Mental Clarity & The Joy of Field Notes
Info: 26,000 blister packs containing 3 notebooks were produced in this quarterly special edition
Start Date: March 1, 2026
EDC Pen: Big Idea Design US Bronze Pocket Pro
Score: 5/5 ⭐
Rank: Favorite Field Notes Edition
Why Field Notes?
I've had a love affair with notebooks since I was a small child. As early as four or five years old, one of my favorite gifts to receive was a new notebook. I looked forward to school supplies shopping nearly as much as I did my own birthday or Christmas, sometimes more!
There's just something special about a new notebook and a writing implement (I love them all equally - pencils, pens, fine liners, etc). They inspire me to create. They make my brain go into new areas that a screen and keyboard can never achieve - trust me, I've tried. The closest digital equivalent to an analog notebook is an e-ink notebook like the Remarkable 2 or Supernote Manta, but even those don't have the same appeal (again, I've tried).
For the last thirteen years I've carried a pocket notebook on and off, but it wasn't until last year that I fully committed to always having one on my person. I read Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism in late 2024 and it completely changed how I view my phone and social media. Shortly after finishing it, I deleted social media and began finding ways to replace my phone with other analog tools, to break free from the enslavement of the dopamine cycle I was trapped in.
Enter The Pocket Notebook
Now, it took me a bit to truly commit to carrying one daily. I struggled for the first few months with not knowing what to use the notebook for and thus it would often end up on my desk or bedside table for days at a time before I'd carry it again. I used an old Clarefontaine pocket notebook I was given as a gift back in 2013 until the cover fell off and I tossed it. I never really connected with that particular notebook, even though I am still grateful to the friend who gifted it to me.
I've seen Field Notes around for years and never gave them a serious glance, but the almighty YouTube algorithm served me a video one morning about the brand. I watched it and fell in love with the pure Americana they represent and the story behind the brand. So, naturally, I went out and bought my first pack - one of their National Parks special edition packs (series C). I still hadn't solved the issue of what to put into my notebooks yet, but something about the brand just drew me in and I carried one with me daily.
About two weeks later I realized that I didn't need a formal system for a pocket notebook. All I needed was to write things in it. All sorts of things. Grocery lists. Meaningful quotes. Bible verses I want to memorize or meditate on. Book recommendations I get from anyone who will share. Random brain dumps and story ideas. You name it, it was on the table.
I had no idea the freedom this would bring.
Suddenly my phone became far less appealing at random times throughout the day. When I was bored, I'd pull out my Field Notes and start writing whatever was on my mind. Often it ends up being a few sentences or a single page about seemingly random topics, but it's a fairly accurate representation of how my brain operates.
The more I dug in and used the notebooks, the more I fell in love with them. I found myself constantly pulling the current carry out of my back pocket and flipping through pages to review what I've written. I'd often find a gem that I'd written a few days or weeks before and had totally forgotten about, which then sparks a new train of thought or deepens the groove for the previous one.
Mental clarity. That's the biggest advantage I've personally found. I can empty the swirling thoughts from my head and give them a new place to live. Permanent storage. A reason for my brain to shut off the circulation of those thoughts, because it knows I won't forget them anymore.
And really, that's the whole point of carrying a pocket notebook. It's a capture device that allows us to store captivating thoughts for future review or use. There's no rules to how you use them - or there shouldn't be, in my opinion. They're cheap enough to not have to worry about ruining them with whatever you write on the page. Who cares if it's sloppy or you have to mark things out? It's a tool and that's the purpose of it, so use it boldly.
Summary:
I could ramble on for a long time about Field Notes. I'm not sponsored. I make zero cents for sharing this. It's because I love the brand and what they've done for my mental health.
The paper quality is good enough, but not fountain pen friendly, if you care about such things. If that's what you want, get a pocket notebook from Midori, Clarefontaine, Rhodia, etc. They all have "nicer" paper, but I don't need that in a pocket notebook.
Field Notes are made to be used hard and then retired. They are beautifully designed and look amazing when you get them out of the packaging, but even better as they age and patina in your pocket. I absolutely love the way they look after a month or two. If patina isn't your thing, buy a cover and they'll stay pristine.
The Big Idea 🧠 Grab yourself a pocket notebook and fill it up. Love it well. Break free from your phone addiction. Gain a little bit of your mental freedom back.