As you may know, I like pen-and-paper for taking notes. It is a little more quick and freeform than using the phone. Remove phone from pocket. Wake up. Enter passcode. Go to home screen. Find app. Launch app. Start ‘new’ note. What was I going to note, again? A Space Pen in one pocket and a Field Notes book in the other means instant notes and no battery issues. Plus, I seem to get a bit more retention out of handwritten notes versus typing on a phone or laptop.
My biggest problem with Field Notes is that I can never get through one. Or more specifically, it will disintegrate before I reach the end. It’s on me. All. The. Time. It takes a beating. In summertime and on the walk back from yoga, it gets an extra helping of pocket sweat.
I tend to go crazy with adhesive tape and laminate to keep them together for just a little bit longer.
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But then they introduced the Expedition Edition. I think the Expedition Edition just solved my problem with not being able to finish a Field Notes notebook. The paper and cover are made from “an amazing water- and tear-proof paper extruded from polypropylene pellets.” To me, it feels very Tyvek-like, like a waterproof map. It’s a sort of paper-plastic and is very durable. After a month or so, the outer cover is a little warped and some of the black color has warn off, but the notebook itself is perfectly fine.
My only real problem with the paper is that not everything writes on it well. The Space Pen I always carry on me works beautifully. A pencil works similarly well. When I am at my desk, I will either have a Micron pen or a rollerball of some sort at hand. The Micron is passable, but the ink from rollerballs tends to pool up on the surface of the paper. They tend to leave a big smeary mess.
In this photo, you can see the four writing implements and how much they smeared and blotted on the facing page:
The wrinkles on the edge of the righthand page (if you can see them) are from me trying to tear the “paper.” This is not a notebook for tearing off a scrap to write your contact information on. You are going to need scissors or a knife.
If you are a rollerball person, this paper is absolutely not for you. On the other hand, the Space Pen is smooth and writes beautifully. I’d even say it writes better on this paper than a regular Field Notes notebook. The Micron does a good job, especially if you give it a few moments to dry before putting the notebook away.
Overall, I am very happy with the Expedition Edition.
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