Log and Jotter - My #1 Pocket Notebook

 

"It's hard to put my finger on it, but there's something viscerally satisfying about the entire Log and Jotter notebook experience, with all elements of the product design coming together to deliver on a helpful, effective, and beautiful pocket notebook." 

Introductory Musings

I'm not going to waste time digging through my archives to give you the specific numbers just now. We'll stick with estimates: I've used pocket notebooks nearly every day for the last two and a half years. I have one in my pocket constantly. I once had a YouTube channel dedicated to pocket notebook reviews. I've filled up over forty of these guys, and I am at the point where I know very well what I like and dislike in a notebook. On top of that, I've explored a variety of brands, including homemade notebooks, Field Notes, Rite in the Rain, Walmart, and more. 

So hear me now: Log and Jotter notebooks are my favorite.

It all started in July of 2022, when Field Notes went woke (that is to say, they publicly proclaimed their support for the systemic slaughter of unborn babies). I was left scrambling for options, with Field Notes having been my brand of choice for almost two years. Thankfully I had a small reserve in stock, but could not bring myself to give my money to an organization that might be using it to help commit unspeakable atrocities. 

This of course opens up a whole other can of worms in terms of where we spend our money. It's almost impossible to take a stand everywhere, but this is one company that was more personal to me than most, one that bothered my conscience more significantly when it made it made its pronouncement.

Rite in the Rain has run out of offerings for me - they simply don't offer the style of notebook that works for me. Moleskine had one that looked promising (and is probably solid) but I wanted to stick with USA products if I could. Numerous other smaller brands had various issues that made them incompatible with my style of note-taking.

That left me with Log and Jotter - a brand that I had tried just once before, with underwhelming results. My single notebook had arrived a little bent in its envelope, unimpressively adorned with a dull illustration of a bass jumping out of the water. I used it eventually and had no issues with the performance, but the bent arrival and disappointing visuals were enough for me to stick with Field Notes. 

Now, it was time to give it another go.

Log and Jotter Overview

I have now received three new Log and Jotter monthly shipments (Birthday present!) and every single one has been a winner. So far I have filled up one and a half of them of them - the May 2023 edition, which features an awesome train illustration that my son and I both love, and half of April 2023 (a rodeo) before it was mangled by exposure to a thunderstorm. The notebook I just started is June 2023 (an old-time lantern) and it's doing great so far. My bent shipment must have been a fluke, because I haven't had any quality control issues so far. But I've realized that the other fluke was the artwork - these things look great, and I love the classic aesthetic that these notebooks like to stick to. 

Not only that, but now I've realized that the functionality of Log and Jotter is in fact superior to Field Notes. 

Functionality

Let's start with the paper type - what a genius idea: You choose! No more hoping the quarterly subscription uses the right paper - I get my graph every time. Like I said, I know what I need and what I like in a pocket notebook. The graph paper is a huge Rhythm of the Sword tool for me, as it allows me to very quickly and neatly set up my grid of Psalms for the day. It takes the guesswork and disappointment out of the Field Notes rat race.

Visuals

Next up is the visuals. Log and Jotter produces some great artwork in their notebooks. I've been happy with all three of mine since resubscribing - some recurring themes are the outdoors, classic vintage looks, and their motto: "Make a Story, Tell a Story". They are the kind of notebook that feel more fun to use because of their quality and appearance.

Details

Finally, the details. Log and Jotter has their own spin on the personal contact / record-keeping page, which I like better than the Field Notes version. It's functional and fun, and does not have the now-obligatory gender pandering. The pages are numbered which is such a great little feature. The ruling doesn't quite go to the edge of your page, helping to keep things neat for me as it discourages cramming in to totally fill up a line. I like their little blurb in the back of each notebook about what they want to get across with each one. 

The one detail that really worked for me (and maybe wouldn't matter so much for you) is the size of the grid. It's just a very slightly larger grid than Field Notes graph paper, and it's absolutely perfect for me. Field Notes is too small for my handwriting, Rite in the Rain is too big and your charts can't get as detailed but Log and Jotter gets it just right. Thank you!

Spine durability was often my main issue with other pocket notebooks, but Log and Jotter is thriving here, as well! I haven't had any of my spines wear out, even after close to a month of regular usage. Their paper choice, while nominally still (I believe) 100#C paper, uses a type of paper that gives you a little more longevity.

Other Thoughts

To be honest, I'd love to upgrade my monthly shipment from one to two notebooks, but I am not in dire notebook need at the moment, and I'm already dropping $60 a year on these guys. Their two-notebook option gives you an additional, simpler design complementing the main one each month. And it's not double the basic $5.00 deal, but $8.50 instead.

I should also mention that they are 40, not 48 pages, which is slightly worse value but hasn't been a problem. In summary, the folks at Log and Jotter really have a quality, well-thought-out product on their hands.

Weaknesses

The only issue that I'm running into at this point is their 2-staple construction, as opposed to 3-staple. I've found that it can cause the cover to bubble a bit in the middle, leading to awkward creases when you try to open in up and press it flat. It takes a little fiddling to figure out how to deal with this and keep the notebook looking good and clean. I also mentioned the thunderstorm experience - these notebooks are not waterproof or water resistant in any way. They don't advertise as such, but it is good to keep in mind.

Summary

I would not be at all surprised if my total number of Log and Jotters used ended up passing all my other filled-up pocket notebooks, put together. As long as their company keeps doing what they do, and I am still able to afford it, I don't see any reason to part ways. It's hard to put my finger on it, but there's something viscerally satisfying about the entire Log and Jotter notebook experience, with all elements of the product design coming together to deliver on a helpful, effective, and beautiful pocket notebook. Thanks for making these simple tools that are so helpful for me! I hope that, after many years, they tell a story from me that my children and grandchildren can occasionally glance at when they are feeling extremely bored ;)

Log and Jotter Notebook Score: 9.5/10

UPDATE - 2/26/24

I continue to love Log and Jotter notebooks, and have now filled up closet to a dozen. No quality control issues, great designs, excellent performance. I stand by the 9.5/10. Having completed one year of subscribing, I will continue with another.