It’s not often that I feel a stationery product is designed specifically for me, but in the case of this Grit Mercantile Leather A6 Travelers Journal Cover, sent to me by Austin, Texas based Letterpress PLAY, it suits what I’m looking for in a simple pocket notebook cover perfectly.
Simple is the key to this design. It’s a cover - that’s it. There are no pockets, no pen loops, no accessories or ephemera. Just an internal elastic band to slide a small notebook through, and an external band to keep it closed. That meets all of my needs for how I intend to use it.
That specific intention is as a cover for a Field Notes pocket notebook when I travel. A small notebook like this is my preference to log trip details, day-to-day notes, tracking events, remembering food and drink, and anything else that I’m compelled to jot down. I’ve used this type of setup many times in the past, but none with an added cover like this one.
As I’ve learned more and more about my tastes over the years, I’ve learned that smaller is better when it comes to notebooks. I’ve tried countless options on the market, and the ones that stick in the rotation the most are the thinner ones. Think PLOTTER, as opposed to Traveler’s Notebooks. I don’t do well with bulk, especially when on the go.
A quick note on sizing: I believe the cover itself is A6 sized, not necessarily what you can fit into it. Thin A6 notebooks likely stick out the sides, and thicker A6 notebooks with square bindings are a no-go. It is perfect for this 3-1/2” x 5-1/2” Field Notes.
That makes this Grit Mercantile cover perfect. It spent a long weekend in by back pocket on a recent trip to New Orleans, and proved to be my second favorite travel companion - my wife was first, of course! The cover handled wet bar tops, dinner tables, hotel desks, and the random knee while sitting on a bench, and came out unscathed. It handled everything with ease.
Action shot from the bar! Note: they do offer free embossing on notebooks and covers when ordering.
Most importantly, I didn’t notice it was there when pocketed. I carry a front pocket wallet, so the notebook cover slid into the back. It’s thin enough you could carry a pen tucked inside and barely notice it, but I preferred carrying a pen - in this case a uniball Zento Signature - clipped to my shirt, or next to my wallet in my front pocket.
The Grit Mercantile Leather A6 Notebook Cover did its job perfectly - protect my notebook, and stay out of the way. And at just $22, it is a great deal for an item that will be seeing a lot of use. I’m already trying to find other ways to use it around the house so it doesn’t have to wait for another trip to see its next action.
(Letterpress PLAY provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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