Whether I’m on vacation or trekking through nature, their portability means I can slip one into my pocket or bag with ease. They’re perfect for capturing the essence of a place—quick sketches, snippets of overheard conversations, or the details of a delightful café. These notebooks are like personal travel diaries that hold the memories of every journey, ready to transport me back to those moments with just a flip of a page.

What I love about Field Notebooks

• Compact and Portable: Small enough to fit in a pocket, perfect for travel or daily errands.
• Durable Design: Crafted with rugged covers and staple-bound, designed to withstand the rigors of being carried around daily.
• Versatile Use: Ideal for a variety of uses, from health treatment tracking to travel journaling and everyday note-taking.
• Variety of Styles: Available in a range of editions and styles, including limited releases that cater to collectors and enthusiasts.
• Easy to Personalize: The simple aesthetic makes them a blank canvas for personalization with stickers, sketches, or whatever else reflects your style.
• American Made: Proudly produced in the USA, ensuring consistent quality and craftsmanship.
• Affordable: Priced to be accessible, making it easy to always have a fresh notebook on hand without breaking the bank.
• Subscription: Field Notes Notebooks offers a yearly subcription and they send out goodies every quarter plus, you recieve tons of other benefits!

Field Notes are not just notebooks; they are a testament to the beauty of keeping life’s details organized and remembered in a tactile, meaningful way.

Yop & Tom

Yop & Tom’s A5 ruled notebook—is on my wishlist and it’s making waves in the journaling community with it’s meticulous design and thoughtful features. This notebook promises pure writing pleasure with its extra thick 120 GSM pure white paper, perfect for those who love a smooth, bleed-free writing surface.

The cover is a real treat—crafted from stain-resistant vegan leather, soft to the touch, and adorned with a charming gold-debossed moon and star emblem, adding a touch of magic and elegance to your journaling ritual. Its sewn binding ensures the notebook lies flat when opened, making every page easily accessible for a truly seamless writing experience.

Inside, you’ll find 180 pages to fill with your thoughts, plans, and dreams. It also features practical additions like a ribbon divider for marking your place, an elastic closure band to keep everything neatly tucked away, and a back-cover envelope for storing precious keepsakes or important notes.

Final Thoughts

And there we have it—a tour through my favorite journals that have been my faithful companions over the past several years. Each of these notebooks, from the rugged and ready Field Notes to the elegant and sturdy Seven Seas Crossfield , holds a special place in my daily routine and creative processes. They’ve seen me through countless moments, capturing everything from everyday lists to the deeply personal pages of my husband’s cancer treatment journey.

These aren’t just random picks; they’re journals that have proven their worth time and again, making them my go-to choices for repeated purchases. Their quality, functionality, and the sheer joy they bring to the act of writing are why they keep finding their way back into my life.

Remember, the best journal is the one that meets your needs, feels right in your hands, and inspires you to fill its pages. Whether you’re recording memories, jotting down daily to-dos, or sketching out your next big idea, the act of journaling is a personal ritual that captures your thoughts and dreams.

Now, I’d love to hear from you! What are your favorite journals? Have you tried any of the ones I mentioned, or is there a hidden gem out there just waiting to be discovered? Drop your thoughts and recommendations in the comments below—I’m always on the lookout for the next great notebook to bring into my life.